Apopka’s Development Review Committee will consider residential plans, a charter school revision and an amenity park Wednesday morning. The agenda also includes access roads near State Road 429 and applications for three community events.

Property insurance is a bigger worry than property taxes for 62% of Central Florida homeowners, according to a new University of North Florida poll. The survey also found widespread dissatisfaction with insurance reforms and substantial premium increases.

Apopka police responded to four burglary incidents during the week of Sept. 20–26. The reports involved a business, a residence, and two vehicles.

More than 30 Apopka firefighters joined Sunday’s Tunnel to Towers run in New York City despite travel delays and stormy conditions. Former Fire Chief Chuck Carnesale called the group “relentless” in its commitment to honoring those lost on September 11.

Mayor Nick Nesta invited Apopka service organizations to help shape a proposed resource center for people experiencing homelessness and other hardships. Participants welcomed the chance to coordinate their work but urged the city to set realistic goals and follow through.

Orange County commissioners approved a roughly $9 billion budget that directs more than $1.1 billion to the Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue and Corrections. The county also set aside $19.5 million for affordable housing while warning that Amendment 3 could reduce future property tax revenue.

Apopka’s four commissioners responded to the departure of interim City Administrator Radley Williams and Finance Director Blanche Sherman. Their statements offer different views on the changes underway at City Hall and what should happen next.

Apopka approved a firefighter contract with a $12,000 first-year base pay increase, while Orange County District 2 candidates Brown and Crabb debated growth and spending. The week’s coverage also examined a dispute over city discretionary funds, sidewalk safety, and drug warrants in APD’s arrest report.

The Apopka City Commission unanimously approved a three-year contract with the city’s firefighters’ union. The agreement includes a $12,000 first-year increase in base pay for bargaining-unit employees and runs through September 2029.

Apopka’s fifth annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration will take place Saturday, September 26, from 4 to 8 pm at Kit Land Nelson Park. The free event will feature live entertainment, food vendors, and community organizations.

A proposed three-year contract would give Apopka firefighters a $12,000 first-year raise, additional annual increases, and a uniform 4% pension accrual rate. Union members overwhelmingly ratified the agreement, which now awaits City Commission approval.

Orange County Commission District 2 candidates Kamia Brown and Mike Crabb agreed that infrastructure, traffic, water quality, and public safety are among the district’s most pressing concerns. Their debate revealed sharper differences over growth, government spending, economic development, and how broadly county government should respond to community needs.

Drug-related charges and warrants account for many entries in the Apopka Police Department’s Sept. 13-19 arrest report. The report also lists battery, DUI, hit-and-run, and other charges, along with 1,645 calls for service during the week.

The Apopka Development Review Committee will review a construction plan for 95 single-family lots near Kelly Park Road and a proposed child care facility on Chandler Road. The Sept. 23 agenda also includes a Bronson Peak plat and three special-event applications.

Commissioner Nadia Anderson alleges that last Wednesday’s debate over discretionary spending and a proposed amphitheater event was part of a broader political effort against her.

The Apopka Police Department reported six burglaries between September 16 and September 19. The incidents included three auto burglaries, two commercial burglaries, and one residential burglary.

The Apopka Planning Commission will consider plans for 557 single-family homes and two industrial projects Tuesday evening. The agenda also includes a special exception for overnight commercial-vehicle parking and a Land Development Code workshop.

Health officials have confirmed two additional locally acquired dengue fever cases in the Apopka area, prompting a mosquito alert for Orange County. Mosquito Control is expanding surveillance and targeted treatment in Apopka, Pine Hills, and other parts of the county.

Florida is projected to run multibillion-dollar surpluses over the next two fiscal years before expenditures exceed available general revenue by about $1 billion in 2029-30. The state’s long-range outlook says lawmakers will need to adjust revenue or spending to avoid the projected shortfall.