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In honor of Earth Month, Goodwill hosting a six-county donation drive
The average American family produces about 18 pounds of trash every day resulting in nearly 140 million tons of garbage filling U.S. landfills every year. In honor of Earth Month, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida is taking a stand.
Best Foot Forward: Orange County Sheriff's Office cracks down on crosswalk violations
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.
Many cities prohibit duplexes and high-rises. Although residents enjoy the extra space, it contributes to housing costs.
Worried about housing shortages and soaring prices? Your community’s zoning laws could be part of the problem
When households pay more than 30% of their income toward housing, the census calls those households “cost-burdened.”
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 April 13th.
Developing Story: Missing and endangered Apopka woman seen in North Florida
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. 
Local News
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.
Caterpillar Cascade: Where are they coming from across Florida?
Caterpillars are coming out in force because it’s a normal part of spring, Part of it may be due to all the fresh, new growth of leaves.
Fostering furbabies is a calling for Orange County resident Beth Otto
Although she’s fostered over 900 abandoned cats and kittens since 2009, Beth Otto admits she wasn’t always a cat lover.
Celebrate Safe Digging Month and Locator Appreciation Week
Contacting Sunshine 811 is free and legally required before starting any digging project in Florida. The organization notifies utility companies of pending excavation projects so buried lines can be located and marked, allowing you to begin your dig project safely.  
Business
Members of the 202nd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, Florida Air National Guard, clear roads in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, in response to Hurricane Ian, Oct. 1, 2022.
Florida board approves premium reimbursement formula to help insurers
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 band DRIVEN
Apopka Chamber Foundation awards scholarship to local teen rock band
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.
Florida’s blueberry season means yummy fruit, courtesy of UF/IFAS and growers
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. 
There are a number of reasons why switching to natural gas may be the best option for you or your business.
The law will go into effect on July 1, allowing Florida minors older than 16 to work more than 30 hours per week if a parent, guardian, or school superintendent gives their permission in a waiver.
The Nauti Lobstah, in the same location as the famed Catfish Place, won the 2024 Orlando Sentinel's Foodie Award earlier this month in the Critic's Choice for Seafood category.
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.

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
In case you missed it. The Apopka News Week in Review includes six articles that shaped the City... all in one place, including details on the new Vice Mayor of Apopka.
The new law, HB 433, which takes effect on July 1, forbids the state or its political subdivisions from requiring any protections not mandated by state or federal law, even for their own contractors.
The simplified filing process could eventually save Florida taxpayers more than $530 million in filing fees every year.
Pittman: "This is the third time some wildcatter has asked to cosplay Jed Clampett, hoping to find some a-bubblin’ crude in the wilds of North Florida. Oil, that is — Texas Tea!"
Apopka City Commissioner Diane Velazquez with her husband Ed at the Apopka Veteran's Day event.
After Becker's resignation, Velazquez becomes Apopka's Vice Mayor
Commissioner Kyle Becker, who resigned from Seat #3 on Friday, triggered a change in the Council, as Commissioner Diane Velazquez took over as Apopka's Vice Mayor.
Apopka Police Department Burglary Report: March 31st-April 6th
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly burglary report from the Apopka Police Department that includes reported burglaries of businesses, residences, and vehicles. 
Only 3 states have passed recreational weed ballot measures by more than 60%. Will Florida be next?
While adult recreational cannabis is now legal in 24 states, not all of those measures were passed by voters via the ballot box.
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

Purina’s commitment to pets, people and planet Earth

(BPT) - By Gopi Sandhu, vice president of Environmental Sustainability at Nestle PurinaEfforts to protect the planet are important for every creature that calls Earth home, including people and their …

A Story To Sing About

Travel the world with a new book and album to discover why people sing—to have fun and share stories; to pass the time and remember times past; and to come together and celebrate.

(NAPSI)—The next time you listen to a lullaby, a love song, carols or karaoke, consider this: Why do people sing? A charming answer to that intriguing question comes from YouTube creators and …

Grizzly bear conservation is as much about human relationships as it is the animals

Montanans know spring has officially arrived when grizzly bears emerge from their dens. But unlike the bears, the contentious debate over their future never hibernates. …

Passover is a Jewish holiday remembering sorrowful events and celebrating hope for a better future

Jewish families will gather for Passover this year in circumstances that will, like the celebration itself, reflect on dark times while looking ahead toward better ones to come. …