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Osceola County reports Buenaventura Boulevard will be closed at Simpson Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 18, through Thursday, Jan. 22. Royal Palm Drive will be used as a detour.

Osceola County reports Buenaventura Boulevard will be closed at Simpson Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 18, through Thursday, Jan. 22. Royal Palm Drive will be used as a detour.

Overnight road closures in BVL, Simpson area this week — here's the details

Staff Report
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Those who use the south end of Buenaventura Boulevard and nearby Simpson Road in the overnight hours should be aware of a road closure this week. Osceola County reports Buenaventura Boulevard will be closed at Simpson Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 18, through Thursday, Jan. 22.
Under Florida law, vehicles are required to move over a lane for an emergency, service, utility, and disabled vehicles stopped on the side of the road, or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit if it is not safe to move over.

Under Florida law, vehicles are required to move over a lane for an emergency, service, utility, and disabled vehicles stopped on the side of the road, or slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit if it is not safe to move over.

FLHSMV Urges Drivers to “Move Over”

Staff Report
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Highway Patrol remind drivers that January is Move Over Month.
House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merrit Island, is sponsoring a bill to lower the minimum age for purchasing rifles and other long guns. (Photo Colin Hackley/News Service of Florida)

House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois, R-Merrit Island, is sponsoring a bill to lower the minimum age for purchasing rifles and other long guns. (Photo Colin Hackley/News Service of Florida)

Florida House backs lower gun buying age

Jim Saunders
Friday, January 16, 2026
News Service of Florida -- Nearly eight years after a gunman murdered 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the Florida House on Thursday passed a bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18.
A Rabies Alert is in affect for portions of the St. Cloud area. Information can be found online at https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/disease/rabies.

A Rabies Alert is in affect for portions of the St. Cloud area. Information can be found online at https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/disease/rabies.

Osceola Health Department issues Rabies alert in St. Cloud

Staff Report
Friday, January 16, 2026
The Florida Department of Health in Osceola County Friday issued a public alert following confirmation of rabies in a cat that was euthanized last week in the St. Cloud area.The cat came from the Carolina Avenue area.
Sheila Nanyely Bell-Cabrera

Sheila Nanyely Bell-Cabrera

Kissimmee pair arrested on felony child abuse charges

Kristin Hurst
Friday, January 16, 2026
Two Kissimmee residents were arrested Jan. 2 following an investigation into the alleged abuse of a male infant who was hospitalized with multiple injuries, according to arrest affidavits filed by the Kissimmee Police Department.
Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2% in November, the highest rate for the state in more than four years and up from 3.5% a year earlier. (Photo/Metro Creative)

Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2% in November, the highest rate for the state in more than four years and up from 3.5% a year earlier. (Photo/Metro Creative)

State jobless rate increases to 4.2%

Jim Turner
Thursday, January 15, 2026
News Service of Florida — Florida’s unemployment rate jumped to 4.2% in November, the highest rate for the state in more than four years. While still considered just above “full employment” by state economists, the November rate was up from 3.
A House proposal that would ask voters to phase out non-school homestead property taxes moved forward Thursday, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis try to reach agreement on a November ballot measure.

A House proposal that would ask voters to phase out non-school homestead property taxes moved forward Thursday, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis try to reach agreement on a November ballot measure.

Legislative proposal backed to phase out property taxes

Jim Turner
Thursday, January 15, 2026
News Service of Florida — A House proposal that would ask voters to phase out non-school homestead property taxes moved forward Thursday, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis try to reach agreement on a November ballot measure.
City staff, like Mayor Chris Robertson (pitching) played a game against the St. Coud Little League Challenger program Saturday. The city negotiated a new fee structure with the League that “raises the rent” but waives fees for the special-needs teams. (Photo/City of St. Cloud)

City staff, like Mayor Chris Robertson (pitching) played a game against the St. Coud Little League Challenger program Saturday. The city negotiated a new fee structure with the League that “raises the rent” but waives fees for the special-needs teams. (Photo/City of St. Cloud)

St. Cloud Little League, city swing at higher fee schedule

Ken Jackson
Thursday, January 15, 2026
In the same week the city of St. Cloud cut the ribbon on its newly-refurbished baseball field complex on 17th Street, it also agreed to a new rent agreement with its biggest user.At Thursday’s City Council meeting, leaders unanimously approved a one-year facility use agreement with St.
“Fireman Rob” Verhelst models some of the rescue gear he’ll don as he attempts the RunDisney “Dopey Challenge” this weekend. (Photo/David Chivers)

“Fireman Rob” Verhelst models some of the rescue gear he’ll don as he attempts the RunDisney “Dopey Challenge” this weekend. (Photo/David Chivers)

‘Fireman Rob’ inspires Boys and Girls Club ahead of Disney Marathon

David Chivers
Thursday, January 15, 2026
On a sunny Wednesday morning “Fireman Rob” Verhelst was in Kissimmee, playing a vigorous game basketball with a group of Boys and Girls Club members before starting a grueling schedule of four straight days of road races, all run while wearing full firefighter gear.
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