Good Morning! On this day in 1973, SeaWorld Orlando opened its gates. The marine-themed park’s first major attraction was the Sky Tower, a 400-foot-tall observation deck that still operates today.
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is happening now through Jan. 2. The park is transformed into a winter wonderland with millions of lights, holiday shows, festive food, and themed zones, including Rudolph’s Christmas Town, where you can meet and greet Santa, Rudolph, and sea lions.
Tune into today’s Flyover Podcast, where host Ayla Brown shares simple ways you can spread joy in your community through donations during a busy holiday season. Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way in making someone’s holidays brighter. Watch the episode here.
If you’re ready to regain control over your personal information, today’s sponsor, DeleteMe, offers a powerful first line of defense against the data brokers quietly collecting and selling your private details.
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Robert Goodwin of Marblehead, Massachusetts, ran a travel agency that organized a 2024 student trip to Italy and Greece for SeaBreeze High School.
The business, Stone & Compass, collected at least $3,550 from each person. About a month before departure, Goodwin notified the school that the trip had been canceled without returning the money to more than 40 parties.
Earlier this year, Volusia County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Goodwin on four felony charges, including money laundering and an organized scheme to defraud.
Ocala Airport Weighs Adding Commercial Flights
Leaders of Ocala International Airport (OCF), which serves private and charter flights, are in the process of updating its master plan and are considering adding commercial flights.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ocala is one of the fastest-growing metro areas nationwide. The area’s growth means the airport’s needs are changing for its 110,000 annual flights.
The master plan proposes adding a parallel runway, holding pads, and a high-speed taxiway to accommodate increased traffic. Currently, the airport is only used for charter, corporate, training, military, recreational, and air ambulance flights.
The public has shown interest in the addition of commercial flights, but the city says a separate study would be needed to gauge the public’s support.
Florida Writer Honors Dad in Lifetime Movie
Gregory Anderson, a Tallahassee native and Florida A&M University alumnus, wrote the script for Deck the Hallways, a new Lifetime holiday film about caring for his father, longtime FAMU professor Osiefield Anderson, Ph.D., before his death in August.
“The story became about everything Dad taught me, about honoring what matters, celebrating the people we love while we have them, and finding ways to keep their spirit alive,” Anderson said.
Osiefield Anderson, a sharecropper’s son turned professor, taught mathematics at FAMU for over six decades and was known for blending life lessons into his teaching.
“My dad always said that mathematics was about finding patterns and connections,” Anderson said. “In a way, that’s what this story is about too: the connections between generations, the patterns of life that repeat themselves, and how we can solve the variables when everything changes.”
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➤ Escambia County: County commissioners voted to tighten panhandling and camping laws with two new ordinances that include changing the definition of “camping” to include daytime hours. (More)
➤ West Palm Beach: Police announced the dismantling of one of the most entrenched narcotics trafficking organizations operating in the city and across Palm Beach County. Operation Old School was the result of a two-year investigation. (More)
➤ South Florida: Radio legend John “Footy” Kross Jr., 77, has died. Kross served as CEO of Here’s Help, a substance abuse treatment center, for over 50 years. He also entertained listeners on 100.7 and News Radio 610 for over 30 years. (More)
➤ Miami Beach: Camryn Magness, a singer who toured with the music group One Direction, was killed in an electric scooter crash on Dec. 5. Magness was a passenger on the scooter when it collided with a pedestrian. All involved suffered significant injuries. (More)
➤ Tallahassee: The Florida House of Representatives expanded its paid parental leave policy to provide full-time salaried employees with up to seven weeks of paid leave after childbirth. The policy applies retroactively to parents who took leave from Nov. 19, 2024, onward. (More)
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➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars won 48-20 over the New York Jets yesterday. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence recorded five touchdowns. (More)
➤ The Orlando Magic fell 132-120 against the New York Knicks on Saturday night in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. (More)
➤The Miami Dolphins travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers on Monday Night Football. A win would bring the Dolphins back to .500 after a 2-7 start. (More)
➤ Lake Mary High School defeated Vero Beach 28-27 on Saturday night in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship after a successful Hail Mary followed by a lateral as time expired. (Watch Video)
➤Florida Tech women’s soccerwon the Division II championship, defeating Franklin Pierce for the program’s first national title. (More)
➤ Stay warm no matter how cold it gets with Solana Gear Heated Gloves — featuring advanced carbon-fiber heating, three adjustable heat levels, and up to 5 hours of continuous warmth. These weatherproof, touchscreen-friendly gloves keep your hands cozy and comfortable whether you’re skiing, commuting, or working outdoors this winter. (SHOP NOW)
➤ Attorney GeneralJames Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against online gaming platform Roblox for “knowingly” facilitating conditions for sexual predators. (More)
➤ Jacksonville-based tobacco company Swisher plans a $135 million expansion of its smokeless tobacco manufacturing facility. Under the code name Project Newark, the company received $3.5 million in incentives from the city. (More)
➤ Bones Coffee has grown from a Cape Coral startup in 2016 to an expanding manufacturing and wholesale operation. City officials are working to keep the company local as it plans a $27.3 million, 100,000-square-foot expansion. (More)
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➤ Boxing legend Mike Tyson performed his new live show, Return of the Mike, at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Sunday, blending comedy and storytelling. (See Video)
➤ Level99, an interactive, physical gaming facility, will open at Disney Springs in Orlando in 2026, filling the vacancy left by the NBA Experience. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open this summer at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (See Photo)
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➤ A new video reveals a surprising kitchen-made mixture that may help support healthy blood sugar. They say just one tablespoon of this simple blend—made from a few inexpensive supermarket items—has helped thousands feel more in control and enjoy their favorite sweets again. Watch the video to see the ingredient everyone is talking about.
Travel Agent Scams $400K from School Trip
