Florida’s Fourth Estate

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The Most Haunted Restaurant in the Country Feb 17, 2025

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Ghost stories abound at Rockledge, Florida eatery, Ashley's Tavern. While there are several ghost stories associated with Ashley’s, the most popular is the tale of Ethel Allen, a 19-year-old woman who reportedly frequented the tavern in the 1930s. The back of the restaurant’s menu discusses the tale and the posthumous hauntings, which have been reported throughout the building.

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Long-lost nuclear bunker below Central Florida finally uncovered. Here’s what happened Feb 10, 2025

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This may have been Mount Dora’s best-kept secret — that is, until now.

Tucked away in a forgotten corner of Mount Dora sits a Cold War-era nuclear bomb shelter with a crazy history.

Known locally as the “Mount Dora Catacombs,” this 5,000-square-foot shelter — billed as the largest of its kind — was part of a plan over 60 years ago for members of several local families to hide out in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.

Matt and Ginger talk to someone who has uncovered this modern time capsule.

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World’s first underwater cemetery is off a Florida beach. Jan 13, 2025

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Not only is the Neptune Memorial Reef the world’s first underwater cemetery — it’s also set to be the largest man-made reef on the planet.

The cemetery is located 40 feet underwater in Biscayne Bay, over three miles off the coast of Miami Beach.

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Meet Dr. Simba: The Central Florida Pharmacist Who Talks to Big Cats Jan 06, 2025

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A local Pharmacist named Dr. Simba who talks to big cats. This is the kind of storyline usually reserved for Hollywood. Dr. Simba Witz is the CEO of the Central Florida Animal Reserve. The big cat sanctuary is run entirely by volunteers. The sanctuary neither breeds its animals or operates for profit, "If you're coming here, you're not coming here because you're padding someone's salary. You're coming here because these are the monies we use to provide food, provide medical care," says Dr. Witz.

The facility opened in 2017. About a quarter of the budget comes from guided tours, "If someone is going to be serious about the challenges these species face. Then, we have to start where we all agree which is we want these animals out in the wild," says Dr. Simba. The challenges are also financial. If you think meat at the grocery store is getting expensive, try buying it by the ton, "We have all experienced a little touch of inflation in the last couple of years," Dr. Simba says with a hint of sarcasm.

When Dr. Simba walks tours around the collection of tigers, lions, and other large charismatic megafauna you will hear him making a distinct chuffing sound. Then, he says, "I see you." He says the felines don't understand the words, but he feels they perceive his intention. The chuffing sound can take some practice, "New volunteers spend a lot of time drooling," Dr. Simba says.

If you would like to book a tour for your family or corporation, you can find more information on the Central Florida Animal Reserve website, https://cflar.org/.

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Best of 2024: How a fight over beer landed Walt Disney World in Orlando instead of St. Louis Dec 30, 2024

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Walt Disney World is part of the fabric of Florida, but did you know the theme park almost ended up in St. Louis instead of Orlando?

University of Central Florida History professor Dr. Jim Clark said Walt Disney had his eye on the “Show Me” state well before he began eyeing the “Sunshine State”.

But a fight over beer changed everything.

After successfully introducing the public to Disneyland in California, Clark said Disney was looking for a second location.

The animation mogul considered Niagra Falls and another area near Washington, D.C.

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Best of 2024: Florida's 'Sinkhole Alley:' Here's what homeowners need to know Dec 23, 2024

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If you live in Florida, you have probably heard of sinkholes.

It’s when the ground caves in, often bringing down everything on top of it. Roads, businesses and homes have all been impacted.

Dr. Manoj Chopra has researched sinkholes and erosion at the University of Central Florida and said much of Central Florida is part of “Sinkhole Alley.”

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Best of 2024: Florida Teen Invents Device That Could Help 2.2 Billion People Dec 16, 2024

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Another look back at one of the best interviews we had in 2024.

At age 16, most kids are thinking about getting their driver’s license or making TikToks, except for Tiffani Gay, who is focused on changing the world with her award-winning invention.

By combining two technologies used in everyday life, Gay is striving to get results for the over 2.2 billion people worldwide with visual impairments.

The Orlando Science Schools sophomore joined Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate to explain the story and the science behind an electronic headset she created.

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Best of 2024: Florida Woman Who Broke Into 200 Homes Shares Secrets Dec 09, 2024

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One of the best episodes of 2024.

Jennifer Gomez paints a rosy picture of her upbringing. Her mom was a neurologist. Her Dad is a psychiatrist.

She is the youngest of seven children.

She said all of her siblings are successful.

But as a child, she didn’t see their success as enviable.

She saw it as boring.

She told Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate, when she thought of their lives she thought, “Your life looks really boring, going to work every day, doing these routine mundane things.”

She said she wanted excitement, and she found it in targeting wealthy homes and stealing some of their most prized possessions.

Altogether, she said she burglarized hundreds of homes: “I don’t actually know the number, I’m going solely by what the detectives said and what was in my paperwork. It was 200, on paper, documented, that you can find.”

Now Gomez is coming clean sharing her stories on social media and warning people to stop doing simple things that make them and their homes a target.

For starters she said to stop making assumptions, “These people would look at me in these neighborhoods, communicate with me, look me straight in the eyes, and never suspect anything because of the way that I look.”

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Local Star Maker Talks about Legacy Nov 25, 2024

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What do Wayne Brady, Joey Fatone and Wesley Snipes have in common? They all had the same teacher for theatre class in Central Florida. Karen Rugerio served as the Theatre Director for Dr. Phillips High School for 27 years. During those decades, Rugerio brought up a variety of future stars on screen and stage.

She started at Jones High School when she first came to Orlando. Wesley Snipes was in her first class, "I still talk to him on the telephone all the time." Snipes even flew Rugerio and her partner out when the movie Blade opened in theaters. Snipes also flew her out when he made it on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

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Only in Florida: Viral Fisherman Casts His Line in Flooded Street After Hurricane Milton Nov 18, 2024

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With a mullet, a fishing rod, and an unstoppable sense of humor, Jake Hutcheson transforms flooded streets into a reel-worthy moment

When Hurricane Milton drenched Orlando in October, most people stayed indoors to avoid the post-storm chaos. But not Jake Hutcheson. The 24 year old saw the flooded streets of College Park as an opportunity-an opportunity to go fishing. Armed with a rod, a mullet, a sense of humor and a sense of adventure, Jake turned Edgewater Drive into his own personal fishing spot, creating a viral moment that left people laughing at what they had just witnessed.

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