Top 4 news stories you need to know: May 5, 2025
FOX 35's Garrett Wymer and LuAnne Sorrell break down the top 4 news stories you need to know today, including the election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost as the next Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, a pastor from Florida arrested on child sex crime charges in Virginia, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier fighting a federal judge's stay on Florida's enforcement of their new immigration laws, and Visit Orlando announcing more than 75 million people visited The City Beautiful in 2024.
Why did Cardinal Robert Prevost choose Pope Leo XIV?
Roger Nutt, Provost of Ave Maria University joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer moments after Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as the next Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking on the name of Pope Leo XIV. Nutt gives his perspective on the election, dives into the significance and history behind the name of Pope Leo XIV, and what we can expect from his papacy.
Conclave elects first American Pope, Leo XIV (14)
Dr. Stephen Okey, an Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Leo University joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down the surprise of the Papal Conclave electing Cardinal Robert Prevost as the first American-born Pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, and peel back the curtain into the potential reasons the Conclave may have selected Cardinal Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV.
A whole new world: Disney to open park in Abu Dhabi
Tharin White, Lead Publisher of EYNTK.info joined FOX35's Garrett Wymer on FOX 35 News+ to breakdown Disney announcing their newest theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. This comes after the latest Disney earnings report beat Wall Street projections.
Florida Party Teacher Trial: Prosecution's rebuttal
Assistant State Attorney Pepper Worthy delivers the full rebuttal in the trial of Brevard County teacher Karly Anderson. Anderson is accused of attending an underage house party and interfering with officers during a medical emergency. Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges, with opening statements set for Tuesday and the trial expected to conclude by midweek. The case stems from a January incident involving drugs, alcohol, and minors at a party allegedly hosted by a local school principal, who faces separate felony charges.
Florida Party Teacher Trial: Defense's Closing
Ken Weaver, attorney representing Brevard County teacher Karly Anderson, delivers the defense's closing argument in court. Anderson is accused of attending an underage house party and interfering with officers during a medical emergency. Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges, with opening statements set for Tuesday and the trial expected to conclude by midweek. The case stems from a January incident involving drugs, alcohol, and minors at a party allegedly hosted by a local school principal, who faces separate felony charges.
Florida Party Teacher Trial: Prosecution's closing
Assistant State Attorney Pepper Worthy delivers the prosecution's closing argument in the trial of Brevard County teacher Karly Anderson. Anderson is accused of attending an underage house party and interfering with officers during a medical emergency. Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges, with opening statements set for Tuesday and the trial expected to conclude by midweek. The case stems from a January incident involving drugs, alcohol, and minors at a party allegedly hosted by a local school principal, who faces separate felony charges.
Party Teacher Trial: Defense's full opening statement
The full opening statement of Attorney Ken Weaver, representing Brevard County teacher Karly Anderson. Anderson is accused of attending an underage house party and interfering with officers during a medical emergency. Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges, with opening statements set for Tuesday and the trial expected to conclude by midweek. The case stems from a January incident involving drugs, alcohol, and minors at a party allegedly hosted by a local school principal, who faces separate felony charges.
Party teacher trial: Prosecution's opening statement
The full opening statement from Assistant State Attorney Pepper Worthy in the trial of Karly Anderson, a Brevard County teacher accused of attending an underage house party and interfering with officers during a medical emergency. Anderson faces two misdemeanor charges, with opening statements set for Tuesday and the trial expected to conclude by midweek. The case stems from a January incident involving drugs, alcohol, and minors at a party allegedly hosted by a local school principal, who faces separate felony charges.
Top 4 news stories you need to know: May 5, 2025
FOX 35's Garrett Wymer and Marlisa Goldsmith break down the top news stories of the day, from an update on the deadly shooting that broke out from a fight in a DeLand bar over the weekend, 3 Osceola High School students shot and injured after Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says they were caught in the crossfire after prom, jury selection beginning for Karly Anderson, the Brevard County teacher accused of partying with children and State Attorney Monique Worrell announcing an audit of her office, with claims former State Attorney Andrew Bain misused funds and overspent into an $849,000 budget deficit for the office.
Less productive Fla. legislature heads to overtime
John Kennedy, Florida Capitol Bureau Reporter with the USA TODAY Network and Tallahassee Democrat joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down the 2025 Florida Legislative session headed to overtime over budget disagreements between House Speaker Daniel Perez, Senate President Ben Albritton, and Governor Ron DeSantis, and the overall less productive legislative session compared to last year in terms of bills passed.
Top 4 stories you need to know: May 2, 2025
FOX 35's Garrett Wymer and John Brown break down the top news stories of the day, including the Trump Administration proposing a 25% NASA budget cuts, Orange County releasing the video of a person of interest of an elderly woman attacked at an assisted living facility, Roblox responding to child safety concerns and a subpoena from the Florida Attorney General, and a Volusia County deputy pulling over a street racer and discovering they were 12 years old!
Kentucky Derby horses with Florida ties
The 151st Kentucky Derby kicks off tomorrow and 3 of the 19 horses have ties to Florida. Natalie Voss, Editor-In-Chief of the Paulick Report joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down those ties and give you some last-minute info for your bets on Saturday.
Trump skinny budget cuts NASA funding by 25%
Dr. Don Platt, Associate Professor at Florida Institute of Technology joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down the potential impacts of President Trump's proposed 'skinny budget' which would cut NASA funding by 25% and impact the SLS and Artemis missions, and how those cuts impact planned missions to Mars and the Moon.
Roblox responds to child safety concerns
Roblox has made headlines in Florida after Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena to the online video game company, alleging they aren't doing enough to protect kids playing their game. Roblox claims half of all American children under the age of 16 play their game at least once a month. Matt Kaufman, Roblox Chief Safety Officer, joined FOX 35's Matt Trezza to talk about Roblox's continued efforts to keep kids safe on the platform.
Cool Kid Summer, new ticket deals at Disney World
Drew the Disney Dude joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down the newest summer offerings coming to Walt Disney World Resort this summer, including a Make-A-Wish party where nearly 50 families met up with their favorite Disney characters, the Cool Kid Summer Days, and new ticket deals for Florida Residents.
Top 4 stories you need to know: April 30
FOX 35's LuAnne Sorrell and Garrett Wymer break down four big stories of the day for April 30, 2025, including the attorneys representing family of an FSU shooting victim asking for transparency in the investigation, a Brevard County deputy shooting and killing a man who they say was coming at them with a knife, a Marion County teen arrested for allegedly exploiting children on Roblox, and the Orlando Dreamers unveiling big investors as the push to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando continues to grow.
World Series Champion on bringing MLB to Orlando
Former MLB pitcher and 2004 World Series Champion Curtis Leskanic joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to give a former player's perspective on the push to bring a Major League Baseball team to Orlando. Leskanic grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to the Orlando area with his wife and children.
Osceola Sheriff arrests 80+ in 'Operation Spring Purge'
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down Operation Spring Purge, a multi-faceted operation which led to the arrests of more than 80 people in connection with investigations into human trafficking, drugs, and other violent crimes.
Tampa Bay Lightning down 3-1 to Florida Panthers
Nick Geddes, from the National News Desk for On3Sports joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer to break down the physical NHL Playoffs series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers ahead of the Lightning hosting the Panthers with their backs against the wall and one win away from their season ending.