Paola Tristan Arruda

Lancaster

News Reporter at WESH-TV (Orlando, FL)

•Multilingual Emmy award winning journalist• @WESH news reporter

Articles

Florida expands autism services with new law

3 days ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill into law that expands services and funding for children with autism and other developmental disabilities in Florida. Senate Bill 112 allows students with disabilities to remain in Early Steps, an intervention program that assists children with developmental delays, up to age four. The previous cutoff was three. Additionally, the bill funds new charter schools, summer programs, and camps for students with autism.
Victims' families to announce lawsuit after downtown Orlando Halloween mass shooting

4 days ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

OF COURSE, BE LETTING YOU KNOW. AND TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO HEAR FROM FAMILY MEMBERS, THE PARENTS OF TWO MEN KILLED IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT. THIS IS 25 YEAR-OLD. TYREEK HILL AND 19 YEAR-OLD TIMOTHY SCHMIDT JUNIOR. THEY BOTH DIED IN THAT MASS SHOOTING. WESH 2’S PAOLA TRISTAN ARUDA IS LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO AND PAOLA. THE FAMILIES ARE ANNOUNCING A LAWSUIT TODAY. YEAH.
Final day for Pulse nightclub memorial proposals

1 week ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

CORSO. WELL, THE CITY OF ORLANDO IS MOVING FORWARD ON BUILDING A PERMANENT PULSE MEMORIAL. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR FIRMS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR THE SITE AS WESH 2’S PAOLA TRISTAN ARUDA REPORTS, THE MEMORIAL HAS BEEN LONG IN THE MAKING. AFTER NEARLY A DECADE OF DELAYS.
Memorial Day expected to be second busiest day at MCO

1 week ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

Nearly a million travelers were expected to pass through Orlando International Airport over Memorial Day weekend, with the travel period ending Tuesday.
Florida wildlife officials meeting to discuss rules for potential bear hunt

2 weeks ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

FIRST TIME IN A DECADE FLORIDA MAY BRING BACK BEAR HUNTS. FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICIALS ARE MEETING NOW TO ESTABLISH RULES. IF A HUNT WERE TO HAPPEN. WESH TWO PAOLA TRISTAN ARUDA IS LIVE AT THE COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IN OCALA, WHERE THAT MEETING IS HAPPENING IN PAOLA. LOTS OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP FOR THIS. YEAH, JESSE, MORE THAN 160 PEOPLE ACTUALLY SHOWED UP TO SPEAK. SO THE FWC ACTUALLY HAD TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT TO THREE HOURS TO ALLOW EVERYBODY THE CHANCE TO TALK.
Affordable housing community progresses near Epic Universe

2 weeks ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

As Universal Orlando gets closer to the opening of Epic Universe, an affordable housing community being built nearby is progressing.Catchlight Crossings, an affordable housing and workforce community near Epic Universe and the Orange County Convention Center, plans to offer 1,000 apartments and various amenities.Ryan Von Weller, COO of Wendover Housing Partners, said, " was made possible by Universal Studios and their associated entities basically donating 20-plus acres of land to the...
Orlando debates downtown alcohol sales changes

2 weeks ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

Orlando city commissioners are considering changes to the downtown after-midnight alcohol sales permit program in response to rising crime rates, including several shootings.> Related: Orlando mayor issues curfew, early end to alcohol sales for businesses near downtown mass shooting Both the executive director of the Downtown Development Board and Orlando Police Department Chief Eric Smith presented initiatives focused on addressing crime in the downtown area.
Tariffs on steel and aluminum could raise funeral costs

3 weeks ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

Funeral costs are already expensive, and soon the cost of burying a loved one could rise. In March, President Donald Trump's 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum went into effect. Those are materials used to make caskets. Terrance Stafford is the funeral director and co-owner of Stafford & Simon Family Funeral Home in Orlando. Stafford said he always tries to educate his community about putting a loved one to rest. Right now, he is bracing for the tariff impacts.
Orange County man reunites with first responders who saved his life

1 month ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

Bill Horton, who suffered a cardiac arrest, reunited with the first responders who saved his life at Fire Station 3 in Orlando on Wednesday. On March 17, Horton collapsed at home following a morning workout. His wife heard him fall and immediately called 911. Lt. Brian Hiler of the Orlando Fire Department said, "I think it took approximately five minutes from the time of dispatch till we were on the scene. And we found Bill in cardiac arrest. His wife was doing CPR, and she was doing an amazing job.
SeaWorld Orlando set to debut Expedition Odyssey

1 month ago | wesh.com | Paola Tristan Arruda

SEAWORLD ORLANDO’S NEWEST IMMERSIVE ATTRACTION THAT WON’T ACTUALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL NEXT WEEK. YEAH, IT’S CALLED EXPEDITION ODYSSEY AND WESH 2’S PAOLA TRISTAN ARUDA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO RIDE IT AND SHOWS US WHAT WE CAN EXPECT. OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND UNDER THE WATER. IT’S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT SEAWORLD ORLANDO’S NEWEST EXPERIENCE, EXPEDITION ODYSSEY, IS SET TO MAKE ITS DEBUT.