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The Florida Everglades.
Florida to spend $1.5 billion in additional funds for Everglades, water quality
Florida has invested $6.5 billion into environmental protection, restoration efforts, water quality, and infrastructure of the Everglades since 2019.
Happier, more connected neighborhoods start right in the front yard
In the study of nearly 1,000 front yards in Buffalo’s Elmwood Village neighborhood, we found that the livelier and more open the front yard, the more content and connected the resident.
Planning for the Future: Orange County works on growth blueprint with Orange Code and Vision 2050
The rewrite of its zoning ordinances accompanies its efforts to roll out a new comprehensive plan called Vision 2050, which will guide development patterns over the next 30 years.
Apopka Police Department Burglary Report: April 14th-20th
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly burglary report from the Apopka Police Department that includes reported burglaries of businesses, residences, and vehicles. 
Bridgerton. (L to R) Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton in episode 302 of Bridgerton.
Everything coming to Netflix in May
Romance lovers, our long national nightmare is over: “Bridgerton” returns with its third season on Netflix, premiering May 16th on Netflix.
Local News
Many of today’s cannabis products barely resemble the ‘weed’ that most middle-aged adults grew up with.
Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents
Arguments are for and against increasing the legalization of cannabis for adult use in the U.S., but expanded access to legal cannabis may also have unintended consequences for adolescents.
AAA: Florida gas prices rise 13 cents; set new 2024 high
On Wednesday, the state average reached a new 2024 high of $3.64 per gallon. Sunday's price of $3.58 per gallon is 2 cents higher than a month ago, yet 14 cents less than last year.
Commissioner Kyle Becker delivers his farewell remarks at the April 20th Apopka City Council meeting.
In case you missed it: The Apopka news week in review
In case you missed it. The Apopka News Week in Review includes five articles that shaped the City... all in one place, including details on a new business coming to Apopka.
Apopka City Hall Council Chamber
Nelson and Nesta clash during Apopka City Council meeting on forensic audit
A forensic audit of a City's finances focuses on examining the financial records, transactions, and processes of municipal government entities such as departments, agencies, or public funds. Opinion by The Apopka Voice Managing Editor Reggie Connell.
Celebrating a Successful Year: Our 2023/2024 Developmental Program
What an incredible year it has been for our 2023/2024 Developmental Program! As the season came to a close last Friday, we reflect on the journey of our young soccer players.
Orange County Consumer Protection Office Helping Victims of Fraud
A major goal of the Consumer Protection Office is to be proactive and educate consumers. It provides workshops and seminars that teach residents about best practices and how to protect against fraud.
Business
Planet Fitness coming to Apopka
Planet Fitness has firmly established itself as a top choice for those in search of a comfortable yet effective workout experience.
Coffee is not the only way to fight boredom.
How to battle boredom at work
The problem with boredom at work is its negative effects can linger. You might power through a mind-numbing task, but in doing so, you harm your ability to accomplish subsequent tasks.
NEW YORK CITY - SEPTEMBER 28: People shop at a Target store in the Harlem neighborhood in Manhattan on September 28, 2023, in New York City.
DeSantis signs tougher penalties for retail theft, ‘porch piracy,’ into law
The governor’s office cited reports from retailers estimating losses as high as $112 billion during 2022, with hot spots in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Advisory Council has approved a new premium reimbursement formula to help alleviate the burden on insurance companies operating in Florida.
The Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation brings an arts & entrepreneurship scholarship to the Local Teen Rock Band DRIVEN through a gift from Jerry Harvey Audio.
UF/IFAS blueberry breeding research dates back to the 1950s and has a history of developing good-tasting, disease- and pest-resistant varieties.
In collaboration with founding partners AdventHealth, Florida Blue Foundation, and Gordon Food Service, CHI strives to understand how different growing methods impact nutrient quality and how consuming high-nutrient-quality foods can impact chronic illness. 
Health

Treating cardiovascular disease with integrative medicine

With heart disease on the rise, it’s paramount that each of us consider what we can do to lower our risk and promote heart health.

Removing PFAS from public water systems will cost billions and take time – here are ways you can filter out harmful ‘forever chemicals’ at home

PFAS are showing up in water systems across the U.S.

Under the new EPA rules, public water systems have until 2027 to complete monitoring for PFAS and provide publicly available data.

Dozens of groups call on DeSantis to veto bill denying heat protections for outdoor workers

A farmworker in Immokalee harvests tomatoes.

he groups have penned two separate letters in recent days to the governor, who received the bill (HB 433) on Tuesday from the Legislature.

Florida Blue Foundation announces 2024 Food Security Grant

Research has shown that when people have reliable access to fresh, local foods, they are more likely to make healthier choices, leading to better health outcomes. 

We thought measles were going away in Florida, but now there’s a new case

3D graphical representation of a spherical-shaped measles virus particle that is studded with glycoprotein tubercles.

In newly published data, the CDC's year-to-date count in the US now stands at 64 cases of measles, surpassing the 2023 total case count of 58.

As Florida winds down Medicaid eligibility review, more children under 5 are losing coverage

More than a thousand Florida children under five lost Medicaid coverage in February, according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Despite the increase in the number of people enrolled in Medicaid, Florida removed more than 3,000 fewer people from the program, according to the February report.

The Florida Legislature doesn’t care how hot outdoor workers get

Outdoor workers in a field in Miami-Dade County.

Some Florida lawmakers have proposed bills requiring everyone who employs outdoor workers to educate them about heat illness and provide workers with adequate drinking water, access to shade, and 10-minute recovery breaks in extreme heat.

Florida social services call center has 2nd longest wait times in the country; $12 million might help

Paper cutout family with house under a Medicaid umbrella

Hoping to alleviate the problem, lawmakers agreed to put $12,261,444 for the call center in the state budget for 2024-25, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to sign off on it, and he can veto various budget items.

Government
Becker was a generational leader. People with his skill set usually skip municipal politics and aim for a fast track to a CEO role in a Fortune 500 company or a higher office. 
Thanks to that first Earth Day, we got the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and a bunch of other environmental regulations. We also got the EPA.
The Apopka Police Department continues the Cookies & Milk with a Cop program, a heartwarming initiative to foster trust and camaraderie between the APD and the community.
On April 9th, the Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety coalition and Orange County Sheriff's Office conducted a crosswalk enforcement operation at Apopka-Vineland Road and 1st Street.
Apopka Police Department Burglary Report: April 7th-13th
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly burglary report from the Apopka Police Department that includes reported burglaries of businesses, residences, and vehicles. 
Breaking News: APD looking for missing and endangered Apopka woman
On Monday, April 15th at approximately 9:00 A.M., Hilary Patricia Ramos Acosta, a 26-year-old Hispanic female, 5’07”, 200 pounds, with brown eyes and dyed red hair, departed her residence on East Lisa Lane in Apopka. 
Orange County investing $2.1 million on Lake Apopka Loop Trail
The Lake Apopka Loop Trail is one of Northwest Orange County's most popular outdoor destinations. The multi-use trail encompasses almost 15 miles of stunning landscapes and trails.
Opinion

Spring Cleanup: A Classic Community-Builder

Why do spring cleanups succeed so reliably? Obviously, there are environmental and aesthetic benefits. But they go so much deeper.
It's best to view a politician through the prism of their motivations. If they are considering a run for office, voters should be aware of the possibility. 
Too many ordinary citizens in District 2 do not feel empowered. We must restructure smaller interdependent teams based on neighborhoods and local areas so all feel welcome. In essence, we must become …
Municipal campaigns require a well-planned strategy. Running for office can be daunting and requires a lot of resources, including time, effort, and, most importantly, money.
Bonus Content

Credit card reconciliation: How business owners can eliminate inflated costs and wasteful spending when tracking expenses

Ramp dives into credit card reconciliation and provides steps to help businesses set up efficient, accurate systems.

The 20 greatest Best Picture nominees that don't get enough credit

Casino Bonus CA looked at all films nominated for Best Picture and narrowed the list to those that didn't win and had under 50,000 votes on IMDb.

7 moments of Asian American and Black American solidarity

Stacker compiled a list of seven moments where Asian American and Black American solidarity paved the way for broad-stroke freedoms.

These states have the highest-quality home health agencies, according to patients

Vivian Health visualized data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify states with the highest-rated home health agencies.