News

Here’s a list of achievements by Osceola County students at out-of-area colleges and universities, as reported by Merit Pages News.

Here’s a list of achievements by Osceola County students at out-of-area colleges and universities, as reported by Merit Pages News.

College honors for local scholars

News Staff
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Here’s a list of achievements by Osceola County students at out-of-area colleges and universities, as reported by Merit Pages News:Jacques Bernard of Kissimmee has earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta.Kassidy Cabot of St.
Mark Anthony Vazquez, 49, was arrested around 5:45 p.m. Monday in connection with a hostage situation at the Heritage Park Inn east of Kissimmee. (Mugshot/Osceola County Corrections)

Mark Anthony Vazquez, 49, was arrested around 5:45 p.m. Monday in connection with a hostage situation at the Heritage Park Inn east of Kissimmee. (Mugshot/Osceola County Corrections)

Monday hostage situation at East 192 hotel ends peacefully with arrest

Ken Jackson
Monday, October 13, 2025
A nearly six-hour standoff at an East U.S. Highway 192 extended-stay hotel ended early Monday evening with a man in jail, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office officials have said.Mark Anthony Vazquez, 49, was arrested around 5:45 p.m. Monday.
Former Kissimmee Police Officer Andrew Baseggio speaks on his own behalf at his sentencing hearing Monday. He had pled guilty to felony counts in connection with an April 2023 excessive force case that led to wholesale changes at KPD.

Former Kissimmee Police Officer Andrew Baseggio speaks on his own behalf at his sentencing hearing Monday. He had pled guilty to felony counts in connection with an April 2023 excessive force case that led to wholesale changes at KPD.

Former Kissimmee Police officer sentenced for felony charges in 2023 excessive force case

Ken Jackson
Monday, October 13, 2025
A former Kissimmee Police Department officer who pled guilty to felony charges related to a 2023 excessive force case — that led to an investigation of a KPD "culture of silence" and a major shakeup in the department's former administration — was sentenced Mondy to nine months in the Osceola County...
County Road 532, also called ChampionsGate Boulevard, will close to traffic for overpass work overnight much of the coming week. (Graphic/FDOT)

County Road 532, also called ChampionsGate Boulevard, will close to traffic for overpass work overnight much of the coming week. (Graphic/FDOT)

Details on a ChampionsGate Boulevard (County Road 532) closure at I-4 this week

News Staff
Sunday, October 12, 2025
UPDATE: This closure will be in effect again this week, from Monday through Wednesday (Oct. 13-15). The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will be closing ChampionsGate Boulevard (County Road 532) under Interstate 4 (I-4) each night at 11:00 p.m. until 5:30 a.m., starting this Monday (Oct.
The vision for turning the closed Kmart site on West Vine Street into “Edon Park” includes 630 retail units, new mixed-use commercial and retail space, a sports facility and parking garages. (Graphic/CapStrata and Hedrick Brothers)

The vision for turning the closed Kmart site on West Vine Street into “Edon Park” includes 630 retail units, new mixed-use commercial and retail space, a sports facility and parking garages. (Graphic/CapStrata and Hedrick Brothers)

‘Edon Park’ new garden spot on old Vine Street Kmart plot

Ken Jackson
Saturday, October 11, 2025
After years of planning and projects to upgrade the downtown corridor, the Kissimmee City Commission Tuesday took a step toward a massive upgrade along Vine Street.
71-year-old Esperidion Quinones Torres was reported missing on Thursday night from his Cameron Preserve Circle residence in Kissimmee after leaving in a blue 2008 Chevrolet Impala with a Florida license plate QTQR63. (Photo/Kissimmee Police)

71-year-old Esperidion Quinones Torres was reported missing on Thursday night from his Cameron Preserve Circle residence in Kissimmee after leaving in a blue 2008 Chevrolet Impala with a Florida license plate QTQR63. (Photo/Kissimmee Police)

Kissimmee Police asks for community's help to find elderly resident

News Staff
Saturday, October 11, 2025
SATURDAY 2 P.M. UPDATE: The Kissimmee Police Department confirms that Esperidion Quinones Torres has been located and is now safe at home.
A lawsuit has been filed that states a new state law that blocks cities and counties from approving "more restrictive or burdensome" changes to growth plans is unconstitutional.

A lawsuit has been filed that states a new state law that blocks cities and counties from approving "more restrictive or burdensome" changes to growth plans is unconstitutional.

Growth state law draws another challenge

Jim Saunders
Thursday, October 9, 2025
News Service of Florida — The growth-management group 1000 Friends of Florida and an Orange County resident have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that blocks cities and counties from approving "more restrictive or burdensome" changes to growth plans.
Osceola School District Director of Middle School Curriculum Henry Santiago, Rep. Paula Stark and Education Specialist for Social Studies Cory Puppa pose with the winning team of Carly Lech, Lucy Graham and Elysmar Francois at Friday’s “Build-A-Bill” competition. (Photo/David Chivers)

Osceola School District Director of Middle School Curriculum Henry Santiago, Rep. Paula Stark and Education Specialist for Social Studies Cory Puppa pose with the winning team of Carly Lech, Lucy Graham and Elysmar Francois at Friday’s “Build-A-Bill” competition. (Photo/David Chivers)

‘Build-A-Bill’ winners focus on student mental health

David Chivers
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Students from across the Osceola School District came to Neptune Middle School last week to present their suggested legislative bills before a panel of judges as part of Rep. Paula Stark’s fourth “Build-A-Bill” competition.
The Florida Legislature has created legislation that will require the Department of Education to identify a curriculum regarding human trafficking awareness in schools.

The Florida Legislature has created legislation that will require the Department of Education to identify a curriculum regarding human trafficking awareness in schools.

Teaching the teachers—human trafficking awareness training coming

Emely Albelo
Thursday, October 9, 2025
Soon, human traffic awareness training will be taught to teachers across Florida.As part of legislation related to House Bill 1237 Chapter 2025-65 will require the Department of Education to identify a curriculum regarding human trafficking awareness in schools.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is looking for public input into planned improvements for Orange Blossom Trail from Mary Louis Lane near the former Tupperware headquarters south to Old Dixie Highway, including the Donegan Avenue intersection. (Graphic/FDOT)

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is looking for public input into planned improvements for Orange Blossom Trail from Mary Louis Lane near the former Tupperware headquarters south to Old Dixie Highway, including the Donegan Avenue intersection. (Graphic/FDOT)

Public meeting on Orange Blossom Trail upgrades Oct. 16

Ken Jackson
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is looking for public input into planned improvements for Orange Blossom Trail from Mary Louis Lane near the former Tupperware headquarters south to Old Dixie Highway, including the Donegan Avenue intersection.
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