The Charge • 02/16/2026 Massive insect research collection 'The Bug Closet' reopens after months of renovation
FOX 35 Orlando • 07/28/2026 A Falcon 9 rocket stage will soon crash into the moon A Falcon 9 rocket stage is expected to crash into the moon early August 5th. The rocket originally launched January 2025 and carried two commercial lunar landers. Without enough fuel to get deeper into space or closer to Earth, the dead rocket stage floated uncertainly until it entered a crash trajectory towards the moon. FOX 35's Garrett Wymer speaks with FOX 35's Orion Boone about what scientists stand to learn from this crash.
FOX 35 Orlando • 07/10/2026 A new post-grad salary test for federal student loans Starting this month, the U.S. Department of Education will start rolling out an "accountability test" that universities and colleges will have to pass as a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If an undergraduate program's graduates don't earn more than workers who never went to college, that program could be cut off from federal student loans. FOX 35's Orion Boone speaks with Jessica Wensel, Associate Director of Employer & Alumni Connections at Rollins College, about what this means for deg...
FOX 35 Orlando • 07/07/2026 NASA wants volunteers to live on "Mars" for a year NASA wants volunteers to spend a year isolation simulating human life on Mars, using the data to inform their future moon base. The Moon and Mars Exploration Analog is a simulation taking place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in confined habitats that simulate flying to the destination, as well as the surface of Mars. FOX 35's Orion Boone speaks with Ken Kremer, the Founding and Managing Editor of Space UpClose, about what this mission entails.
FOX 35 Orlando • 07/03/2026 North American trade deal expires: What's next? The United States did not renew its trade agreement with Mexico and Canada by the July 1 deadline, citing concerns on trade deficits between the US and the two countries. FOX 35's Orion Boone speaks to USF Associate Professor Chris Jones, to learn more about what the future looks like for international politics and for your wallet.
FOX 35 Orlando • 07/02/2026 July 4th: Orlando surgeon's best firework safety tips | FOX 35 Orlando 4th of July weekend is right around the corner, which means many people firing off fireworks with friends and family. FOX 35's Orion Boone speaks to Orlando Health hand surgeon Dr. Minh Nguyen about common firework related injuries and how to best keep yourself safe.
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/26/2026 FHP: Florida man drove 90 mph in 30 mph zone before deadly crash OCALA, Fla. - A Florida man has been arrested in connection to an April 2026 crash in Marion County that killed a woman in Ocala, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. De'Shawn Vonkei Williams, 18, was arrested and booked into jail on several counts, including vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. He's accused of causing the crash that killed a 47-year-old woman. The backstory: The crash happened around 5:20 p.m. on April 19 at the intersection of Hemlock and Pine roads in Ocala, accor...
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/25/2026 Florida woman twice legal limit arrested for DUI after property damage, near-miss crash: Sheriff BUNNELL, Fla. - A Florida woman with a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit has been arrested after crashing multiple times into property and nearly crashing into a person head-on, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Perla Chacon, 23, now faces charges, according to an arrest report. What we know: Around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday in Bunnell, Flagler County deputies responded to a report of a reckless driver. The caller explained that they were nearly hit head-on by another...
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/25/2026 Blue Origin explosion: Launch pad debris cleared as CEO targets New Glenn rocket launch later this year CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - We are getting a closer look at the cleanup efforts on the Space Coast following Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explosion last month. Blue Origin has announced that all wreckage has been cleared from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The backstory: Blue Origin's launch pad has been officially cleared from debris after the explosion on May 28. The explosion sent a fireball into the sky and shook homes along Florida’s Space Coast. No injuries were repo...
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/25/2026 Central Florida Zoo welcomes 2 female giraffes SANFORD, Fla. - Two female giraffes have joined Gage at the Central Florida Zoo. Gage will continue to reside in the main enclosure while the two females will go through recommended reproductive management protocols, according to the Central Florida Zoo. Visitors will be able to meet them in fall of this year. What we know: The four-year-old giraffes can be seen in the back of the giraffe’s enclosure and will be able to meet guests after they settle into their new home. "So far, they've been set...
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/25/2026 Avelo Airlines adds 4 more flights from Central Florida airports ORLANDO, Fla. - Avelo Airlines recently announced that it would expand the number of nonstop flights it has from Florida to North Carolina and Puerto Rico. The expanded flights will depart from Orlando International Airport (MCO), Lakeland International Airport (LAL), Tampa International Airport (TPA), and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Timeline: What they're saying: "Together, these new routes expand access, increase flexibility and continue our commitment to delivering low far...
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/23/2026 July 4 fireworks in Florida: What you need to know FLORIDA - America will celebrate a major milestone on July 4, 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While there will be plenty of professional fireworks and drone displays in Orlando and around Central Florida, some people may want to light some small fireworks with family or friends. If you're looking to light some personal fireworks at home, here are the rules on which fireworks are OK and not OK (and which ones to leave to the professionals). Yes, but...
FOX 35 Orlando • 06/23/2026 Florida man repeatedly caught driving with suspended license arrested again: FCSO PALM COAST, Fla. - A Florida man convicted of repeatedly driving while his license is suspended was recently arrested for allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign and for providing a fake name, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. What we know: On Sunday morning, June 21, around 3:45 a.m, a Flagler County deputy stopped a driver for allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign. The driver told the deputy that he left his driver's license at home and gave the deputy his name and date of...
Central Florida Public Media • 05/05/2026 Women in space and meal planning for space travel During the Artemis II mission, Christina Koch became the first woman to travel to the moon. Before Artemis, she was a flight engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 59, 60 and 61 back in 2019. During her time on the space station, Koch participated in the first all-female spacewalk. She has spent 338 days in space across during her time as a NASA astronaut.Koch’s role in the Artemis II mission follows in the footsteps of other women in space exploration firsts like Eileen Coll...
The Charge • 05/05/2026 WATCH: How a UCF student began his draglesque journey, made debut at Extravaganza Knight With the song "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor blaring on the speakers, Jay Ayuk made his draglesque debut, blending the art of drag and burlesque.On Jan. 15 at Extravaganza Knight, a collaboration between Color Me Queer and Lavender Council celebrating the LGBTQ+ community through performance, Jay Ayuk, junior event management major, had spent months helping plan the event. Somewhere along the way, his plans shifted. "Something within me was telling me I want to perform," Ayuk said. "...
The Charge • 05/01/2026 Knights Records artists show off skills at newly relocated venue Knights Records showed off five artists' talents at its end-of-year showcase on Friday at My Sister’s House, which recently relocated due to its previous neighbor's complaints.
The Charge • 05/01/2026 Engineering, computer science seniors showcase innovative projects ahead of graduation Engineering and computer science seniors filled the Engineering Building II atrium on Friday, presenting gadgets and software while mingling with judges at the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s semesterly Senior Design Showcase.More than 200 projects were judged during the week leading up to the showcase, with the top 45 selected to be judged at the event. The showcase gave students the opportunity to network with industry professionals and UCF alumni. A group from each of th...
The Charge • 04/30/2026 UCF student faces 20 charges, up to 280 years on child pornography charges A UCF student faces 20 felony child pornography-related charges after being arrested by the UCF Police Department, according to the Florida Attorney General’s office. Among the files recovered from 21-year-old Joshua James Smith's phone during forensic investigation were graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse material, including that of infants. Smith also used Kik, a messaging app, to solicit sexual favors and images from minors, according to a press release from the Florida Attorney G...
Central Florida Public Media • 04/28/2026 Asteroid mining and space hospitality Mining asteroids could shift from science fiction to reality, driven by the need for off-Earth resources.Phillip Metzger, a planetary scientist at the University of CentralFlorida, said the reasons to mine in space are many – sci-fi fantasies, AI and geopolitical boasting to name a few -- but the real hold up has been economic need.“For decades now, it has not been a technological barrier,” Metzger said. “We've had the ability to do it. It's always been an economic barrier and a political barrie...
Central Florida Public Media • 04/28/2026 Key piece of Artemis III mission arrives at Kennedy Space Center A key piece of NASA’s next Artemis moon mission has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of a potential launch next year.The majority of the core stage of NASA’s SLS rocket – which holds liquid fuel and flight control systems – departed its assembly facility in New Orleans last week. It arrived at KSC by barge on Monday. It was offloaded and transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building.There, it will join other pieces of the Artemis III launch vehicle, like the two solid rocket boosters and...
The Charge • 04/24/2026 Note Taking Created a package on how the medium in which you take notes affects your memory. It starts at 4:54.
