A massive new charter school is coming to Lake Nona, but it won't be like any in the area
A school bus sits in traffic near Lake NonaKen Storey. Students across the region begin returning to school this week, but next year, students will have another school option. A brand-new STEM and arts-focused charter school is slated to open near Lake Nona next August. The school will be two separate charter schools, sharing resources to provide a consistent educational experience for K-12 education.
Read full storyOrlando’s tourist district will soon welcome one of the nation’s most famous chicken sandwiches
Looking south on Universal Blvd, towards the convention center and TopGolf.Ken Storey. The International Drive tourism corridor is known for its wild attractions and numerous hotels. Beyond the handful of ‘world’s largest’ fast food venues and pizza buffets, much of the corridor is filled with higher-end convention-focused dining options. Still, as tourists gorge themselves on endless pizza buffets or enjoy steaks after a day at the convention center, many locals struggle to find reasonable food options. As thousands of new apartment units are developed in the area and hundreds of new office jobs, the lack of quick, affordable dining options has been magnified.
Read full storyMove over Golden Oak, Disney is about to get a new neighborhood within walking distance
Flamingo Crossings Blvd at the entrance of Disney's College Program housing.Ken Storey. Data from the Census Bureau shows the Orlando metro area, on average, welcomed more than 130 new residents every day during the past decade. That rapid growth can be seen better than anywhere else in the Horizon West area along the western beltway. Once home to seemingly endless rows of orange groves, this western corner of Orange County has quickly become one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation.
Read full storyOrlando wants walk-up windows to be a part of the new normal
After nearly 75 years, Goff's Drive-In on Orange Blossom Trail is still a popular spot for pedestrians to cool off on hot afternoonsKen Storey. On a recent sunny Saturday afternoon, as temps hit the high-nineties, a small line formed at Goff’s Drive-In on Orange Blossom Trail. For nearly three-quarters of a century, the local institution has helped keep locals cool with its creamy soft serve and thick milkshakes; all served from a small window. The walk-up establishment has seen Orlando evolve from a sleepy citrus community to the international destination it is today.
Read full storyOrlando has seen hundreds of shootings this year, City officials hope new street lights help stop them
A street light, with one side burnt out, shines in front of Orlando's City HallKen Storey. After a year and a half that has brought an increase in crime and major decrease in the number of businesses downtown, Orlando is looking at ways to make the city more welcoming. At the top of the list is a significant lighting upgrade that will see more than four hundred downtown streetlights overhauled with new LED bulbs. The project, spearheaded by the Downtown Development Board, will bring brighter white LEDs to light poles throughout the downtown area, including Church Street, Parramore, and Lake Eola.
Read full story