Orlando's Morning News 8 AM Extended News Coverage July, 16, 2026

This is WDBO. Orlando's news, weather, and traffic starts right now with the three big things you need to know. Powered by Mark Spain Real Estate. The World Cup final is now set on Wednesday. Argentina rallied for a two to one win over England. That sets up a Spain, Argentina final set for Sunday, 3 p.m. in New Jersey. We are looking at an area of interest in the northern Gulf that could develop into a tropical low. National Hurricane Center says just a 20% shot of becoming a tropical. system, but we could get a bunch of rain from this system Sunday into Monday. We are Orlando's severe weather station. We'll let you know. It is our top story. The president is warning of a potential government shutdown in September unless Republicans nuked the filibuster and ordered pass the Save Act. That's the GOP-led effort to implement more requirements for voting in election. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying that the president is willing to shut down the government to get his way, but Democrats won't let it happen. Mr. President, the Save Act ain't passing. It ain't passing in the Senate. It ain't passing with Democrats. And it ain't passing in the courts. Vice President JD Vance pushing back against that characterization. Save America is not mainly about 2026, to your question. It's actually about saving America's elections well into the future. Democrats have argued instances of non-citizens voting in U.S. elections are rare and that the bill will put an undue burden on American voters by forcing them to produce more documents than necessary in order for them to participate in the election process. The president is scheduled to deliver a prime time address tonight where he is expected to reveal more information about a plot by China on the 2020 election. That address scheduled for 9 p.m. And you can hear it live right here on WDBO. Coming up, visit Orlando releasing its annual magical dining restaurant and menu list. We'll have that update for you and more coming up next. We're on Orlando's morning news. I'm Channel 9 meteorologist Cassandra Crimi tracking the heat, the humidity and a better chance for rain and storms. Your Thursday forecast details coming out. And seeing delays on I-4 westbound from Kirkman all the way to the 528 from the WDBO Traffic Center. I'm Ed Torren. 803 now at WDBO 107.3 FM at AM 580, Orlando's News and Talk. Good morning. I'm Greg Rhodes. And there has been a major turn of events in the fatal shooting outside of Deasurland Park. The state attorney's office announced Wednesday that charges have been dropped against Jasper Rollins, citing key witnesses are no longer willing to testify. State attorney Monique Warrell said the case. would be revisited if there is new evidence. A homicide doesn't have a statute of limitations. So in the event that any additional evidence comes to light, we can always revisit this case. Rollins is accused of opening fire outside of the park in April of 2023, killing a 14-year-old and injuring two others. Hayden Wiggs, WDBO News. The WDBO Business Update is brought to you by the Good Feet Store. SpaceX, preparing for the launch of another test flight of its massive starship rocket. It would be the 13th.

test for the spacecraft, which will be carrying next generation Starlink satellites into orbit for the first time. If all goes according to schedule, it should blast off later today from SpaceX's launch facility out in Texas. Meanwhile, SpaceX stock returning back to Earth after soaring high in the days immediately following its IPO release. shares in CEO Elon Musk's company briefly fell below $133 on Wednesday, lower than the 135 that SpaceX stock initially sold for just a month ago. That stock later leveling off at 135 yesterday before close. And visit Orlando in partnership with Orlando Health, releasing its annual magical dining restaurant menu list. Starting August 14th, participating restaurants in the Orlando area will feature three-course prefixed dinners at either $40 or $60 a person. Over 100 restaurants will be participating this year with 28 new ones added to the program. Some local spots that are featured in this year's lineup include Antonio's Maitland, the melting pot, and Luke's Kitchen. Through Visit Orlando, every meal serves supports a local charity. The program runs for six weeks and will end up. on September 30th. You can download, visit Orlando's magical dining app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and start making reservations now. Isaac Abdel Messiah, WDBO News. 8.05, now WDBO 107.3 FM at AM 5. This is WDBO. Based on details, Titusville Police Department released yesterday. Officers found a bottle of vodka in the car. Orlando Health Watson Clinic Lakeland Highlands Hospital hosted a grand opening preview Thursday. Orlando police say a man accidentally shot his sister in the foot during a fight with another group. From City Hall to your backyard, we cover the stories that matter to you. Download the WDBO app and stay tuned to WDBO AM 580. WDBO, Orlando's News and Talk. This is the 8 a.m. expanded news feed. 15 minutes of in-depth coverage breaking down the headlines that matter to you. The exclusive five-day forecast in Orlando's most frequent traffic. Orlando's only commercial-free news feed starts now. President Trump to make an address to the nation. Tonight we'll get a preview with Fox News, radios. Tony J. Powers coming up in a minute. But first, what do you say we get that extended forecast for you on this warm Thursday morning? It is brought you by Metlock Lifetime Roofing. Hey there, Scott. We are racing through this work week, and we had a dry day yesterday. Fairly unusual for this point of the middle of July. But we're going to get back in our rain pattern today. Scattered afternoon showers and storms after 2, 3 o'clock, we should start getting a lot. bit more active, heaviest rain around the I4 corridor today and tomorrow, more of the same. And then by the weekend, we'll keep an eye on the northeastern Gulf. That's the big bend area as the forecast models are still trying to develop a tropical low in that area. And we'll see exactly how long it stays over water. It's very warm in that part of the Gulf. We'll see if it wants to develop anymore. But generally staying north of us, but giving us a better chance for rain this weekend, make sure you're paying attention. We're watching it. From Channel 9 eyewitness news, I'm certain.

Chief Meteorologist, Tom Terry. Currently, Tom, I am looking at downtown Orlando where we've got 80. I've got 80 degrees in sunshine at Orlando's severe weather station. He's in that WDBO Traffic Center. How are we rolling out of Thursday morning, Ed Torrance? Scott, we got delays on I-4. Westpan after 46.8, just after Lake Mary Boulevard. And then you're seeing those delays from Universal Boulevard all the way to 528. Eastbound tap of the brakes at 532, slowdowns between 429 and World Drive, Osceola Parkway, all the way to 528, and then into downtown from Cayley to just after the 408. From the WDVO Traffic Center, I'm Ed Torrance. It's really, really big. Our country has to shape up. But what we're going to be talking about Thursday is it doesn't get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country. We'll be discussing other things too. But it's going to be a very big announcement. President Trump to make a prime time address to the nation tonight. Let's get a preview as we go in debt with Fox News radio reporter Tanya J. Powers. And the president, Tanya, as you just heard, saying that tonight's announcement is really, really. big news and that big announcement will center around free and fair elections. What are you hearing about tonight's speech, Tonya? Yeah, the same kind of stuff that I think everybody else is. He was asked on Tuesday by a reporter if it would concern election machines and integrity. He said we'd concern that subject. He said there'll be also a couple of other things to say as well. Now, yesterday the White House did put out a statement from the press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the truth is nobody knows yet what the president will say, ultimately say. which is why everyone should tune in. So this is, you know, kind of, he's been sort of vague about actual details of the address at this point. We do know that it's set for 9 o'clock Eastern tonight. But, you know, the things that we have been hearing are, you know, like you said, the election machines and election integrity. Yeah. CBS is reporting that the president will allege that China compromised U.S. voter data. and that there's now evidence that the CIA knew about it, did not share that information with him. If that's what he's going to share, Tanya, you've got to bring the receipts, right? I mean, he better bring the receipts because he's gotten a lot of blowback about rigged elections here in the past. Yeah, I mean, and if he's, if he, I assume he is, he is talking about the 2020 election. Yes, yeah. You know, because that's. It's also important to point out that in 2020, he was in office. That was his administration and his CIA that would have been, you know, the people who probably should have, if that was indeed going on. And like you said, the receipts are important here.

Because at this point, I mean, at no point, has there ever been any evidence that there was widespread voter fraud in any of our elections up to this point over the last 10 years? I mean, even in 2016, after he won in 2016, he put together, immediately put together a commission to study and see if there was election fraud that he had alleged there was election fraud then because. of the popular vote numbers that he was not fond of. Even though he won, you know, election, he had a definite problem with the popular vote that Hillary Clinton won and put together a, you know, a commission to look for, you know, evidence of voter fraud. And they didn't even find anything. So it has been one of those things that, like you said, he has, he has talked about for a long time. especially after 2020. And it's not just that, yeah, bring the receipts, as you said. But the other thing is it's affected the way that his administration is chosen. We saw this yesterday in testimony before, you know, on Capitol Hill by, you know, Jay Clayton as well as Todd Blanche. I mean, anytime that someone is up for a position, a high-ranking position in the Trump administration. And they're asked who won the 2020 election, I would be hard-pressed to think of one that's actually gotten a job that indeed said Joe Biden won the election. That is just, you know, that's a, that's a, that's a, that's a, that's a, that's a litmus test now for, you know, people who are, are looking to, you know, get a high-ranking position inside the Trump administration as to whether you're going to answer that question that way or not. Yeah, well, the CBS report says the president will talk about. U.S. voter data. So it's a little bit different slant here. So we'll see what the president says at nine o'clock. It's going to be interesting because, you know, if he tries to tie in Chinese President Xi Jinping here, the two have been buddy, buddy for a long time, despite the tensions between the two nations. Of course, President G is scheduled to be at the White House here in a few months this fall. So it's going to be interesting, Tanya, to see how the president kind of ties this all in here. And whether he tries to shade G or whether he tries to protect him a little bit here. Yeah, I mean, you're exactly right. It will be, it'll be, you know, interesting to see what he, what he says about this. I'll also be interested to see if he also touches on the war in Iran. I would fully expect, you know, at least part of this to maybe deal with that as well, because that is the thing that is, you know, probably got, it's on a lot of people's minds. You know, how much longer is this going to last? How, you know, what are we still doing there? Is the, what is the mission? Is it still the same thing? Is it the straight-of-hormuz? I mean, like, what's going on? I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't give some sort of, you know, at least.

a little bit of a statement about that as well. Fifth trade night of U.S. strikes on Iran last night. All right, Tanya, thank you for that report this morning. We appreciate it. That is Fox News radio reporter Tanya J. Powers. Of course, we will have live coverage. of that presidential address to the nation tonight starting at 9 p.m. It is 814 now at WDBO. Good morning. I'm Greg Rhodes. As one Orange County Commissioner now says that if voters decide to get rid of property taxes in November, the county could lose hundreds of millions of dollars. There'll be a shortfall of over 100 million and then 200 million in the following year. When you talk about $100 million less in funds to be able to run any business for profit, nonprofit, that's some very tough conversations, potentially for job cuts, position eliminations. That was District 6 Commissioner Michael Scott. Amendment 3 is on the ballot for November, which could get rid of property taxes on primary residences for 60% of homeowners in the state. That revenue has typically gone towards public education and public safety. Currently, the county's budget is nearly $10 billion. County commissioners held a budget workshop on Wednesday, where many department leaders gave presentations asking for their budgets to remain untouched. Here's Sheriff John Mina. Knowing that Amendment 3 could be coming, so we're just trying to be sensitive to that. Hayden Wiggs, WDBO News. Flash flooding in Texas with some areas set to see more than 30 inches of rain. Lanham Luis with more. Half a year's worth of rain falling in a matter of days, trapping people in homes and cars. Multiple storms only adding to the danger. This is a tornado. A tornado touching down in San Antonio crossing a busy interstate, sparking power lines. Debris flying in the sky. Officials warning overnight that the threat was not over with more rain in the forecast. BMW is now adding a new warning to a recent recall. This week, the German automaker announcing that it was recalling nearly 30,000 luxury plug-in vehicles due to a fire risk linked to the engine starter. Now the company is advising owners of affected models to park outside until their vehicle can be inspected and then repaired. The affected models are listed on the company's website. And only two games left in the FIFA World Cup, Tony Fox's Tony Genualdo with more. The FIFA World Cup final is set. As Argentina will face Spain on Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Argentina is the defending World Cup champions. The Argentines beat England on Wednesday, 2 to 1 in the semifinal, scoring two goals in seven minutes to complete the comeback. And Spain defeated France 2-0 on Tuesday. The Spaniards will compete in their second final. The last one they made was in 2010 when they won it all.

The losers of the semifinals, England and France, will also compete in a third place contest. That's taking place on Saturday in Miami at 5 p.m. Eastern. Tony Genualdo, Fox News. We'll hold off on predictions until tomorrow, but I can guarantee whoever I pick is going to lose. It has not been a good run for me recently. I'll go who. You ever go with, I'll go with the other guy. I think that's the right way to go. Okay. Thank you, Greg. 817 now. On this Thursday morning, let's go ahead and get that extended forecast for you. It's brought to you by the great folks at Metlock Lifetime Roofing. Channel 9, eyewitness news. Chief meteorologist, Tom Terry. Hey there, Scott. Another hot, steamy day. We went through the entire day yesterday for most of us without much rain, had a little bit up around Sanford, and that was it. Today, a little bit more of a typical. afternoon storm patterns starting after 3-4 o'clock, high around 94. Friday, a little bit better chance for afternoon showers and storms lasting until around sunset. And then this weekend, I'm going to keep scattered storms in, especially towards Sunday and Monday, as we're going to be watching the tropics. A week low may try to form off in the Florida Big Bend area. That's in the northeastern Gulf right now. No concern for us as far as anything big, but a chance for rain increasing, and we'll keep an eye on the tropics. From Channel 9 eyewitness news, I'm certified. Chief Meteorology. Just Tom Terry. Right now, we're up to 82 degrees in downtown Orlando. I've got sunny and 81 at Orlando's severe weather station. He's Ed Torrance. He's in that WDBO Traffic Center. What's happening, Ed? Scott, we got delays on the 408 heading westbound from Crystal Lake Drive to I-4, but the 408 eastbound is still up to speed. Mark Spain, real estate. Go to Markspain.com to get a guaranteed off from your home today and start packing. From the WDWO Traffic Center, I'm Ed Torrance.

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