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Breaking News: APD arrests 15-year-old following mass-shooting threat at Apopka High School
The APD’s Criminal Investigations Unit and School Resource Unit promptly launched an investigation. Through the rapid investigative efforts and collaboration with the Orange County Public Schools District Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the individual responsible was quickly identified and taken into custody. 
Apopka Fire Department - Station #1
City Council approves contract with Apopka Professional Firefighters Association
The final step in the ratification process is the City Council's vote on September 18th to approve the contract.
Orange County approves largest housing trust fund allocation in program's history
The trust fund was established in 2020 as part of Orange County Mayor Jerry Deming’s Housing for All Initiative.
Hunger is rising, but we can turn the tide
When you’re living with food insecurity, it’s all you can think about – from the moment you wake up in the morning to your last restless worries before falling asleep.
The Champlain Towers South Condominium that collapsed in 2021
DeSantis says Legislature needs to meet before year’s end to deal with condo crisis
The emerging crisis revolves around a bill the Legislature passed unanimously and DeSantis signed two years ago in response to the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, which resulted in the deaths of 98 people.
Local News
Funding available for Central Florida seniors in need of energy bill assistance
Senior Resource Alliance oversees applications and funds distribution in Orange, Osceola, Brevard, and Seminole counties. The agency has distributed more than $450,000 in energy bill assistance since August 2023.
What the jet stream and climate change had to do with the hottest summer on record − remember all those heat domes?
Overall, the global average temperature was 2.74 degrees Fahrenheit (1.52 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average.
Apopka Police Department Arrest Report
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly arrest report that includes arrests, crashes, calls for service, and traffic citations. This report is for the week ending September 14th.
Business
When grocery prices rise, it’s harder to fill your shopping cart.
US food insecurity rate rose to 13.5% in 2023 as government benefits declined and food prices soared
Food insecurity is a perplexing problem in a country where there’s enough food for everyone living here – and about 40% of the food produced goes to waste.
Florida Humanities selects Main Street Apopka to host Smithsonian Institution Food Exhibition in 2025
The project, "Homegrown: Exploring the Foods that Define Us," highlights the Main Street Apopka program because food brings people together!
"Empowering Good" positions local nonprofits for long-term success through training support
Over two years ago, the Orange County Government and the Rollins Crummer Graduate School of Business announced a multi-million-dollar partnership offering tools and training to nonprofits through American Rescue Plan Act funding.
When asked why Accessory Dwelling Units have been so readily embraced in a city some may associate with resistance to change, Davis points to Ukiah’s beloved older neighborhoods that set the precedent for “gentle density” with their cottage courts and townhomes.
There are over three million registered nurses in Florida currently, but the need to produce more qualified nurses continues to grow.
At its August 28th Budget Workshop, the Apopka City Council awarded Main Street Apopka a $50,000 grant.
According to a report from the National Council on Aging and the Urban Institute, more than 858,000 Florida seniors could get SNAP benefits, but only 38% of those eligible participate.
Health

Orange County Medical Clinic now offers Medication-Assisted Therapy services

Medication-Assisted Therapy not only supports individuals in overcoming their dependence on substances but also enhances their engagement in therapy and improves overall treatment outcomes.

Clerk’s Office hosting free legal forum on Domestic Violence Awareness

The forum will include presentations from the Clerk’s Office, Harbor House of Central Florida, the Orange County Sheriff's, and the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Orange County’s Drug-Free Community Coalition celebrates 25th anniversary

“Over the past quarter-century, the Orange County Drug-Free Community Coalition has been committed to fostering a healthier Orange County,” said Dr. Thomas Hall, Manager for the Orange County’s Drug-Free Community Coalition.

As eastern equine encephalitis spreads, a neurologist explains how to stay safe during this latest outbreak of the ‘triple E’ virus

The “black-legged” or “black-tailed” mosquito is known for infecting humans with the EEE virus.

EEE surfaces nearly every year in the U.S., but with another outbreak of West Nile virus also spreading across the country, health officials are working hard to alert people about the serious risks of getting a mosquito bite.

Florida Veterans’ nursing homes need $3.5 million more to cover expenses until 2025

Florida veterans’ nursing homes don’t have enough money to cover expenses for the next year, according to a budget amendment request.

The department says its homes for veterans are nearing full capacity, with the request for additional funds stating that the occupancy rate has increased by 26% over last year.

Humans infecting animals infecting humans − from COVID-19 to bird flu, preventing pandemics requires protecting all species

Human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected.

Researchers have documented this phenomenon of human-to-animal transmission, colloquially referred to as spillback or reverse zoonotic transmission, in both domestic and wild animals.

Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a major review of 28 years of research

Over the years, the scientific consensus has remained strong – there’s no association between mobile phone radio waves and brain cancer or health more generally.

Got an unaffordable or incorrect medical bill? Calling your hospital billing office will usually get you a discount

Disagree with that medical bill? It might be worth calling your hospital billing office.

Many Americans struggle to pay medical bills, avoid care because of cost worries or forgo other needs due to health care cost burdens.

Government
Hello, Apopka City Council and those of you who frequent the public comments podium. We are about to embark on an important week with a City Council meeting and a budget hearing on Wednesday. …
To make their voices heard, residents of Apopka attended a Town Hall meeting hosted by Apopka City Commissioner Nick Nesta to share their concerns over some aspects of the City. 
Four hazards are associated with tropical cyclones: wind, flooding, rain, storm surge, and tornadoes. Wind is how tropical cyclones are classified, but it is only one piece of the puzzle.
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly burglary report from the Apopka Police Department that includes reported burglaries of businesses, residences, and vehicles. 
Apopka Professional Firefighters Association ratifies contract with City
The final step in the ratification process is the City Council's vote on September 18th to approve the contract.
Protesters assemble at the St. Johns River Water Management District buil;ding in Apopka.
Protesters gather in Apopka to criticize FDEP for not protecting Florida's springs
Just steps away from the FDEP public workshop in the St. Johns River Water Management District Apopka Service Center, protesters and invited speakers railed against the DeSantis Administration's failure to prevent harm to the state’s iconic springs.
The Green Swamp is the source of four rivers, but traffic problems have caused Polk to consider building a road across it.
Is Polk County a cautionary tale for Apopka?
Rapid, unplanned development leaves Polk County short of utility capacity, and it contemplates big increases in impact fees and an expensive water experiment. Does anything sound familiar here to you, Apopka?
Opinion

Nesta: "The majority on the Council (Nelson with Anderson and Smith) continue to work to silence, intimidate, and censor the voice of residents"

Commissioner Nick Nesta motioned to continue live streaming the Public Comments section of the City of Apopka Council Meeting Agenda, as historically and properly done.
Pittman: "Wetlands are crucial to filtering out pollution from stormwater runoff, not to mention soaking up floods and providing habitat for important species. Asphalt is surprisingly ineffective at any of those tasks."
Apopka beat out the 4R Foundation, Orlando Science Center, Rollins Museum of Art, Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation, Orlando Family, Winter Garden Art Association, The Winter Park Playhouse, the Mennello Museum of American Art, and the Orlando Museum of Art in the preliminary round.
There is no better way to celebrate this Labor Day weekend than becoming a part of the fight for a stronger, fairer Florida.
Bonus Content

Modular construction is on the rise. Can it build high-quality affordable housing?

Next City reports on a Minneapolis housing authority's initiative to build affordable homes through modular construction and asks if it is a sign of things to come.

The parent report card: Teachers get an 'A.' The system? Not so much.

The 74 reveals that a new National Parents Union survey finds broad support for kids' teachers and principals but a well-established skepticism of larger institutions.

Finding relief for severe eczema: new advanced treatments

(BPT) - Do you have intensely itchy, flaky skin that flares up during certain times of the year or in certain conditions? Does the itching get so bad it interrupts your sleep? Does your incessant …

Expert tips to help you overcome chronic pain

(BPT) - Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for three months or longer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 100 million Americans live with …