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According to sources inside the AFD, Wil Sanchez, the AFD's Deputy Fire Chief, will step in as interim fire chief for Apopka Fire Chief Sean Wylam.
Developing Story: Deputy Chief Wil Sanchez to take over as Interim Apopka Fire Chief
The Apopka Voice has learned from three sources, two inside the Apopka Fire Department with knowledge of the events, and speaking under the condition of anonymity, that Deputy Fire Chief Wil Sanchez will be named AFD Interim Fire Chief on Monday.
Homelessness is on the rise across the U.S.
Homeless service providers could help more people overcome homelessness if they measured success differently
Homelessness has many complex causes, including unemployment, housing affordability, and health problems.
Summer of Savings: Duke Energy shares do-it-yourself projects to help Florida customers maximize energy-efficiency
Customers can save money on electric bills by leveraging low- to no-cost projects to manage energy use and maximize savings.
Everything coming to Netflix in August
Streaming on Netflix right at the beginning of the month is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, a BBC co-production that stars Wednesday‘s Emma Myers. BBC August is typically a quiet month for the entertainment industry, but …
UF scientists study how to bring you ‘climate-smart coffee’
Coffee beans consumed across the globe come from two species: Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, also known as Robusta (or Conilon) coffee.
Local News
Researchers are gaining key insights into how the SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to long COVID symptoms.
Long COVID puzzle pieces are falling into place – the picture is unsettling
The intense scientific effort that long COVID sparked has resulted in more than 24,000 scientific publications, making it the most researched health condition in any four years of recorded human history. Researchers are gaining key insights into the ways that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to long …
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 July 20th.
The people who feed America are going hungry 
The 2.4 million or so farmworkers who are the backbone of America’s agricultural industry earn among the lowest wages in the country.
Students at West Defuniak Elementary School in Defuniak Springs.
State officials predict Florida K-12 enrollment will continue to grow
Enrollments in Florida schools decreased by 6% in the fall of 2020 during the pandemic. While they have begun to increase, they remain 3% below their prior level.
Century Tower at the University of Florida.
Presidential searches taking off at three Florida universities
University of Florida and Florida A&M University announced candidates to tap as interim presidents following resignations by both institutions’ leaders, while Florida Atlantic University will kick off its second presidential search since its most recent president left in 2022. 
The first two weeks of practice are the hardest as the body acclimatizes.
Sports in extreme heat: How high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of practice, and the warning signs of heat illness
Studies have found that the greatest risk of heat illness occurs in the first two weeks of team practices, while players’ bodies are still getting used to the physical exertion and the heat.
Business
Hicks Seafood House of Apopka officially opens its doors
After a bright and cheerful facelift both inside and outside in the courtyard, the old Chuck’s Wagon location is now the official home of Hicks Seafood House of Apopka. 
Home, risky home.
To insure or self-insure? The question homeowners must answer amid impact of climate change
In places such as Florida that are particularly exposed to natural disasters, homeowners insurance isn’t just expensive – it’s increasingly becoming difficult to find. That has caused some homeowners to go without it entirely.
Cultivated chicken being prepared in Miami at Upside Foods “Freedom of Food” pop-up event on June 27, 2024.
Selling lab-grown meat in Florida could now get you jailed
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law (SB 1084) on May 1st, and it went into effect last week, making the Sunshine State the first in the nation to ban lab-grown meat.
The June event presenter was Caitlin Kasheta, co-founder and executive director of Main Street Apopka, an organization whose mission is to revitalize downtown Apopka by fostering a thriving business district through strategic, collaborative efforts.
Well Painted of Central Florida wants to help you achieve professional results with a DIY approach for when you have the time but don’t have the budget to hire a professional. 
Orange County’s second annual Contracting Academy on July 12 is a valuable resource offering industry experts insights.
Apopka has longed for a thriving downtown for decades and has had a food hall in its sites for a few years, but the dream of having both has been elusive. But now, in the unlikeliest of places, that dream is a lot closer to becoming a reality.
Health

One million Floridians have been disenrolled from Medicaid since 2023

The federal government asked states to provide continuous Medicaid coverage to those enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if their circumstances changed, making them ineligible for coverage.

CDC: More than 1 million Floridians couldn’t afford to see a doctor in 2022

A health care worker providing care to a patient.

The data for 2022, the latest available, put Florida among the states with the highest rates of people who skipped medical visits because of high costs.

The heat is on… stay safe!

With prolonged exposure to extreme heat, your body is more at risk for experiencing heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

DOH-Orange hosting free Back-to-School immunization events

Hosted in partnership with OCPS, the free immunization events are for OCPS students and children (4 to 18 years) entering, attending, or transferring to Florida schools.

Your child's best school year starts with their best smile

When our children are overly conscious of their smile, it creates unseen stressors on their mental health and overall well-being, which can be difficult to talk about with parents and family.

The build-up begins to get Medicaid expansion on the ballot in Florida

Angela Dumala speaking at a press conference in Tampa on March 27, 2024.

Medicaid provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families whose costs are shared between the state and federal governments.

Report says accessibility of health care services can be a struggle in Florida

The University of Florida Health's The Villages Hospital is in the Villages.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, social determinants of health are environmental factors that can impact individuals' health outcomes.

Join the UF/IFAS Private Well and Septic System Webinar Series

Are you curious about private wells and septic systems? Are you a homeowner, a real estate professional, or simply interested in understanding these essential components?

Government
The Apopka Voice publishes a weekly burglary report from the Apopka Police Department that includes reported burglaries of businesses, residences, and vehicles. 
The Council needs to get to the bottom of Mayor Nelson's accusation. I know it may seem like we are already at rock bottom in many ways, but a member of the Council simply cannot make statements like that from the dais without proving their words.
Five family-friendly Orange County campgrounds offer sought-after amenities, including fire rings, grills, water, electricity, picnic tables, showers, and restrooms.
In case you missed it. The Apopka News Week in Review includes seven articles that shaped the City... all in one place, including details on a new restaurant opening in Apopka.
Apopka Fire Department - Fire Station #1
A Tale of Two Perspectives: Nelson and Klepper differ on Sean Wylam's tenure as Apopka Fire Chief
On Wednesday, Apopka Professional Firefighters Association President Alex Klepper and Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson had contrasting opinions on Sean Wylam's time as a fire chief and his career as a firefighter.
Commissioner Nick Nesta (left), Commissioner Alexander Smith (center), and Mayor Bryan nelson (right) at a previous Apopka City Council meeting.
Nesta responds to Smith's email
Commissioner Nick Nesta, who Commissioner Alexander Smith called out in an email last month that accused him of being "degrading, offensive, insulting, rude and disrespectful," responded to Smith in a statement of his own.
Operation Best Foot Forward: Back to School promotes pedestrian safety at crosswalks as students prepare for new school year
During Operation Best Foot Forward, plainclothes officers and deputies will cross streets at marked crosswalks, giving drivers enough time to slow down and stop safely.
Opinion

Fireworks almost guaranteed at Apopka City Council meeting

Because the July 3rd meeting was canceled, the agenda is packed. Oh, and if you missed the July 4th fireworks, there are a couple of unresolved matters from the June 19th meeting that may make up for it in comparable explosiveness.
Jacob Smith, the new Apopka City Administrator, didn't say much in his first budget workshop cycle, but what he did say cut to the core of the challenges facing the City Council.
Good luck to the People of Lockhart, Southern Apopka, Wekiwa Springs, and Clarcona-Ocoee in the upcoming Corridor of the Year competition.
Apopka is treading water. Its millage rate seems as permanent as the John Land statue in front of City Hall. It only looks to the future for inevitable things like a public safety center or wastewater treatment facilities, and its system almost guarantees this outcome.
Bonus Content

Divided we drive: America's EV adoption gap

Motointegrator worked with research experts to look at the electric vehicle trends throughout the U.S. and what they say about the country's transition.

New research reveals self-care savvy cities (and what we can learn from them)

Hers conducted a nationwide survey to see how Americans rate themselves in youthfulness, body positivity, emotional stability, and more.

Con el Programa de Ayuda Adicional de Medicare Más Personas Ahorran Dinero en Recetas Médicas

Con el Programa de Ayuda Adicional de Medicare Más Personas Ahorran Dinero en Recetas Médicas

({blank}) - Debido a una nueva ley, más personas califican para ahorrar más en medicamentos recetados con el programa Ayuda Adicional de Medicare, por lo que podría valer la pena solicitarlo …

The most popular host from 15 hit shows

Stacker looked at YouGov data to spotlight 15 shows with at least two hosts who had been with the show for five years or longer to determine the most popular host.