Passengers at Orlando International Airport are reacting to a TSA policy allowing medical marijuana through security checkpoints, while officials remind travelers that Florida’s marijuana laws still apply.

The move could bring fast relief to unpaid TSA officers and help ease the staffing strain contributing to long, slow-moving airport lines, including in Orlando.

“A slap in the face.” That’s how leaders of a union representing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers across Central Florida are reacting after Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly questioned the agency’s role during the ongoing partial government shutdown.

President Donald Trump has signed a promised executive action that will pay Transportation Security Administration employees, after a bid to end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security abruptly fell apart in Congress.

Three airports in Florida take part in a private security program.

After a heavy bout of flight delays, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has posed a question: why not let airports handle their own security screenings?

A proposal from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to eliminate the Transportation Security Administration drew mixed reactions from travelers, aviation experts and lawmakers, according to our sister station WJXT in Jacksonville.

The Trump administration is restarting the Global Entry program just over two weeks after it halted the service for travelers because of the partial government shutdown.

Some of the nation’s busiest airports saw hourslong security lines this weekend, as the partial government shutdown begins to hit air travel.

Orlando International Airport is expecting some of its busiest days during the holiday travel period.

Starting next year, travelers going through security checkpoints without a REAL ID or passport will have to pay a $45 fee to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period

Air traffic controllers and TSA agents at Orlando International Airport say they are working without pay as the government shutdown reaches 28 days.

Despite no end in sight for the government shutdown, flights continue to take off nationwide. Travelers at Orlando International Airport seem to be experiencing normal operations.

The United States will deploy biometric technologies with Chile to control migration and disrupt criminal networks, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggests changes to the amount of liquids travelers can carry on planes may be coming.

The U.S. has some of the biggest and busiest airports in the world. Way.com compiled the top 10 busiest airports in the U.S. in accordance with the annual passenger traffic.

Most airports around the United States operated smoothly as new REAL ID requirements took effect because travelers without the updated document were still allowed to move through security easily.

A new study finds Orlando International Airport was the subject of more luggage-handling complaints than any other major U.S. airport over a period of 10 years.

Living in Orlando, it feels like a rite of passage to hop on the tram and hear Mayor Buddy Dyer’s "welcome home" message at the airport.

With just over a week to go until the Fourth of July, the Transportation Security Administration just announced it had its busiest day ever - yet again.

With just one week away from Thanksgiving, experts are anticipating once again a lot of people set to travel during the holiday season.

The airport announced that the incident happened at Airside F around 8 p.m. when the firearm was detected among the passenger’s carry-on items.

The Transportation Security Administration usually shuffles airline passengers' clothing, laptops, and shoes with little to no contention.

Last year saw a record number of guns intercepted at airport checkpoints across the country.

Orlando tops list of Florida locations, TSA says

Most people believe we have to take our shoes off at the airport because of a failed attack by a man named Richard Reid, otherwise known as the shoe bomber. But there's more to the story.

Orlando International Airport is reminding passengers to check their luggage before making their way to their way to check in on a flight after the Transportation Safety Administration reported record numbers of firearms being flagged.

For some travelers at Orlando International Airport, Thanksgiving day will be spent on a plane.

Artists near and far are heading to Cocoa Beach this weekend to participate in this year's art show.

Two days of culture celebrations are coming to downtown Orlando.

Some spots require reservations

Transportation Security Administration agents recently intercepted a raw whole chicken with a handgun shoved inside, according to social media post.

This year, nearly 20% more travelers were expected to travel through Orlando International Airport over Labor Day weekend than during the same period in 2021, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

A school bus leaving Tavares High School was rear-ended on State Road 44, according to Lake County Schools.

A person was hospitalized Wednesday after being hurt in a shooting earlier that morning in a Daytona Beach residential area, police said.

Thunderstorms on the East Coast are causing travel headaches for tens of thousands of airline passengers.

The Transportation Security Administration said it’s on track to stop a record-setting number of guns at checkpoints across the country in 2022.

The Transportation Security Administration said the agency is preparing to handle its “busy” summer travel season as it expects passenger volume will “match and may occasionally exceed” pre-pandemic levels.

Flyers looking to join the Transportation Security Administration’s Precheck program can make a one-stop-shop of the whole process at an enrollment event taking place later this month at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB).

Orlando International Airport is in the state’s lead as Florida airports continue to rank in the nation’s top 10 every year for where passengers are most often stopped at checkpoints with a gun.

After the last couple years of living through a global pandemic, it seems as though most of us are itching to get in some good travel time.

A Newark Transportation Security Administration agent jumped into action to save a baby’s life, according to a release from the TSA Thursday.

The Transportation Security Administration issued a statement Monday, reminding holiday travelers that you can travel with your holiday food, but some things can go in carry-on luggage, and some things need to be checked.

MCO said nearly 135,000 passengers will pass through just on Tuesday, more than in 2019, which was a record-setting year.

The number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge.

At least, that’s what was reflected in the Transportation Security Administration’s latest data, which showed a record-setting number of firearms detected across U.S. airport security checkpoints this year, according to a TSA press release Wednesday.

Summer travel makes a rebound at the Orlando International Airport.

Summer travel continues to pick up and the number of people traveling by air hit a new pandemic-era record Friday.

If you found yourself stranded at an airport Sunday, blame demand.

We all know how the process works when you’re going to the airport: Check in, get your boarding passes, check luggage (if that’s what you’ve decided on) and then head to security to make your way to your gate.

More and more Americans are taking to the skies again.

All rights reserved)Travelers stand in line at a TSA security checkpoint at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Temperatures dropped into the single digits this week as snow shut down air travel and grocery stores. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Anyone who has flown recently is in good company as Sunday set a new record with the highest number of air travelers since the coronavirus pandemic began. AdClose to 10 million people have flown in the last week as spring break continues for students across the nation. The trend is worrying health experts because only 15.5% of the population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

A dead baby shark in a jar made the TSA’s list of top 10 catches of 2020. Coming in at number six, someone tried to go through a security checkpoint at the international airport in Syracuse, New York with this deceased baby shark. AdAccording to the TSA, you can travel with a live fish, but it must be in water. Other items on the top 10 list: a slingshot, a book holding concealed knives, an assault rifle, marijuana stashed in a shampoo bottle, and a handmade solar panel with explosive potential. Two TSA K-9 handlers at Newark’s International Airport caught love for each other and got married in the presence of their explosive detection canines.

ORLANDO, Fla. – On Friday, Orlando International Airport leaders spoke on a conference call to discuss what to “look for” with regard to possible threats to the presidential inauguration this week. Law enforcement is also taking no chances in Florida’s capital. Lookout teams and snipers were seen on rooftops in downtown Tallahassee and Florida Highway Patrol cars swarmed the area around the state capitol building. “We are a resilient community and a resilient state, and we will not be intimidated,” Tallahassee’s Mayor tweeted. “We are encouraged that things have been quiet in Tallahassee, but we are not letting our guard down.”

Delta, United and Alaska airlines said Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 they will bar passengers flying to Washington from putting guns in checked bags. The moves follow the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and politically tinged confrontations on some flights. American Airlines is bringing back a ban on serving alcohol on flights to and from the Washington area — flights go dry starting Saturday through next Thursday. Price also said that it is “a good idea” to prohibit passengers from putting guns in checked bags if they are flying to Washington. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked baggage if they are unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case, although airlines have the discretion to ban guns.

More than 300 million people flew in 2020. Although about half of those travelers flew during the first three months of the year before the coronavirus pandemic set in. It’s a 61% drop from 2019 but still, it’s a good chunk of people considering months of public health guidance to not travel. [TRENDING: How to get vaccine in Florida | New attractions coming to Central Florida theme parks | FDA to consider cutting vaccine doses in half]The new tally comes on the heels of a pandemic air travel record set on Sunday. On that day alone, more than 1.3 million people passed through TSA checkpoints at airports across the country.

Dr. Jones says parents need to talk to their little ones now about why they will not be seeing their grandparents for Christmas. Dr. Jones suggests parents should start planning now to have a creative and festive Zoom visit. Dr. Jones says before any family gathering for the holidays there must be some ground rules. Dr. Jones says we can all still do the right thing, it’s just going to take extra work from everyone. Listen to the full episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate on iTunes here or on Sticher here.

ORLANDO, Fla. – It appears Americans are starting to travel again after the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the industry. The Transportation Security Administration said airport passenger has hit a six-month high. According to the agency, more than 984,000 people passed through U.S. checkpoints on Sunday. That is significantly low, however, compared to the 2.5 million travelers reported on the same day in 2019. The TSA says checkpoint traffic hit its low on April 14. when 87,000 travelers passed through U.S. checkpoints.

ORLANDO, Fla. For the fifth time in a week, TSA agents at Orlando International Airport found a gun at a security checkpoint, according to authorities. The most recent case happened Wednesday, officials said. Investigators said they stopped Andrew Harfield, of Kissimmee, after a screener noticed a gun in his bag as it went through an X-ray machine. Agents said they also found about 40 bullets inside the bag. No other details have been released.

Olympia High School closes for 2 weeks after positive COVID-19 testsPublished: September 7, 2020, 1:34 pmLATEST NEWS ‘Need a bigger boat:’ Hunters reel in massive one-eyed gator 4 MINUTES AGO ‘Need a bigger boat:’ Hunters reel in massive one-eyed gator Florida reports fewer than 2,000 new coronavirus cases on Labor Day 1 HOUR AGO Florida reports fewer than 2,000 new coronavirus cases on Labor Day Daytona Beach police searching for shooting suspect after 1 shot 1 HOUR AGO Daytona Beach police searching for shooting suspect after 1 shot TSA reports its busiest travel day since March over Labor Day weekend 2 HOURS AGO TSA reports its busiest travel day since March over Labor Day weekend Olympia High School closes for 2 weeks after positive COVID-19 tests All students will use virtual learning until Sept. 21 Olympia High School will shift the entire school to LaunchEd@Home learning for the next two weeks after several positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed and connected through Florida Department of Health contract tracing, according to an announcement from Orange County Public Schools.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)It was a busy holiday weekend for air travel. The Transportation Security Administration says it screened almost a million people on Friday, a record high since the pandemic began. In comparison, they saw double that number the year before. The TSA say they saw less people on Saturday, only about half a million people traveled that day.

ORLANDO, Fla. Within the past two weeks, 22 Orlando International Airport TSA agents have tested positive for COVID-19, including six new infections this week alone. A TSA spokeswoman confirmed that the last day of work for the most recent officer to test positive was on Tuesday. However TSAs site does say that 744 of its employees have tested positive overall. At OIA, TSA agents first started testing positive for COVID-19 in mid-March. Recently, OIA executives had to provide clarity after the governor said that 260 workers there testing positive during a mass screening of 500 people.

ORLANDO, Fla. It was a busy week across Florida for TSA officers who said they intercepted 12 guns state-wide in the last nine days. According to a news release, one gun was intercepted each day at the Orlando International Airport on both Wednesday and Thursday. Ten other guns were intercepted from passengers going through security checkpoints in Miami, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, Tamps, Panama City and Ft. Walton Beach. TSA officials said nine men and three women between the ages of 22 and 45, face a civil penalty from the agency that may exceed $13,000, regardless of whether they were arrested by local police. The diligence of our officers during these trying times exemplifies their dedication to their mission to keep travelers safe every day of the year.

ORLANDO, Fla. More than 10,000 travelers departed from the Orlando International Airport on Thursday. Normally on this day, OIA usually sees 67,000 passengers. Assistant Director of Public Affairs with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Rod Johnson said airport officials have seen a slight uptick in passenger numbers in Orlando over the past two weeks. The TSA said airports across the country saw 391,000 travelers on June 4. Typically the TSA sees 2,623,900 travelers on June 4.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The number of Orlando International Airport TSA workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 is at 10 as of Sunday afternoon, an agency spokesperson said. The most recent patient was assigned to the West Checkpoint and last worked March 23 from 4 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.At least six of the other Orlando TSA agents who have fallen ill also worked at the West Checkpoint while another worked at the East Checkpoint. Dr. Raul Pino, the director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County, said last week that analysts are trying to determine whether the TSA unit at OIA is a “cluster” for coronavirus transmission. A map provided on the TSA’s website does not list the instances at OIA because, according to an agency spokesperson, cases are removed after 14 days. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

Most of Tuesday -- from morning into early afternoon -- passengers arriving from New York to Orlando International Airport gates just walked off the plane without any screening. [PREVIOUS: Travelers flying from New York to Florida must quarantine, Gov. "No health department came on my plane, no health department when I came off the plane," another passenger said. One passenger said he had no plans to quarantine, especially because the health department did not have or take his contact information. Kent Donahue, with the Florida Department of Health, sent a statement to News 6 Tuesday evening.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 15-year-old with autism who went missing from her Apopka home last week went through a security checkpoint at Orlando International Airport on Friday before she was found near a departure gate and police recognized her as the girl from a missing person’s report, according to the Orlando police report. The girl was reported missing after her parents say she was last seen around 10 p.m. on Jan. 9. She was found less than 24 hours later at an Orlando International Airport terminal, Apopka police said. Officials with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority said the teen presented a valid boarding pass to TSA. The TSA said the 15-year-old presented a “valid and current boarding pass” before passing through precheck.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Two Orlando International Airport travelers made the Transportation Security Administration’s weekly review of confiscated items and that’s not a good thing. Earlier this month, TSA agents discovered two high-capacity magazines hidden in a stuffed baby toy. “Officers called a bag check on the toy after undergoing X-ray screening,” according to the TSA post. “Thankfully, the ammunition was loaded backward.”TSA agents discovered this firearm during a pat down at the Orlando Airport security checkpoint. Between Nov. 4 and Nov. 17, agents discovered 205 firearms from passenger carry-on bags, 176 were loaded, according to TSA.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport is known to the busiest airport in the nation and things are about to get busier this holiday season. Airport officials said traveling could be stressful during the holidays which is why airport officials want to make sure passengers double-check their suitcases before going through the TSA checkpoint. "TSA officers here at Orlando have already stopped 83 firearms this year at the checkpoints," Koshetz explained. Airport officials say the most heavily traveled day will be November 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, with nearly 170,000 passengers in the terminal. The airport is expected to have more than 1.75 million travelers between Thanksgiving week and Christmas.