Officials issue boil water advisory for Poinciana area near Reedy Creek
POINCIANA, Fla. — Officials with the Toho Water Authority announced a boil water advisory is in effect for customers in the Poinciana area. Toho said a water main break under Reedy Creek that occurred on Saturday would impact customers in the area. Read: Orlando Museum of Art exhibit features Ukraine war photos from local college studentAccording to the utility company, crews are working to isolate the water main south of Reedy Creek and customers who use water for irrigation should limit usage for the next few days. Read: 9 tips to keep yourself healthy during American Heart MonthCustomers are advised to boil water for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes for one minute. Officials said bottled water is a good alternative.
wftv.comAt 10:45 a.m.: Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Tallahassee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning to hold a news conference Wednesday morning. The governor is set to speak around 10:45 a.m. from the Florida State Capitol. Watch: DeSantis: Special session on Disney’s Reedy Creek expected next weekThe governor’s press office did not say what DeSantis is planning to talk about. Channel 9 will be monitoring DeSantis’ remarks and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
wftv.comTitusville treating water system with chlorine dosing
TITUSVILLE, Fla. — If you live in Titusville, you may notice a change in your drinking water. Watch: ‘The Search: Tracy Ocasio & Michelle Parker’: How to watchThe city is starting chlorine dosing in the water distribution system. For the next six weeks, you may notice a chlorine taste or smell. Watch: Reedy Creek replacement in the worksThe city said this is totally normal, and the water is still safe for drinking, cooking and bathing. The process is set to end Oct. 21.
wftv.comDeSantis promises legislation to prevent Disney debt from falling to taxpayers
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.
First Reedy Creek lawsuit against DeSantis filed, but some question its strength
VIDEO: First Reedy Creek lawsuit against DeSantis filed, but some question its strength First Reedy Creek lawsuit against DeSantis filed, but some question its strengthORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — As expected, it didn’t take long for the first lawsuit to be filed against the Florida state government over its handling of Disney World’s special tax district, Reedy Creek. The case, titled Foronda v. DeSantis, challenges the grounds that the governor and his allies used to order the dissolution of Reedy Creek in June 2023. They also say DeSantis violated Florida’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights by dumping Reedy Creek’s bond debt on property owners’ laps, potentially sending their payments up by 25% once the Reedy Creek law takes effect, as Tax Collector Scott Randolph suggested. However, the spokesman repeated a prior statement that the governor had a plan to ensure taxpayers weren’t negatively impacted by the status of Reedy Creek. Sanchez’ lawsuit is expected to be one of several.
wftv.comTexas congressman pushes to eliminate no-fly zones over Disney parks
VIDEO: Texas congressman pushes to eliminate no-fly zones over Disney parks Texas congressman pushes to eliminate no-fly zones over Disney parksORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Texas congressman from Texas is questioning the no-fly zones over Disney theme parks in both Florida and California. This comes after Florida lawmakers recently voted to do away with Reedy Creek, Walt Disney World’s special taxing district. READ: What would dissolving Disney’s Reedy Creek mean for local taxpayers? The no-fly zone states aircrafts can be no closer than an altitude of 3,000 feet and a three-mile radius from the center of Magic Kingdom. “So the criticism of Disney Is that a no-fly zone doesn’t really protect them from anything,” said Dr. Richard Foglesong, author of the book “Married to the Mouse,” which chronicles Disney’s history in Florida.
wftv.comOrlando lawmakers: Gov. DeSantis may replace Reedy Creek with state-run district
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.
What actions could Reedy Creek take after Florida ended its special tax district?
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Reedy Creek officials have released a statement after the state ordered the end of its special tax district. In the statement, Reedy Creek cites a part of the law that deals with contracts. In it, Reedy Creek said Florida’s politicians promised not to interfere with Reedy Creek as long as the district had debt on its books. READ: Reedy Creek leaders meet for the first time since bill signed to dissolve special districtIt was written that way into the charter that set up the district, and Reedy Creek is exploring its options. “Florida cannot promise that they won’t mess with Reedy Creek, and then dissolve Reedy Creek.
wftv.comAs Florida feuds with Disney, GOP voters, donors live inside elite Disney World community
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.
What’s that smell? Rollins College expecting bloom of 2 ‘corpse’ plants next week
WINTER PARK, Fla. — Rollins College is expecting the blooming of two unique and stinky plants. The pair of endangered corpses plants are in the Rollins College greenhouse and could start blooming as soon as Monday. Officials said corpse plants are famous for being among the world’s largest plants and the most difficult to cultivate. WATCH: Orlando White Castle expanding with new space for pickup and delivery, 24-hour restaurant serviceOfficials said having two corpse plants bloom around the same time is almost unprecedented. Rollins College is sharing a livestream to watch one of the plant’s blooming progresses.
wftv.comThursday’s forecast: Another breezy, nice day in Central Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. — We’ll have another breezy and nice day in Central Florida on Thursday. Daytime highs will be in the 70s and low 80s. We’ll warm up through the weekend, with highs in the mid-80s. What’s next for Reedy CreekThe rain chance will stay minimal this weekend and next week at 20%. The rip current risk will remain high at our beaches.
wftv.comCourt battle? Negotiation? What’s next for Reedy Creek
Ron DeSantis vetoing pet projects in their budget if they step out of line, they will vote for his preferred Congressional map and to dismantle Disney’s Reedy Creek district merely 48 hours after the idea was proposed. However, Terry Lewis, an attorney with Lewis, Longman & Walker who specializes in special district law, said Disney likely doesn’t have any ground to stand on. READ: What would dissolving Disney’s Reedy Creek mean for local taxpayers? “If the legislature created you a special district, it has the absolute authority to modify your special act, your charter, or to even further dissolve the district,” Lyon explained. Reedy Creek, he said, would survive in a slightly slimmed down form.
wftv.comFlorida Gov. DeSantis discusses potential for repeal of Disney’s Reedy Creek act
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.
‘It would be a disaster:’ Florida lawmakers discuss repealing Disney’s Reedy Creek government
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.
Reedy Creek administrators: First responders did not contract COVID-19 on the job
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.
Widow of firefighter who died from cancer says state law is failing first responders
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.
Here’s why guests were escorted off of Flight of Passage at Disney on Thursday
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 agency
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.
Firefighter: Disney gondola rescues show staffing issues as parks grow
Reedy Creek firefighters said they got the call around 8:30 p.m. after several passengers were trapped inside the gondolas. Sean Pierce is the vice president of Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Association and said all of their firefighters responded. Though Reedy Creek firefighters did not have to use ropes for the rescues, they still called for extra help from Orange and Osceola county fire departments out of an abundance of caution. Disney officials released a statement following the incident, saying they're investigating the cause. "We have a team diligently looking into the cause of last night's malfunction on the Epcot line of the Disney Skyliner," a Disney spokesperson said.