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Orlando Sentinel Tourism Central

Orlando International Airport slips to 13th nationally, 26th worldwide Orlando International Airport’s run as the busiest airport in Florida has ended. The 33.7 million airplane passengers who came and went at Orlando International in 2009 made it the 13th busiest airport in the United States and the 26th busiest in the world, according to report from Airports Council International, a trade group. The council annual collects the [...]

SeaWorld formally joins legal fight to keep drowning video private SeaWorld got permission Thursday to help the family of killer-whale trainer Dawn Brancheau keep photos and video related to her death out of the public eye. An Orange County judge granted the theme park’s request to join a motion by Brancheau’s family to prevent the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the local medical examiner from releasing [...]

Tilikum, SeaWorld trainers adapt to new rules after tragedy Three times a day, just as they always have, SeaWorld Orlando’s killer-whale trainers brush Tilikum’s teeth. But they no longer stand right next to the animal with a water pick. Instead, trainers have built a 2-foot extension that allows them to work farther from the 6-ton orca’s jaws. The jury-rigged toothbrush is one small example of the [...]

Universal to announce grand opening date for Wizarding World next week Universal Orlando says it will announce the date of the formal grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter next Thursday. The resort will also unveil details of its Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at the same time. To watch a quick preview video from Universal, click here.

Virgin America announces direct flights to LA, SF Virgin America announced this morning that it will start direct flights from Orlando International Airport to both Los Angeles and San Francisco starting August 19. The two-year old airline, affiliated with Virgin Atlantic that now brings thousands of British tourists into Orlando, also announced introductory one-way air fares start start at $149 to LA and $199 [...]

The Buzz-Florida Politics

Winner and loser of the week in Fla politics Winner of the week President Barack Obama: With U.S. Reps. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, and Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, reversing their earlier opposition to the health care reform proposal, the president wound up winning every member of Florida’s Democratic congressional...

Mike Fasano's crusade against arrogance (and Marco Rubio) Mike Fasano surely would "God bless" Steve Bousquet and his column today on Charlie Crist's number one surrogate: Mike Fasano knows he'd never win a popularity contest among his colleagues in the Florida Senate. The 51-year-old Republican from New Port...

Fidel Castro and stem cells. Yup. Rivera's the House budget chief Rich Text Area. Miami Rep. David Rivera, chairman of the House budget, has again inserted language in his chamber's proposed budget that would restrict the use of tax money by colleges "to to implement, organize, direct, coordinate, or administer, or...

Lawmakers keeping free health premiums in House budget Rich Text Area. The newly unveiled House budget appears to have some intriguing language that's absent from this year's spending plan: A specific mandate that taxpayers continue to pay the health-insurance premiums of lawmakers, political appointees, high-ranking employees and couples...

Crist (finally) replaces FSU trustee Jim Smith At long last and three years overdue, Gov. Charlie Crist replaced his buddy Jim Smith on the Florida State University Board of Trustees. Smith overstayed his four year term -- and sidestepped a 2005 state law prohibiting lobbyists from serving...