REEDY CREEK

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Charbel Barakat to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District on Friday.

Michael Sasso has resigned from his position as vice chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board, News 6 has confirmed.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has thrown the latest punch in his ongoing feud with Florida's largest employer, Walt Disney World, by signing a bill aimed at voiding the former Reedy Creek Improvement District's development deal with the theme park and media giant.

The Florida Senate on Tuesday backed a measure that would lead to state oversight of Walt Disney World’s monorail system, as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ fight with the entertainment giant continues to expand.

On Monday morning, the board of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District will meet to discuss one thing — Disney’s lawsuit against them.

The Walt Disney Company is going to court against Gov. DeSantis and the state of Florida, as the fight between DeSantis and Disney continues.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked board members told concerned business owners their taxes would be raised to help pay for lawyers during the governor’s ongoing fight with Disney.

Changes could be in the works for Walt Disney World as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ newly appointed board overseeing the theme park’s taxing district is meeting on Wednesday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced steps he’s taking to reclaim power over Disney’s special district at a news conference Monday at the Reedy Creek Administration Building in Lake Buena Vista.

Despite tensions between the Walt Disney Company and Florida’s governor, Disney’s CEO says he would be glad to meet with Governor Ron DeSantis and hash out their differences.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would not go into specifics Friday, but he promised that he and the state Legislature would take “very, very strong action” in the coming weeks against Disney for an agreement that serves to strip the new district that oversees Disney World property of much of its power.

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger addressed the ongoing feud between the theme park giant and Ron DeSantis on Monday hours after the Florida governor fired back at the former Reedy Creek Improvement District, requesting an investigation.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired back at the former Reedy Creek Improvement District and requested a state investigation be launched Monday after learning Disney stripped his special board of its power.

On Feb. 8, several dozen spectators took their seats inside the administrative offices of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formerly known as Reedy Creek Improvement District, to attend a previously-scheduled public meeting of the special taxing district’s board of supervisors.

On Feb. 8, several dozen spectators took their seats inside the administrative offices of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formerly known as Reedy Creek Improvement District, to attend a previously-scheduled public meeting of the special taxing district’s board of supervisors.

"This essentially makes Disney the government," board member Ron Peri said.

Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell said lawmakers can get pulled into some pretty strange positions by Florida’s special interest groups.

It was an emotional start during the first meeting of the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District—the newly renamed Reedy Creek Improvement District—Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his appointment of five members to the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, formerly the Reedy Creek District.

Control over Disney’s special district officially went to the hands of Florida as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill renaming and remaking Reedy Creek.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will soon take control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district.

Florida House Lawmakers in Tallahassee passed a bill Thursday that will change the governing body that runs Walt Disney World property in the latest chapter of the fight between Florida Gov. DeSantis and Walt Disney World.

The Florida House is ready to take up a proposal that would shift control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and give it a new name.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District board met amid a special session that could give Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis control over the Disney district.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference on Wednesday at an appliance store in Ocala to highlight tax relief proposals he made earlier this month when pitching a $114.8 billion state budget.

Florida lawmakers are meeting to complete a state takeover of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district and expand a migrant relocation program.

Florida’s lawmakers will go to Tallahassee next week for a special session to handle a number of issues, including reforming Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Highs rebound to the low 70s Saturday afternoon

The Florida Legislature will get Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to remake the special taxing district for Walt Disney World in the upcoming legislative session, according to a notice filed in Osceola County.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office on Friday pushed back against a published report that claimed state lawmakers were working to reinstate Disney’s own government.

Lawmakers prepare to meet Tuesday in an organization session involving a series of changes in subcommittees.

Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterated his promise that Florida's taxpayers will not take on Walt Disney World's debt when and if the Reedy Creek Improvement District dissolves in 2023, teasing that he may have some legislative measures in place to prevent that from happening.

Democratic state lawmakers are set to hold a news conference Monday morning to address the new Florida law which will dissolve six special districts in the state, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District which allows Walt Disney World to self-govern.

A Maitland attorney specializing in local government issues said the law stripping Disney of its special governing powers will not hold up in court.

The breakfast of champions. A big bowl of cereal filled with orange juice.

The Board of Supervisors for Reedy Creek will meet for the first time since the state legislature voted to strip Disney of its self-governing power.

After driving under Walt Disney World’s entrance archways and winding past theme parks and hotels, resort visitors may find themselves outside the guarded gate of an elite residential community containing some of Central Florida’s most expensive real estate.

In taking on Disney, Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is testing the limits of his combative leadership style.

With the state legislature passing a measure to strip Walt Disney World of its self-governing powers, concerns are increasing for what kind of an impact it will have on Central Florida.

The Florida Senate voted Wednesday to eliminate Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, alongside districts populated by Black Democrats, backing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed redistricting plan.

News 6 political expert Jim Clark weighs in on a special session in Florida that could do away with the Reedy Creek District at Disney World.

Toward the end of a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach on Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis commented on the possibility that state lawmakers could move to repeal the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act over Disney’s stated and financial opposition to the recently signed “Parental Rights in Education” bill.

Thousands of runners have arrived at Walt Disney World for the inaugural runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend.

Indulge in barbeque, enjoy live music and support local at the upcoming Grant BBQ Fest.

The rights of Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney's own government, are now being discussed among some Florida lawmakers following controversy surrounding the company's response to Gov. DeSantis' "Don't Say Gay" bill.

A Reedy Creek representative said the timeline for Grants illness doesnt fall into the accepted CDC guideline of two to 17 days because he started showing symptoms 24 hours after contact with the paramedics. The Reedy Creek communications manager told News 6, We did pull all the EMS reports from June 23 (a week prior to the first person showing symptoms). Reedy Creek paramedics Steven Provost and Brian Astleford were on the June 29 call to Disney Springs and tested positive for the coronavirus four days later. Were on the front lines dealing with COVID everyday, Grant told News 6. They are a lot of employers in Florida simply saying you cant prove you contracted this disease on the job.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Tanya McKay took the podium before state lawmakers in Tallahassee last year to urge the passage of legislation that would provide coverage for first responders diagnosed with work-related cancer. Grasso had been with Reedy Creek for two years short of the five consecutive years mandated under the law. Both Bichler and Grasso tell News 6 Grasso’s 13 years as a firefighter in Florida communities from Sumter County to Reedy Creek more than meets the standard of service. Grasso’s cancer is in remission and he has returned to work but doctors say there is no guarantee the cancer will not return. Bichler is currently representing firefighters and their families in Seminole County, Reedy Creek and Clay County.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Guests at Animal Kingdom were escorted off of a popular ride at Disney World on Thursday. Disney officials said first responders with Reedy Creek were called to check out possible smoke at the Flight of Passage ride. Guests were briefly evacuated, according to Disney. The guests were brought back after the ride was cleared and working again.

Reedy Creek firefighter denied cancer benefits suing agencyPublished: November 13, 2019, 12:27 pmPaul Grasso’s 13-year career as a firefighter led him to his dream job with Reedy Creek in 2017 and a legal fight for cancer benefits less than two years later.