WEEKLY

As you’ve likely heard by now, a new variant of the coronavirus is being watched closely by health experts.

Florida is one step closer to expanding cancer coverage for firefighters.

The controversial topic of vaccine mandates will be front and center in Tallahassee this week.

Some of the issues causing the slowdown include labor shortages, port congestion and manufacturing delays overseas.

The U.S. will lift its ban on international travelers effective Friday, Nov. 8, and it appears folks from all over the world are itching to get back to America’s tourist destinations.

Throughout the pandemic, there’s been a lot of focus on not only physical health but mental health as well.

Health experts are urging people six months and older to get their shots as they prepare for an unpredictable flu season.

For the first time in 18 months, the U.S. will allow foreigners to fly into the country this fall if they have proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test.

Florida lawmakers are gearing up to tackle one of their most impactful obligations to voters: Redistricting.

The 20-year U.S. war in Afghanistan ended last week after the last American aircraft departed Kabul's airport and cleared Afghan airspace.

Orlando pediatrician Dr. Candice Jones spoke with anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” about how the virus is affecting children.

Health officials say the coronavirus pandemic has created the greatest mental health, substance abuse and overdose crisis in U.S. history.

Thousands of Florida unemployment accounts were locked without warning earlier this month in a move to counter a potential data breach that targeted nearly 58,000 Department of Economic Opportunity Connect accounts.

As there continues to be a surge in COVID-19 cases, there has been a renewed push to get people vaccinated.

It was a busy week in the U.S. capitol; between the Jan. 6th insurrection hearing and the Centers for Disease Control's recommendations that all Americans should wear a mask indoors in public spaces.

Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all spiking as the delta variant sweeps across the nation.

Anti-government protests have erupted in Cuba in the last week over a lack of access to food and basic medical supplies, amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. People around the country, and here in Central Florida have rallied in support of those protesters.

The NCAA recently changed its rules on allowing college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness (NIL). It allows athletes to make money off everything from autographs to endorsement deals to social media content, but there is still some confusion about the rules.

A new bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis will require Florida high school students to take cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

In the week leading up to Juneteenth, News 6 took a closer look at the progress that has been made since the death of George Floyd.

School districts across Central Florida are now requiring student-athletes to get an electrocardiogram and a physical before they can take to the field or the court.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity recently announced it will cut off the $300 federal unemployment benefit on June 26. The state hopes ending the extra benefits will help address the labor shortage that is impacting several industries.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty in federal court last week to six charges, including sex trafficking of a minor.

Florida lawmakers will meet in a special session later this month to discuss a new gambling agreement.

Florida's 60-day legislative session ended Friday with lawmakers agreeing on a $101.5 billion dollar budget.

Housing prices have hit a record high in the United States and experts say low mortgage rates, high demand, and extremely low supply are driving up those costs.

News 6 space expert Emilee Speck sat down with News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth for "The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com" about launch plans for the next crewed mission.

NASA is set to mark a major milestone in its mission on Mars this weekend.

The arrival of vaccines is giving air travel a much-needed boost one year into the pandemic.

WASHINGTON – The recent mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder have renewed calls for Congress to act on gun control. U.S. Representative Val Demings joined anchor News 6 Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to discuss legislation she believes will reduce gun violence in America and whether President Joe Biden should take action. Watch the full interview on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” with Justin Warmoth in the video player at the top of this story. Watch “The Weekly” on Sundays at 7:30 a.m. on News 6. Click or tap here to see other interviews and discussions.

ORLANDO, Fla. – It has been one year since Walt Disney World announced it would close its theme parks because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its competitors followed suit, but those parks have since reopened with reduced capacity and safety guidelines. Dickson talks about Universal’s upcoming attractions, including the new “Epic Universe” park. He also explains why the success of the theme parks is key for Central Florida. We have a special section dedicated to all things theme parks on ClickOrlando.com/themeparks.

President Biden last week signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan as the world marked one year since the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic. [TRENDING: SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites | Weekend vaccine events for OCPS employees | Family speaks after deadly shooting]U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, discussed how the relief package will impact Central Floridians on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com with Justin Warmoth.”AdSoto also talked about the vaccine rollout, the possibility of Puerto Rico becoming a state and the ongoing security threat at the U.S. Capitol. Use the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com 4pm Trending newsletter, sent every weekday.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – More Floridians are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Seminole County Emergency Management director Alan Harris joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to talk about how the county is preparing for more vaccinations. Harris also explains how the county is working to overcome vaccine hesitancy, and what his team is doing to meet the Biden administration’s latest vaccine goal. President Biden announced this week that the U.S. will have enough vaccine for all adults by the end of May. AdFor information on how to get a vaccine in your area, check out the county-by-county breakdown on ClickOrlando.com/vaccine.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are getting ready to descend on Tallahassee to debate policy, pass new laws and put together a state budget. Perhaps the biggest hurdle lawmakers will face during the 60-day legislative session is the record $96.6 billion budget put forth by Gov. News 6 political expert Dr. Jim Clark joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to break down what to expect over the next two months. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, (D) District 47, also appeared on the program to explain what her legislative priorities are this year and whether she’s considering a run for governor in 2022. Florida’s legislative session kicks off Tuesday, March 2.

ORLANDO, Fla. – While the vaccine has given us hope, the coronavirus continues to surge across the United States. Cases and hospitalizations are spiking, and the country just had its deadliest week on record. As more people get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, other companies -- including Johnson and Johnson -- are hoping their versions will get FDA authorization soon. Dr. Kenneth Alexander with Nemours Hospital joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to discuss the pandemic, vaccine distribution and what we know about a new variant of the virus.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Rolling out the coronavirus vaccine has proven to be difficult across the country and in Central Florida. The supply is not keeping up with the high demand, creating huge lines at first-come, first-served locations and websites crashing as people try to book reservations. [TRENDING: Police officer dies in Capitol clash | Fla. man arrested, firefighter investigated in Capitol riot | COVID-19 variant spreading in Fla.]By the beginning of April, Dr. Anthony Fauci hopes the vaccine will be available to everyone, not just the at-risk population. County health departments are now working to secure additional resources to accommodate more people. Alan Harris, Seminole County’s Emergency Manager, joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to discuss the logistics behind the vaccinations and what to expect as more doses arrive.

ORLANDO, Fla. – As we wait for the first shipments of the coronavirus vaccine to arrive in Central Florida, the next hurdle will be distributing doses and building trust that it’s safe. [TRENDING: States will start getting COVID-19 vaccine Monday | Florida’s Keyontae Johnson collapses on court | 2020 pop culture wrap]Orlando pediatrician Dr. Candice Jones joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to answer some of the most popular questions people have about the vaccine. Watch “The Weekly” every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on News 6. MORE FROM “THE WEEKLY”: Congressman Soto discusses COVID relief package, Puerto Rico statehood on ‘The Weekly’

ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s been eight months since Congress passed the CARES Act but finding common ground for the next COVID relief package remains to be seen. While there’s broad support among members from both parties, they sharply disagree on the size and scope of it. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) joined News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to discuss the timeline for another relief package and the promising news when it comes to a vaccine. On election day, Puerto Ricans voted “yes” on statehood, but the vote was non-binding -- meaning it would need Congressional approval before it can move forward. “Puerto Rico needs to become a state,” Soto said.

Food insecurity has risen significantly around the country after the coronavirus pandemic caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs. Non-profits, like Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, have been doing what they can to help people in need of food, but the supply is beginning to stretch thin. “In the first quarter of 2021, we may face a massive food cliff in terms of supply,” Krepcho said. “We don’t know how long the community can continue to support us.”If you’d like to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, just head to FeedHopeNow.org. Click or tap here to see other interviews and discussions.

Even though millions of Floridians have already cast their ballots in this year’s election, millions more will do the same on Tuesday. Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to discuss what to expect when the polls close Tuesday night. “We start canvassing vote-by-mail ballots early, so that means by 7 p.m. on election night we’re going to be reporting vote-by-mail and early voting numbers,” Anderson said. “Then you’ll start to see the precincts reporting and election day results will be added to early voting and vote-by-mail totals.”Watch the full interview Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on News 6. [For more information on Central Florida elections, head to Clickorlando.com/results2020]

Brittany Nethers, the chair of the Seminole County Democratic Party, joined anchor Justin Warmoth on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com” to explain the shifting demographics in the county. “Especially younger and more progressive people moving outward into Seminole County.”Nethers believes the presidential election will resemble the 2018 midterms when two statewide Democratic candidates -- Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson -- defeated their Republican counterparts in Seminole County. Despite those results, Republicans still call Seminole County ‘Trump country.’“We don’t see Seminole County as Trump country,” Nethers said. Early voting in Seminole County gets underway Monday, October 19. The Seminole County Republican Party didn’t respond to News 6′s request for an interview.

For the first time in eight years, Brevard County will cast their vote for sheriff. Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who was first elected in 2012, is facing a Democratic challenger this year after running unopposed in 2016. Alton Edmond, a criminal defense attorney, explained why he decided to run for sheriff on “The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com with Justin Warmoth.” “As a public figure it’s important to understand who you answer to and who your bosses are, and those bosses are the taxpayers of Brevard County,” Edmond said. The incident was caught on jail surveillance, but Sheriff Ivey has not made it public after several requests from the community. “As sheriff, I will release the Gregory Edwards video,” Edmond said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – From calls to defund the police to requiring de-escalation and implicit bias training, the current climate of policing in America is hot topic across the country. Is improving racial relations a bad idea? That’s not a bad idea either. There’s more common ground between us than separate ground.”The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office next month will have department-wide implicit bias training. Chitwood says he’s trying to shift the organization’s culture to show that law enforcement officers are guardians rather than warriors.

ORLANDO, Fla. Its been an exciting few months inside The Bubble as the NBA restarted its season, but winning a championship hasnt been the only focus for the players. Social injustice, inequality and police brutality have been discussed ever since the players started to arrive at Disney, and especially when every team boycotted a playoff game over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconson. Dr. Richard Lapchick, the chair of the University of Central Floridas DeVos Sport Business Management, told anchor Justin Warmoth on The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com that last weeks protest could be the most important social justice statement by sports in half a century. To have an entire team, then a league and its players association decide that they were going to stop the play to emphasize the importance of the moment was nothing less than historic, Lapchick said. It reminded me of Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the victory stand in Mexico City in 1968 and Mohammed Alis refusal to go to Vietnam.Watch the full interview Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on News 6.

ORLANDO, Fla. In a one-on-one interview Friday with News 6 anchor Matt Austin, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was questioned on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, schools reopening and more. Austin spoke with DeSantis ahead of the governors roundtable discussion on transportation at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando.

We need to be thinking about what's happening here within Central Florida and the Orlando region, and we monitor it daily. We have good relationships with the county and city, and we continue to understand what's happening here and what would be the best steps to be taking. We never said, "Here's exactly what's going to happen and when." We've stayed at 30 percent because we started to see a surge, and we'll stay there for now until we understand more about what's going on. We just have to continue to monitor whats happening at all of the other schools in our conference.

ORLANDO, Fla. ClickOrlando.com hosted Real Talk: A Candid Conversation last week to discuss racial injustice amongst a panel of experts. The experts provided their unique perspectives and solutions when it comes to the problems our society is facing today all while News 6 anchor Ginger Gadsden serves as the moderator. Our experts included University of Central Florida assistant sociology professor Dr. Jonathan Cox, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, American Academy of Pediatrics spokeswoman Dr. Candice Jones, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon, Sen. David Simmons and vice president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers Vanessa Skipper. To rewatch Real Talk: A Candid Conversation, click the blue link below. [REWATCH: News 6 hosts Real Talk: A Candid Conversation on racial inequality in America]Watch The Weekly Sunday mornings only on News 6.

ORLANDO, Fla. School districts across the nation are being forced to reconsider their reopening plans as coronavirus infection rates continue to spike. Many districts have already announced a delayed reopening as well as giving parents options on how they'd like their kids to start the year. Florida Education Association president Fedrick Ingram talked about the challenges with reopening schools on The Weekly on ClickOrlando.com with Justin Warmoth."What happens if a teacher contracts coronavirus?" What happens with the substitute teacher? Do we ask a substitute teacher to go into a classroom where a teacher was just diagnosed and cover that class?

The race for Orange-Osceola state attorney is heating up as the four Democratic candidates get set to square off in the upcoming primary election. The current Orlando-area state attorney Aramis Ayala is not seeking re-election after her surprising victory over Jeff Ashton in 2016. Monique Worrell, a criminal justice attorney; current state attorney in Orange-Osceola Deborah Barra; Ryan Williams, a longtime assistant state attorney in Floridas 9th and 5th Judicial Circuits and former chief judge Belvin Perry have all announced they are running for the position. RELATED: Orange-Osceola chief assistant state attorney running for Aramis Ayalas job"Before I even retired people had approached me in the past about running for state attorney and at the time I chose not to," Perry said. MORE: Who is the Orange-Osceola County State Attorney candidate Ryan Williams?

ORLANDO, Fla. Orlando International Airport would traditionally be busy during the 4th of July weekend, but air travel has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. At its lowest point in March, there were just 1,500 people flying out of Orlando International Airport per day. "The challenge is watching the lack of activity and its impact on a number of our revenue sources," Brown said. Aside from a robust cleaning regimen, airport officials have installed vending machines where travelers can purchase face masks and other personal protective equipment. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been twenty-two TSA agents at Orlando International Airport who have tested positive for COVID-19.

ORLANDO, Fla. The Space Coast will soon return to glory. For the first time in nearly a decade, American astronauts will be launched from American soil on American-made rockets. Liftoff is set for 4:33 p.m. Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. In light of such a significant moment for human spaceflight, News 6 and ClickOrlando.com space expert Emilee Speck joined The Weekly this week to discuss the mission, the astronauts and the new-age space race. [RETURN TO SPACE: NASA astronauts arrive in Florida, marking 1 week countdown to historic launch]

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