Orlando News

This won’t be your typical obituary. We’re not going to tell you how horrible a death the Magic are experiencing. Orlando’s collapse has been startling, but it’s hard to imagine them playing anywhere nearly as badly as this in the future, and in this East, they still rank as a maybe-second-but-probably-first-round team that is ready to implode at any second. More >

After receiving a “credible tip,” Orlando police divers are searching a small lake Wednesday morning for clues in the case of Michelle Parker. More >

John Rooney, the younger brother of Manchester United standout Wayne Rooney, has signed to play with American third-tier club Orlando City. The 21-year-old midfielder’s signing on Thursday is pending United States Soccer Federation approval.

Rooney most recently played with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, who claimed him in the second round of the 2011 draft. Rooney appeared in five games for the Bulls and made two US Open Cup appearances, where he scored his lone goal of 2011 against FC New York.

Universal Orlando will debut the “Cinematic Spectacular” nighttime water show this spring as part of a new entertainment lineup at the Florida theme park that includes an upgrade to one ride, a re-theme of another attraction and the addition of a nightly parade.

“Cinematic Spectacular” will celebrate a century of Universal Studios movie memories with a nighttime water show that features film clips projected on 30-foot-by-30-foot waterfall screens and colorful fountains that rocket 100 feet into the air along with laser lights and pyrotechnic displays on the Orlando theme park’s central lagoon.

President Barack Obama landed on Air Force One at Orlando International Airport at about 11:30 Thursday morning. More >

The City of Orlando joined several other cities and counties in Florida last month in creating a domestic partner registry. The registry allows unmarried domestic partners to make hospital visitations, medical decisions, funeral arrangements and jail visits. It gives those couples, gay or straight, some of the rights married couples have. The city’s new registry officially became active this morning and a number of couples attended a celebration at city hall in downtown Orlando when the registry opened at 10:00.

After the Orlando Magic grabbed just 28 total rebounds and were out-rebounded by 11 in an 89-78 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, head coach Stan Van Gundy made rebounding a point of emphasis leading up to Orlando’s game against the Washington Wizards Wednesday night. The Magic answered the call, grabbing 54 rebounds to Washington’s 44 in a 103-85 win.

Local amusement parks reported that they were filled to capacity during the holidays.

At Disney World, park officials said the holiday season is always busy for them but they had not experienced this many people at one time in a while.

“I’ve never seen so many people in one park in my life,” tourist Nick Blois said.

Earlier this week, New York City celebrated hitting the 50 million visitor mark in grand fashion, showering one lucky British couple with thousands of dollars worth of gifts to mark the occasion.

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A new nonstop jet service from Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport to Orlando Sanford International Airport in Orlando, Fla., will have flights taking off starting Feb. 16. More >