Thousands of teachers & students absent amid Omicron surge

FL schools dealing with Omicron outbreak — Courtesy: Shutterstock — FamVeld Schools in Florida are reporting loads of absences among students and teachers this week, a sign that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is already interrupting the new semester. With COVID-19 cases skyrocketing throughout the Sunshine State, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged to keep schools

Two bald eagle eggs hatch in Florida as the world watches online

Bald Eagle in Nest — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Kane513 Two baby bald eagles have hatched in Florida and warmed the hearts of those watching as it was all caught on camera. The parents, Harriet and her mate, M15, have spent over a month patiently taking turns protecting and incubating the eggs, taking breaks

Hundreds of Santas surf on Florida’s Space Coast on Christmas Eve

Surfing Santa — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: mikeledray In Florida, Santa cast aside his reindeer and sleigh to kick off Christmas festivities with a surfboard. The outstanding event happened at Cocoa Beach on Christmas Eve Friday, when hundreds of surfers threw on their best Santa costumes to celebrate the holiday and benefit local charities.

The quaint Florida town that’s a must-visit holiday destination

Christmas, Florida — Courtesy — Image by: Britt Kennerly FLORIDA TODAY Christmas only comes once a year unless you live in a small town just east of Orlando, Florida. For those who live in the village of Christmas, they get Christmas cheer every day. Christmas is a little town of just over a thousand people.

New area code coming to South Florida in 2022

Aerial View of Palm Beach County (561 area code) — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: pisaphotography WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Palm Beach County will soon get a new area code. The county, which has used the 561 area code for nearly 25 years, will begin using a new code next summer, officials said. The

“Holiday in the Park:” South Florida Youth Symphony presents free holiday concert

South Florida Youth Symphony The Gold Medal and Emmy Award-winning South Florida Youth Symphony will bring their talents to Sunny Isles Beach with a free holiday concert. The nation’s leading youth music organization will present “Holiday in the Park” on Dec. 12 at the Gateway Park Amphitheater, 151 Sunny Isles Blvd. The concert will be

Disney halts vaccine mandate after Florida’s ban

Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Jerome Labouyrie The Walt Disney Company has put a halt to its coronavirus vaccine mandate for employees of its Florida theme park after the State Legislature and governor made it illegal for employers to require all workers to get vaccinated, a company spokesperson confirmed on Saturday.

‘Night of a Million Lights’ returns to Central Florida for its second year in a row

Image by: Night of a Million Lights KISSIMMEE, Fla. — One of Central Florida’s largest holiday displays has returned for its second year this holiday season. Named by USA Today as the “Number One Thing to Do in December in Orlando,” ‘Night of a Million Lights’ is a whimsical wonderland that serves a good cause.

Florida’s business-friendly climate entices thousands of California’s Disney employees to relocate

Walt Disney World — Courtesy: Shutterstock — VIAVAL TOURS Some of the 2,000 Walt Disney Company employees who are being transferred from California to Florida are already eyeing up the housing market near Orlando. “They are already trickling in,” Armel Real Estate owner Deanna Armel told WKMG of the Disney employees looking at homes. “I’m

Need some stress relief? SPCA Florida relaunches ‘Doggie Date’ program

Doggie Date — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Rita_Kochmarjova Need a companion to go shopping with you? How about a lunch date? If so, SPCA Florida is offering you the perfect addition through one of its programs. The “Doggie Date” program, which allows residents to take dogs of all shapes, sizes, and ages (six months old and