Nick Papantonis WFTV

Gun-related arrests fall in Orange County amid historic crime drop The number of people being booked into the Orange County jail on gun-related charges fell to their lowest level since the pandemic began, data compiled by the jail showed, just two years after the cou...

The number of people being booked into the Orange County jail on gun-related charges fell to their lowest level since the pandemic began, and comes amid a historic low in the national homicide rate. www.wftv.com/news/local/g...

Immigrants are being handed over to ICE – and then sent right back to jail Under the county’s agreement with federal authorities, immigrants without criminal charges can be housed at the jail for a maximum of 72 hours.

The immigration system is so backed up in Florida, half of non-criminal immigrants booked in the Orange County jail had been handed over to ICE -- and then sent straight back to the jail. www.wftv.com/news/local/i...

Florida’s animal abuser database launches – and is met with disappointment The database was a significant part of “Dexter’s Law,” passed in 2025, which was named after a dog that was adopted and then killed.

Florida has launched its animal abuser database to help adoption groups avoid placing dogs and cats with people who shouldn't own pets. But the database is just a list of names -- leaving every "John Smith" labeled an animal abuser.
www.wftv.com/news/local/f...

YouTube video by WFTV Channel 9 Alligator fights, stolen police cars: everything Florida Man did in 2025

We tracked #FloridaMan all year as he wrangled alligators, stole police cars and hosed down children. Here's the strangest -- and craziest -- stories we covered in Florida. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfVC...

They love their public school. A nonprofit wants to take it over LaQuinda Thomas and Alicia Rosario herded their children past the entrance gate of Orange Center Elementary [OCE] school as a boisterous group of kids chattered and waited for the crossing guard to wh...

A nonprofit organization wants to take control of a public elementary school, in what would be a first for Central Florida.

Read: www.wftv.com/news/local/t...

In Ocala, Florida, school leaders are pushing the state to tighten rules on kindergarten attendance and age requirements after they noticed a rise in the number of 6-year-olds who don’t know their own name and aren’t potty trained. www.wftv.com/news/local/m...

Popular senior bus service axed, leaving some feeling stranded The wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round – until the end of next month for seniors in Orlando apartment towers getting to and from their weekly shopping trips.

A service that gave seniors free rides to and from stores in Orlando has been canceled. Some say federal budget cuts are to blame. www.wftv.com/news/local/p...

New TikTok trend teaches people how to steal fighter jets TikTok has flooded users’ feeds with a felonious lesson: giving people step-by-step guides to “stealing” major military equipment.

Lots of TikTok users are suddenly learning an unexpected skill: how to steal a fighter jet.

www.wftv.com/news/local/n...

Leesburg’s Bikefest, running out of money, to undergo changes After several years of running Bikefest, Leesburg leaders are facing a six-figure dilemma: they only have enough cash on hand to run the event for one more year.

After several years of running Bikefest, Leesburg leaders are facing a six-figure dilemma: they only have enough cash on hand to run the event for one more year. www.wftv.com/news/local/l...

‘Dark fiber’: How engineers say a fragile system brought Florida 911 centers to their knees People who design, build and operate the infrastructure that 911 centers rely on described the state of America’s networks as a looming disaster.

One CEO called it the fiber industry’s “dirty secret.”

Time and time again Wednesday, people who design and operate the infrastructure that 9-1-1 centers rely on described the state of America’s networks as a looming disaster.
Here's why: www.wftv.com/news/local/d...

Three more men accuse Orlando-area priests of abuse, some claims decades old The Orlando Diocese has been hit with three more lawsuits by men who say they were abused by priests when they were children.

The Orlando Diocese has been hit with more lawsuits by men who say they were abused by priests when they were children, though it said one of the named priests never worked for them. www.wftv.com/news/local/t...

He was called a hero during Pulse, but he wants to remember the music instead Chris Hansen said he was ready to re-enter the Pulse Nightclub, nine long years after his life changed in a barrage of bullets.

I met up with Pulse survivor Chris Hansen twice this week, both before and after he toured the nightclub for the first time since the mass shooting. He spoke of the emotions, the memories and his readiness to move on. www.wftv.com/news/local/h...

Meet the tree that could save Florida’s citrus industry Matt Mattia used both hands to flip through the branch at his eye level, studying each side of every leaf as sunlight filtered from above.

Florida's citrus industry might be saved by a single tree growing near Groveland. "The Donaldson" is tolerant of the citrus greening disease that has contributed to a 90% decline of the industry in 20 years. www.wftv.com/news/local/m...

‘We can’t hide kids:’ Sumter County superintendent promises change after student records scandal Sumter County Schools Superintendent Logan Brown accepted responsibility and blame for a scheme made public by report released by the Florida Department of Education.

Overlooked in the scandal department last week: one Central Florida district was caught falsifying student data and setting up "shell schools" to boost ratings and funding. www.wftv.com/news/local/w...

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested Thursday morning.

BREAKING: Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is in federal custody and facing “significant” charges, sources say.

www.wftv.com/news/local/c...

Regina Hill’s team wants key witness barred from testifying Attorneys for suspended Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill have asked a judge to bar a key witness from testifying against her

Attorneys for suspended Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill have asked a judge to bar a key witness from testifying against her, saying she has exhibited a pattern of dishonest behavior as the attorneys gear up for trial.

www.wftv.com/news/local/r...

Autonomous taxi service Waymo begins touring Orlando’s streets For now, Waymo’s cars are being human-driven around Orlando.

Sometimes the news follows you. And that follower is a car that JUST began checking out Orlando's streets. Waymo has arrived (sort of). www.wftv.com/news/local/a...

Complaints about unequal burden of immigration arrests begin to pile up As Florida law enforcement and ICE agents intensify efforts to root out undocumented immigrants, cracks appear in their previously unified public effort.

Orange County taxpayers are shelling out thousands of dollars on inmates who didn't commit any crimes within the county's borders. Meanwhile, another sheriff says he has so many immigration arrests coming in, his inmates are sleeping on the floor. www.wftv.com/news/local/o...

Records claim Checkers employee possibly killed customer over missing mayo packets New arrest records details what police say happened inside a Kissimmee fast food restaurant that led to a customer’s murder.

We're getting a better look at the "argument" deputies said led to a Checkers employee shooting his customer. www.wftv.com/news/local/r...

Orange County Jail inmate, arrested after years in hiding, dies Deputies attempted to treat him, but he was pronounced dead less than an hour later, they said.

A undocumented man accused of touching children inappropriately died in custody Friday, sources told Channel 9. www.wftv.com/news/local/o...

US Army eyeing cuts to Orlando headquarters; 1,000 jobs at risk As many as 1,000 jobs at the United States Army’s STRI headquarters in Orlando could be on the chopping block.

The United States Army and DOGE is thinking about eliminating its Orlando simulation and training headquarters. 1,000 high-paying jobs are now on the chopping block.

www.wftv.com/news/local/u...

310,000 Central Floridians poised to get medical debt wiped out Hundreds of thousands of Central Floridians are about to discover their medical debt has been wiped away.

Hundreds of thousands of Central Floridians are about to get a letter in the mail telling them their medical debt has been wiped away. www.wftv.com/news/local/3...

Winter Garden breathes life into shuttered downtown theatre Winter Garden leaders are moving ahead with their plan to reopen the closed Garden Theatre.

Winter Garden leaders are moving ahead with their plan to reopen the closed Garden Theatre. www.wftv.com/news/local/o...

Tech companies ask judge to throw out AI chatbot teen suicide lawsuit A federal judge in Orlando heard over a dozen attorneys discuss the First Amendment, tech development and corporate responsibility.

Tech companies and developers asked a judge to throw out a lawsuit by the mother of a 14-year-old who fell in love with an AI chat bot and then shot himself. www.wftv.com/news/local/o...

Guardian angel: Code enforcement officer calls in malnourished dogs, leading to arrests Investigators arrested them earlier this month and accused them of starving the dogs.

Orange County is hailing one of its code enforcement officers as a hero for leading investigators to three severely malnourished dogs. wftv.com/news/local/g...

‘Impossible’ achieved: Okahumpka segregated school restoration breaks ground After five years of fundraising and other failed attempts, community members gathered on Monday to ceremonially shovel some dirt.

When you're on the phone with your boss at 7:30a convincing them to let you come in early to do a certain story, you better deliver. So glad I could cover this monumental day in Okahumpka! www.wftv.com/news/local/o...

Immigration arrests are declining in Orange County, jail data shows After an initial surge of immigration-related arrests, data shows bookings are trending down.

Immigration arrests are declining in one of Florida's largest counties, data shows. It's not yet clear if this pattern extends to other counties. www.wftv.com/news/local/o...

YouTube video by WFTV Channel 9 EXCLUSIVE TOUR: Florida jail turned into immigrant gang housing for deportations

EXCLUSIVE TOUR: WFTV was invited to tour a Florida jail that is now being used to house suspected immigrant gang members en route to being deported. Our cameras saw the first groups arriving. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gkh...

YouTube video by WFTV Channel 9 30 peacocks die in Florida town, poisoning suspected

30 peacocks have died near Oakland, Florida. People suspect someone is deliberately poisoning them.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSim...

Orange County community seeks answers after loss of 30 peacocks An Orange County community wants answers after finding 30 peacocks in their neighborhood dead in the last month.

Is someone poisoning peacocks in Oakland? That's what the townspeople suspect after 30 turned up dead. www.wftv.com/news/local/o...