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You can’t keep video game developers out of work for long in the Orlando area. View the full article

The New Orleans Pelicans could give the Orlando Magic competition for Scott Skiles’ coaching services. View the full article

A sixth grader from Orlando Science Middle School advanced Wednesday to the semifinals of the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. View the full article

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015, and today, we’re starting to get an idea of what this year will include. We have updates on everything from food to new attractions, so let’s get to it! NEW Booths and DishesWhile we anticipate lots and lots more announcements about new food items, we’re getting our very first glimpse of some eats that will debut in the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths! The Scotland Booth is back and will debut a brand new drink, the Scottish Citrus Thistle! A Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pineapple, Peppers, Onions and Snap Peas will be a highlight at the Australia Booth, and the New Zealand Booth will tempt guests with a Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Ragout and Kumara Dumpling. Other new dishes will include Pepper Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese (what WHAT?!??!?) at the Farm Fresh Booth. But I super hope that amazing Hash returns in 2015! Farm Fresh Marketplace Of course, we are crossing our fingers and hoping that plenty of dishes that we love return as well. We do know that the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup is returning to the Canada Booth! Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup Will Once Again Join the Festival Line Up So we can breathe a collective sigh of relief there. New Special EventsWe cannot wait to check out a brand new festival Premium Event — the French Family Meal Traditions Lunch, which will take place on Fridays and Sundays. If the French Family Meal Traditions Lunch is Anything Like the Parisian Breakfast, We Can’t Wait! A brand new premium party, the Rockin’ Burger Block Party, will also take place on select dates. More details to come about that one! NEW Artists Debuting and Familiar Favorites Returning to Eat to the Beat Concert SeriesTaking in an Eat to the Beat Concert as the sun goes down is a great way to enjoy your evening at the festival. And this year, we have some brand new acts to choose from. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Performing at Eat to the Beat New acts Tiffany, Everclear, Maxi Priest, and Chaka Khan will take the stage at the America Pavilion in 2015. They’ll be joined by several returning acts, including Wilson Phillips, Smash Mouth, The Pointer Sisters, Jo Dee Messina, Boyz II Men, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. (No word on Hanson, yet, kiddos — stay tuned!) Celebrity Chefs to Appear at the 2015 Food and Wine FestivalOne of the most fun aspects of the festival is catching a low cost culinary demonstration with celebrity chefs. 2015 will see the return of many favorites. Look for Cat Cora, Robert Irvine, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Kenny Gilbert, and Buddy Valastro at Culinary Demos and Special Events. Cake Boss, 2011 Sweet Sundays Event Chef Cat Cora Book Signing at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival The festival will also welcome back chef and cookbook author John Ash, who appeared at the very first festival in 1996! Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger HuntAlso new for 2015 — everyone’s favorite rat chef Remy will be joining the party with Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt! Kids from 4 to 94 can go on the hunt throughout World Showcase to find little hidden statues of Remy. There will be special maps and stickers, and you may even win a prize! French Cheese with a Side of Remy Returning AttractionsAfter an absence in 2014, the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog will once again return this year! Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog Is Back at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Also, the Chase Lounge will again offer Chase Card Members a place to stop and relax for a spell, while they enjoy complimentary refreshments and more. Chase Lounge I’m SO excited to hear more about the festival — can’t wait!! Stay tuned to the DFB’s 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Page and the DFB Newsletter for all the latest! News! The DFB Guide to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book is now available for Pre-Order! And speaking of preparing, GET ON THIS! This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Pre-order your 2015 edition today, and download the 2014 guide for FREE — immediately! Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Use code Chefs at check-out for a $3 discount! Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for all the latest breaking Epcot Food and Wine Festival News! What are you looking most forward to at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Leave a comment and let us know! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule Preliminary Dates News! 2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival DATES! News! 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden (PLUS FOOD!) Festival Details Announced View the full article

Maitland Police found 180 marijuana plants and arrested five people after searching a home on Robinhood Court Wednesday morning, a lieutenant said. View the full article

Detectives are at an Orange County apartment complex investigating the death of an 8-month-old child, officials said. View the full article

The pilot of a small plane that hit an antenna at Melbourne International Airport Wednesday afternoon was arrested, an airport spokeswoman said. View the full article

Alysa Whetro, with her crutches nearby, watched reluctantly Wednesday as her Central Florida Gliders track team went through drills at Lake Brantley High School. View the full article

SeaWorld Orlando will debut a shark-inspired roller coaster named Mako next summer that will have a top speed of 73 mph and a drop from 200 feet — the fastest, tallest, longest thrill ride in Central Florida, the theme park said Wednesday. View the full article

The state's noneuphoric-medical-marijuana law cleared a major legal hurdle Wednesday when a judge in Tallahassee upheld it, which allows the state to begin licensing marijuana growers this summer. View the full article

As a part of the Coolest Summer Ever celebration here at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be celebrating the upcoming release of the Disney Channel Original Movie “Teen Beach 2” with a daily “Teen Beach 2: Beach Party.” The party, which takes place on the shore of the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, features a DJ spinning retro tunes, beach-themed games, hula hoop contests and more. Parties will be held through July 5. If you plan to visit, keep this in mind – when guests purchase a one-day water park ticket, they can park-hop between the two water parks in the same day that both are open. ‘Teen Beach 2: Beach Party’ Brings Summer Fun to Typhoon Lagoon Water Park by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

When at least five masked men broke open the jewelry case and began grabbing gold chains, store owner Insuk "Sue" Shimochi said instinct and her feisty nature took over. View the full article

When Harriett Lake was 7 years old, she fell in love with a little red coat. View the full article

CBS' "48 Hours" presents its second hour since 1999 on the murder conviction of Crosley Green in Brevard County. View the full article

Anyone who has strolled through Fantasyland at Disneyland park knows the familiar double-honk from the Disneyland Monorail as it begins to make its way around the Matterhorn. Its course takes it past some of our classic attractions, and thanks to some clever maneuvering, Disneyland Chief Photographer Paul Hiffmeyer was able to catch these shots of the Disneyland Monorail as it passed “it’s a small world” and Alice in Wonderland. Which Disneyland Resort attractions are your favorite to spy from aboard the Disneyland Monorail? A Unique Point of View: Disneyland Monorail Visits Fantasyland Attractions by Erin Glover: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team takes outstanding care of the animals at Walt Disney World Resort. You may have seen some of them in action at the Vet Hospital at Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or explaining some of the studies they are conducting at The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot. But did you know that these same cast members often travel the world to help animals and support conservation projects in the wild? Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko and vet tech Matt Runnells recently traveled to Africa to complete health exams on some of the gorillas at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. At GRACE, Grauer’s gorillas who are orphaned (typically because poachers killed their parents for the exotic animal trade or bushmeat) receive the care they need and learn the skills needed for reintroduction back into the wild. Our cast members have played many roles with GRACE including designing the facility, engaging in hands-on construction, helping move gorillas and training Congolese staff to care for gorillas. In addition to gorilla care, Disney staff also help promote conservation education among the local residents. During the most recent trip, Dr. Natalie and Matt worked with the GRACE staff to immobilize two gorillas by hand-injecting the gorillas to anesthetize them. This is a huge accomplishment for the staff, as it is a very complex behavior to train and shows their dedication to the work they do. Both gorillas were given complete physicals, and both needed tooth extractions. The exams went very well, and GRACE staff members learned a great deal from Dr. Natalie and Matt. Sharing resources, knowledge and expertise is one way our team supports animals in the wild. Click through the gallery below for images from their latest trip. GalleryWildlife Wednesday: Reports from the Field: GRACE view allWildlife Wednesday: Reports from the Field: GRACE by Rachel Daneault: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

I had an amazing time in Disneyland last week, celebrating the kick-off of their Diamond Anniversary year! Sleeping Beauty Castle decked out for the Diamond Anniversary And, of course, as is the case anytime a Disney park celebrates a big milestone, they brought out tons of special treats. From dressed up candy apples… Diamond Celebration Minnie Apple …to diamond glow cubes… Specialty beverages with diamond glow cubes …to the most incredible popcorn buckets ever… Disneyland Balloon Popcorn Bucket …it was a blast just wandering the park noshing on all of the latest goodies. But, of course I had to see what the 60th Anniversary cake pops were all about! Disneyland 60th Anniversary Cake Pops These guys were just too cute, and it had been…well, probably years…since I’d had a Disney cake pop, so it was time to grab one in the name of research! As you can see, Mickey’s all decked out in his diamond blue tux on this cake pop. The cake is coated in milk chocolate, dipped in white chocolate, and covered with glittery blue sugar. Close Up of Disneyland Mickey Mouse Cake Pop I was expecting dark chocolate disks as the ears, as that’s what they use in the Mickey hat brownie; but these were white chocolate disks instead. The cake itself is standard cake pop — super moist and molded into a little ball shape. The flavor on this was great — deep, rich chocolate…like eating a not-quite-cooked-all-the-way-through brownie. Yum! Inside Disneyland Mickey cake pop Overall, the flavors and textures on this one were great. It was suuuuper sweet, and suuuuper chocolatey, as would be expected. And though it’s relatively small, I was on chocolate overload by the time I was through! If you’re looking for a sweet treat that won’t break the bank and will still allow you to eat a meal after an hour or so, this is a great one to try! You can find ‘em all over Disneyland at all of the standard stops — Marceline’s, Candy Palace, Trolley Treats, etc. Have you tried a Mickey Mouse cake pop? Let us know in the comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! New Eats and Drinks Debut to Celebrate Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Review: Mickey Mouse Beignets at Disneyland’s Mint Julep Bar Special Eats and Treats for Disneyland’s 24 Hour Diamond Anniversary Celebration View the full article

Dr. Cindy LaRoe dabs her paintbrush into a gray tube of paint and spreads it along the canvas in the living room of her Eustis home. View the full article

It wasn't hard for someone to get a prescription for their favorite narcotic from this "pain clinic," investigators say. View the full article

In resigning from her post Tuesday, Circuit Judge Linda Schoonover wrote that she is "unable to complete my term due to a physical illness that prevents me from performing my duties." View the full article

A recent Sentinel story cataloged the many projects underway next to SunRail stations. View the full article

Hello from The Big Apple! New York, New York. The City that Never Sleeps. New York City is an iconic destination, and it’s a place I have visited many times (and it’s the locale I’m writing you from right now). It’s also filled with seemingly endless entertainment, which is why, despite my many visits, I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of seeing everything that this most famous of U.S. cities has to offer. That’s why I’m excited to say that the next time I visit the Empire State will be on an Adventures by Disney New York City Long Weekend vacation. While this trip visits some of the legendary sites you would expect to see on any vacation to New York City, such as Central Park and Broadway, it also visits places you probably haven’t discovered yet, such as the Prop Room at the New Amsterdam Theatre, as well as hidden gems, such as the Tenement Museum. These are places that I’ve certainly never seen before, and through Adventures by Disney I’ll get to experience them in unique ways that I simply couldn’t do on my own, such as learning a Broadway dance number from a professional choreographer. I’ve also visited our other Long Weekend destinations, San Francisco and Nashville, several times before. And yes, I’ve been to Napa and the Grand Old Opry. These are places you’d expect to visit during a vacation to these cities, and Adventures by Disney will take you to see these sights as well. However, with Adventures by Disney you don’t just visit a winery in Napa, you also take part in wine blending (for the adults) and olive oil activities (for the Junior Adventurers). In Nashville, not only will you get to see a show the Grand Ole Opry, you’ll also go backstage for a tour, as well as a private dinner experience and line-dancing lessons. On all of our trips you get to experience the very best of what these cities have to offer, while also discovering places and experiences you probably wouldn’t uncover on your own. And that’s what makes them so special. I can’t wait to share my Adventures by Disney New York City Long Weekend vacation with you later this summer. Until then I’ll share this little sneak peek I recently got of the New Amsterdam Theatre, where the Broadway production ALADDIN is currently playing. And yes, that is me standing on the stage! These are the types of exclusive experiences you get with Adventures by Disney. Uncover Hidden Gems on Adventures by Disney Long Weekend Vacations by Amanda Adler: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

It broke more than just records. View the full article

"19 Kids and Counting" could return to TLC's schedule, despite the recent controversy surrounding the show. View the full article

On Memorial Day, Disneyland park guests lined Main Street, U.S.A. during the daily flag retreat ceremony to pay respect to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Dozens of veterans, reservists and active duty members of the armed forces came to participate in the ceremony. During his official dedication of Disneyland park, Walt Disney said Disneyland is dedicated to “the hard facts that have created America” – a sentiment evidenced by this photo. Memorial Day Flag Retreat Ceremony at Disneyland Park Honors Fallen Soldiers by Kevin Rafferty, Jr.: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article