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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.
The Culinary Health Institute on the 4Roots Farm Campus in the Orlando Packing District.
4Roots joins partners to establish Culinary Health Institute
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. 
A hollow egg or the whole basket?
Ity's okay for children to have some chocolate as a treat. Kids are not going to go sugar crazy if they enjoy eating their bunny or have some extra chocolate over the Easter break.
Everything coming to Hulu in April
Get ready for a month full of exciting new content on Hulu! April is packed with highly anticipated releases across all genres, from action-packed thrillers to heartwarming comedies.
Moore: "We achieve success by working harmoniously and with a shared purpose"
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 …
Local News
New study names Florida as the least fatal state for speeding crashes  
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was a contributing factor in approximately 26% of all traffic fatalities.
If Florida Supreme Court approves cannabis ballot language, will voters go for recreational weed or not?
If the Supreme Court does approve the language, Floridians will vote on the measure in November. If approved with 60% of the vote, the measure would go into effect in May 2025.
Orange County Animal Services honored as Outstanding Agency of the Year
The award highlighted the shelter’s cruelty investigations and mitigation programs, community action team, spay and neuter program, the pneumovirus outbreak response, and outreach and education initiatives.
Apopka Police Department Burglary Report: March 17th-23rd
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly burglary report from the Apopka Police Department that includes reported burglaries of businesses, residences, and vehicles. 
Governor signs teenage social media restrictions, complains about court losses on other legislation
The new law (HB 3) bars access to social media accounts for kids under age 13, with access to 14- and 15-year-olds allowed with parental consent.
Power up your ride with versatile natural gas
There are a number of reasons why switching to natural gas may be the best option for you or your business.
Business
Agricultural workers in Immokalee, FL.
New Florida development aims to give rent-burdened workers a leg up
The project will build 180–200 single-family homes on 50 acres with gridded streets and sidewalks. The units will be targeted to be affordable to residents at 30–80% of the area median income, with rents as low as $674 for a two-bedroom house.
The house looks like it’s from an era that never happened.
How America’s affordable house of the future failed
Would today’s America, reeling from a yearslong housing affordability crisis, be better off if the experiment had worked?  
Farmworkers push back on Florida Legislature's Heat Preemption Bill
Farmworkers got scorched yesterday by the passage of SB 1492, a bill that preempts local governments from passing even the most basic workplace protections.
Cate Manley, the President and CEO of the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, announced her time in that role will end at the end of the month.
Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka recently held its first-ever Habitat Homeowner Family Reunion. The festivities took place at FINFROCK.
The developer’s agreement approved by the BCC involves a 195-unit project called Southwick Commons planned for downtown Apopka.
The Orlando Regional Realtor's Association has endorsed Commissioner Nick Nesta in his re-election bid for Seat #4 on the Apopka City Council. 
Health

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.

Apopka launches vaccination initiative amid rising measles concerns

Apopka is partnering with the FDOH Orange County, OCPS, the Farmworker Association of Florida, Hope CommUnity Center, and the Apopka Fire Department to provide MMR vaccinations.

Unlocking the heat in mosquito modeling: Exploring disease transmission under climate change

The study contends that if mosquitoes undergo thermal adaptation in their local environments, it could lead to variation in how different populations respond to temperature. Matthew Thomas, a UF/IFAS professor and UF/IFAS Invasive Science Research Institute …

Government
We should always celebrate water in Florida. We’re surrounded on three sides by the stuff. It’s a major tourist attraction, and right now, water is worth a lot of money. Friday marks World Water Day. I feel bad about this, but I just know I’m going to be late sending out Water Day cards this year. But we can …
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.
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 the 2024 Apopka elections.
The project will transform the former nursery on Lust Road into a unique park, adorned with native plants, restored bird habitat, walking trails, and a visitors’ center.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, the U.S. House voted to approve a tax package that would expand the current child tax credit by three years.
New program: Floridians can file their taxes directly with the IRS for free; some are against it
The program is called Direct File, and Florida is one of 12 states chosen to participate in the initial pilot program. It stems from a provision of President Joe Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
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 March 16th.
Updating Breaking News: Nesta and Anderson prevail, but will March elections survive?
Commissioner Nick Nesta defeated Eric Mock with 61% of the vote for Seat #4, while Nadia Anderson defeated Darryl Richardson with 55% of the vote for Seat #3.
Opinion

Everything you need to know to participate in the Apopka City Charter Review

To determine your opinion, you will want to watch the previous meetings. Then, attend the March meeting to speak during the public comment period. 
These lucrative land deals are supposed to preserve the property in perpetuity. But Kimberly Buchheit, a Central Florida land surveyor and environmental activist, told me, “Perpetuity has reached an expiration date: as soon as it is no longer convenient to protect land or restrict development.”
While ideally, in a perfect world, conflict would never occur – it does. So when it does, how can it be nipped in the bud so everyone can play well in the sandbox together?
The county is committed to the federal Vision Zero Plan, which states as its goal, that even one traffic fatality is too many. The plan lists adding sidewalks as the most effective the lowest cost remedy for saving lives.
Bonus Content

The FDA doesn't test dietary supplements before they hit the shelves. Here's what you need to know.

Northwell Health partnered with Stacker to explain how the FDA regulates drugs and dietary supplements differently, and how to find safe and effective supplements.

Important facts about lupus: 4 ways to protect your kidney health

(BPT) - Living with lupus for over 15 years has meant dealing with some very uncomfortable moments for Grammy award-winning singer Toni Braxton. But according to Toni, the discomfort is worth it to …

These were the biggest sources of stress for Americans last year

Wysa looked at survey data from the American Psychological Association to see which issues are creating the most stress for Americans.

25 of the best places to see the solar eclipse across the US

Stacker compiled a list of ideal places to view the total solar eclipse using data from the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies.