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Tiki birds, Big Al and beyond: A tour of 10 Disney World animatronics

Tiki birds, Big Al and beyond: A tour of 10 Disney World animatronics

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There have been hundreds of animatronic figures scattered across Walt Disney World over the past 54 years. Here are 10 notable ones that can be spied its theme parks in 2025.

• Country Bears Musical Jamboree, the reboot of an original Magic Kingdom attraction, added more twang and more Disney in the summer of 2024 but maintained an animatronic lineup that includes Big Al now singing “Remember Me” from “Coco.”

• Elsewhere in Frontierland, last year’s transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was assisted by figures for the title character, Mama Odie, critters as band members and Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator, which was touted as one of the largest figures Imagineers has ever concocted.

Mama Odie invites guests to have beignets inside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

• A very expressive Hondo Ohnaka animatronic gives instructions during the preshow for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

• The end of Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster at Hollywood Studios features Wheezy, an animatronic penguin performing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” read more

Trump offers US automakers additional relief from his tariffs

Trump offers US automakers additional relief from his tariffs

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By JOSH BOAK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is giving domestic automakers additional relief from tariffs on auto parts, extending what was supposed to have been a short-term rebate until 2030.

It’s part of a proclamation Trump signed Friday that also made official a 25% import tax on medium and heavy duty trucks, starting Nov. 1.

The action reflected the administration’s efforts to use tariffs to promote American manufacturing while also trying to shield the auto sector from the higher costs that Trump’s import taxes have created for parts and raw materials.

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Meta adds parental controls for AI-teen interactions

Meta adds parental controls for AI-teen interactions

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By BARBARA ORTUTAY, Associated Press

Meta is adding parental controls for kids’ interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots — including the ability to turn off one-on-one chats with AI characters altogether — beginning early next year.

But parents won’t be able to turn off Meta’s AI assistant, which Meta says will “will remain available to offer helpful information and educational opportunities, with default, age-appropriate protections in place to help keep teens safe.”

Parents who don’t want to turn off all chats with all AI characters will also be able to block specific chatbots. And Meta said Friday that parents will be able to get “insights” about what their kids are chatting about with AI characters — although they won’t get access to the full chats.

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Pictures: Florida State Parks partnership brings electric tools

Pictures: Florida State Parks partnership brings electric tools

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Florida Parks Service District 3 Bureau Chief Robert Yero speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida Parks Service District 3 Bureau Chief Robert Yero speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida Parks Service District 3 Bureau Chief Robert Yero speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida Parks Service District 3 Bureau Chief Robert Yero speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Foundation Board President Kathleen Brennan speaks during a media event with the Florida Parks Service and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Foundation Board President Kathleen Brennan speaks during a media event with the Florida Parks Service and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Foundation Board President Kathleen Brennan speaks during a media event with the Florida Parks Service and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Foundation Board President Kathleen Brennan speaks during a media event with the Florida Parks Service and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher speaks during a media event with the Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Park Ranger Academy cadets pick up some of the new tools to pose for a group photo Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL hold a media event to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Park Ranger Academy cadets pick up some of the new tools to pose for a group photo — Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL hold a media event to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Park Ranger Academy cadets pose with some of the news tools for a photo following the announcement Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL hold a media event to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Park Ranger Academy cadets pose with some of the news tools for a photo following the announcement — Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL hold a media event to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Park Ranger Academy cadets and guests pose with some of the news tools for a photo following the announcement Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL hold a media event to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation's Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Florida State Park Ranger Academy cadets and guests pose with some of the news tools for a photo following the announcement — Florida State Parks Foundation and STIHL hold a media event to unveil a statewide sustainability partnership, at Wekiwa Springs State Park, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Through the Foundation’s Greener Initiative battery-powered tools and equipment worth $200,000, will be provided to state parks. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Regional banks’ bad loans spark concerns on Wall Street

Regional banks’ bad loans spark concerns on Wall Street

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By KEN SWEET, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is concerned about the health of the nation’s regional banks, after a few of them wrote off bad loans to commercial customers in the last two weeks and caused investors to wonder if there might be more bad news to come.

Zions Bank, Western Alliance Bank and the investment bank Jefferies surprised investors by disclosing various bad investments on their books, sending their stocks falling sharply this week. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon added to the unease when he warned there might be more problems to come for banks with potentially bad loans.

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