Local News Now

Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona).

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 39-year-old man is now in custody on various charges, including false imprisonment, following a nearly 4-hour standoff Wednesday night with police at a Daytona Beach apartment complex, Daytona Beach cops said.

DELTONA, Fla. -- Pat Northey has never been one afraid to meet challenges head-on regardless of the obstacle. But getting through the day Tuesday with her husband Ed's passing that morning, no doubt, had to be the most difficult.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando police officers have arrested an alleged drug dealer accused of delivering a fatal dose of fentanyl to three unsuspecting victims.

SANFORD, Fla. -- It's the double-murder mystery from Sanford that was highlighted in People magazine in early 2021, though Seminole County Sheriff's deputies did make an arrest back in April connected to the slayings.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- The 2021 New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade was a first for a precocious little boy affectionately known as "The Dominator" and "Little Dom." 

PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- With his beloved Tampa Rays eliminated from the MLB playoffs by the upstart Boston Red Sox, Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette did what any politician worth his salt would do.: He went to Plan B.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- You'd be hard-pressed to find a prouder mother-in-law than New Smyrna Beach's Ellen Darden, especially come World Series time.

DELTONA, Fla. -- A pizza-eating suspect responsible for a pair of car break-ins in Deltona was arrested in late October after deputies followed a trail of evidence including red sauce on the door handle of one vehicle, and a pizza box and plates left behind near another.

ORLANDO, Fla -- Keith Appling had two brief stints with the Orlando Magic.