Central Florida Public Media

Join us on Day 1 of our Fall Fund Drive! Every gift made today/Monday will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $42,000—doubling your impact. Don’t miss out!

https://www.cfpublic.org/

Plus, you'll automatically be entered to win a trip to Panama! See rules at our website.

Photographer Sally Mann warns of a "new era of culture wars" after police pulled several photographs she took of her children decades ago off the walls of a museum.

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/2025-09-25/photographer-sally-mann-warns-of-new-era-of-culture-wars-after-art-seizure

White House threatens layoffs -- not furloughs -- if the government shuts down In past government shutdowns, workers have been put on temporary furloughs until funding resumes. This time, the Trump White House is looking for bigger and more permanent cuts, a new memo shows.

White House threatens layoffs — not furloughs — if the government shuts down on Oct. 1. This proposed "reduction in force" was outlined in a memo obtained by NPR on Wednesday.

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/2025-09-24/white-house-threatens-layoffs-not-furloughs-if-the-government-shuts-down

Tropical outlook: Closely monitoring two tropical waves, and what could be next.

Here's the story: https://www.cfpublic.org/2025-09-24/tropical-outlook-closely-monitoring-two-tropical-waves-and-what-could-be-next

Florida families dealing with autism are hopeful for change after President Donald Trump’s press conference addressing the spectrum disorder.

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/health/2025-09-23/florida-group-welcomes-attention-to-autism-but-research-finds-no-causal-link-to-tylenol

Lake County commissioners voted to designate Schofield Road as a memorial to Charlie Kirk. Similar designations elsewhere in Florida are in the pipeline.

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2025-09-24/amid-controversy-lake-county-road-named-in-honor-of-charlie-kirk

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the creation of an online portal through which people can report "calls for violence” or threats of violence that they observe.

Here's the full story: https://bit.ly/3IzuQPn

#floridaminute

Do you think you'd be able to sit down with someone who has different political beliefs than you for a conversation—not to debate politics—but to get to know each other as people? We can help make that happen!

Start here: https://www.cfpublic.org/onesmallstep

Get The Wrap – Inbox Edition from Central Florida Public Media! This weekly newsletter is fast, scannable and helps readers stay connected to what's going on in Central Florida.

Subscribe to get The Wrap – Inbox Edition: https://www.cfpublic.org/thewrap

NPR to trim $5 million this year as public radio stations struggle to pay bills NPR plans to make trims totaling more than $5 million over the course of the coming fiscal year to bring its annual budget into balance. Meanwhile, local stations are asking for more help.

NPR plans to make trims totaling more than $5 million over the course of the coming fiscal year to bring its annual budget into balance. Meanwhile, local stations are asking for more help.

Orlando’s 22nd annual Global Peace Film Festival has a new partner this year in UrbanFest 360.

Listen & Subscribe to the weekly Spotlight Podcast here: https://bit.ly/4nneDvN

Florida law banning sleeping, camping in public now allows people to sue municipalities This new year, Florida residents, business owners, and the Attorney General can bring civil action against local governments that fail to comply with the new state mandate.

Florida law banning sleeping, camping in public now allows people to sue municipalities.

Here's what it is trying to accomplish, what experts are saying.

www.cfpublic.org/housing-home...

Florida Board of Governors sets New Year's resolutions for state universities The board which oversees the state’s universities set goals regarding school rankings, number of degrees awarded and graduation rates.

Florida Board of Governors sets New Year's resolutions for state universities.

The board which oversees the state’s universities set goals regarding school rankings, number of degrees awarded and graduation rates.

www.cfpublic.org/education/20...

Here’s a resolution for 2025: Good habits that boost your brain health There’s increasing evidence that tackling 14 risk factors would delay or prevent nearly half of dementia cases.

Here’s a resolution for 2025: Good habits that boost your brain health.

An updated analysis published in the medical journal 'The Lancet' cites increasing evidence that tackling 14 risk factors would delay or prevent nearly half of dementia cases.

www.cfpublic.org/health/2025-...

Central Florida Public Media (formerly WMFE) extends deep condolences on the passing of José A. Fajardo, who served as president and CEO of WMFE 2007-2012.

www.cfpublic.org/2024-12-19/i...

On estrangement, politics: Oviedo’s mayor and a resident take One Small Step Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek spoke with resident Nathan Sanford for StoryCorps' One Small Step program. The pair talked about how politics can split families, and how to heal.

Have you ever felt like, when it comes to politics, you don’t fit neatly into a box?

On estrangement, politics: Oviedo’s mayor and a resident take One Small Step

www.cfpublic.org/2024-12-12/o...

Seminole County will now trespass people sleeping or camping in public places Seminole’s Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to amend an existing ordinance, consistent with current Florida law.

The Seminole County Board of Commissioners amended an existing ordinance to be consistent with a new Florida law that prohibits cities and counties from allowing people to sleep or camp in public places.

www.cfpublic.org/housing-home...

Florida wildlife officials to consider bear hunt in 2025 Officials will present proposals and updated data in May before FWC makes a decision on what could be the state’s first bear hunt in almost a decade.

With over 6,000 Black Bear related calls to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation each year, a bear hunt may be on the agenda for approval next year which would be the first in almost a decade.

www.cfpublic.org/environment/...

Monarch butterflies will get federal protections as a threatened species U.S. officials decided to extend protections to monarch butterflies after warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change.

Monarch butterflies will get federal protections as a threatened species after years of warnings from environmentalists that populations are shrinking and the beloved pollinator may not survive climate change.

Here's more details about why the monarchs weren't designated as endangered.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts names new CEO after death of founder and president The company said CFO and Vice President Frank Santos will step up to the CEO position following last week’s death of founder Harris Rosen.

Rosen Hotels & Resorts names new CEO after death of founder and president

The company said CFO and Vice President Frank Santos will step up to the CEO position following last week’s death of founder Harris Rosen.

Solar industry advocates blast Orlando utility proposal ahead of Tuesday vote The Orlando Utilities Commission’s governing board will vote Tuesday on a controversial proposal to change how OUC bills customers for electricity.

Solar industry advocates blast Orlando utility proposal ahead of Tuesday vote

The Orlando Utilities Commission’s governing board will vote Tuesday on a controversial proposal to change how OUC bills customers for electricity.
www.cfpublic.org/environment/...

The best games of 2024, picked by NPR's staff 2024 was a surprising year — games from small teams rocketed up the charts, while big releases from major companies slowed. Here are our favorites from a diverse year, sortable by platform and genre.

This might help you find just the right gift for the gamer in your life. Here's the best games of 2024, picked by NPR's staff:
www.cfpublic.org/2024-12-05/t...

It's our Year-End Fund Drive!
This holiday season, your support of Central Florida Public Media will have an even bigger impact: We are participating in the United Arts of Central Florida’s Collaborative Campaign for the Arts: unitedartscfl.org/collaborativ...

Freeze warnings activate cold night shelters for Central Florida counties Flagler, Marion, and Brevard will have cold night shelters open to the public.

Freeze warnings activate cold night shelters for some Central Florida counties

a sign that says happy thanksgiving with maple leaves in the background ALT: a sign that says happy thanksgiving with maple leaves in the background

Happy Thanksgiving!

Marion County woman who shot her neighbor through a door gets 25 years in prison The judge heard testimony that the shooter, Susan Lorincz, had post traumatic stress disorder from repeated physical and sexual abuse as a child. That was outweighed, he said, by the tremendous harm s...

Susan Lorincz, who shot her neighbor, Ajike “A.J.” Owens through a door gets 25 years in prison.

In court before sentencing Lorincz, Judge Robert Hodges said she acted in anger, not fear, when she shot Owens through the door.

a white cat is laying on its back on the floor with the words `` hello there '' . ALT: a white cat is laying on its back on the floor with the words `` hello there '' .

Hello! How are you all liking BlueSky so far? We'd love to hear from each of you in the comments about what you like or dislike about this platform. We're glad to be here with you!

Filling the Thanksgiving table may gobble up your wallet Second Harvest Food Bank is seeing an uptick in people using their food finder tool this Thanksgiving season. The nonprofit’s Chief Development Officer, Greg Higgerson, discusses where to find food as...

Filling the Thanksgiving table may gobble up your wallet.

With the high costs of living many Central Floridians face, Greg Higgerson of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida said filling up the table is impacting more wallets compared to last year.

bit.ly/4g2QhDw

Join us for an afternoon of connection and understanding with Central Florida Public Media. Engage in meaningful conversations, share stories, and discover the power of listening. Let’s bridge gaps and build empathy together!
www.cfpublic.org/onesmallstep

Hotelier and philanthropist Harris Rosen dies at 85 Rosen leaves behind an extensive legacy in the hospitality industry, but it’s his philanthropic work that leaves his mark across the Central Florida community.

Harris Rosen, the celebrated Orlando hotel mogul and philanthropist, died Monday at the age of 85.

Best known for building the Rosen Hotels & Resorts empire, Rosen leaves behind an extensive legacy in the hospitality industry.