Latest news with #Apopka
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet UCF football commit Isaiah McNish, Wekiva D-lineman and ... running back
APOPKA — Isaiah McNish decided in the space of two weekends he was destined to stay a "Florida boy." McNish, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle entering his senior year at Wekiva High, visited Connecticut at the start of June and said he hardly removed his headphones. He was all ears, however, when he arrived at UCF and met with head coach Scott Frost and primary recruiter Kenny Martin. Advertisement "I loved everything about it — the tours, the food," McNish said June 8 after concluding his official visit. "I'm glad that I made the decision to stay here. "The environment, the coaches, it just felt like home. I got super comfortable fast." UCF Knights football: Stadium name change approved by board of trustees A few hours later, McNish publicized his commitment to the Knights. According to 247Sports' composite rankings, he is the No. 99 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 123 overall player in Florida. He claims a dozen Division I offers, adding the likes of Georgia Tech, Missouri and Syracuse during the spring evaluation period. However, he has shut down his recruitment, with intentions to sign in December and enroll in January. Advertisement "I ain't worried about no other place," McNish said. "They're not going to get how I am feeling right now." Here are five things to know about UCF's first addition to the defensive line class for 2026. 1. Isaiah McNish plays for former UCF star Doug Gabriel at Wekiva OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Wide receiver Doug Gabriel #85 of the Oakland Raiders runs from cornerback Michael Waddell #36 of the TennesseeTitans on December 19, 2004 at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders defeated the Titans 40-35. (Photo by) McNish's breakout junior season at Wekiva, one in which he totaled 40 tackles and three sacks, coincided with the first on the sidelines for former UCF star Doug Gabriel. Gabriel ranks eighth in Knights history with 20 touchdown catches, and second only to Breshad Perriman in career yards per reception (19.3). He totaled 97 grabs for 1,869 yards as a receiver and added another 795 yards as a kickoff returner. Advertisement The Oakland Raiders selected Gabriel in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft, and he spent four seasons in the league — including 12 games for the New England Patriots in 2006. He recorded 101 catches for 1,550 yards and eight TDs. "On the field, you're going to get a kid who has got a lot of passion," Gabriel said of McNish. "Hard-working, dedicated, loyal; that's rare to come with. And a kid that, put in any position, is going to excel." 2. Riviera Beach is Isaiah McNish's hometown Wekiva defensive tackle Isaiah McNish committed to UCF on June 8 at the conclusion of his official visit. McNish can be considered one of UCF's hometown heroes for the 2026 cycle; Wekiva, also the alma mater of Knights defensive end Sincere Edwards, is located less than 30 miles from the Acrisure Bounce House. Advertisement However, McNish grew up in Riviera Beach, roughly five miles north of West Palm Beach. He moved with his mother in 2020. "When I moved here, I ain't going to lie. I didn't really want to move up here, for real," McNish said. "As I started staying around the area, the more safe I felt than I was down there. And there are better coaches, so it has been a lot better for my recruitment and for me as a person." 3. Isaiah McNish silently committed to UCF a month earlier Isaiah McNish could be utilized on offense by UCF's coaching staff. As a junior, he ran 17 times for 73 yards and six touchdowns. While June 8 is the recognized date of McNish's commitment, he said he truly locked his spot with the Knights a month earlier. Martin attended one of Wekiva's spring practices in May, and McNish gave his verbal pledge on the spot. Advertisement "We kept it on the low for a little bit," McNish said. "(On June 8), I just told Coach Frost that I wanted to be a Knight, and it got announced. He was excited. They've got game plans already set for me." 4. Isaiah McNish could be used on offense around the goal line Defensive tackle Isaiah McNish totaled 40 tackles and three sacks during his junior year for Wekiva. Among the more interesting tidbits McNish revealed at the conclusion of his official visit was an exit conversation he had with Frost in which they discussed being an asset on both sides of the ball. He loves to "run the rock," and spoke with Frost about the possibility of being deployed as an auxiliary blocker and/or short-yardage weapon in the backfield. Advertisement "I want to be able to show my athleticism more than just playing D-line," McNish said. "Running the ball gives me a certain burst of energy." 5. Isaiah McNish can 'break one' as a running back McNish logged 17 carries last fall for Wekiva, gaining 73 yards and scoring a team-high six touchdowns. Gabriel brushed off the idea that McNish is strictly a short-yardage specialist for the Mustangs. Opponents have been caught sleeping on a few occasions, thinking McNish would not be a problem past the line of scrimmage. "He'll break one. He's not slow, and he's real physical," Gabriel said. "You can see it on his film, even on defense. He'll get doubled, the run will go the opposite way and you'll see him taking an angle to go get a guy. Advertisement "His motor is just going to keep running." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: UCF Knights football recruiting: Meet Wekiva's Isaiah McNish
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida deportation case highlights challenges for families with U.S.-born children
The Brief A longtime Apopka, Florida family faces painful separation as deportations continue despite their children being U.S. citizens. The father was recently deported, and the mother is jailed awaiting her fate. Community members and officials are rallying for justice and due process in their case. APOPKA, Fla. - A family that has lived in the United States for more than two decades is facing a painful separation as deportations continue. The couple, who have four children — all American citizens — are being torn apart by immigration enforcement actions. What we know A family that has lived in the U.S. for over 20 years is facing separation due to deportation. The father, Esvin Juarez, was deported to Guatemala after a routine ICE check-in where his deferred action status was not honored. His wife, Rosmeri Miranda, is currently being held in Orange County Jail awaiting deportation. Their four children, aged 9 to 17, are U.S. citizens. What we don't know It remains unclear what will happen next in Rosmeri Miranda's case and whether state officials will intervene to prevent her deportation. The family's long-term legal options and potential outcomes for reunification are still uncertain. The backstory The Juarez family came to the U.S. illegally 24 years ago and sought deferred action to avoid deportation. Deferred action is a discretionary policy allowing certain immigrants to temporarily delay removal. Despite this, ICE chose not to honor the father's deferred status, resulting in his deportation. The family and community argue they have contributed positively to their community and do not pose a threat. Local perspective This case highlights ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement, especially for families with U.S.-born children. Local supporters, including elected officials, are rallying for justice and reform, pointing to what they see as failures in the system to protect due process and family unity. What they're saying A community rally in Apopka took place on Friday to support the family and demand justice. "They are not criminals. They are pillars of the community," said daughter Beverly Juarez of her parents. "Do what's right!" Elected officials from the city, county, and state have joined the growing chorus of support. "I hear this rhetoric all the time: 'Do it the right way.' I hate to break it to the American people, but there is no right way in this country that works," said State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando. Many of the speakers at Friday's rally talked about the justice system, arguing the Juarez family's rights were violated. "We are here today because something deeply important is at stake," said Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, the Hope Community Center Executive Director. "The right to due process." The family's attorney criticized the handling of the case, saying the Juarez family's rights to due process were violated. "I voted for Trump. I voted for the border to be closed. I voted… I voted for the deportation of illegal people who were criminals," attorney Grisel Ybarra said. "Not for this, not for people like this." Beverly Juarez is still hoping someone will intervene and bring her family back together. "The country right now has a chance to right this wrong." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the family of Esvin Juarez, including daughter Beverly Juarez, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, the Hope Community Center Executive Directorand, and attorney Grisel Ybarra.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is No Kings day? See map of Florida, US protests. What you should know
As violent protests over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continue in California, more than 1,800 demonstrations are planned for June 14 across the United States. The "No Kings day of action" is scheduled to take place nationwide Saturday, June 14, with more than 70 planned in Florida. The rallies will coincide with Flag Day, President Trump's 79th birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary celebration and military parade taking place in Washington, D.C. "No Kings is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration," according to The website also used the words protest, demonstration, march and rally to describe the events scheduled for June 14.. "They've defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings. "We're standing together against the abuses of power, cruelty, and corruption. On June 14, we gather to remind President Trump and his enablers: America has No King!" "We're standing together against the abuses of power, cruelty, and corruption. On June 14, we gather to remind President Trump and his enablers: America has No King! "Our goal is to show that the people — the majority — are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab. Points highlighted by include: "He's using OUR tax dollars to pay for HIS party: President Trump's birthday celebration is expected to cost millions of our tax dollars, all while Republicans claim there's no money for Social Security, SNAP, or Medicaid. "We are united against kings: President Trump has already indicated that he's aiming for at least a third term, and now he's planning a self-aggrandizing military parade in D.C But the American people don't put up with kings. Together, we will mobilize in huge numbers to reject this corruption and abuse of power — it's in our DNA as a country. "They've gone too far: This is bigger than political disagreement. They've defied our courts, deported American citizens, disappeared people off the streets, and slashed our services — all while orchestrating a massive giveaway to their billionaire allies. Enough is enough. For anyone who thinks he's gone too far, this movement is for you." According to the No Kings website, more than 75 protests (including several in some cities) are planned across Florida as of June 10. Organizers were urged to "prioritize landmarks or other public sites with high-visibility, like state capitols or city halls, major parks, or in other high traffic outdoor areas in your community." ➤ Find an event near you Apalachicola Apopka Boca Raton Boynton Beach Bronson Casselberry Clermont Center Lake Park Clermont City Hall Clermont Town Cocoa Coral Springs Davenport Daytona Beach DeLand Delray Beach Ellenton Englewood Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers Fort Walton Beach Gainesville Hollywood Inverness Jacksonville Duval County Courthouse Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard Key Largo Key West Kissimmee Lakeland Lake Mary Lake Worth Beach Largo Leesburg Marathon Miami Miami Beach Mount Dora Naples New Port Richey New Smyrna Beach Ocala Orlando Orange City Orange Park Palatka Palm Bay Palm Beach/Mar-a-Largo Palm Beach Gardens Palm Coast Palm Harbor Panama City Pensacola Ninth Avenue/Airport Boulevard The Graffiti Bridge Plant City Poinciana Port Charlotte Port St. Joe Port St. Lucie Riverview Sarasota University Parkway J.D. Hamel Park Sebastian Sebring Spring Hill St. Augustine St. Johns County St. Petersburg Tallahassee Tampa The Villages Venice Vero Beach West Palm Beach To see a map of registered No Kings protests across the U.S., go to Christy Walton, an American billionaire heiress, paid for No Kings ads in the New York Times to promote the No Kings protests, according to The 50501 Movement. "We are the people of the United States of America. The honor, dignity and integrity of our country are not for sale," the ad read. It's not the first time Walton has paid for an ad. In March, she paid for an ad, also in the New York Times and some local newspapers, urging Americans to engage in the political process. "Walton's ad, featuring an image of the Statue of Liberty, emphasizes values like working with international allies, defending against aggression, and respecting constitutional principles," according to lawyermonthly. "She invites readers to engage, ensuring their voices are heard as part of the democratic process." Walton is the widow of John T. Walton, who was one of the sons of the Walmart founder Sam Walton. On Truth Social, Trump said, "If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now, much like 25,000 houses burned to the ground in L.A. due to an incompetent Governor and Mayor." "If they spit, we will hit.' This is a statement from the President of the United States concerning the catastrophic Gavin Newscum (sic) inspired Riots going on in Los Angeles. The Insurrectionists have a tendency to spit in the face of the National Guardsmen/women, and others. These Patriots are told to accept this, it's just the way life runs. But not in the Trump Administration. "IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!" This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: No Kings day protests planned June 14. See map locations
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Florida property values continue to skyrocket
Property values across Central Florida are soaring this year, fueled by billions of dollars of new construction, according to the region's property appraisers. The booming values will help boost tax rolls as local governments begin preparing budgets for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. And it may add fuel to a GOP-boosted argument that Florida homeowners are paying too much property tax. 'Interest rates are relatively high, and we've certainly seen a slow down in residential sales,' said David Johnson, Seminole County's property appraiser. 'But what we have not seen is a decline in the values, or what people are selling their houses for.' At this time every year, property appraisers are required to provide local governments, school districts and other taxing authorities with their 'Best Estimates of Taxable Values' reports. The reports released last week show that every local government in the region is seeing jumps in taxable values this year, with several cities looking at double digit increases. In Orange County, Windermere leads the list with taxable values rising to just over $1.2 billion in total. That's up slightly more than 19% compared to last year. Helping to fuel that rise, Windermere voters last February agreed in a special election to annex the gated Chaine du Lac community that abuts the town's western side, adding hundreds of new properties. Windermere's increase was followed by Apopka — the county's second-largest city — which is estimated to see a nearly 14% jump from last year to nearly $8.2 billion worth of total taxable value in 2025. In Seminole, Sanford is forecast to have nearly $6.7 billion in taxable property values this year, a 10.85% jump from 2024. Sanford — the second largest city in Central Florida's three-county region behind Orlando — is the only Seminole government to have a double-digit percentage increase. A large part of that surge in Sanford is the result of recent construction of homes and apartments within the city, Johnson said. 'They've built thousands of single-family homes by Celery Avenue [near the Orlando Sanford International Airport],' he said. In Osceola County, St. Cloud is forecast to see taxable values rise to nearly $6 billion in 2025, a whopping nearly 15% increase from 2024, according to that county's Property Appraiser's Office. 'There's a lot of new construction,' Osceola's Property Appraiser Katrina Scarborough said regarding St. Cloud. 'And we're one of the fastest growing counties in the country.' Kissimmee's taxable values are expected to rise to $6.9 billion in 2025, a 10.5% increase from last year. Lake's smallest cities saw the largest increases in the county, in large part because of an explosion of new home construction. Montverde led the list with a 24.6% jump from 2024 to a total estimated taxable value of nearly $212 million. That was closely followed by Mascotte, which is forecast to have a 21.8% increase from last year to nearly $602 million. Several straight years of rising taxable values across the region have pumped billions more dollars into the coffers of local governments. For example, Orange County's budget has grown by $1.7 billion in the last five years. That's spurred Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans to recently push for either cutting or completely eliminating property taxes. DeSantis claims that Florida counties and cities are taking advantage of that largesse in tax revenues by expanding, while struggling property owners pay for it. He is advocating a $1000 property tax rebate to every Florida homeowner this December, followed by structural changes to the tax later. But the state House and Senate, at loggerheads over the budget they need to pass by June 30, have yet to take up any property tax changes this year. The taxable value of a property is the amount used by local governments to calculate and set property tax rates. Market value, on the other hand, is the price a property would likely sell for in the current real estate market. Market value is influenced by the condition of the property, its location and surroundings. Florida law caps the taxable value of a homeowner's primary residence, limiting the rise in taxes. In Orange County, the estimated total market value for 2025 is $345.8 billion, an increase of 4.6% from 2024. In Seminole, the 2025 market value is just over $87 billion, which is a nearly 4.2% increase from 2024. In Osceola, the market value is nearly $70 billion, a surge of nearly 4.3% from 2024, while in Lake, the market value is $68.4 billion, a 6.3% jump from last year. According to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, there were more than 12,000 homes on the market across Central Florida in May. It takes on average about 76 days for a home to sit on the market before it is purchased. As of Thursday, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was about 6.87%, and 5.95% for a 15-year fixed rate, according to
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Florida property values continue to skyrocket
Property values across Central Florida are soaring this year, fueled by billions of dollars of new construction, according to the region's property appraisers. The booming values will help boost tax rolls as local governments begin preparing budgets for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. And it may add fuel to a GOP-boosted argument that Florida homeowners are paying too much property tax. 'Interest rates are relatively high, and we've certainly seen a slow down in residential sales,' said David Johnson, Seminole County's property appraiser. 'But what we have not seen is a decline in the values, or what people are selling their houses for.' At this time every year, property appraisers are required to provide local governments, school districts and other taxing authorities with their 'Best Estimates of Taxable Values' reports. The reports released last week show that every local government in the region is seeing jumps in taxable values this year, with several cities looking at double digit increases. In Orange County, Windermere leads the list with taxable values rising to just over $1.2 billion in total. That's up slightly more than 19% compared to last year. Helping to fuel that rise, Windermere voters last February agreed in a special election to annex the gated Chaine du Lac community that abuts the town's western side, adding hundreds of new properties. Windermere's increase was followed by Apopka — the county's second-largest city — which is estimated to see a nearly 14% jump from last year to nearly $8.2 billion worth of total taxable value in 2025. In Seminole, Sanford is forecast to have nearly $6.7 billion in taxable property values this year, a 10.85% jump from 2024. Sanford — the second largest city in Central Florida's three-county region behind Orlando — is the only Seminole government to have a double-digit percentage increase. A large part of that surge in Sanford is the result of recent construction of homes and apartments within the city, Johnson said. 'They've built thousands of single-family homes by Celery Avenue [near the Orlando Sanford International Airport],' he said. In Osceola County, St. Cloud is forecast to see taxable values rise to nearly $6 billion in 2025, a whopping nearly 15% increase from 2024, according to that county's Property Appraiser's Office. 'There's a lot of new construction,' Osceola's Property Appraiser Katrina Scarborough said regarding St. Cloud. 'And we're one of the fastest growing counties in the country.' Kissimmee's taxable values are expected to rise to $6.9 billion in 2025, a 10.5% increase from last year. Lake's smallest cities saw the largest increases in the county, in large part because of an explosion of new home construction. Montverde led the list with a 24.6% jump from 2024 to a total estimated taxable value of nearly $212 million. That was closely followed by Mascotte, which is forecast to have a 21.8% increase from last year to nearly $602 million. Several straight years of rising taxable values across the region have pumped billions more dollars into the coffers of local governments. For example, Orange County's budget has grown by $1.7 billion in the last five years. That's spurred Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans to recently push for either cutting or completely eliminating property taxes. DeSantis claims that Florida counties and cities are taking advantage of that largesse in tax revenues by expanding, while struggling property owners pay for it. He is advocating a $1000 property tax rebate to every Florida homeowner this December, followed by structural changes to the tax later. But the state House and Senate, at loggerheads over the budget they need to pass by June 30, have yet to take up any property tax changes this year. The taxable value of a property is the amount used by local governments to calculate and set property tax rates. Market value, on the other hand, is the price a property would likely sell for in the current real estate market. Market value is influenced by the condition of the property, its location and surroundings. Florida law caps the taxable value of a homeowner's primary residence, limiting the rise in taxes. In Orange County, the estimated total market value for 2025 is $345.8 billion, an increase of 4.6% from 2024. In Seminole, the 2025 market value is just over $87 billion, which is a nearly 4.2% increase from 2024. In Osceola, the market value is nearly $70 billion, a surge of nearly 4.3% from 2024, while in Lake, the market value is $68.4 billion, a 6.3% jump from last year. According to the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, there were more than 12,000 homes on the market across Central Florida in May. It takes on average about 76 days for a home to sit on the market before it is purchased. As of Thursday, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was about 6.87%, and 5.95% for a 15-year fixed rate, according to
