U.S.

Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani calls for the Attorney General's office to launch a criminal investigation into the Orlando attraction 'Sloth World' after it was reported that over 50 sloths died before the attraction opened. Eskamani called the situation a "failure of government." 

Palm Bay's mayor says developing The Compound, a 200-mile undeveloped area, could prevent the crime on the land. This comes after 10 brush fires occurred in two days. 

A driver is in custody after Winter Park Police responded to a reported armed carjacking that turned into a 30-mile chase. The chase ended near mile marker 112, where the individual was taken into custody, police said.

Orlando leaders are discussing increasing street parking prices. Rates could increase to $2 an hour for the first two hours, with rates increasing each hour. The proposed daily rate at a garage is $20. 

Concern is growing after 10 fires affect The Compound in Palm Bay in two days. Fire crews quickly put out the fires, but officials are suspicious about how the fires started. 

Orange County Public Schools discussed how using vans to help get kids to and from school could help with current budget constraints, and bus driver shortages. School bus drivers are required to have their commercial driver's license, while a van would not require that. The district has already cut positions and budgets to help with the financial issues. The proposal was discussed during the meeting.

 A newly proposed Florida congressional redistricting map – led by Governor Ron DeSantis – was passed by the Florida House and Senate.  Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a new redistricted congressional map for the state, FOX 35 reported on Monday, in which the GOP could gain four more seats. In a vote on Wednesday, April 29, the new congressional district map passed with an 83-28 vote in the Florida House and 21-17 vote in the Florida Senate. 

The owner of a Florida barbershop is accused of using his crossbow to fire arrows into the business of a rival barbershop. Jorge Rivera Rodriguez was recently arrested and booked into jail under suspicion of shooting a missile into a dwelling and criminal mischief. According to court records, Rodriguez is accused of shooting arrows into the business twice in December 2025. Both times, arrows were recovered at the scene.  In January 2026, no objects were found, but there were reports of a loud sound followed by shattered glass. According to the arrest report, it's alleged that a barber who previously worked for Rodriguez left and went to work for the competing barber, creating some sort of animosity between Rodriguez and the business. Detectives said Rodriguez's distinct orange truck was spotted in several surveillance videos.

 ICON Park said it has established a new chaperone policy after more than 1,000 kids swarmed the Orlando amusement park last weekend, ending in numerous fights and arrests. However, the policy is not in effect all the time and when it is, it may not be loudly announced, officials said. There may be a note on its website. Will it work? Under the new policy, when enforced, kids 17 and younger will have to have an adult (21+) with them at all times. And one adult can supervise no more than six kids at a time. Dezerland recently updated its chaperone policy requiring kids 17 and younger to be accompanied by an adult. At SeaWorld, guests 15 and younger must be supervised by an adult. At Disney, guests 14 and younger have to be supervised by a guest at least 14 or older. At Universal CityWalk, kids under 18 need to have adult supervision after 9 p.m. 

Walmart has filed an application to build a "drone nest" in Seminole County, where it would house, charge, and repair some of its delivery drones. It was included on the agenda for the Seminole County Development Review Committee. Walmart did not attend the meeting, a county spokesperson told FOX35. However, Walmart announced its pilot drone delivery program in 2025 with initial launches planned for Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa. Start dates for the Orlando market have not been announced. A spokesperson for Walmart told FOX 35 that there are not additional details to announce yet. According to the release, the drone program, in partnership with Wing, would be able to conduct deliveries within 6 miles of a Walmart store.  Walmart said in its release that it plans to expand the service to 100 of its stores.

Bandit, one of 13 Sloth World Orlando sloths rescued from a warehouse in Orlando and taken to the Central Florida Zoo, died Wednesday, the zoo announced. "We are saddened to share that, despite our best efforts, Bandit, one of 13 sloths recently accepted into our care, passed today," the zoo said in a statement. Bandit was considered to be in the poorest health of all the sloths since he arrived last Friday, the zoo's team told FOX 35 News. He has signs of severe lethargy, dehydration, nutritional and electrolyte imbalances, and gastrointestinal issues. He had yet to climb up to his perch to hang, instead, remaining on the ground in his cage. Since then, the zoo's vet teams have provided him with food, fluids, blood monitoring, glucose and vitamin supplements, the zoo said. However, his health declined rapidly on Wednesday morning, leading the team to decide on human euthanasia, the zoo said.

A new brush fire sparked Wednesday afternoon within "The Compound," a large amount of undeveloped land in Palm Bay. it comes a day after nine separate fires burned 160 acres within the same area. Officials now believe those fires were intentionally set and are working to launch an investigation.