Top Local News Stories for Tavares, Florida.

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Bitter cold blasts Central Florida

A bitter blast of cold air moved into Central Florida on Monday. Temperatures dropped to 25 degrees in Ocala and 36 degrees in Orlando. Local 6 meteorologist Troy Bridges said Melbourne dropped three degrees shy of its record to 35 degrees Monday morning. People woke to frost on their car windshields and on grass, but temperatures will gradually warm through the day. By noon, expect the high temperature to reach 57, and by 3 p.m. it will be about 65, which is 10 degrees below the normal high temperature for Orlando. Tuesday's high will reach the mid-70s, and high temperatures will be near 80 degrees until the weekend. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:31:32 GMT

SUV hits, snaps utility pole in Pine Hills

A man driving home from work fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a utility pole, according to a witness. The accident happened just after 7 a.m. Monday on Pine Hills Road near the intersection of Deauville Drive. The impact of the crash snapped the concrete utility support pole and landed on top of the silver SUV. A Orlando Utility Company worker was driving to work and came upon the crash moments after it happened and said the accident left a support wire dangling less than 15 feet above the roadway. According to the OUC worker, the driver involved in the accident said he fell asleep at the wheel while driving home from his overnight shift. The driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. OUC said the pole will need to be replaced. The accident did not affect power service in the area.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:04:54 GMT

Celeb mugshots: Oscar stars behind bars

An Oscar win, or even a nomination, might give you the necessary career boost in Hollywood, but it won't keep you from going to jail. Just ask these celebrities.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Images: 2012 Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are a chance to recognize outstanding music industry professionals. See images of all the bands, fashion, performances, tributes and winners from the 54th annual Grammy Awards.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:01:26 GMT

Lake Buena Vista ranked as most romantic city in U.S.

The most romantic city in the United States turns out to be the happiest place on earth -- Lake Buena Vista, according to a report. Foursquare based the listing of loving cities on more than 1.5 billion check-ins over the past year at "romantic" places, such as restaurants and flower shops. A Minnesota city came in last place on the romantic rundown. Duluth was dubbed one of the least romantic cities in the United States, according to Foursquare. Foursquare listings of most and least romantic cities: Most romantic 1. Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 2. Napa, Calif. 3. Venice, Calif. 4. St. Louis 5. New York City 6. San Francisco 7. Reston, Va. 8. Beverly Hills, Calif. 9. Myrtle Beach, S.C. 10. Key West, Fla. Least romantic 1. Beaverton, Ore. 2. Bethlehem, Pa. 3. Lawrenceville, Ga. 4. Sterling Heights, Mich. 5. West Chester, Pa. 6. Normal, Ill. 7. Norwalk, Conn. 8. Tustin, Calif. 9. Duluth 10. Waltham, Mass.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:07:12 GMT

Orange County house fire rages for 90 minutes

Orange County and Winter Garden firefighters battled a fire for more than 90 minutes Sunday night before finally extinguishing the blaze. At about 6:20 p.m., a neighbor dialed 911 after seeing flames through the window of a home at 1346 9th St., just south of Colonial Drive in western Orange County. Firefighters said they saw a dark column of thick smoke coming from the house and that downed power lines made it hard to reach the house. They worked on the fire from a distance until power could be shut off. No one was home during the fire and no firefighters were injured. The family's dog, however, died in the blaze. The cause of the fire appears to be accidental, but the State Fire Marshal's office is investigating.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:47:14 GMT

Pastor's daughter accidentally shot at Florida church

Authorities say the daughter of a pastor was accidentally shot in the head at a church in St. Petersburg. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was called to the Grace Connection Church Sunday at about 12:24 p.m. Investigators say Moises Zambrana was showing his gun in a small closet to another church member interested in buying a firearm. Zambrana reportedly took out the magazine of the Reuger 9mm weapon but did not know there was a bullet in the chamber. The gun went off and fired through a wall, striking 20-year-old Hannah Kelley. She was transported to Bayfront Medical Center to undergo surgery and remained in critical condition late Sunday. Deputies said Zambrana has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. No charges have been filed.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:10:11 GMT

Joel Osteen and the rise of megachurches

Lines of traffic filed into the parking garage and people rushed into the Amway Center in excitement as if they were going to a rock concert. But inside, they were watching a preacher. Joel Osteen, the televangelist and pastor for Houston's Lakewood Church, inspired thousands during his Night of Hope Event in December. Many in attendance were there to not only see Osteen, but their own pastors take the stage as well. In a time when less people claim to be religious, megachurch attendance is on the rise, and the faithful give Osteen and his counterparts credit. According to the American Religious Identification Survey, which is available through the US Census Bureau, the percentage of people who consider themselves to have no religious affiliation grew from 8 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2008. "I think some of it is, sometimes the churches haven't changed with the times," said Joel Osteen, in an interview with Local 6's Lauren Rowe last year. Osteen's church has not felt the effects of this trend. In the past 10 years, his congregation grew from 11,000 to more than 44,000. It is now the largest church in the United States. Pastor Jeff Smith was one of a handful of affiliated churches who sponsored Osteen's event. Smith's family started City of Life Church in Kissimmee in 1986 with just 15 members. They've now grown to 4,000 members, and many of those new congregants have come on board just in the last few years. It's a big accomplishment for a guy who said he never really thought he would be a pastor. "I wanted to write movies, I wanted to write films, I wanted to have a creative culture around me and I never saw a pastor that did all those things," said Smith, who certainly doesn't dress like a typical pastor. He dons converse sneakers and casual clothes instead of a suit or a robe. And it's working; he said about half of his members come from Catholic churches. "Part of the problem with some established churches is they want you to fit in their exact little box, to dress like them, to behave like them, before they accept you," said Smith, who professes an all our welcome message at City of Life. He said they use moves and contemporary music to bring people together in a hopes of accomplishes a small church feel at a large congregation. Megachurch members are consistently more active in their congregations and fellowship activities, according to a Baylor University Survey. The same survey also found that megachurch members are more absolute in their beliefs about heaven and hell than those who attend small congregations. "I think there is something about coming together, getting with other believers, I think that's contagious , I think that's healthy and that's my goal is to get people in church," said Osteen.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:17:25 GMT

Friend: Whitney Houston 'upbeat and joyful' 2 days before death

A singer who participated in an impromptu duet with Whitney Houston at a party two days before Houston's death said Monday she noticed nothing amiss and the superstar was "upbeat and joyful." "She did not seem disheveled. She was dancing, she was laughing. ... We were having a good time," said Kelly Price. "What I saw on Thursday night was not erratic behavior. I didn't see someone who was high." Price said the party was held to celebrate her Grammy nominations. During the party, Houston took the stage unexpectedly and sang a hoarse rendition of "Jesus Loves Me" with Price. Price said Houston's voice is "naturally raspy," but "she sounded good on Thursday night." She acknowledged that Houston did have champagne, which "was flowing" at the party, and said she was glad to see her friend happy. "It was a genuine moment of celebration," she said. "She was in good spirits leaving the club," Price said. "Yes, she was a little messy, as I was, as every other person was at 2, 3, 3:30 ... in the morning after having sung half the night, danced half the night." Price said she never expected to receive the call Saturday that Houston, 48, was found dead in her suite at the upscale Beverly Hilton, just hours before she was to attend another pre-Grammys party at the hotel. "It doesn't resonate to anything that happened on Thursday," Price said. There were more questions than answers Monday about Houston's sudden death, as authorities were offering few details. The singer's soaring voice and impressive talent had taken a back seat in recent years to her struggles with drug addiction. An autopsy was completed on Houston Sunday, but authorities have not released a cause of death pending toxicology tests. Speaking to reporters Monday, Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles county coroner's office, refused to speculate on a cause of death, saying testing is ongoing. Beverly Hills police have requested a "security hold" on the coroner's report, a common practice in high-profile cases that limits what can be revealed about a probe while it is ongoing. Winter on Sunday said no additional details, including what was discovered in Houston's room, would be released. Asked Monday whether authorities know the cause of death and are barred from releasing it by the security hold, Winter said, "We do not know (the cause) yet." When it is known, the coroner's office will notify police and Houston's family, he said. Asked how long Houston had been dead before she was found, he said she was seen by someone -- a family member or someone at the hotel -- within an hour of her death. The security hold does not restrict the release of Houston's body to her family, he said, but he said he did not know when the body would be picked up or what arrangements were being made. Winter declined to release the coroner's initial finding of cause of death, saying lab results were expected in six to eight weeks. "I know there are reports that she maybe was drowned or did she overdose, but we won't make a final determination until all the tests are in," he said. Winter ruled out foul play and said there were no injuries to her body. Winter confirmed reports that Houston was found in the bathtub of her hotel room. "I believe somebody removed her from the bathtub and the paramedics did CPR on her," he said Sunday. Entertainment news website TMZ, citing "informed sources," reported pill bottles were found in Houston's room. CNN could not immediately confirm the TMZ report and Winter declined to comment. As late as Monday morning, remembrances continued to pour in from around the world. Nelson Mandela issued a statement extending his condolences to Houston's family and friends. He recalled how she dedicated her performance of "Greatest Love Of All" to him during a White House dinner in his honor in October 1994. "May she rest in peace," the statement said. Songstress Celine Dion, speaking on ABC's "Good Morning America," admitted she stays away from the "show business" scene because of its risks. "It's just very unfortunate that drugs and, I don't know, bad people or bad influence, took over," Dion said. "It took over her dreams, it took over love and motherhood. ... When you, you know, you think about Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse, I mean, to get into drugs like that for whatever reason ... . What happens when you have the love, the support, family, motherhood, you have responsibilities of a mother and then something happens and it destroys everything? "There's something that happens that I don't understand," she said, "and that's why I'm so scared. I'm scared of show business. I'm scared of drugs. I'm scared of hanging out. And that's why I don't do parties, and that's why I don't hang out. That's why I'm not part of show business, because we have to be afraid." Whatever the exact cause, the grief over the death of Houston was evident Sunday at the Grammy Awards. Host LL Cool J began his Grammy monologue by acknowledging "we've had a death in our family" and offering a prayer thanking God "for sharing our sister Whitney with us." "Although she's gone too soon, we remain truly blessed to have been touched by her beautiful spirit and to have her lasting legacy of music to cherish and share forever," the rapper and actor said. Toward the end of the show, under a bright, solitary spotlight, Jennifer Hudson took to the stage at the Staples Center to perform Houston's mega-hit "I Will Always Love You." Accompanied by a piano, Hudson delivered a searing, heartfelt performance that brought the audience to its feet, ending the song with one new line: "Whitney, we love you." Earlier, on the red carpet, gospel singer Kim Burrell told CNN she'd exchanged voice mails with her good friend Houston shortly before her death, describing her as being "in great spirits, as always." She said she always thought of Houston as a "fighter" and a "survivor," which made the idea of her passing all the more difficult to comprehend. "She's my sister and she'll always be my sister," said an emotional Burrell. "I love her dearly." Burrell told CNN Monday she is comforted by the knowledge that Houston had a solid religious foundation. She said she and Houston spoke weekly for 13 years, sometimes praying over the phone. "Whitney knew to go to God. Whitney knew how to pray," a tearful Burrell said Monday. "... I'm very confident that whatever her last moments were, she knew that God could be there for her. ... She's with him today." Burrell said she'd flown to California to join Houston in attending a pre-Grammy party Saturday night hosted by the songstress' longtime mentor, Clive Davis. Houston died a few hours before the party took place. On Houston's last voice mail, left as Burrell was on the plane, she said gospel music was playing in the background. "It's just very hard today to see all of this," she said. "It's very surreal, but I'm trying very hard to be strong for her." Amid the outpouring of grief, Beverly Hills police said Houston's 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was taken to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Sunday morning. Details of her condition were not disclosed. A source close to the family told CNN that by late Sunday afternoon the teenager was out of the hospital and would be heading back to New Jersey, possibly as early as that night. She was expected to go to the home of her grandmother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, in New Jersey, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue. Burrell said she was with the teenager late Saturday, admitting the girl had felt "overwhelmed" while expressing confidence that "she'll pull through." Bobbi Kristina Brown was born during Houston's marriage to Bobby Brown, which ended in divorce in 2007. Her father was swarmed by media when he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport Sunday night after pulling out of a performance with New Edition in Nashville, Tennessee, in the wake of the death. Brown did not take any questions, and was quickly whisked into a waiting limousine. The night Houston died, he was openly emotional during a concert in Southaven, Mississippi, said attendee and CNN iReporter Moshiu Knox, at one point asking people to say a prayer for his daughter, for his mother and "for me, because I'm going to need it." "Bobby was crying during his performance and at one point had to walk off stage," Knox said. Houston's family issued a statement Sunday saying, "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Whitney. This is an unimaginable tragedy and we will miss her terribly. We appreciate the outpouring of love and support from her fans and friends." Funeral arrangements for Houston were pending.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:52:48 GMT

Whitney Houston through the years

Pop star Whitney Houston died at age 48. Here's a look at the legendary singer through the years.

Published: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:03:37 GMT

Photos: Paws in the park

On Saturday, dogs from around Central Florida brought out their owners to "Paws in the Park". Check out the canines that attended.

Published: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:19:20 GMT

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