Lucy Dillon

Hard News + Briefs

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...
The Charge •

UCF students rally behind second try at recreational marijuana

Only two months after its constitutional measure was defeated, political action committee Smart & Safe Florida is attempting to get the topic of recreational marijuana back on ballots.The constitutional amendment, proposed for the 2026 election cycle, would allow adults 21 and older to purchase, possess and use marijuana for non-medical purposes, according to the amendment.In November 2024, Smart & Safe Florida’s Amendment 3 raked in about 56% of the vote, falling 4 percentage points short of th...
VoxPopuli •

Supervisor of Elections Candidate Dan Helm sues Cynthia Harris for allegedly paying qualifying fee from personal account

Attorney Dan Helm, a Democratic candidate for Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Thursday filed a lawsuit in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court against Cynthia Harris, the no-party-affiliated candidate, alleging that she improperly paid her qualifying fee.

The lawsuit claims Harris used a personal check to pay the qualifying fee before the June 14 deadline and that she “falsely indicated” to the filing officer that the check was drawn from a campaign account. Orange County Supervisor of Elect
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

Windermere corks new wine shop | Vox Populi - Winter Garden, FL

Council members said they were inundated by calls, emails and texts from residents who do not want more establishments serving alcohol in the downtown area. Currently, five downtown businesses, including Dixie Cream and Pizza 14, serve alcohol.“It’s not that people don’t drink wine,” said Council Member Tom Stroup, who suggested the Kumars' request presented something of a public safety and welfare issue. “If five of the six businesses are serving alcohol, hypothetically, 95 percent of the peopl...
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
NSM.today •

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
VoxPopuli •

Biden picks Equal Ground’s Jasmine Burney-Clark to run Florida reelection campaign

Equal Ground founder and director Jasmine Burney-Clark of Ocoee was tapped to be Florida Campaign Director for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign Friday tapped Equal Ground founder and director as its Florida campaign director.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Burney-Clark wrote, “I’m excited to announce that I’m taking on the biggest chapter of my life as the Florida State Director for Joe Biden.” She nodded to the tough journey ahead fo
NSM.today •

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
NSM.today •

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