Disney World Closing Some Attractions & Universal Orlando Cutting Early Entry As Hurricane Idalia Closes In On Florida

Disney World has temporarily closed a few of its major attractions.

Disney World in Orlando, Florida caused multiple rides to close on Monday (September 18).In a statement to Orlando news outlet Fox 35, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed a black bear had been reported in a tree at the theme park’s Magic Kingdom.“The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is aware of a black bear reported in a tree on Walt Disney World property at the Magic Kingdom,” the FWC statement read. “Biologists within the FWC’s Bear Management Program, as well as FWC Law Enforcement officers, are on scene.”The bear is said to have prompted the closure of at least 10 attractions inside the Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square areas shortly after 11am ET (4pm BST).

Look for the bear necessities, the simple bear necessities — like shutting down rides and attractions at Walt Disney World when there’s an ursine interloper in the park.

McKinley Franklin editor A reported sighting of a wild bear in a tree at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., triggered closures of several attractions at the Magic Kingdom Monday afternoon. “The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is aware of a black bear reported in a tree on Walt Disney World property at the Magic Kingdom,” the FWC said in a statement to local Orlando news outlet Fox 35.

CBS Evening News, DeSantis defended the state from accusations that it is a hostile environment for Black people, other individuals of color, or the LGBTQ community.DeSantis defended his record on racial issues as governor, noting that unemployment among Blacks in Florida is lower than in liberal-leaning states, that record numbers of Blacks own their own businesses in Florida, and that the state has the highest number of Black students benefitting from school-choice programs.Responding to the NAACP’s issuance of a travel advisory declaring the state as adversarial toward Black Americans — a charge sparked by his administration’s various attempts to crack down on so-called “wokeness” and discussions of systemic racial inequality — a “stunt.” The racial advocacy organization previously called Florida “openly hostile for African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals.”DeSantis also blamed the media for fueling what he calls false narratives that the state is hostile to LGBTQ people.“When we had the fight with Disney over the elementary education about, should you have things about sex and gender identity telling a second grader that their gender’s fluid? We said, ‘Absolutely not.’ Parents in Florida agreed. And throughout — the country I think agreed with that,” he said.

Hindsight is 20/20. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who took considerable heat from constituents and a recall attempt over the state’s tough Covid-19 restrictions and vaccine rollout, acknowledges the criticism was valid.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said that plans are still in the works for a debate with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but he told Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd that arrangements hit a snag over a “venue issue.”

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro provided a little more clarity on long-gestating expansions of Walt Disney World and the resort’s Animal Kingdom experience at the company’s annual D23 fan event this morning.

California Governor Gavin Newsom says that it is time to “move on” from speculation that he would be a presidential aspirant if Joe Biden doesn’t run for president.

The Walt Disney Company has been blocked again in the Florida courts in its battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis – – at least for the time being.

Canada’s new warning to its LGBTQ people is a “political” attack on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and not an “actual concern,” several Fox News hosts on Thursday delivered caustic commentary against the Canadian government and U.S. cities including LGBTQ-friendly San Francisco and New York.“Well, they’re talking about Florida, right? They’re aiming this at Ron DeSantis, and the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which is one of the most ridiculous interpretations of that bill that I’ve ever seen,” declared Fox News guest host Michele Tafoya, the former NBC Sports reporter who kicked off her political career with a “controversial stand on race relations.”After mentioning that the NAACP had issued a travel warning for LGBTQ people thinking of visiting Florida, Tafoya insisted, “this is all very much, this is very political, and it’s misdirected.”READ MORE: Governor Smacks Down GOP Lawmaker and Trump for ‘End Run’ Attempt to Derail Fani Willis’ RICO Prosecution“I think they need to be a little more concerned about countries in the Middle East who throw LGBTQ types off buildings and disrupt weddings and don’t even allow us to think about it,” she continued.

Hurricane Idalia has been upgraded to a major Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph. At 11 p.m. PT, Idalia sat about 100 miles south of the Florida coast. It is expected to make landfall somewhere in the Big Bend region of the state with a storm surge between 12 and 16 feet.

Several multiplexes in Florida are seeing their final shows tonight before Hurricane Idalia hits the state in what’s expected to be a Category 3 storm with surges of 15 feet on the Gulf Coast side.

Thania Garcia After enjoying a historic opening week on Billboard’s Hot 100 songs chart, Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” now spends a second week topping a list that also includes fresh releases from Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo and Gunna. The single first launched to No. 1 in the tracking week ending Aug.

“Rich Men North of Richmond” singer Oliver Anthony is speaking out to clear up his political beliefs amid the the success of his song, which has been adopted as an anthem for conservatives in America.

Ethan Shanfeld Oliver Anthony, the country-folk singer behind this year’s most surprising No. 1 hit “Rich Men North of Richmond,” delivered a message to fans in a teary-eyed, 10-minute video posted to YouTube. In the video, Anthony addressed his viral song’s mention at Wednesday’s GOP debate.

Among the non-economic issues discussed by the eight candidates who appeared on stage Wednesday night for the first Republican Party 2024 presidential primary debate, abortion loomed larger than other topics including LGBTQ rights.

UPDATE: Debate moderator Martha MacCallum tried out the first raised hand question of the evening, asking the candidates, “Do you believe human behavior is causing climate change? Raise your hand if you do.”

Jumping the gun on Fox News’ GOP debate tonight, Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson made it clear to Rupert Murdoch that revenge is a dish best served online. Running like an incumbent with no desire to share the spotlight with Vice Presidents wannabes, Trump easily dominated the debate by never showing up.

Pete Simon, a Reedy Creek firefighter, had some thoughts about the recent decision by the DeSantis-appointed board that oversees the special district around Disney World to end what it called the “unethical benefits and perks” enjoyed by the 400 or so Reedy Creek Improvement District employees, including firefighters.