WFTV Channel 9
Bear keeps returning to Florida home despite thousands spent on deterrents
- Title
- Bear keeps returning to Florida home despite thousands spent on deterrents
- Runtime
- 2:20
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Neighbors in one Deland community say they’re terrified of a bear that just won’t stay away. Since September, the bear has been spotted multiple times in their backyards, climbing over fences, and even walking down the street
Deland homeowner David Stojanovic has spent about $3,000 trying to keep the bear away from his property off Pine Tree Road. He is now begging the state’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for help.
“I’m scared. You just don’t know what’s gonna happen, “said Stojanovic, who has been afraid to let his dog Basil out in his yard and even keeps his 9-year-old grandson inside the home to avoid possible unwanted encounters.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/im-scared-bear-keeps-returning-deland-home-despite-thousands-spent-deterrents/QDUIZJXYQ5DBZM6ITLC27GF2IA/
- Title
- Firefighters arrested after whipping, waterboarding 19-year-old, deputies say
- Runtime
- 2:08
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Four Marion County, FL firefighters were arrested Wednesday for charges ranging from kidnapping to battery after deputies said they whipped, stripped and waterboarded a 19-year-old firefighter in between calls.
The fire chief denounced the hazing incident at the fire station, standing alongside the sheriff who also condemned the act.
- Title
- SeaWorld, theme parks under investigation for partial disability walker ban
- Runtime
- 2:54
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The Department of Justice announced Tuesday its investigating SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica Orlando for alleged disability discrimination.
The DOJ says it launched the investigation after receiving multiple complaints about the parks banning certain walkers called rollator walkers.
The three parks say it took this action for the safety of its guest and employees but so far hasn’t said specifically what concern triggered the ban.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/only-9-woman-behind-doj-complaint-urges-seaworld-act-after-walker-ban/PACVIGADPRCWPI4SVSD4KJ55CY/
- Title
- 94-year-old killed after teen driver crashes into bus days before Thanksgiving
- Runtime
- 2:27
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- A 94-year-old woman and an 81-year-old man died Sunday after a teen driver T-boned a special bus used to transport elderly and disabled passengers in Apopka, Florida.
Troopers said the teen was driving over the speed limit. His exact speed, as well as other factors that may have contributed to the crash, remain under investigation.
Aida Maldonado's family told WFTV she was a beautiful, caring person who lived a colorful life and loved her family.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/94-year-old-returning-daughters-house-killed-apopka-bus-crash/U7ROS3M2MJG65DUE7OO26HEMNA/
- Title
- Cars recalled because their fuel tanks expand -- and burst
- Runtime
- 2:25
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Car gas tanks suddenly expanding is an issue Action 9 first brought to light nearly two years ago. Now, two major car companies are issuing a recall. Kia and Hyundai are recalling more than 300,000 newer model cars.
In June of last year, Scott Meinke of Port Orange showed Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal where the backseats of his 2023 Kia K5 used to be.
“You can see where it’s completely bowed up all through the middle,” Meinke said.
He explained the fuel tank of his car suddenly expanded and popped the rear seats up. His wife was riding in the back seat at the time.
Meinke, recalling his wife’s reaction, said, “She said, she was like, ‘What did you hit?’ And I was just like, ‘I don’t know, I guess a piece of truck tire.’”
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/action-9-investigation-into-swelling-fuel-tanks-leads-major-car-recall/PWR3TFZKRNAO7PHBJUI7VN4K5U/
- Title
- Florida officers still carry controversial gun despite claims it can fire without pulling trigger
- Runtime
- 5:46
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- It’s a gun often carried by law enforcement that some say can fire without pulling the trigger.
Several police agencies across the country have stopped carrying the SIG Sauer P320 because of safety concerns.
But Investigative Reporter Ashlyn Webb has learned some officers right here in Central Florida still carry it despite all the questions and the controversy.
We spoke with the gun manufacturer, SIG Sauer, who consistently denied the gun is defective, blaming the dozens of reported incidents on user error or lack of understanding of the gun’s vulnerabilities. Yet, the company has settled lawsuits with officers for millions of dollars. One former deputy told us this gun changed her life forever.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/9investigates/florida-officers-still-carry-controversial-gun-despite-claims-it-can-fire-without-pulling-trigger/G2IYIXZRMFC5HCQLSYXJFGF2U4/
- Title
- Teen's death on cruise ship ruled homicide: stepbrother remains suspect
- Runtime
- 2:10
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on a Carnival cruise has been ruled a homicide, according to a death certificate issued today.
The certificate, provided to ABC News by Anna’s family, states that her death was caused by mechanical asphyxia (suffocation) on November 6, 2025.
The document specifies that Anna Kepner “was mechanically asphyxiated by other person(s),” although the time of injury remains unknown.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/national/18-year-old-anna-kepners-cruise-death-officially-ruled-homicide-documents-say/NPD7Z5VK6ZEZJCVJYNRTVRR6YI/
- Title
- Police officers being investigated for turning off body cameras during stop
- Runtime
- 3:01
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- 9-Investigates has learned that Mount Dora Police are now investigating how its officers handled a drunk driving investigation involving a Maitland Police officer.
In the body camera videos we obtained and first showed you on Tuesday, you can hear Mount Dora Officer Brandon Buzard stating just before the field sobriety exercise, “I don’t have a line, really. You’re going to put your left foot on the line and put your right foot in front of it,” Officer Buzard state, while reading a script on a small card.
It’s clear Officer Buzard wasn’t quite sure how to conduct the field sobriety exercises required to help get a D-U-I conviction. ”I’m sorry man, I’m going to mess this up. This is the first time doing these,” Buzard states to Maitland Officer Joshua Rotarius who had been out drinking around the county in the hours before he crashed into a car parked at a stop light, according to the report.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news...
- Title
- Water bottle spill blamed for $12,000 car repair bill
- Runtime
- 4:06
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- A Central Florida driver is stuck with a nearly $12,000 auto repair bill after a bottle of water spilled in the back seat of his SUV.
“I was shocked. I was panicked to be honest with you,” said SUV owner Michael McCormick.
His Hyundai SUV is just a couple years old, but the carmaker has refused to cover the repairs under warranty. His insurance company has denied coverage as well.
Within minutes of the bottle falling over, he said warning lights on his display started flashing. By the time he got home, he said the turn signals didn’t work and the car wouldn’t shut off.
He said, “Start/stop (button) nothing happened. Yeah, so the car was totally unresponsive to anything. So, I was probably lucky to get home.”
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/water-bottle-spill-blamed-12000-auto-repair-bill/2EK43NPGZJABFFSOXXIDAJOJHE/
- Title
- Teen killed by arm across her neck on Carnival cruise ship, sources say
- Runtime
- 2:06
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Anna Kepner, who died on a Carnival Cruise in November, was killed due to asphyxiation.
According to the ABC sources, Kepner suffered asphyxiation due to a bar hold, which left two bruises on the side of her neck.
According to ABC sources, she had no signs of sexual assault and did not appear to have any drugs or alcohol in her system.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/18-year-old-who-died-carnival-cruise-was-due-asphyxiation-according-reports/EOY5OMXO3VH2XAZNNFDTT6SQIM/
- Title
- Three Florida deputies shot, one killed during eviction call
- Runtime
- 10:21
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A deputy has been shot and killed in Indian River County, according to the mayor of Vero Beach.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, in an unrelated news conference from Crystal River, said two other members of law enforcement were hurt in the Friday morning shooting.
Channel 9 has learned it happened at a condo complex along Highway A1A near Vero Beach.
Read the latest: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/deputy-shot-death-indian-river-county-others-hurt-reports/4ZJNFELJYFHNLGOSAUY54FSQ3A/
- Title
- Orlando airport to replace ageing tram cars, bringing travel headaches
- Runtime
- 3:29
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Orlando International Airport is set to undergo a major project that will change the way passengers move through the airport.
Work will begin on December 3rd on the Gate Link Replacement Project, which aims to enhance the passenger travel experience.
The $253 million project will replace four of the airport’s aging tram cars and supporting infrastructure, including over 2,000 feet of shuttle lanes connecting the terminal to the gates.
The upgrades promise a more reliable and safer trip for travelers, although it could involve some temporary disruptions during construction.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orlando-international-airport-prepares-multi-year-tram-upgrade-project/GFENVXP2RNACXCISEEWUEAFU4Q/
- Title
- Teen who died on cruise ship shared cabin with 16-year-old suspect
- Runtime
- 2:16
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The teenager whose death on a Carnival cruise ship kicked off an FBI investigation shared a cabin with the 16-year-old suspect in the case, attorneys for the family told a judge Thursday.
ABC News sources said Anna Kepner’s body was discovered wrapped in a blanket, under a bed and a pile of life jackets.
Agents are looking into whether her death came from an altercation with her stepbrother or an overdose. Answers to the swirling questions may not come for weeks until an autopsy and a toxicology report are finalized.
WFTV is not naming the stepbrother since he is not charged with a crime.
- Title
- Police officers switch off body cameras during DUI stop of officer
- Runtime
- 3:13
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- It was just about 11 o’clock on a Friday night when Mount Dora police officers responded to a crash on Highway 441. A man in a pick-up truck crashed into a car that was stopped at a red light. That man turned out to be Maitland Police officer Joshua Rotarius.
The Mount Dora officer responding wrote in his crash report, “to be noted, I could smell the impurities of Alcohol emitting from his person and breath. Joshus also had red glossy eyes and was leaning on his vehicle.”
Initially, Officer Rotarius didn’t want to go through a field sobriety exercise, according to the report. And he told the Mount Dora officers that the driver in front of him suddenly slammed on the brakes, accused the other driver of trying to scam him, claiming the damage spotted on the back of his car was pre-existing.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/questions-surround-maitland-officer-arrest-drunk-driving/PFF6PRQWSBAIZMVBQBPJZZYVAE/
- Title
- Anna Kepner death: FBI suspects step-brother in teen cruise ship investigation
- Runtime
- 2:38
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- 18-year-old Anna Kepner was enjoying a family cruise aboard the Carnival Horizon based out of Miami when her body was discovered on November 8, 2025. According to ABC News, the Titusville teen was found under a bed, wrapped in a blanket and covered by life vests.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner says Kepner’s death occurred on November 7, 2025, but has not yet released a cause or manner of death.
However, newly filed Brevard County court documents—submitted late Wednesday night by Anna Kepner’s stepmother in an unrelated family case—are shedding new light on the FBI’s investigation.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/teen-found-dead-carnival-cruise-court-documents-suggest-fbi-suspect/FIGWKZUSZNF6VHI6EGY2H2TIO4/
- Title
- Florida coffee drinkers are paying more than they should, WFTV investigation reveals
- Runtime
- 5:14
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Canned and bottled coffees are a multi-billion dollar a year industry. They are sold at just about every grocery store and convenience store, but Action 9 found the State of Florida has been getting a bigger slice of money from the drinks than it should have, and consumers have been paying the price.
Ready-to-drink coffees are more popular than ever, and they’re supposed to be exempt from sales tax if bought from a grocery store or convenience store. The Action 9 team learned many convenience stores have been charging sales tax anyway and it’s likely been happening for decades.
- Title
- British woman agreed to pay Florida man to murder her, report claims
- Runtime
- 3:06
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- New documents reveal a British woman agreed to pay a Marion County man thousands of dollars to murder her.
Investigators say the victim, Sonia Exelby, traveled from her home in England to Gainesville, Florida. She then met the man FDLE says is her suspected murderer, Dwain Hall. Investigators say he took her to an AirBnB where he beat her. Her remains were later found in a wooded area of the Marion Oaks community on October 13th.
FDLE found multiple attempted charges to Sonia Exelby’s card from Solver Wolf’s Roadside Assistance. Dwain Hall is the company’s owner and sole employee.
Hall originally told investigators he never met her. He claimed Exelby tried to get roadside assistance, but when her card didn’t go through, he never helped her.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/report-british-woman-agreed-pay-ocala-man-murder-her/G4XWY5PGSZBX3PMY5BRAM23QWI/
- Title
- Cruise ship death: could step-sibling face charges?
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A federal investigation is underway into the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Titusville high-school senior and varsity cheerleader, whose body was found aboard the Carnival Horizon after a Caribbean cruise.
Court filings obtained by Channel 9 reveal that the FBI is investigating what occurred and that one of her minor step siblings may face criminal charges.
The cruise departed from Miami and visited Caribbean destinations before returning to port. According to the family, Anna had recently completed entrance testing to join the U.S. military and was described as a straight-A student.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brevard-county-motion-reveals-new-details-fbi-investigation-into-teens-death-cruise-ship/HVOTC7C5PZCI3KX5ABM4KZ7BDU/
- Title
- Neighbor says man shot bear on her property. Was it self-defense?
- Runtime
- 2:24
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Florida officials are investigating the case of a man who is accused of shooting a black bear on his neighbor's land, despite the neighbor telling him not to.
Wildlife laws in Florida allow people to shoot bears when their life is in danger.
The man claims the bear was charging at him. His neighbors dispute that claim.
- Title
- Florida city can't explain why staff made luxury purchases with taxpayer money
- Runtime
- 2:22
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A travel expense report 9 Investigates obtained shows Daytona Beach employees took business class flights, accumulated large bills at restaurants, and rented higher-class vehicles at the city’s expense.
The findings are from an auditor hired by the city commission to review the city’s finances.
The report indicated that the city could have saved over $120,000 annually on travel expenses if it had been more closely monitored. The auditor was unable to find receipts or explanations for some of the expenses, which are all covered by taxpayers.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/travel-report-shows-daytona-beach-employees-upgraded-flights-incurred-large-city-expenses/LBNI6O3SQNEGVIWBJJKMPI4IUQ/
- Title
- Controversial Orlando police shooting: warrant, video reveal new details
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Newly released body-camera video and search warrant records are shedding light on the drug investigation that brought Orlando police to a tattoo shop on Edgewater Drive Friday, moments before officers opened fire and killed 20-year-old Kaleb Williams.
The search warrant obtained by Channel 9 details a months-long narcotics investigation into the shop, sparked by an anonymous tip in September alleging drug sales, gang activity, and firearm possession inside the business. Orlando Police Department officers had been conducting surveillance in the weeks leading up to the deadly encounter.
According to the affidavit, OPD’s Drug Enforcement Division received a Crimeline tip on Sept. 17 reporting that tattoo artists inside the shop were selling a designer methamphetamine known as “Ice Cream” or “TDA,” along with cannabis and Percocet pills. Investigators wrote that the shop was operating under a booth-rental model — with multiple independent artists renti...
- Title
- Teen boyfriend/girlfriend couple killed in out-of-control crash
- Runtime
- 2:19
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Groveland, Florida community is mourning two high school students after they died in a weekend crash while attempting an illegal pass on a busy road.
Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil, with reminders to drive safely and some calls to update the road that was built before the region developed.
- Title
- New toll road aims to ease Orlando traffic
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Traffic on Narcoossee Road has reached a breaking point. From chaotic to downright abysmal, drivers say the once-manageable commute has turned into an all-day struggle.
“Has it gotten worse?” Channel 9 asked. “Absolutely, no questions,” one driver said.
The frustration is backed by data. Mighk Wilson with Metro Plan Orlando reviewed recent traffic counts and found congestion is skyrocketing.
“In 2022, about 38,000 cars drove through Narcoossee in Orange County per day,” Wilson said. “By 2024, that number jumped to 58,500.”
The Central Florida Expressway Authority believes it has an answer with State Road 534. It’s a 14-mile toll road with two lanes in each direction, running from State Road 417 near Boggy Creek in Orange County to Nova Road in Osceola County.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/new-toll-road-aims-ease-traffic-narcoossee-road/DETBAPNY6ZA7XI4GDTRAC75OSI/
- Title
- Former Florida deputy gets 25 years for killing girlfriend
- Runtime
- 2:01
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A now-former Marion County, Florida deputy will serve decades behind bars for shooting and killing his girlfriend in September 2024.
Leslie Boileau asked the judge for a lighter sentence because he apologized and cooperated. The judge, instead, gave him more than twice the minimum sentence, saying Boileau knew better.
- Title
- Homeowner claims interested buyer just moved in and never bought the house
- Runtime
- 4:18
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A central Florida woman trying to sell her home, instead had it taken over by a man who she didn’t know and who hasn’t been paying any rent.
The man Charlotte Brown describes as a squatter has been in the house more than a year. She hasn’t been able to get him out and the clock is ticking because she could lose the home to foreclosure.
She bought the Winter Haven home in 2021. It’s a large home on lot with woods behind it. She thought it was the perfect place to raise a family.
“I like the space. I like the floor plan. I like the location,” she told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal.
According to Brown, a company helping Torres with the deal requested the keys so he could get the carpets cleaned before he moved in. That’s where the problems started. She said Torres changed title companies a couple of times and the sale never went through. In spring of 2024 he moved in anyway.
Read more: https://www.wf...
- Title
- WATCH: WFTV confronts Daytona Beach city manager about possible money misuse
- Runtime
- 4:22
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Daytona Beach city manager went on a city-contracted radio show Wednesday to discuss possible misuse of credit cards, but he still hasn’t agreed to sit down with 9 Investigates.
We started going through each transaction line by line on Thursday after a commissioner raised concerns about spending. We found thousands of dollars spent on hotels, flights, restaurants and even retail stores and those findings are now getting attention from state leaders.
We called into the live radio broadcast Wednesday after City Manager Deric Feacher said he agreed to appear in an effort to clear up the situation and be transparent with the media.
- Title
- EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Universal’s proposed tunnel/transit system to parks and Epic Universe!
- Runtime
- 3:53
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- For the first time, we are getting a sneak peek at a proposed transit system Universal could build between Epic Universe, Universal Studios, CityWalk, Islands of Adventure and its hotels in Florida.
Many details of this system are still not worked out. It was previously reported Elon Musk’s The Boring Company was in talks to build a new underground Tesla tunnel system near International Drive and the Orlando tourism district.
Other companies that specialize in above-ground self-driving vehicles are involved in the bidding process, which was supposed to be voted on Wednesday. The motion was tabled for a later date.
Channel Nine got ahold of the RFQ for the project that showed proposed station locations and phases.
Explore the map: https://www.wftv.com/news/9investigates/maps-show-possible-universal-studios-transit-system-linking-epic-universe-other-properties/AB4AZCFHQFAOTNPZRZIDMKKSKQ/
- Title
- Health care premiums could more than double for over 4 million Floridians
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- More than 4 million Floridians could face health care costs more than doubling by year’s end. The government funding agreement to reopen the government does not include provisions for extending health care subsidies, which help reduce plan costs.
It was the key issue that caused the shutdown.
In 2021, Congress temporarily approved the extra pandemic-era subsidies, which increased the financial help available for people already enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. The enhanced premium tax credits also made middle-income enrollees newly eligible.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/florida/florida-families-brace-higher-premiums-after-funding-deal-leaves-out-healthcare-subsidies/QZG24LLO2NB2TE7M54KJ6H5T3U/
- Title
- Florida’s only cigar tobacco farm could be wiped out
- Runtime
- 2:17
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A cigar tobacco grower in Lake County is concerned about tonight’s frost, saying it could wipe out his crop.
Jeff Borysiewicz is worried Mother Nature will destroy his entire cigar tobacco crop. “If we get a frost tonight, we will lose all our tobacco.”
To make matters worse, he says crows killed most of his crop last spring, so they just replanted half of the plants.
“We had thousands and thousands of crows that literally pulled the seedling out of the ground.”
Jeff created the farm to help boost the cigar industry locally and create jobs. “It’s kind of like a micro distillery, but a micro cigar tobacco farm just to keep it going for the tradition.”
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/floridas-only-cigar-tobacco-farm-clermont-could-be-wiped-out-by-tuesday-nights-frost/3PZG6EUINFDVJJ6A7T7VVBXF4Q/
- Title
- We dug through Florida city's credit card bills -- and found THOUSANDS in 'red flag' transactions
- Runtime
- 2:44
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Transactions made on credit cards issued by the city of Daytona Beach are now getting attention from state leaders.
Eyewitness News started going through each purchase line by line on Thursday after a commissioner raised concerns about possible misspending.
We have been working to get copies of transactions, receipts and information on the city’s purchase approval process.
We found thousands of dollars in airline tickets and hotel reservations, including Disney resorts. Hundreds of dollars was spent on food at chains like Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’, Honey Baked Ham, Cracker Barrel and Panera Bread. We also found larger transactions like $3,000 at SeaWorld and multiple purchases made at 511 Tactical clothing totaling nearly $2,000.
- Title
- Swerve and Protect: Hundreds of Florida officers caught driving drunk
- Runtime
- 4:45
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A driver traveling on Old Kings Road in Palm Coast was concerned when they spotted a silver Nissan Titan “all over the road” in the middle of the night. They told the 911 dispatcher the driver had gone onto a curb and was now in a McDonalds parking lot.
The driver was a Daytona Beach police officer. He told deputies when they arrived to find his truck on a curb and crashed into a utility pole, that a woman had been driving the truck. That woman was nowhere to be found.
It’s cases like this that prompted 9 Investigates to start looking into law enforcement officers arrested for driving under the influence earlier this year. 9 Investigates has been digging into this for seven months and found case after case of officers getting jammed up and caught driving drunk. And the hundreds of cases we found where an officer lost their certification, or it was suspended, may not even be all of them.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/9investigates/9-in...
- Title
- FBI investigating teen's death on Florida cruise ship
- Runtime
- 1:49
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A Brevard County community is mourning an 18-year-old student who died on a Carnival Cruise ship over the weekend.
Anna Kepner, a senior at Temple Christian School in Titusville, was traveling on a cruise from Miami to the Caribbean when she died. The circumstances surrounding her death have not been disclosed.
Kepner’s family expressed its grief in a statement, saying, “This does not seem real. We all just want her back. She was such a caring and loving sister. She was the oldest sibling in her whole family. She had volunteered to help with her fellow younger gymnasts and her local church throughout her childhood.”
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/trending/18-year-old-passenger-dies-carnival-cruise-fbi-investigates/EGI4SAVU6VA6JKYYK2Q4ABDT74/
- Title
- Could an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history finally be in sight?
- Runtime
- 1:59
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track Monday after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services, the longest in history.
What's in and out of the bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation provides funding to reopen the government, including for SNAP food aid and other programs, while also ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.
But notably lacking is any clear resolution to expiring health care subsidies that Democrats have been fighting for as millions of Americans stare down rising insurance premiums. That debate was pushed off for a vote next month, weeks before the subsidies are set to expire.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/business/deal-end-government/ZX7R3H2K2UYAXNCWDTHQOJHVRQ/
- Title
- Florida weather forecast: COLD night ahead.
- Runtime
- 2:01
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Records will be broken as cold weather moves into Central Florida.
A cold front working through Central Florida Monday morning will drop temperatures throughout the day.
Our warmest temps will be in the early morning hours. The coldest time of the day will be around 10 a.m., according to meteorologist Kassandra Crimi.
It will then be breezy with lots of sunshine in the afternoon with temperatures reaching into the low 60s.
- Title
- WATCH: Florida city manager rushes off as questions swirl about credit card spending
- Runtime
- 2:30
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- BACKSTORY: A Daytona Beach city commissioner is raising questions about what she calls questionable spending on city credit cards. The commissioner did her own public records request to see who has access to the cards and what they’ve used them for.
“Why are we paying for contractors’ employees’ training? This stuff doesn’t make any sense. Why are we paying her cell phone bill? $144 a month,” said Commissioner Stacy Cantu.
Cantu asked for a list of every person issued a credit card in 2024 and 2025, along with their names, job titles, departments, and spending limits. Cantu claims both city employees and contractors have spent thousands of dollars at department stores, and on travel and food.
“Nowhere in this contract that we approved does it say that contractors’ employees get credit cards. Usually, when a contractor needs something, they put a purchase order in, and then they get reimbursed. They should not have access to just ...
- Title
- How Disney, hotels are responding to Orlando flight cancellations
- Runtime
- 5:43
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The effects of the government shutdown were on full display at Orlando International Airport (OIA) Friday after most arriving flights were pushed back, while others never left the ground.
As of dinnertime, the airport listed 29 cancellations and more than 200 delays. The average flight was 20 to 30 minutes late, a snowball effect as air traffic stacked up.
Friday was the first day of the FAA’s air traffic control restrictions in which 4% of all flights at the airport had to be canceled. All but one of the cancellations was announced before Friday or early in the morning. Thirty cancellations were already listed for Saturday.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/dozens-cancellations-hundreds-delays-oia-friday/FQNZIJ4UCJHONJJ76WEXDOI6YA/
- Title
- WINTER ARRIVES! Prepare for chilly blast this weekend!
- Runtime
- 2:05
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Florida will prepare to bundle up this weekend and early next week as a blast of arctic air makes its way to the southern United States. Wind chills will be a factor in the early morning hours and sensitive plants should be brought indoors to keep them safe from the winter weather.
- Title
- Orlando flights canceled ahead of FAA travel restrictions
- Runtime
- 5:51
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- More than one dozen flights to and from Orlando International Airport had already been canceled as of dinnertime Thursday as airlines prepared for the implementation of the FAA’s air traffic control restrictions.
As of Thursday afternoon, 4% of flights were expected to be cut to and from OIA, or approximately 40 flights. The number will gradually increase to 10% by next Thursday if the government shutdown does not end.
OIA leaders said they hadn’t been formally notified that they were on the list of 40 “high traffic” airports. However, information from the airlines suggested the FAA was dealing directly with carriers. Airline leaders posted updates to passengers throughout the day, announcing strategies and offering tips to people anxious about attempting to fly this weekend.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/faa-restricts-travel-which-flights-are-most-likely-be-canceled/SR4TFKH6LZBW5HMDONZM55TYEA/
- Title
- UPS Crew likely didn’t know engine failed before fiery plane crash in Kentucky
- Runtime
- 4:06
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Federal investigators are trying to determine what led to a fiery UPS cargo plane crash at Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport that killed at least 12 people and injured several others.
Dramatic dashcam video captured the moment the aircraft went down in flames, showing its left wing striking the ground and leaving behind a massive trail of fire. One witness said, “There was a huge explosion, believed to be a plane crash, huge fire and smoke.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on Wednesday that the plane’s left engine detached during takeoff. “We have reviewed CCTV security coverage, which shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll,” said NTSB’s Todd Inman.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/aviation-expert-crew-likely-didnt-know-engine-failed-before-fiery-ups-plane-crash-kentucky/RTAGP36PO5BLBIL64ZNCP3V2EA/?outputType=amp
- Title
- FAA Moves to Reduce Air Traffic at Nations Biggest Airports
- Runtime
- 2:31
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic by 10% in 40 high-volume areas starting Friday due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The FAA says it will release the affected locations on Thursday. Orlando, Florida is expected to be one of them. The airport was the seventh busiest in the country last year based on the number of passengers.
- Title
- UPS Plane Explodes on Takeoff From Louisville Airport
- Runtime
- 0:34
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- UPS Plane Explodes on Takeoff From Louisville Airport
- Title
- Florida bridge destroyed by floods could become expensive repair project
- Runtime
- 2:54
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Engineers are coming up with a plan after a bridge partially collapsed and forced 20 Eustis families to evacuate from their homes off Creek Run Lane.
Residents in the Spring Ridge Estates were forced to leave their homes Thursday night and haven’t been allowed back since.
The bridge is the only way in and out of their subdivision and is privately owned by the Spring Ridge Estates Home Owners Association.
Residents were told the HOA already had an insurance claim out on the bridge, but the engineer on site couldn’t answer questions about a timeline for repairs or possible costs to the HOA yet.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/eustis-hoa-could-face-costly-repairs-after-bridge-collapse/M75ONKRCPVE43BV7ZOBQIRJJ74/
- Title
- Florida Lyft driver arrested for pulling gun after riders flee
- Runtime
- 2:48
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- A Central Florida couple just wanted a rideshare home, but instead, their Lyft driver is accused of taking them on a wild ride. He’s also accused of pulling a gun after the couple jumped out, terrified by his driving.
This came to an end at Airport Liquor on TG Lee Boulevard off of Semoran Boulevard in Orlando.
According to an arrest affidavit, the two ran into the store to call 9-1-1. Then, the Lyft driver jumped out of his car, tried to get in the store, and pulled a gun on the clerk.
Channel 9 spoke to that clerk tonight about the tense moments all caught on camera.
Read more: http://wftv.com/news/local/police-lyft-driver-arrested-pulling-gun-after-riders-flee/V63YLV6YMRCIPGTLDBHGEE655I/
- Title
- We Investigated Orlando's Top Restaurant Health Code Offenders
- Runtime
- 5:03
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Action 9 investigates local restaurants and uncovers concerning cases of "food hygiene" violations. The investigation reveals startling details, including cockroach infestations, raising serious "public health" concerns. Stay informed with this "breaking news" report on "restaurant inspection" findings and potential "health and safety" risks.
- Title
- Airport pain continues as government shutdown pinches air traffic control
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Travel delays were adding up at airports across the U.S. on Friday as the government shutdown drags on, putting even more pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for a month.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning that travelers will start to see more flight disruptions the longer controllers go without a paycheck.
“Every day there’s going to be more challenges,” Duffy told reporters Thursday outside the White House after a closed-door meeting with Vice President JD Vance and aviation industry leaders to talk about the shutdown’s impact on U.S. travel.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/business/air-traffic/XL7ZVEWGEU32HOWL2OGDWVLPRU/
- Title
- Deputies chase suspects through Target after crashing stolen car
- Runtime
- 2:31
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- The Florida Highway Patrol said four individuals were arrested after fleeing in a stolen car into the parking lot of a Target store in Orange County.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol to stop a stolen car.
When troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/fhp-4-arrested-after-fleeing-stolen-car-target-parking-lot/UYHHZRAGPFHUPK5S6K23BQ46GQ/?outputType=amp
- Title
- Florida sheriff's wife had secret bank accounts, affidavit claims
- Runtime
- 1:58
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- We now know the allegations that triggered the re-arrest and bail revocation of suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez’s estranged wife.
WFTV was not only the first to break the news of Robin Severance-Lopez’s new arrest last week, but we were the only media there when she was placed in handcuffs and taken to jail.
According to the affidavit, Severance-Lopez lied about not having the money to pay for GPS monitoring and failed to mention multiple accounts she had.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/affidavit-osceola-county-sheriff-marcos-lopezs-wife-lied-about-bank-accounts-bond/Q5PNKN6B7NESLBRIHTYRIR6VBM/
- Title
- Firefighters evacuate 21 homes after bridge partially collapses
- Runtime
- 3:17
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- More than a dozen Eustis families were forced to leave their homes in Spring Ridge Estates Thursday night after a bridge in their neighborhood partially collapsed into a ravine.
Eustis officials got the call shortly after 7 p.m.
The bridge is the only access route in and out of their neighborhood.
The Eustis Fire Department says 21 homes in total are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/21-eustis-homes-evacuated-after-partial-bridge-collapse-thursday-night/ULVWJF3QU5F4PJNQ2JGVFJHJ34/
- Title
- Orlando travel chaos: flights delayed after airport runs out of air traffic controllers
- Runtime
- 2:21
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Departing aircraft at Orlando International Airport were being held back and inbound flights were halted because of a shortage of air traffic controllers Thursday.
The average delay experienced is 161 minutes, or more than two and a half hours. The maximum possible delay is nearly 12 hours.
Members of the FAA union confirmed the issue stemmed from a shortage at OIA’s Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which also guides planes for the other airports in the region like Melbourne and Sanford.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/planes-delayed-orlando-airport-due-staffing-shortage/IFHD4E7DUNF47AJZWZRETC4FXY/
- Title
- Low pay, high risk: Hundreds of crossing guards hit over the last decade
- Runtime
- 5:27
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- They’re out there every school day, standing in the middle of busy intersections with nothing more than a stop sign, a vest, and a whistle. But what you might not realize is just how dangerous the job of a school crossing guard can be.
9 investigates teamed up with our sister stations around the country and the Associated Press to identify the number of crossing guards hit or killed in the last ten years; we found no official source tracks that data nationwide.
Only two states mandate that law enforcement track and report all crossing guard accidents, Florida is not one of them.
Read more: https://www.wftv.com/news/9investigates/pay-is-low-risk-is-high-hundreds-crossing-guards-hit-over-last-decade/NUV7A7MM2VB2DJB3WYF7P4TGNE/
