BELLE ISLE

El Potro Grill & Bar, a Mexican restaurant chain in Orlando, is gearing up to officially open a new location in the Belle Isle Shopping Center on Friday, according to a news release.

A group of Belle Isle and Pine Castle residents is pleading for Cornerstone Charter Academy to reconsider their request to demolish the historic Lancaster House.

A man who served 19 years in prison for violent bank robberies was arrested Tuesday in connection with another bank robbery in Belle Isle, according to police.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — Belle Isle police arrested a bank robbery suspect Tuesday who they say had just done almost 20 years in prison for another string of violent robberies. Police say Brown had his bags packed and appeared to be preparing to leave. READ: OnePulse hires new executive director, plans to buy Pulse site from ownerBelle Isle police described Brown as a “seasoned” bank robber who was recently released from prison after serving 19 years for multiple other bank robberies. According to court records, Brown committed four bank robberies in the Baltimore area in 2001 that were noted for the disguises he would wear and the violence he would use towards bank employees. READ: OCPS selects new superintendentBelle Isle police say no injuries were reported in Tuesday’s robbery.

People are flocking to pools, beaches and cooling centers in a swath of the Midwest and South spanning from northern Florida to the Great Lakes, as a heat wave pushed temperatures into the 90s and beyond and may have caused the deaths of at least two people in the Milwaukee area.

IndyCar Detroit Auto Racing Will Power (12) races during the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto race on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya)DETROIT — (AP) — Will Power closed the Belle Isle era with a Team Penske victory Sunday, taking the final Detroit Grand Prix on the island park to reclaim the IndyCar points lead. The win for the Australian was redemption from a year ago when Power controlled the first race of the Belle Isle doubleheader. This year's Belle Isle finale was only one IndyCar race as the event will return to its original downtown street course layout in 2023. The victory was a celebration for Chevrolet, the race sponsor, and its headquarters loom over the Belle Isle course.

Will Power closed the Belle Isle era with a Team Penske victory on Sunday by winning the final Detroit Grand Prix on the island park to reclaim the IndyCar points lead.

IndyCar Detroit Auto Racing Josef Newgarden drives during qualifying for the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto race on Belle Isle in Detroit, Saturday, June 4, 2022. The Spider-Man climb became his signature and Castroneves has scaled the fencing at the Detroit Grand Prix three different times. As the Detroit Grand Prix prepares to exit Belle Isle following Sunday's race, Castroneves wants to replicate that inaugural 2000 fence climb one final time. That three-year run ended in 1991 and the event shifted the next year to the 2.35-mile temporary course called Belle Isle Raceway. Chevrolet is the title sponsor for the Detroit Grand Prix and the race is run in the shadow of its offices inside GM's Detroit Renaissance Center Global HQ.

Helio Castroneves won his first race on Detroit's Belle Isle and celebrated that victory by exiting his car and climbing one of the fences surrounding the temporary street course.

Indycar Indy 500 Auto Racing Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, poses for pictures on the observation desk of the Empire State Building in New York, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig)DETROIT — (AP) — The milk has barely been washed out of Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson’s firesuit and the IndyCar season has gone wild. Belle Isle was a doubleheader the last eight years and Ericsson won on Saturday last season, with O'Ward winning on Sunday. It is just a single Sunday race this weekend, the final time the event will be held on Belle Isle. A speeding penalty on pit road decimated Dixon's shot at a second Indy 500 victory after he'd dominated nearly the entire build-up to the race.

The milk has barely been washed out of Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson’s firesuit and the IndyCar season has gone wild.

I love Detroit. As someone who no longer has the pleasure of living in the area, people are sometimes surprised to hear that -- how much I love the region, that is; but it’s one of those “IYKYK” things. Anyone who has spent substantial time in the Detroit area knows, this area is such a gem.

State and local law enforcement will have extra patrols out on Central Florida lakes this holiday weekend, making sure boaters are staying safe while they have a good time.

Belle Isle Police put out a crime alert after two residents' vehicles were burglarized after leaving a bank.

Funding shortfalls, aging infrastructure, increased visitation, climate change and inequity are challenges for state park systems going into the next century.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — Most of the members of the Belle Isle City Council haven’t won their seat in an election. As of last night, the council has appointed four of its seven members. READ: Weather Alert Day: Strong storms forecast to bring damaging wind, hail to Central Florida tomorrowStan Smith was appointed to District 6. Jim Partin was in the District 6 seat, but resigned because of redistricting and volunteered for District 7. That means there are four appointments and three elected officials on the city council.

The FHP says a car crashed into a building in Orange County.

A crash Saturday afternoon in Belle Isle sent three people to the hospital, according to the Orange County Fire Rescue Department.

Stephanie Hollingsworth's family is raising money to help with suicide awareness.

A Belle Isle police officer has resigned after Volusia County deputies arrested him in DeBary on charges of driving under the influence, refusing to submit...

A Belle Isle police officer handed in his resignation following his arrest in Volusia County on a DUI charge.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — People who live in a Belle Isle condo complex said their homes are starting to show signs of deterioration. WATCH: Channel 9 gets tour of Belle Isle condo seen deteriorating in photosCity inspectors found cracks in the walkways and brought in structural engineers to look at the building. READ: Florida appeals court rules in favor of DeSantis, reinstates school mask mandate banShe called the city of Belle Isle and then Channel 9, when she said she could not get the managers to make repairs. Complex manager Jesus Marrero said he would make the fixes. Marrero said Thursday that in 24 hours he would begin repairs on her unit and try to work with her on the rent.

A pedestrian was struck and killed in Edgewater, officials say.

An investigation is underway after two people, including a child, were found dead in a Belle Isle residence early Sunday, according to the Belle Isle Police Department.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — A child was among two people found dead in a Belle Isle home early Sunday morning, according to police. Belle Isle police officers responded to a 911 call from the home on the 1600 block of Idaho Avenue just after 5 a.m. According to Deputy Chief Travis Grimm, the officers arrived to find two people deceased in the home, identified only as a male adult, and male child. Grimm said the department will provide additional updates as more information becomes available. Download the WFTV news app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — The Belle Isle City Council voted out one of its board members this week after they accused him of possible charter and sunshine law violations and undermining its staff with the things he posted online. Belle Isle City Councilman Rick Miller ran unopposed in the election and took office in April 2021. WATCH: Channel 9 gets tour of Belle Isle condo seen deteriorating in photosBut just four months later, he has been removed by his fellow council members. The issue stemmed from discussions about city business on Belle Isle’s community’s page. WATCH: Parents react after Orange County Public Schools plans to enact universal mask mandateMiller did get due process in a special city council meeting Monday and defended his actions.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — The city is waiting for the structural engineer to determine if walkways at a Belle Isle condo complex are safe. Channel 9′s Shannon Butler toured the property with the owner, who said things may look worse than they are. READ: Photos show Belle Isle condo building deterioratingEarlier this week, Channel 9 obtained photos sent by someone concerned about the deteriorating complex. Channel 9 received one report from an inspector who recommended that a structural engineer make recommendations within a week. READ: Central Florida task force receives hero’s welcome returning from Surfside condo collapseMarrero said if they find that the walkways are damaged and dangerous, he will fix them immediately.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Thunderstorms are expected to move through parts of Central Florida on Wednesday. The storms will move in throughout the afternoon hours. Meteorologist Brian Shields said not everyone will get rain, but there is a 50% chance. Daytime highs will climb into the low 90s. READ: Photos show Belle Isle condo building deterioratingIn the tropics, things are quiet.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. — 9 Investigates is asking local leaders what they plan to do about a condo complex that appears to be falling apart. The issue comes after residents in Kissimmee were evacuated from their condo after it was deemed unsafe. Eyewitness News received a tip asking us to take a look at the condo complex along McCoy Road in Belle Isle. Many of the people at the condo are hospitality workers who struggled last year when the pandemic closed theme parks, hotels and restaurants. Channel 9 called two management companies associated with the complex no one answered and could not leave any messages.

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya)DETROIT — (AP) — Oliver Askew, like most race car drivers, never goes to a track without his helmet — one never knows when a team might need an emergency driver. So he was ready when Arrow McLaren SP needed a replacement for Felix Rosenqvist on Sunday at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park. Rosenqvist was hospitalized following a violent crash a day earlier; Askew drove 12 races last year in the No. Arrow McLaren SP has been vague on what caused Rosenqvist to crash at what the driver estimated to be 100 mph into a tire barrier. Arrow McLaren SP said only that an investigation of the crash "eliminated driver error or any issues related to Chevrolet systems and software, including involving the throttle system.

Oliver Askew got a late call from former team Arrow McLaren SP to be the replacement driver for Felix Rosenqvist in Sunday's IndyCar race at Bell Isle.

Marcus Ericsson raced to his first IndyCar victory Saturday in the action-packed opener of the doubleheader at the Raceway at Belle Isle Park.

Axavier Strick says he was assured his hospital stay would be covered by financial aid, but then he got a $33,000 bill in the mail.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed total U.S. deaths last year beyond 3.3 million, the nations highest-ever annual death toll, the government reported Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)The COVID-19 pandemic pushed total U.S. deaths last year beyond 3.3 million, the nation’s highest annual death toll, the government reported Wednesday. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now top 550,000 since the start of the pandemic. The U.S. death toll increases most years, but last year’s death rate was up nearly 16% compared to the previous year. That’s the largest one-year leap since 1918, when U.S. soldier deaths in World War I and the flu pandemic pushed deaths up 46% compared with 1917.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A missing man was found dead Thursday night at a Belle Isle hotel, which had to be evacuated after a bottle of cyanide was discovered, according to police. The Belle Isle Police Department said officers were called to the WoodSpring Suites, where the man, whose name has not yet been released, was found dead in a room. A bottle of cyanide, which was not spilled, was also discovered in the room, according to police. [TRENDING: DeSantis: Contact tracing doesn’t work | How to track your stimulus payment | Fla. closer to ban for transgender female athletes]AdInvestigators said the hotel was evacuated while crews tested the cyanide. “(A hazmat team) tested the room for the hazardous material and it was negative.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orlando Police Department has confirmed the body found inside an SUV in a retention pond over the weekend is that of the missing woman from Belle Isle, Stephanie Hollingsworth. On Monday, police confirmed the body found in the SUV was the missing mother of three. A memorial was created near the pond Hollingsworth was found. Memorial set-up for Stephanie Hollingsworth created near pond where she was found. Melanie Miller (Hollingsworth family representative)This is a developing story.

Orlando police discover Stephanie Hollingsworth’s vehicle in retention pondPublished: October 19, 2020, 10:04 amThe Orlando Police Department has confirmed that the license plate on a vehicle found in a retention pond matches the license plate on the vehicle of missing Belle Isle woman Stephanie Hollingsworth.

ORLANDO – The Orlando Police Department has confirmed that the license plate on a vehicle found in a retention pond matches the license plate on the vehicle of missing Belle Isle woman Stephanie Hollingsworth. Police said the car was discovered in a pond near Dowden Road and Story Time Drive. A dive team with the Orlando Fire Department said that a deceased person was found inside the car, according to police. However, police have not yet identified the deceased body. Check back with ClickOrlando.com for updates to this story.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. – Belle Isle police want to clear up some information regarding a missing Belle Isle woman who was last seen more than three weeks ago: Her family, including her husband, are not suspected in her disappearance. Stephanie Hollingsworth has been missing since Sept. 25 with few clues as to her whereabouts. On Thursday, Belle Isle Police Chief Laura Houston issued a statement about Hollingsworth and her family, saying “Her husband, Scott Hollingsworth and his immediate family have been ruled out as persons of interest in her disappearance. Houston said social media rumors and accusations against Scott Hollingsworth prompted the statement. [RELATED: WATCH: New video shows missing Belle Isle mom on day of disappearance]They’re seeking assistance from NASA, SpaceX, L3Harris Technologies, Microsoft, Amazon and Geospatial Enthusiasts to use satellites to track the missing woman or her vehicle.

Satellite imagery from space agencies sought in search for missing Belle Isle womanPublished: October 13, 2020, 12:31 pmThe family of a missing Belle Isle woman made a plea Tuesday for space agencies to provide satellite imagery as the search continues for Stephanie Hollingsworth.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The family of a missing Belle Isle woman made a plea Tuesday for space agencies to provide satellite imagery as the search continues for Stephanie Hollingsworth. HAPPENING NOW: Stephanie Hollingsworth’s family making a plea to space agencies to search for stored satellite imagery collected on 9/25. @news6wkmg pic.twitter.com/WBWDztujSd — Ezzy Castro (@EzzyCastro) October 13, 2020“It’s been a while since we’ve had any new information and that’s going to change," Scott Hollingsworth said. “It’s just amazing that we have no idea at this point what happened,” Scott Hollingsworth said earlier. Anyone who has seen Stephanie Hollingsworth or knows her whereabouts is asked to call the Belle Isle Police Department or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

According to officials, the reward is now $10,000 for information that leads to locating the missing mother. The Belle Isle Police Department was offering a $5,000 reward for information. Give us the strength to kind of make it through each day,” Scott Hollingsworth said. If you’ve seen Stephanie Hollingsworth or know where she is, you’re asked to call the Belle Isle Police Department or Crimeline right away. [RELATED: WATCH: New video shows missing Belle Isle mom on day of disappearance]

BELLE ISLE, Fla. – Chad Chitwood said they are doing everything they can to find his missing sister, Stephanie Hollingsworth. The mother of three from Belle Isle was last seen at the Walmart on South Goldenrod Road in Orange County on Sept. 25. Belle Isle Police released new footage of Hollingsworth inside the Walmart. On Tuesday, Chitwood said they are in need of more volunteers for their search and those who can volunteer drones to search from above. The Belle Isle Police Department is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to answers in the case.

New clue released in case of missing Belle Isle motherPublished: October 6, 2020, 9:35 amNew video released Monday shows a missing Belle Isle woman in Orlando on the day of her disappearance, according to Belle Isle police.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. – New video released Monday shows a missing Belle Isle woman in Orlando on the day of her disappearance, according to Belle Isle police. Stephanie Hollingsworth, a wife and mother of three, has been missing since Sept. 25, according to police. “It’s just amazing that we have no idea at this point what happened,” Scott Hollingsworth said. The Belle Isle police chief said they’re searching, too, though they believe she may be in danger because Stephanie’s disappearance is out of character. If you’ve seen Stephanie Hollingsworth or know where she is, you’re asked to call the Belle Isle Police Department or Crimeline right away.

Family and friends of Stephanie Hollingsworth are still passing out flyers hoping for her safe return. “It’s just amazing that we have no idea at this point what happened,” Scott Hollingsworth said. He said his wife, Stephanie, a yoga instructor, was last seen here at an ATM taking out cash after leaving their Belle Isle home back on Sept. 25th. The Belle Isle police chief said they’re searching too, though he believes she may be in danger because Stephanie’s disappearance is out of character for her. If you’ve seen Stephanie Hollingsworth or know where she is, you’re asked to call the Belle Isle Police Department or Crimeline right away.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. – Volunteers began their search Friday morning for Stephanie Hollingsworth, a Belle Isle mother of three, who was reported missing last week. Belle Isle police said Stephanie Chitwood Hollingsworth, 50, was last seen Sept. 25 at her home on Monet Avenue. Belle Isle Police are putting emphasis on the vehicle she was last seen driving, a 2000 silver Chevrolet Tahoe with Florida license plate number Y50XUR. 2000 Silver Chevrolet Tahoe Stephanie Hollingsworth was driving before she was reported missing near Belle Isle. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Belle Isle Police Department via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch line at 407-836-4357 or call 911.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. – A 50-year-old Belle Isle woman was reported missing by her family earlier this week and police are seeking the public’s help in locating the endangered adult. Belle Isle police said Stephanie Chitwood Hollingsworth, 50, was last seen on Friday at her home on Monet Avenue. Belle Isle police said Stephanie last made a debit card transaction at the Bank of America at Hoffner Avenue and Goldenrod Road just before 2 p.m. Friday. 2000 Silver Chevrolet Tahoe Stephanie Hollingsworth was driving before she was reported missing near Belle Isle. 50-year-old Stephanie Hollingsworth has been reported missing since September 25, 2020.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. The Orange County Sheriff's Office and Belle Isle police are continuing their search efforts after receiving reports of a man possibly drowning in the lake. OCSO said around 7:53 p.m. Saturday they responded to the 2900 block of Nela Avenue in reference to a possible drowning. The marine patrol with the sheriff's office searched the waters Saturday night. "This is a sad Sunday morning for us to hear that there might be a possibility of someone in the water," Rivera said. "It's very concerning because this is somebody's loved one that's a possibility that's out there and we don't know who this is going to affect," she said.

BELLE ISLE, Fla. – Belle Isle police said an armed 18-year-old man found sleeping in his car-- still in drive --on Christmas morning is accused of threatening to shoot a police officer. The officer said Reyna was sitting slumped over in the driver’s seat with a bottle of scotch in his lap, snoring. The officer said he saw a black gun holster in Reyna’s waistband and 18-year-old continued to try and reach into his pants. After the officer was able to secure Reyna’s handcuffs, the suspect said “Ima shoot your (expletive) bruh,” according to the report. At one point, Reyna spit on two Belle Isle police officers trying to secure him to a gurney, according to the report.

Newly released body camera shows a Belle Isle police officer continuing to direct traffic after being hit by a vehicle driven by a DUI suspect. Copyright 2019 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.