Valencia College Pres Urges Lawmakers Not to Increase Tuition
Testifying before the House Education Committee on Thursday, Valencia College president Sandy Shugart said it would be a mistake to raise college tuition rates at a time when federal financial aid was being squeezed due to budget problems. Shugart, along with presidents of several Florida colleges broke with their counterparts at state universities, urging lawmakers to proceed cautiously with plans to increase tuition fees.
Dwight Howard Tops Voting in NBA All-Star Balloting
With 1,600,390 votes, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is this year’s leading vote-getter in the 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting program, the NBA announced today.
Orlando to Cuba Flights Authorized
Cuban-born residents living in Central Florida will now find it easier to travel to Cuba. Orlando International Airport has just been granted permission to provide air service between the U.S. and the island nation.
Winter Park, Maitland Mayors Cruise to Victory
Incumbent mayors in Winter Park and Maitland, two Orange County cities, easily beat back their challengers in Tuesday’s elections to hold their mayoral seats.
Performing Arts Center Gets $1 Million Gift
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (DPAC) has received a $1 million gift from the Community Foundation of Central Florida.
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando Takes Historic Step
The First Presbyterian Church of Orlando (FPCO) has broken with the Presbyterian Church USA and joined the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Gas Prices Continue to Climb
Multiple refinery closures across the U.S. last week, the Greece debt situation and the European Union’s announcement to impose sanctions on Iran beginning July 1, led to a jump in retail gas prices nationwide in the past week.
Animal Services Dedicates New Dog Play Yard
Thanks to The Dawn Brancheau Foundation, dogs at the Orange County Animal Services have a new state-of-the-art dog play yard.
Zora! Festival 2012: Smashing Success
With sun shining down from a cloudless sky on Saturday, thousands made their way to Eatonville to celebrate and participate in the 23rd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival. Organizers say, the crowd could top 150,000 people and with nationally renowned R&B singer Keith Sweat slated to perform at the “Neo Soul” concert later, there is plenty of optimism the festival will hit its target.
“We Can Do It…Finally”
Hundreds of Central Floridians, elected representatives, federal, state and local transit officials and the private sector turned out on Friday to celebrate SunRail’s groundbreaking, at the future home of the Altamonte Springs station. Almost three decades in the making, inauguration of construction of Central Florida’s first-ever 61-mile commuter rail system took the form of the symbolic driving of rail spikes. With a price tag of $1.2 billion, some 10,000 to 15,000 new jobs over the next four years are anticipated through the construction, operation and maintenance phases.