St. Cloud police launch drone as first responder program to boost emergency response
Read full article: St. Cloud police launch drone as first responder program to boost emergency responseThe agency has used drones in the past, but these new drones can be flown remotely, allowing for quicker response times and increased capabilities.
St. Cloud raises residential trash pickup fees, plans annual 3% increase to support growth
Read full article: St. Cloud raises residential trash pickup fees, plans annual 3% increase to support growthConcerns have also been raised about maintenance issues, such as leaks from garbage trucks. The city has allocated $1.3 million for fleet maintenance and is expanding its trash truck fleet to improve service reliability.
Trooper Steve on Patrol talks with St. Cloud mayor about veteran community
Read full article: Trooper Steve on Patrol talks with St. Cloud mayor about veteran communityI’ll be speaking live with St. Cloud Mayor Chris Robertson, who recently established the St. Cloud Veterans Council, a new organization focused on celebrating the city’s deep military heritage while planning a look toward the future.
Florida sues textbook publishers over millions in alleged overcharges to school districts
Read full article: Florida sues textbook publishers over millions in alleged overcharges to school districtsFlorida is taking textbook publishers to court over allegations they overcharged school districts, including Osceola County, by millions of dollars.
Power outages disrupt St. Cloud neighborhood despite clear weather
Read full article: Power outages disrupt St. Cloud neighborhood despite clear weatherSome residents in the Gramercy Farms neighborhood of St. Cloud report experiencing frequent power interruptions regardless of the weather conditions.
Water bill concerns rise in St. Cloud amid device failures
Read full article: Water bill concerns rise in St. Cloud amid device failuresResidents of St. Cloud have raised concerns over unusually high water bills, prompting responses from the Toho Water Authority acknowledging the issue but noting variability in individual cases.
Trooper Steve on Patrol checks out St. Cloud police water battle at youth camp
Read full article: Trooper Steve on Patrol checks out St. Cloud police water battle at youth campWhen it comes to community engagement, the St. Cloud Police Department continues to raise the bar and today, they’re swapping badges for water blasters.
St. Cloud’s ‘Proud in the Cloud’ event faces scrutiny
Read full article: St. Cloud’s ‘Proud in the Cloud’ event faces scrutinyThe recent “Proud in the Cloud” event held last Saturday has come under scrutiny after St. Cloud’s city council incurred additional last-minute staffing costs, exceeding the originally approved budget.
Over 1,500 attend ‘Proud in the Cloud’ event amid Pride month controversy
Read full article: Over 1,500 attend ‘Proud in the Cloud’ event amid Pride month controversyThe city of St. Cloud chose not to make a proclamation declaring June as Pride Month, a decision that sparked controversy—especially after the city removed its first openly gay council member, Shawn Fletcher from his role as deputy mayor for opposing the move to stop issuing proclamations for the month of June.
St. Cloud pays for extra staff for LGBTQ event, anticipating higher attendance
Read full article: St. Cloud pays for extra staff for LGBTQ event, anticipating higher attendanceThe St. Cloud city council voted 4-1 on Wednesday in favor of providing and paying for 10 additional parks and recreation staff members to work the Proud in the Cloud event on Saturday.
Pride Month halt, deputy mayor’s removal prompts heated debate in St. Cloud
Read full article: Pride Month halt, deputy mayor’s removal prompts heated debate in St. CloudSt. Cloud's City Council is currently embroiled in controversy surrounding the recognition of Pride Month, particularly following the removal of the council's first openly gay member, former Deputy Mayor Shawn Fletcher.
St. Cloud charter school offers summer learning programs for kids
Read full article: St. Cloud charter school offers summer learning programs for kidsThe Creative Inspiration Journey School is a tuition-free public charter school. They have a summer program and are offering special sessions for the public.
Elementary school employee accused of tampering with evidence in Osceola County homicide, deputies say
Read full article: Elementary school employee accused of tampering with evidence in Osceola County homicide, deputies sayJessica Rivera was taken into custody at Whispering Oak Elementary School in Winter Garden on charges of tampering with evidence during a capital felony proceeding.
Elementary school substitute teacher, 71, arrested for throwing student in classroom, St. Cloud police say
Read full article: Elementary school substitute teacher, 71, arrested for throwing student in classroom, St. Cloud police sayA 71-year-old substitute teacher was arrested after St. Cloud officers said he grabbed a student by the collar and threw him into a classroom wall as punishment, according to the police department.
Kangaroo captured, ‘chemically immobilized’ in St. Cloud, sparking search for owner
Read full article: Kangaroo captured, ‘chemically immobilized’ in St. Cloud, sparking search for ownerA loose kangaroo was found in Central Florida on Monday, sparking a response by wildlife investigators, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
72-year-old man arrested in 1991 St. Cloud cold case murder, police say
Read full article: 72-year-old man arrested in 1991 St. Cloud cold case murder, police sayMore than three decades after 27-year-old Julia Sue Wilbanks was found stabbed to death in St. Cloud, police said they’ve solved the cold case using DNA evidence and genetic genealogy.
Vehicle crashes into transformer, bursts into flames in St. Cloud; no injuries reported
Read full article: Vehicle crashes into transformer, bursts into flames in St. Cloud; no injuries reportedNo injuries were reported after a vehicle smashed into a power transformer in St. Cloud before it erupted in flames on Saturday, according to a news release.
‘Miss you so much.’ Community honors Madeline Soto nearly 1 year after her murder
Read full article: ‘Miss you so much.’ Community honors Madeline Soto nearly 1 year after her murderNearly a year after 13-year-old Madeline “Maddie” Soto was murdered, family, friends, and community members gathered at Lakefront Park in St. Cloud to honor her on what would have been her 14th birthday.
15-year-old boy returns safely after being reported missing, endangered out of St. Cloud, police say
Read full article: 15-year-old boy returns safely after being reported missing, endangered out of St. Cloud, police sayUPDATE: Lindell LaVell Parker, 15, has returned safely, the St. Cloud Police Department said in a statement Wednesday morning.
What a new high school means for a growing Osceola County school district
Read full article: What a new high school means for a growing Osceola County school districtWith a population boom happening in St. Cloud, the Osceola County School District is looking forward to a new high school that will serve thousands of students
Man arrested on DUI charges in 2023 crash that killed 2 motorcyclists near Orange-Osceola county line
Read full article: Man arrested on DUI charges in 2023 crash that killed 2 motorcyclists near Orange-Osceola county lineAn arrest was made in an April 2023 rear-end crash that killed two motorcyclists near the Orange-Osceola county line.
Hit-and-run suspect arrested, leads chase on bike after crash, St. Cloud police say
Read full article: Hit-and-run suspect arrested, leads chase on bike after crash, St. Cloud police saySt. Cloud police say a group of citizens help capture a hit-and-run suspect after they say he hit a pedestrian and took off from the scene.
Off-duty Orange County deputy stabbed during road rage incident in St. Cloud, police say
Read full article: Off-duty Orange County deputy stabbed during road rage incident in St. Cloud, police sayAn off-duty Orange County deputy is recovering after St. Cloud police say a road rage incident led to a stabbing.
St. Cloud High School cleared after another threat prompts investigation
Read full article: St. Cloud High School cleared after another threat prompts investigationAnother threat was made early Thursday morning to St. Cloud High School, prompting police to conduct an investigation before the school day was scheduled to begin.
St. Cloud needs new fire, public safety facilities. The question is, how to pay for it
Read full article: St. Cloud needs new fire, public safety facilities. The question is, how to pay for itSt. Cloud city leaders are considering borrowing $90 million to build new a fire headquarters, three new fire stations, as well as a public safety complex.
‘Very eye-opening:’ St. Cloud approves school zone speed cameras after alarming study
Read full article: ‘Very eye-opening:’ St. Cloud approves school zone speed cameras after alarming studyThe city of St. Cloud voted Thursday to create a School Zone Speed Enforcement Program. Under this program, the city will use a speed detection system to catch drivers exceeding the posted limit.
‘Shame on him:’ St. Cloud residents concerned over dangerous local street
Read full article: ‘Shame on him:’ St. Cloud residents concerned over dangerous local streetDriving down 13th Street — also known as 192 — can be a nightmare. Rebecca Laisch said crossing that street on foot could cost you your life.
St. Cloud police cracking down on distracted driving. Here’s where
Read full article: St. Cloud police cracking down on distracted driving. Here’s whereMost of us have trouble walking and using our phones, so just imagine how dangerous it is driving and using your phone on the roadways. It’s why St. Cloud Police are performing an operation to crackdown on distracted driving.
‘Going to be significant:’ New fire station will boost response times in this booming Florida city
Read full article: ‘Going to be significant:’ New fire station will boost response times in this booming Florida cityA new fire station is poised to significantly boost emergency response times for people who live in one of the fastest-growing cities in Florida.
Children wash cars to pay for St. Cloud father’s funeral after shooting
Read full article: Children wash cars to pay for St. Cloud father’s funeral after shootingThis Father’s Day weekend, Kingston, Conner and Irelynn are washing cars and selling baked goods to raise money for their father’s funeral.
‘Our children deserve to know they are loved:’ Community holds vigil for Madeline Soto
Read full article: ‘Our children deserve to know they are loved:’ Community holds vigil for Madeline SotoMore than a month after 13-year-old Madeline Soto was reported missing and discovered dead, members of the community gathered on Saturday to hold a vigil.
‘A blessing:’ Free roof replacement program rolls out in St. Cloud
Read full article: ‘A blessing:’ Free roof replacement program rolls out in St. CloudHabitat for Humanity is rolling out a roof repair program to St. Cloud residents. The nonprofit will receive funding from the city that will allow it to fix between 17 and 19 residents' roofs for free.
Trooper Steve on Patrol spotlights female officers at St. Cloud Police Department
Read full article: Trooper Steve on Patrol spotlights female officers at St. Cloud Police DepartmentMarch is Women’s History Month, and you might be surprised if I said within my law enforcement career, I have only ever had female supervisors.
Feds investigating 2 St. Cloud men accused of producing child pornography
Read full article: Feds investigating 2 St. Cloud men accused of producing child pornographyTwo men accused of luring children to their home in St. Cloud and taking graphic pictures of them are under investigation by federal agents.
Hearing on controversial development in rural Osceola County postponed
Read full article: Hearing on controversial development in rural Osceola County postponedA controversial proposal to bring new townhomes and single-family homes to a rural part of east Osceola County was unexpectedly pulled ahead of a key planning commission meeting Tuesday night.
‘It’s going to change the whole atmosphere:’ Rural Osceola residents concerned about proposed development
Read full article: ‘It’s going to change the whole atmosphere:’ Rural Osceola residents concerned about proposed developmentNeighbors in east Osceola County are worried a proposed development will disrupt their rural community.
St. Cloud pursues legal action against construction company over potholes
Read full article: St. Cloud pursues legal action against construction company over potholesThe city of St. Cloud is now taking legal action against the construction company that built phase two of the city's downtown revitalization project.
St. Cloud mom, boyfriend arrested in 7-year-old’s yearlong sexual assault
Read full article: St. Cloud mom, boyfriend arrested in 7-year-old’s yearlong sexual assaultIn addition to the sexual assault, the girl told investigators that Laws and other family members were aware of the crime — but they hadn’t reported them to law enforcement, detectives explained.
Whiskey in the Cloud festival kicks off with over 30 craft spirit exhibitors
Read full article: Whiskey in the Cloud festival kicks off with over 30 craft spirit exhibitorsThe Whiskey in the Cloud Festival comes to St. Cloud this weekend with premium whiskey, live music, and many local restaurants and boutiques to explore.
Deputies ID man, woman found dead in murder-suicide outside Osceola home
Read full article: Deputies ID man, woman found dead in murder-suicide outside Osceola homeOsceola County deputies have identified the man and woman found dead Tuesday outside a St. Cloud home in what they are now calling a murder-suicide, according to the sheriff’s office.
3 dead in apparent murder-suicide at Osceola mobile home involving man, his mother and her boyfriend
Read full article: 3 dead in apparent murder-suicide at Osceola mobile home involving man, his mother and her boyfriendDeputies identified two men and a woman found dead following an apparent murder-suicide near the Floridian Sandalwood mobile home park, the sheriff’s office said.
St. Cloud Middle School increases police presence after shooting threat
Read full article: St. Cloud Middle School increases police presence after shooting threatMore officers will be present at St. Cloud Middle School after "numerous reports" of a school shooting threat, according to the police department.
Have you seen him? St. Cloud man missing, believed to be endangered, police say
Read full article: Have you seen him? St. Cloud man missing, believed to be endangered, police sayDavid Gallagher, 53, was reported missing on Tuesday. He was last seen walking north in the area of 12th Street and Massachusetts Avenue.
Residents frustrated over continued growth in Osceola County
Read full article: Residents frustrated over continued growth in Osceola CountyOsceola County commissioners got a look at the long backups residents in St. Cloud have to deal with every morning on Nolte Road and Old Canoe Creek Road just before the Florida’s Turnpike entrance ramp.
‘Not out of the woods yet:’ St. Cloud officials anticipate more flooding in Ian’s aftermath
Read full article: ‘Not out of the woods yet:’ St. Cloud officials anticipate more flooding in Ian’s aftermathSt. Cloud officials said Monday afternoon while they’ve seen some flooding relief across some parts of the city in the wake of Hurricane Ian, they’re not out of the woods yet as far as rising water levels go.
Pickup truck hits vehicle, runs over driver in Osceola County fatal crash, FHP says
Read full article: Pickup truck hits vehicle, runs over driver in Osceola County fatal crash, FHP saysThe driver of a small utility vehicle was killed when a pickup truck rear-ended the vehicle then drove over the woman, according to Florida Highway Patrol.