Central Florida Public Media

10/17/2024

This week on Spotlight: After a weekend of being closed due to Hurricane Milton damage, kid-friendly Happy Frights and grownup-geared Haunting Nights at Leu Gardens are back up and running. Cole Nesmith, Artistic Director and Founder of Creative City Project, the group behind Happy Frights and Haunting Nights says crews have restored the events’ carefully crafted sections called “immersive worlds,” and he can’t wait to share his favorites with guests again.

Hear Spotlight: https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/spotlight/2024-10-17/spotlight-halloween-unites-at-happy-frights-haunting-nights

10/17/2024

FEMA knocking on doors to answers questions in Lake County after Hurricane Milton.

Molly Crow, a disaster survivor assistance specialist with FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, said canvassing helps survivors get information quickly while connecting with people in person.

“Our job as the face of FEMA is to be that empathetic ear, to listen to people's stories, to talk to them, to allow them to tell us what happened to them in the disaster and where they might need help,” Crow said.

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/2024-10-17/fema-knocks-on-doors-answers-questions-in-lake-county-after-hurricane-milton

10/16/2024

This week our One Small Step conversation is between Orlando resident Brandon Martin, a performer at a local theme park, and Joel Hunter, pastor and spiritual adviser to former President Barack Obama.

Tune in Thursday at 7:50 a.m. or 5:50 p.m. to hear more of this conversation.

90.7 FM WMFE
89.5 FM WMFV
cfpublic.org/oss

10/16/2024

November brings a pivotal decision for Floridians - the chance to vote on Amendment 4, potentially defining abortion as a state constitutional right. Want to know more about this amendment and the views from both sides? Check out our latest story. 👉 https://www.cfpublic.org/.../what-is-the-abortion-amendment.

Your vote, your voice! 🗳️

10/16/2024

In an ongoing effort to make our city sidewalks and curb ramps more ADA-compliant, our Public Works & Transportation Department is asking for resident input at their next Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) meeting.

🗓️ Monday, October 21
⏰ 4 p.m.
📍 City Hall Commission Chambers
virtual option ➡️ cityofwinterpark.org/meetings
email concerns ➡️ [email protected]

Please take a look around your neighborhood and let us know if there are areas of accessibility concerns on existing sidewalks such as missing truncated domes on curb ramps (examples of these domes are shown in the photo below), sidewalk sections that have been lifted due to tree roots, and/or major cracks that may interfere with mobility.

10/16/2024

This November Floridians will get the chance to vote on whether or not abortion is a state constitutional right via Amendment 4. But what is the amendment? And what are advocates and opponents saying about it?

Full story at our website: https://www.cfpublic.org/health/2024-10-15/what-is-the-abortion-amendment

10/16/2024

Brace for a refreshing switch! As sunny skies grace North and Central Florida, get ready for some drier and cooler air. Whether you're in the North, Central, or South - expect temperatures to drop and the air to crisp up. Who's excited for some breezy, sunny afternoons this weekend?

Here's the story: https://www.cfpublic.org/2024-10-15/cold-front-coming-through-cooler-dry-and-comfortable-weather-for-florida

10/15/2024

The National Hurricane Center is tracking two systems: one in the Atlantic and one in the Caribbean. The Atlantic system has a 60% chance of developing into a tropical depression later this week, but poses no immediate threat to Florida. The Caribbean system may develop gradually as it moves toward Central America. Meanwhile, a cold front will bring cooler, drier weather.

Hurricane center is watching two areas of development, however things remain calm for now.

10/15/2024

Is Gen Z the key to passing Florida’s abortion amendment? In November, Floridians will vote on Amendment 4, which would enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution.

Here's the full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/health/2024-10-14/is-gen-z-the-key-to-passing-floridas-abortion-amendment

10/15/2024

10/15/2024

🚫🔥 No burning of yard debris after a hurricane—where there's smoke, there's air pollution!

Protect your health and the environment by using Orange County’s debris drop-off sites or curbside debris removal services.

Learn more about Orange County's Open Burning Rules at ocfl.net/OpenBurningRules. For details on yard debris removal, visit: https://bit.ly/4eIsxnY

10/15/2024

Central Florida schools are back after Hurricane Milton. School districts now have to decide when to have make up days. Florida Education Association (FEA) President Andrew Spar said most districts will be making those decisions this week. They are also adjusting to the physical and emotional toll on students and teachers, while the state is extending some deadlines but keeping required instructional hours.

Read the story: https://www.cfpublic.org/education/2024-10-15/central-florida-schools-consider-makeup-days-for-milton

10/14/2024

𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🍂
𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒: bit.ly/3zYunls

🗑️ Waste Pro will begin picking up ONLY properly bagged, containerized & bundled debris (not to exceed 50 lbs.) on the following days:
- Wednesday, October 16
- Saturday, October 19
🗑️ Up to 15 bags/bundles/containers (3 cubic yards) of properly prepared yard debris will be picked up.
🗑️ If you have more than 3 cubic yards of properly prepared debris, it may not be picked up all at once in order to service as many customers as possible.
🗑️ Please use proper lawn or leaf bags for disposal.

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 & 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬:
🌳 Any debris that does not fit in a bag or container, such as large vegetative debris, please 𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙗 for crews to pick up.
🌳 Loose and large tree debris piles require special equipment. Due to limited resources, loose piles will take much longer to pick up.
🚫 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 place debris near or on trees, poles, hydrants, meters or other structures.
🚫 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 place debris in the street or block storm drains, manhole covers or gutters.
🚫 Construction debris will not be collected.

𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 💪🏻 𝐃𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 (𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲)
🍂 City residents can bring a max. of 15 debris bags (not to exceed 50 lbs. each) to the City Operations compound located at 1409 Howell Branch Road on the following days between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:
🍂 Friday, October 18
🍂 Saturday, October 19
🍂 Sunday, October 20
No contractors or commercial landscapers. City residents only.
Please bring proof of residency: driver’s license, valid ID or utility bill statement.

Orange County, Florida Government 𝐃𝐈𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 (𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲):
🍂 Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
🍂 Tuesdays through Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Conway Water Treatment Plant – 3590 Manatee Street, Orlando, FL 32822
- Harrell Road – 8503 Trevarthon Road, Orlando, FL 32817
- Zellwood Maintenance Unit – 3500 Golden Gem Road, Apopka, FL 32712
🍂 The sites will accept only loose vegetative debris - no bags or containers. Large household appliances and other household items will not be accepted. Contractors, lawn care or commercial companies are prohibited from using these drop-off sites.

10/14/2024

FEMA announced Saturday morning that President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida.

The declaration makes individual assistance available for residents and businesses in 34 counties affected by Hurricane Milton, including the Central Florida counties of Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. Funding is also available for emergency work to state, tribal, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis.

People and business owners can begin applying for assistance by registering online.

See our website to see how to begin.
https://www.cfpublic.org/2024-10-12/biden-approves-major-disaster-declaration-for-milton-freeing-fema-funds-for-people-in-central-florida

✍️: Joe Byrnes
📰: Central Florida Public Media

10/14/2024

Volusia County is warning communities like these, along the St. Johns River, to prepare as soon as possible for the river’s anticipated crest between October 22 and 25: either by leaving the area temporarily, or stocking up on several weeks of essential supplies.

In recent days, the portion of the St. Johns River that is feeding the flooding in this neighborhood crept up past its previous record height of 4.7 feet, according to water gauge data made available by the National Oceanic Administration’s National Water Prediction Service.

The flooding isn’t expected to go down until after the river’s anticipated crest next week. Meanwhile, federal assistance is now available for people living in certain Florida counties hit by Hurricane Milton — including Volusia — following President Joe Biden’s Saturday announcement of a Major Disaster Declaration for the storm.

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/environment/2024-10-14/st-johns-rises-volusia-residents-on-river-plan-stay

✍️: Molly Duerig
📰: Central Florida Public Media

10/13/2024

Rare comet to streak across night sky. Here’s how you can see it.

The comet will initially appear low on the western horizon in the glow of twilight about 45 minutes after sunset each day starting Saturday, Oct. 12, through the end of the month.

Story at our website. https://www.cfpublic.org/2024-10-10/rare-comet-to-streak-across-night-sky-heres-how-you-can-see-it

10/13/2024

Volusia residents flooded after Hurricane Milton, with more water expected.

Kevin Giordano is preparing to clear his South Daytona house of flood water once again after Hurricane Milton brought heavy rains to the area starting Wednesday.

Giordano has lived in the Big Tree Village neighborhood for 30 years.

“It rose to about 12 inches inside my house, and pretty much most of the neighborhood,” Giordano said. “Big Tree [Village] got wet and was underwater, pretty much close to what Hurricane Ian did. So now it's time to just let it all drain out, and then rip it apart again and rebuild it.”

He has experience with that.

Here's the story: https://www.cfpublic.org/housing-homelessness/2024-10-12/volusia-residents-flooded-after-hurricane-milton-with-more-water-expected

10/12/2024

Flooding from Hurricane Milton in Big Tree Village in Daytona, FL.

The story: https://www.cfpublic.org/housing-homelessness/2024-10-12/volusia-residents-flooded-after-hurricane-milton-with-more-water-expected

10/11/2024

Resources you may need for Hurricane Milton recovery
Information and links for safety, crisis counseling, scam avoidance, county resources, disaster assistance and unemployment assistance.

Read More:
https://www.cfpublic.org/2024-10-11/resources-you-may-need-for-hurricane-milton-recovery

10/11/2024

Following a comprehensive assessment of our campuses and local conditions, UCF will reopen for normal operations as planned on Saturday, Oct. 12, and all classes will resume Monday, Oct. 14.

The impact of Hurricane Milton is varied and, in some locations, catastrophic. UCF is known for our culture of caring, and now is the time to extend patience and compassion to those who are continuing to feel the effects of the storm.

This means that some students, faculty, and staff may be unable to return to classes or work on Monday. These individuals should be given empathy and flexibility as our region and state recover.

The scheduled football game against Cincinnati will kick off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at FBC Mortgage Stadium. All campus parking lots, including Gold Zone Village and Gold Zone Campus, will open at 11:30 a.m. There will be no tailgating on Memory Mall, including Greeks on the Green.

Visit ucf.edu/hurricane for resources and support. 💛

10/11/2024

10/11/2024

10/11/2024

IMPORTANT UPDATE: PLEASE READ! All schools have been assessed by our facilities and maintenance teams. The impacts from Hurricane Milton are minimal. We will reopen all schools for students Tuesday, Oct.15.

𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀’ 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁. 𝟮𝟱 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀.

As a reminder, Monday was already a predetermined student holiday, teacher workday. All extracurricular and after-school activities may resume on Monday, Oct. 14. Football games previously scheduled for this week will be played on Monday. Any athletic event and other student activities canceled due to the storm may be rescheduled, if possible. Practices may resume voluntarily this weekend.

We are grateful to our principals, assistant principals and additional staff who worked to service 11 school shelters during the storm as well as the clean up after Hurricane Milton.

If you are still cleaning up from the storm, please remember to take precautions and stay safe. Thank you for your support of OCPS. — Dr. Maria Vazquez, Superintendent

10/11/2024

Governor DeSantis says Florida is opening back up, one day after Hurricane Milton.

Full story:

The governor says the state was lucky that Milton did not take a path that could have done even more damage.

10/11/2024

States probed TikTok for years. Here are the documents the app tried to keep secret.

In communications newly revealed, TikTok executives discuss being aware of the harms caused by their app. TikTok officials were warned of the app’s dangers to minors.

https://www.cfpublic.org/2024-10-11/states-probed-tiktok-for-years-here-are-the-documents-the-app-tried-to-keep-secret