Apopka-area voters chose new voices in county government and Tallahassee, unseating Mike Crabb and Doug Bankson after campaigns focused on residents’ everyday concerns. The winners now face the challenge of turning promises on affordability, growth and public services into improvements voters can see.
Questions about a secondary access road, paving requirements, and potential occupancy delays dominated the Apopka Development Review Committee’s Nov. 4 discussion of Ridgebrooke. The committee also reviewed needed revisions to the Apopka K-8 Charter School plat and recommended approval of a Crossroads at Kelly Park park tract.
Florida voters approved Amendment 3, a homestead property tax reduction that state economists estimate could reduce local government revenues by as much as $12 billion annually at full implementation. Two other proposed constitutional amendments failed to reach the required approval threshold in unofficial results.
The Foundation for OCPS has received a $400,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to strengthen school-based food pantries and expand access to nutritious food. The funding will support students and families facing food insecurity throughout Orange County Public Schools.
Apopka-area voters head to the polls today to help choose county leaders and representatives in Tallahassee and Washington. Amendment 3 also puts property taxes and local government finances before voters, and The Apopka Voice will follow key races and report results after polls close.
A job can provide purpose, structure, and independence, but people with developmental disabilities often face barriers to employment. In this guest opinion, Quest Inc. President and CEO John Gill outlines how businesses, families, and community members can help create opportunities.
Three development applications need additional work after the Apopka Development Review Committee recommended denial during its Oct. 28 meeting. A fourth application, a future land use amendment for recently annexed property on Clark Connelly Road, received a recommendation for approval.
Apopka’s Development Review Committee will consider a proposed warehouse use on Clarcona Road, an 11-lot replat on East Lisa Lane, and two returning residential applications on Wednesday. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the City Hall Commission Chambers.
AI hiring tools can streamline recruitment, but they can also reinforce biases and leave qualified applicants struggling to get an interview. Second Harvest’s Keonna Yearwood-Branch explains how job training and direct employer relationships can help candidates move beyond automated screening.
Florida’s housing market posted modest sales gains in the third quarter of 2026, with existing single-family home sales rising 0.2% and condo-townhouse sales increasing 3.1% from a year earlier. However, September sales declined in both categories as higher mortgage rates weighed on market momentum.
Apopka faces a busy week of city business, including development reviews, code enforcement hearings, and a City Commission workshop and meeting. Residents can also attend a Bronson Peak community meeting with Mayor Nick Nesta, visit Camp Wewa’s Climb Club, or enjoy Saturday’s Halloween in the Park.
Floridians shopping for 2027 health insurance face higher premiums and difficult decisions about what coverage they can afford. Twelve insurers offer plans through HealthCare.gov, where eligible consumers can receive subsidies to lower monthly premiums.
Florida health officials are considering removing four vaccination requirements for school and childcare entry. Epidemiologist Katrine L. Wallace explains the diseases these vaccines prevent and why declining vaccination rates could put more children at risk.
Orange County Mosquito Control plans aerial mosquito spraying over parts of Apopka and Pine Hills beginning around 7 pm Friday, October 30. Residents may see low-flying aircraft and should monitor official county communications for weather-related schedule changes.
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Floridians comparing health coverage for 2027 should confirm that their doctors are in-network and their prescriptions are covered. Experts also recommend starting early and weighing deductibles, copays, and coinsurance alongside monthly premiums.
The Mammolink Mammography bus will visit Apopka on October 29 to provide free or low-cost breast cancer screenings for eligible women. The mobile unit will be at the Community Health Center, 225 E. Seventh St., from 8 am to 4 pm.
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is collecting donations to stock local food pantries, and Orange County hopes to expand its impact after winning last year’s competition. Residents can donate sealed, unexpired peanut butter at participating Extension offices during October, with collections continuing into November in some counties.
Orange County voters had cast 324,443 early and mail ballots as of late Monday morning, including 19,542 early in-person ballots at two Apopka-area locations. Registered Democrats accounted for the largest share countywide, but participation by party registration does not reveal which candidates voters supported.
The Apopka Police Department has earned its third state reaccreditation, marking its first renewal under Chief Lovetta Quinn-Henry. Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez and Commissioner Sam Ruth praised the achievement and emphasized the importance of professional policing and public trust.
Orange County Utilities’ water and wastewater system earned AAA ratings from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings for bonds issued in October 2026. Both agencies also affirmed their highest ratings on the system’s existing outstanding debt.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis has designated John Anderson’s “Seminole Wind” as Florida’s official anthem, honoring the Apopka native who died Oct. 21 at age 71. His executive order also directs state officials to establish historic markers in Apopka and rename Lake Apopka’s wildlife drive and trail system in Anderson’s memory.
Orange County School Board members reviewed initial student assessment results and campus micromobility enforcement during their Oct. 27 work session. Approximately 1,150 devices are registered at district high schools, with repeated violations potentially leading to confiscation and loss of campus privileges.
Apopka police listed six burglaries in their Oct. 18-24 report: three residential, two vehicle, and one commercial. Four of the incidents were reported Oct. 18, with the remaining two reported Oct. 20 and Oct. 23.
Maribel Brinkle welcomes the vision presented in Building Downtown Apopka but argues that the city cannot afford to spend another seven years planning its future. She calls for immediate economic-development leadership and consideration of a proposed downtown museum complex designed to generate activity and revenue.
Apopka should use the CRA’s proposed seven-year extension to plan and pursue a transformative civic complex without placing it ahead of urgent public-safety projects. A modern library, events center, history center, and civic plaza could become the defining destination, connecting downtown’s existing investments and encouraging private development.
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Cities near Apopka’s size have transformed their downtowns by concentrating public resources around distinctive parks, cultural facilities, and civic destinations. Their experiences show that Apopka must move beyond disconnected improvements and decide what kind of downtown it intends to create.
Houzz reports on four retro-inspired room designs blending past styles with modern touches, showcasing 1920s Art Deco, 1950s charm, 1960s Space Age, and vibrant 1990s aesthetics.
Some options that might look like health insurance actually aren’t – and they may leave you stranded with large, unexpected medical expenses.
Closets by Design reports that school mornings are stressful due to time constraints and disorganization.
Rula reports that good mental health involves coping skills, strong relationships, and a sense of purpose.
