Orlando Health Planning Expansion of Osceola Emergency Room into Acute Care Hospital
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Families across Osceola County now have access to a new early literacy program designed to help children build reading and language skills before they enter kindergarten.
The Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County, in partnership with Experience Kissimmee, Wild Florida, Osceola Reads, and the Osceola Library System, has launched Read to Rise, a countywide family literacy initiative that provides free educational resources, hands-on activity kits, and learning opportunities for children from birth through age 6.
Orlando Health Trabaja en Planes para Expandir su Sala de Emergencias en Osceola y Convertirla en un Hospital de Cuidados Agudos
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Orlando Health confirmó que está trabajando en planes para expandir el Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion – Osceola y convertirlo en un hospital de cuidados agudos que atendería las crecientes necesidades de atención médica de los residentes del condado de Osceola.
En una declaración proporcionada a Positively Osceola, Orlando Health señaló que la organización mantiene su compromiso de seguir brindando la atención médica compasiva y de alta calidad que sus equipos ofrecen a las comunidades a las que tiene el privilegio de servir.
Osceola Clerk & Comptroller Kelvin Soto’s Office Offers Virtual
Queue System to Improve Customer Service
The Osceola Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller has officially entered a new era of customer service with the rollout of its virtual queue system, a modernization effort designed to reduce wait times and improve the overall courthouse experience for visitors.
The system reflects Clerk & Comptroller Kelvin Soto’s continued commitment to efficiency, accessibility, and innovation across county services.
With the virtual queue now fully operational, visitors can join the line digitally using their smartphones upon arrival.
Guests simply scan a QR code located near the elevators on the second floor to enter the queue, eliminating the need to wait in traditional lines.
Once checked in, visitors receive real-time notifications on their phones when a customer care representative is ready to assist them, allowing individuals to wait comfortably in their vehicles, a nearby coffee shop, or designated courthouse waiting areas.
The system also streamlines check-in for residents with scheduled marriage or passport appointments, who are able to confirm their arrival through an email or text message upon entering the courthouse.
Kissimmee Utility Authority Encourages Residents to Seal Doors and Windows to Reduce Summer Energy Costs
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As Central Florida’s summer heat continues to drive up air conditioning use, Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) is reminding customers that one of the easiest ways to improve home comfort and lower energy bills is by making sure doors and windows are properly sealed.
As part of its Summer Smart Squad energy efficiency campaign, KUA is encouraging residents to inspect their homes for gaps and cracks around doors and windows where cool air can escape.
Even small air leaks can force air conditioning systems to work harder, increasing energy consumption and utility costs during the hottest months of the year.
KUA Recomienda Sellar Puertas y Ventanas para Reducir los Costos de Energía Durante el Verano
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Mientras el intenso calor del verano continúa aumentando el uso del aire acondicionado en el centro de la Florida, la Autoridad de Servicios Públicos de Kissimmee (KUA) recuerda a sus clientes que una de las formas más sencillas de mantener el hogar cómodo y reducir el consumo de energía es asegurarse de que las puertas y ventanas estén correctamente selladas.
Osceola School District
Transportation
Parent Hotline Opens August 3
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Families preparing for the start of the 2026-2027 school year will have additional support beginning August 3 as the Osceola School District launches its Transportation Services Parent Hotline to assist with school bus questions and other transportation needs.
The hotline will be available in both English and Spanish by calling 407-483-3673. Representatives will answer calls Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Parents will also be able to view their child’s bus route beginning August 3 through the district’s online Bus Planner eligibility portal.
In addition to the hotline, the district is encouraging families to use its Onflo online customer service platform for back-to-school questions. By selecting the “Contact Us” tab on the right side of the Osceola School District’s website, parents can submit questions in either English or Spanish and receive responses by email.
District officials said both the Transportation Services Parent Hotline and the Onflo platform will remain available throughout the school year, providing families and community members with continued access to transportation information, assistance, and support.
The first day of school for Osceola School District students is Monday, August 10.
Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Reminds Voters to Renew Vote-by-Mail Requests for 2026 Elections
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The Osceola County Supervisor of Elections Office is reminding voters that vote-by-mail requests must be renewed for each election cycle, as required under Florida law.
Supervisor of Elections Mary Jane Arrington announced that the office is mailing notices to registered voters across Osceola County who currently do not have an active vote-by-mail request on file for the 2026 election cycle.
According to the Elections Office, Florida voters who wish to receive a vote-by-mail ballot must submit a new request each election cycle. Officials say the deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is 12 days prior to an election.
Supervisora de Elecciones del Condado Osceola Recuerda a los Votantes Renovar sus Solicitudes de Voto por Correo para las Elecciones de 2026
ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Una investigación de varios meses sobre una vivienda problemática en St. Cloud terminó con el arresto de 11 personas la mañana del jueves, luego de que la policía ejecutara una orden de allanamiento en una casa ubicada en West New Nolte Road.
Según el St. Cloud Police Department, oficiales trabajaron junto al Kissimmee Police Department en la residencia ubicada en 810 W. New Nolte Road, propiedad que había generado más de 40 llamadas de servicio en lo que va del 2025.
Universal Orlando Sets Closing Date for Fast & Furious –Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida (August 16)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Orlando Resort has announced that Fast & Furious – Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida will permanently close on August 16, 2026, ending an eight-year run for the attraction inspired by the blockbuster film franchise.
The announcement came in a message to Universal Orlando Annual Passholders, confirming the attraction’s final operating day as the resort continues preparations for its next major thrill ride, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
Universal had previously indicated the attraction would remain open into 2027, making the newly announced August closing date several months earlier than many fans expected. The resort has not announced what will replace the current attraction’s location within the San Francisco section of Universal Studios Florida. Fast & Furious – Supercharged opened in 2018, inviting guests aboard a “party bus” for a screen-based adventure through the world of Dominic Toretto and his crew.
The attraction featured appearances by several stars from the film series, including Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson, as riders became part of a high-speed chase through the streets of San Francisco.
Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital ENT Specialist Dr. Thuong Trinh Shares Allergy and Sinus Health Insights on Coffee Talk
ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Residents across Osceola County recently had the opportunity to learn more about seasonal allergies, sinus issues, and ear, nose, and throat health during a special edition of Positively Osceola's Coffee Talk LIVE featuring Dr. Thuong H. Trinh, an ear, nose, and throat specialist with Orlando Health Medical Group.
Joining Positively Osceola Vice President Keith Ronan in downtown St. Cloud, Dr. Trinh discussed one of Central Florida's most common health challenges: seasonal allergies and the impact they can have on daily life.
La Especialista en Otorrinolaringología del Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, Dra. Thuong Trinh, Comparte Información Sobre Alergias y Salud Sinusal en Coffee Talk LIVE
ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Los residentes de todo el condado de Osceola tuvieron recientemente la oportunidad de conocer más sobre las alergias estacionales, los problemas sinusales y la salud del oído, la nariz y la garganta durante una edición especial de Coffee Talk LIVE de Positively Osceola, que contó con la participación de la Dra. Thuong H. Trinh, especialista en otorrinolaringología de Orlando Health Medical Group.
Acompañando al vicepresidente de Positively Osceola, Keith Ronan, en el centro de St. Cloud, la Dra.
Osceola Sheriff’s Office Reminds Families About Autism Initiative Designed to Enhance Emergency Response
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fl. — The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is reminding families of individuals with autism about its ongoing Autism Initiative, a voluntary program designed to provide deputies with critical information before responding to a home or vehicle, helping improve communication and enhance safety during emergency situations.
Available to residents in unincorporated Osceola County, the program provides free autism awareness decals for homes and vehicles. The decals alert responding deputies that an individual with autism may be present, allowing first responders to apply specialized training and tailor their approach to the individual’s unique needs.
La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Osceola Recuerda a las Familias la Disponibilidad de su Iniciativa para Personas con Autismo
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — La Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Osceola recuerda a las familias de personas con autismo la disponibilidad de su Iniciativa para el Autismo, un programa voluntario diseñado para proporcionar a los agentes información importante antes de responder a una residencia o vehículo, con el propósito de mejorar la comunicación y reforzar la seguridad durante situaciones de emergencia.
Early Voting Begins August 7 in Osceola County; 11
Convenient Locations Available for 2026 Electionse
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As the 2026 election season approaches, the Osceola County Supervisor of Elections is encouraging voters to make a plan now by taking advantage of Early Voting, which offers registered voters the flexibility to cast their ballots before Election Day at any designated early voting location throughout the county.
For the 2026 Primary Election, Early Voting will be held Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, August 18, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
La Votación Anticipada Comienza el 7 de Agosto en el Condado de Osceola; 11 Centros Estarán Disponibles para las Elecciones de 2026
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A medida que se acerca la temporada electoral de 2026, la Supervisora de Elecciones del Condado de Osceola invita a los votantes a planificar con anticipación y aprovechar la Votación Anticipada, una opción que ofrece mayor flexibilidad para emitir su voto antes del Día de las Elecciones en cualquiera de los centros autorizados del condado.
Osceola’s Nick Palmi Powers His Way Onto Major League Baseball Scouts’ Radar
If he were a song, Nick Palmi would be climbing the Billboard Charts “With a bullet.”
The 2024 Osceola High standout has used an incredible year to not only secure a Division-1 scholarship, but has also started to capture the attention of Major League baseball organizations – all the way to the point where he was contacted by those scouts during the past Major League Draft in June.
Despite the positive developments, things did not start smoothly for Palmi year.
Signing with the College of Central Florida out of high school, Palmi was told after the exhibition fall season that they wanted to redshirt his freshman year. Their reasoning was that they had some returning upper-classmen at his position and wanted to preserve his four years of eligibility.
“That was a really a hard decision to accept. To me, the only way to really get better at baseball is to play. Instead, I ended up going to the practices and workouts and then had to watch the games,” he said. “It was hard to stay focused. but I decided to use that year to get bigger and stronger.” He did just that, using the year to add 15 pounds of muscle to his 5-11, 185-lb. frame.
But another decision he made, however, was to find another place to play. “Without any stats from the year before, there weren’t a lot of schools beating my door down,” Palmi said.
Kissimmee Utility Authority Releases 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide Ahead of Atlantic Hurricane Season
KISSIMMEE — As the start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches, Kissimmee Utility Authority has released its annual 2026 Osceola Hurricane Guide, a free bilingual preparedness handbook designed to help residents across Osceola County prepare for potential tropical weather threats.
The comprehensive guide is produced through a partnership involving KUA, Osceola County, the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, Toho Water Authority, the Osceola County Property Appraiser’s Office, and UF IFAS Extension.
According to KUA, the handbook includes important information on emergency shelters, evacuation routes, generator safety, disaster supply checklists, power outage restoration procedures, and key emergency contact numbers.
KUA Publica la Guía de Preparación para Huracanes 2026 Antes del Inicio de la Temporada
KISSIMMEE — Ante el inicio de la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico 2026, Kissimmee Utility Authority publicó su Guía de Huracanes de Osceola 2026, un manual gratuito y bilingüe diseñado para ayudar a los residentes del condado de Osceola a prepararse para posibles amenazas tropicales.
La guía integral fue desarrollada en colaboración con KUA, el condado de Osceola, las ciudades de Kissimmee y St. Cloud, Toho Water Authority, la Oficina del Tasador de Propiedades del Condado de Osceola y UF IFAS Extension.
Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital Among Three Orlando Health Facilities Named Best Places to Work
ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Three hospitals within the Orlando Health system have been recognized nationally by Modern Healthcare as part of its 2026 Best Places to Work in Healthcare program.
Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital, Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, and Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital, each earned the national distinction, which recognizes healthcare organizations that foster positive workplace environments and employee satisfaction.
The recognition continues a strong streak for the healthcare system. Orlando Health officials said at least one Orlando Health hospital has been named to the Best Places to Work list for six consecutive years. Orlando Health St. Cloud Hospital earned the honor for the fifth straight year, while Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute received the recognition for the third consecutive year. Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital has now been recognized six times since 2020.
“Our three selected hospitals are among only 150 healthcare companies and organizations nationwide recognized by Modern Healthcare as best places to work,” said Colleen Harper, vice president of Human Resources for Orlando Health. “This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering a culture where team members feel valued, supported and proud of the work they do.”
Special Prosecutor Finds Clear Probable Cause to Pursue Impeachment of Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A court-appointed special prosecutor has found “clear probable cause” to pursue articles of impeachment against Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa following an ethics investigation centered on the City’s Business Boost 2.0 grant program.
Downs reviewed seven alleged violations of the City of Kissimmee’s Code of Ethics. The report recommends no further action on the first four counts but finds clear probable cause on Counts 5, 6 and 7, which involve an alleged prohibited conflict of interest, failure to disclose financial interests and failure to follow an advisory opinion issued by the City Attorney.
Fiscal Especial Determina Clara Causa Probable para Impulsar la Destitución de la Alcaldesa de Kissimmee, Jackie Espinosa
KISSIMMEE, Florida. — Una fiscal especial designada por el tribunal determinó que existe “clara causa probable” para impulsar artículos de destitución contra la alcaldesa de Kissimmee, Jackie Espinosa, tras una investigación ética centrada en el programa de subvenciones Business Boost 2.0 de la ciudad. Las conclusiones se detallan en un informe de 13 páginas presentado el jueves por la fiscal especial Mayanne Downs, y también fueron reportadas por WFTV Channel 9, WESH 2 News y Jordan Meade de Spectrum News 13.
Stranger Things Final Season Coming to Life at Halloween Horror Nights 2026
ORLANDO, Fla. — Fans of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things will once again step into the terrifying world of the Upside Down as Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights unveils an all-new haunted house inspired by the fifth and final season of the acclaimed series.
Developed in partnership with Netflix, the new attraction will debut at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood as part of the 2026 Halloween Horror Nights season. The experience is designed to immerse guests in the climactic battle to save Hawkins, bringing some of the final season’s most memorable scenes, characters, and supernatural threats to life.
La Temporada Final de Stranger Things Cobra Vida en Halloween Horror Nights 2026
ORLANDO, Fla. — Los fanáticos de la exitosa serie de Netflix Stranger Things volverán a adentrarse en el aterrador mundo del Upside Down cuando Halloween Horror Nights de Universal presente una nueva casa embrujada inspirada en la quinta y última temporada de la aclamada producción.
Desarrollada en colaboración con Netflix, la nueva atracción debutará tanto en Universal Orlando Resort como en Universal Studios Hollywood como parte de la temporada 2026 de Halloween Horror Nights.
