All articles tagged with #orlando
At Orlando's Kia Center, a Duel: Arena kickboxing event was marred by a Nazi rally as Paul Miller, a far-right influencer, displayed Nazi symbols and caused clashes; Miller saluted after winning against Ben Azoulay, prompting viral footage and calls to reconsider venue policies. Orlando Venues said they condemn hate speech but cannot deny access due to the First Amendment, highlighting the tension between safety and free expression.
A city-owned Orlando arena hosted a kickboxing event featuring an extremist fighter known as GypsyCrusader, who twice gave Nazi salutes and launched a tirade against his Jewish opponent after winning, while a swastika flag was waved in the crowd. The incident drew swift condemnation from faith leaders and officials, and Orlando Venues said it would review policies to prevent future antisemitic displays.
WalletHub’s 2026 study names Orlando, Miami and Tampa as the top three places to retire in the US, with Fort Lauderdale at eighth. The ranking compares 182 cities across affordability, activities, quality of life and health care; Florida cities dominate the Top 10, with Miami excelling in retirees’ activities and volunteer opportunities that boost its score.
WalletHub's 2026 Best and Worst Places to Retire ranks Florida cities at the top, with Orlando, Miami and Tampa leading due to low taxes, favorable cost of living and strong senior amenities like healthcare and recreational opportunities; Scottsdale and Casper follow for quality of life and affordability, while the bottom five retiree spots are Stockton, San Bernardino, Newark, Fresno and Rancho Cucamonga in California. The report emphasizes balancing taxes and expenses with opportunities for paid work or volunteering, plus political considerations around Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
A Cleveland family of five spends six days in Orlando, mainly at Universal with an Epic Universe visit and one Disney day, totaling about $8,620 before rewards. They flew Frontier to save time, stayed in two Terra Luna Resort rooms to fit everyone, used four-day park-to-park tickets (skipping Express Pass), and offset costs with a $300 dining credit per room plus $1,920 in credit-card rewards, leaving roughly $6,700 out-of-pocket. The family says it was worth the memories.
A 31-year-old Orlando woman, Brittany Clark, was killed when a 12‑to‑13‑foot alligator attacked her in just three feet of water in the Econlockhatchee River in central Florida; her boyfriend and best friend witnessed the assault and CPR was performed, but she died. Wildlife officials later found and killed two large alligators at the scene as the investigation continues, with tributes pouring in from family and friends amid a series of nearby gator incidents.
Ten years after the Pulse nightclub shooting, survivors Brandon Wolf, Keinon Carter and Tiara Parker describe ongoing physical rehabilitation, emotional recovery, and a shift toward advocacy and resilience. Wolf has become a prominent LGBTQ+ rights advocate and media strategist, Carter faces chronic injuries and a slower return to work while pursuing a center for Black LGBTQ+ youth, and Parker wrestles with survivor’s guilt and depression before transforming her pain into makeup artistry and leadership with Victims First. The piece underscores that healing is non-linear and that communities continue to mourn, memorialize, and push for changes in gun violence responses.
Rosalía has postponed three Lux Tour Florida shows—two in Miami and one in Orlando—due to a family emergency; the dates will be rescheduled and fans are advised to hold onto their tickets as more information becomes available.
The 2026 Florida MICHELIN Guide adds six area venues to the general recommendations, while Orlando’s star lineup mostly remains intact. Two restaurants, Capa at the Four Seasons and Papa Llama, lose their stars and are downgraded to general recommendations. Sorekara preserves its two stars, and Camille, Kadence, Ômo by Jônt, Soseki and Victoria & Albert’s keep their one-star status. No new Central Florida stars were awarded. The changes reflect MICHELIN’s statewide expansion and ongoing re-evaluation of the Orlando dining scene.
A pre-trial conference is set for July 16 in Orlando for Ludwig Kaiser’s misdemeanor battery case, with August 10–28 listed as the potential trial window; Kaiser was bailed out by Gunther (Walter Hahn), a longtime colleague and friend, and prosecutors and defense could negotiate a plea, though nothing is finalized yet.
Pro wrestler Ludwig Kaiser (real name Marcel Barthel) was arrested in Orange County, Florida on May 20, 2026, on a simple battery charge related to an April 23 incident at Paramount on Lake Eola in Orlando, where he allegedly punched and pushed Richard Reap. He posted $1,000 bail at 11:20 PM ET, and surveillance footage plus victim identification in a photo lineup supported probable cause; no weapons, intoxication, or shared residence were alleged, and he was ordered to have no contact with the victims/witnesses.
In a WFTV interview, John Morgan warned that if the Rays' $2.3 billion stadium plan in Tampa fails to obtain votes, the team could relocate to Orlando, citing Orlando's large tourism base as a reason; he even suggested he would rejoin ownership if relocation occurs, while Gov. DeSantis said Orlando would bid if the deal falls through and the Rays have said they will evaluate alternatives if Tampa can't approve the deal.
A cellphone video from a Lake Nona gym parking lot shows a Florida pickup truck slamming into and driving over a Lamborghini worth about $250,000. Lamborghini owner Ramon Ferrer escaped unharmed and said he’s lucky to be alive, while the pickup driver’s identity hasn’t been released and no citation was immediately reported. Ferrer bought the car five months earlier; he credited divine intervention and an axle/vehicle issue for his survival as the luxury car was crushed and towed to a body shop for repairs.
Selena Gomez attended the Orlando opening night of Demi Lovato’s It’s Not That Deep Tour, sitting in a balcony seat and posting supportive messages about Demi’s vocals on Instagram. The longtime friends have known each other since their Barney days and Disney Channel careers, with Demi noting on Keke Palmer’s podcast that Selena’s support provided a sense of safety as she entered the Disney era.
Several major U.S. airlines have raised first- and second-bag fees for tickets booked recently, a move that directly affects Disney travelers heading to Orlando or Anaheim. Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaiian increased bag fees (and American tightened basic-economy rules) while Southwest also announced stricter power-bank limits, meaning a family of four could see roughly an extra $80+ in luggage costs on a typical two-bag itinerary, with higher costs on other routes and fare classes. Travelers should check loyalty-program waivers, compare fare classes, and budget luggage fees before booking.