Lucy Dillon

Hard/Breaking News

VoxPopuli •

Ocoee, Winter Garden ratify two-year contract with Orange County School Board to keep school resource officers on 30 campuses | Vox Populi - Winter Garden, FL

It’s the same contract terms that the Orange Country School Board had offered in December — and that the municipalities had rebuffed. The five municipalities had originally asked to be reimbursed $75,000 per SRO in year one, increasing to $80,000 in year three — a nonstarter for the school board. However, the new contract now includes the county’s Safe Schools funding. The state program enhances school safety and security, including for SROs. In the 2025-2026 school year, law enforcement agencie...
The Charge •

UCF student faces felony charge after protest October 2024 in Orlando

The state of Florida filed a felony charge Friday — three days before the filing deadline — against a UCF student for allegedly committing battery against a uniformed officer during a pro-Palestine protest in October 2024.Chris Gibson, senior information technology major, faces a third-degree felony charge of battery on a uniformed security officer as of Friday, according to reports from case 2024-CF-013587-A-O, obtained through Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Monique Worrell, state attor...
The Charge •

UCF students and faculty respond to possible Department of Education shutdown

The U.S. Department of Education released a notice Feb. 15 directing federally funded educational institutions to "end racial preferences," adding another layer to the Trump administration's fight against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.The news of the notice comes while the education department's fate hangs in the balance, as President Donald Trump campaigned in part on the premise of shutting it down.
Dr. Robert Cassanello, associate history professor, said without the Department of Ed...
The Charge •

Universal Knights event to occur almost two months earlier this year

UCF Student Government announced on Wednesday in an Instagram post the official date for “Universal Knights" is Feb. 23 — almost two months earlier than last year's event. Universal Knights is an annual event put on by UCF SG where part of Universal Orlando Resort is reserved for a night for students to enjoy. The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Universal Islands of Adventure. Jarib Benitez, junior visual communications major and UCF SG director of student affairs, said the Sunday th...
VoxPopuli •

Antone addresses opponent’s residency allegations

Democratic State Rep. Bruce Antone Thursday addressed his opponent’s claims that he does not reside in District 41 where he is running for re-election.

“Every time I run, they bring this up. And they’ve never proven that I do not live in the district,” Antone said in a phone interview.

Questions about Antone’s residency were raised in April when the Orlando Sentinel that his voter registration, homestead exemption and campaign filings matched an address for a house in District 40, which is rep
VoxPopuli •

Democrats choose diverse slate of five to represent Congressional District 11 at National Convention

Democrats choose diverse slate of five to represent Congressional District 11 at National Convention

Democratic voters from Congressional District 11 elected a diverse five-member slate to send to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on April 20, 2024, at the West Orange Recreation Center in Winter Garden.

Democratic voters in Congressional District 11 went to the polls Saturday in Orange, Sumter and Polk Counties to select five delegates — two women and three men — to attend the Demo
The Charge •

UCF Celebrates the Arts remembers and honors Floridian veterans

Performers took the stage on Wednesday night at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to remember and reenact the stories of Floridian veterans lost during World War II.

Central Florida-area actors brought a dramatic spirit and passion to the stories of the fallen veterans, helping audiences better understand the turbulent emotions and lasting impacts of war.

“It's one thing to help students understand the war; it's another to help students understand how much grief remains a part of peo
The Charge •

Orlando protestors continue calling for a ceasefire in Gaza

Waving flags and sporting traditional Arab scarves called keffiyehs, which have become synonymous with Palestinian freedom, protestors filled the air with impassioned chants.

Dozens of peaceful protestors called for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday outside the well-attended MadSoul Music and Arts Festival at Loch Haven Park.

This protest occurred the day after President Joe Biden announced a United States airdrop of aid into Gaza after months of directing financial and military support to Israe
The Charge •

Ushering in a new political era: MadSoul Festival intertwines music and advocacy

Music and political passion filled the air at MadSoul Music and Arts Festival on Saturday as politicians, local musicians and community members gathered in Loch Haven Park.

The festival began in 2015 as the brainchild of United States Rep. Maxwell Frost, the first Generation Z member of Congress, and his friends Niyah Lowell and Chris Muriel. Now, with Frost’s current role on the national stage, the event has returned to Orlando with even more buzz.

“We want to ensure that if you come to this