Things To Do In SW Florida

By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage fell to its lowest level of 2025 this week, an encouraging sign for prospective home buyers.

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The average long-term mortgage rate dipped to 6.15% from 6.18% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. That’s the lowest average long-term rate since October 3, 2024 when it dipped to 6.12% before shooting back up. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.91%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, fell this week to 5.44% from 5.50% the previous week. A year ago it averaged 6.13%, Freddie Mac said. read more

If all goes according to the 2026 plan, Orlando-area theme parks and attractions will welcome updated animatronics, a new roller coaster, more Muppet mania, revived rides and a slew of sloths.

Yes, sloths. But slow down a second.

At Walt Disney World, expect multiple rounds of introductions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including the opening of the Magic of Disney Animation area in the former Star Wars: Launch Bay building. It spotlights aspects of the company’s animation efforts using a short film, come-to-life portraits, sketching, photo ops, character greetings and an indoor play area inspired by Mary Blair art, called “Drawn to Wonderland.”

Nearby, “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” joins the lineup in summer, as does the revamped Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, featuring the Muppets and new settings.

The park’s Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run gets an update centered on “The Mandalorian and Grogu” film as of May 22 (the flick’s opening day). The new mission includes a choice of destinations (Death Star wreckage among them) and an enhanced engineer position that communicates with Grogu. read more

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

Wall Street closed out another banner year for stocks Wednesday with a downbeat finish that extended the market’s recent losing streak to a fourth day.

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The S&P 500 gave up 0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq composite closed 0.8% lower. Trading volume was very thin ahead of the New Year’s Day holiday, when markets will be closed, as most big investors have already closed out their positions for the year.

Even with their mini post-Christmas pullback, the major U.S. stock indexes finished with strong gains for the year.

The S&P 500, which set 39 record highs in 2025, closed 16.4% higher for the year, it’s third straight double-digit annual gain. The Nasdaq gained 20.4% and the Dow finished 13% higher. read more

By MATT OTT, Associated Press Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week with layoffs remaining low despite a weakening labor market.

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U.S. applications for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 27 fell by 16,000 to 199,000 from the previous week’s 215,000, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 208,000 new applications.

Unemployment benefit filings are often distorted during holiday-shortened weeks. The shorter week can cause some who have lost jobs to delay filing claims. read more

In a contentious meeting Tuesday night featuring finger-pointing and personal attacks, the Eatonville Town Council said it wanted last-minute changes to the contract to sell the town’s historic Hungerford property — though exactly what those changes would be were not specified.

The board for Orange County Public Schools, which owns the 117-acre property, will vote Jan. 13 on a draft contract to sell it to Dr. Phillips Charities, which would oversee development of the land. Prior to the vote, the school board and Dr. Phillips Charities will have a workshop meeting on Jan. 6 where the Eatonville Town Council will offer suggestions on amendments to the contract.

In Tuesday’s meeting, some council members charged that Mayor Angie Gardner, who was deeply involved in discussions with the school district and charity, kept them in the dark about the deal.

“What you did to this community is downright despicable,” said council member Tarus Mack, Gardner’s sharpest critic. “You sat up there and essentially sold the town out.” read more