Financial indicators are pointing to a robust economy, but consumer experiences are telling a different story. The Florida Roundup takes the show on the road to Central Florida Public Media. Black History Month marks a century this year, and it didn’t start as a celebration. Quilting in Black communities began as survival during slavery and evolved into art and archives of family legacy.

A bill gaining traction in the State Senate says undocumented immigrants driving commercial trucks pose an immediate threat to safety. Representative Maxwell Frost’s communications team turns to crowdsourcing as he reviews unredacted Epstein files. The Orlando Amateur Radio Club explains why people still take to the airwaves in the age of the internet. The Lunar New Year is here, and Central Floridians are celebrating the year of the Fire Horse throughout the region.

In Central Florida, Puerto Ricans make up a significant share of the population, and the cultural impact is increasingly visible. Bethune-Cookman University and NASCAR team up to fast-track students’ careers. Two centuries later, author Jane Austen still captivates fans, and that passion is on display this weekend in Mount Dora.

Orange County plans to limit the number of ICE detainees at the jail and stop a cycle of removing and rebooking used to extend a detainee’s time in custody. Thousands in Central Florida find relief after a court blocks the end of temporary protected status for Haitians, but questions remain about the future. The Licorice Sticks perform in a full orchestra using only clarinets.

While Central Florida continues growing, its largest public school district is shrinking. Seven Orange County schools could shut down soon, and it may not stop there. This week marks 40 years since the Challenger disaster. We revisit that day and the impact it still has on our Space Coast. The weekly Language Exchange at Lake Mary’s Rita’s Café builds a community and creates opportunities to practice language skills.

In Central Florida, immigration enforcement has become more visible and for many families, more frightening. Immigration advocates are responding with prayer vigils and community ICE watch trainings while supporters of stepped-up enforcement and partnering agencies weigh-in. We discuss the key tests this week on our Space Coast to send people back to the moon for the first time in decades. Meet the performer stepping into the spotlight from Orlando to biggest global drag competition happening now.

Central Florida reporters break down the issues shaping schools, healthcare, and neighborhoods during the 60-day session in Tallahassee. New legislation would regulate AI data centers, protect privacy, and give local governments more control over technology projects. Stars of the Spectrum performers on the autism spectrum showcase music and community support.

Extra Affordable Care Act discounts ended because Congress let enhanced tax credits expire at the end of 2025. This year the cost of healthcare outweighs the ability to pay for many Central Floridians, but some groups argue ending the temporary subsidies helps long term. A key vote is coming in a long-running dispute over the historic Eatonville Hungerford School property. A UCF Anthropologist shares why New Year’s food resolutions can crumble so quickly around fast food.

Engage looks back at the most inspiring, the most joyful, the most engaging segments of 2025, including a look at a manatee rescue program, the renovation of a historic home on the Bethune-Cookman campus, a unique skateboarding community, Maitland's finest confections and a look at John Lennon’s visit to Disney World.

Central Florida’s rapid growth is reshaping how people experience home and belonging. Engage hosts a live community conversation examining what helps people stay connected as communities evolve and how the region can build a future where more people feel rooted here.