Things To Do In SW Florida

Universal Orlando scored five victories in the Golden Ticket Awards, including four for its new Epic Universe theme park and one for its Volcano Bay water park.

Epic’s Dark Universe area was named as the best new theme concept of 2025, and its centerpiece attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment was tabbed as best dark ride. The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride won for best new attractions, and Stardust Racers was named best new roller coaster of 2025. The new theme park debuted in late May.

Volcano Bay, which opened in 2017, was awarded best water park of ’25, edging out Schlitterbahn. That attraction, located in New Braunfels, Texas, had won the category every year since the awards were established in 1998.

The Golden Tickets are determined by Amusement Today, an industry publication, which uses a worldwide panel of experienced park enthusiasts as voters. The winners were announced in a Saturday ceremony at Carowinds, a theme park near Charlotte.

Epic Universe Ride Guide: New park rides ranked from tame to super scary read more

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A Federal Aviation Administration ban on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti’s capital that expired Monday has been extended to March 7, 2026 because of the risk that powerful gangs might attack flights with drones and small arms.

The FAA noted that Haitian gangs now control 90% of Port-au-Prince as well as nearby strategic routes and border areas.

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“Haitian (foreign terrorist organizations) maintain access to small arms and unmanned aircraft systems capable of reaching low-altitude phases of flight,” the FAA said in a statement Friday. read more

A wax figure of actress/singer/producer Selena Gomez has been added to the starry lineup of Madame Tussauds Orlando, an attraction inside Icon Park on International Drive.

The faux Gomez is outfitted in a red beaded floral gown worn to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2023.  Tussauds, owned by Merlin Entertainments Group, says a team of 20 studio artists spent more than nine months creating the figure, including meticulous work such as hand-inserting every strand of hair.

“Selena Gomez is an international icon whose talent, style, and authenticity inspires millions around the world,” Paul Gould, general manager of Madame Tussauds Orlando, said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to honor her and welcome fans with this striking new wax figure, capturing one of her most memorable MTV VMA red-carpet looks.”

Gomez is known for hit music (“Come & Get It,” “Bad Liar”), television appearances (“Wizards of Waverly Place,” “Only Murders in the Building”) and business endeavours, including her Rare Beauty cosmetics brand, which propelled her to billionaire status last year. read more

By STAN CHOE, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ticking higher on Monday, ahead of a week with several data reports that could dictate by how much or even whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its next meeting in a week.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and was sitting just below its record set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 11 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% higher.

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AppLovin and Robinhood Markets helped lead the market after learning they will join the S&P 500 index later this month, along with Emcor Group. Many investment funds directly mimic the index or at least compare their performance against it, so a stock’s joining the list of the 500 largest companies can draw investor dollars immediately. read more

A SpaceX launch on the Space Coast just after sunset Monday could mean the return of the unique jellyfish effect over Florida’s skies.

A Falcon 9 rocket on the Nusantara Lima mission carrying an Indonesian communications satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 during a 116-minute window that opens at 8:02 p.m.

Sunset is set for 7:35 p.m., but the rocket’s path into space means its plume will catch the dipping sun rays with its exhaust trail potentially lighting up into what is often described as resembling a jellyfish in the night sky.

The phenomenon occurs when launches occur near sunrise or at twilight so the sun’s rays catch particles from the rocket contrail and create a bloom of blue and orange colors.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron, though, forecasts only a 30% chance for good conditions at the opening of the window Monday, which will improve to 45% by the end of the window. The same weather conditions are forecast if delayed until Tuesday during a similar launch window that opens at 8:01 p.m. read more