Thanks to everyone who weighed in last week for our City Curious voting round. If you were hoping we’d investigate how the DOJ is handling the Lowell Correctional Institution abuse cases or the efforts the Downtown UCF campus is making to integrate the surrounding residents into the project, don’t worry — we’ll get to those questions eventually. But we’re starting with Orlando’s growing homeless student population and what actions we can all take to help them. Our investigation is already turning up some great leads, including intel about ongoing efforts to help homeless students at UCF.

The Knights Helping Knights Pantry at UCF provides students in need with up to five food items per day plus clothing and personal hygiene products. Community members can donate unopened and unexpired food and supplies, and gently used clothing to the pantry or sponsor a food drive. If you’re a student, you can volunteer to work in the pantry and help your classmates get the assistance they need. Get the scoop on how to get involved with the Knights Helping Knights Pantry website.

UCF’s Student Care Services team is the first line of defense for students facing all kinds of issues that may interfere with their educations — including homelessness. Each semester, the SCS team helps to connect dozens of students who are struggling with financial and housing hardship with community and campus resources so they can keep up with their classes. If you’re aware of a UCF student who’s dealing with homelessness or extreme financial trouble, you can let the SCS team know using its Student of Concern form.

Next up, we’ve reached out to the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness and to more folks in Osceola, Seminole and Orange County to get you more actionable answers about helping more students, including those in our K-12 schools.

Got tips for us? Let us know. And check back next Tuesday for an update on our sleuthing.

FYI, you can submit a question for us any time here. We’ll choose two each month to put up for a vote, and the winning question will become our next assignment. As always, there’s a human on the other end of this newsletter, so any time you reply, have no fear, someone is reading it (and it’s almost always Local Director Katie).

JUST A REMINDER …

That we’ve partnered with Swan City, an Orlando-centric goods e-comm site, to give away some sweet Orlando-loving swag this week in honor of their new website launch happening on Friday. To snag the free swag, all you have to do is be signed up with both Pulptown and Swan City’s newsletters. If you refer a friend using your unique referral code— https://pulp.town/invitation/*|UNIQID|*, it’ll increase your chances of winning. Contest ends Friday at 10 a.m. Good luck!

Storm watch. It’s peak hurricane season, and meteorologists are busy tracking three major storms heading for the Atlantic Coast. Florence, now a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph, is expected to hit the Carolinas on Thursday. Although the storm will likely miss Florida, much of the Eastern Seaboard will experience dangerous swells and rough seas. Meanwhile, two other major storms — Isaac and Helene — are on Florence’s heels, and their path remains much more uncertain. (WKMG)

No charters for now. An amendment concerning charter schools will not appear on the November ballot, following a 4-3 ruling of the Florida Supreme Court. Although the measure did not include the words “charter school,” it would have essentially paved the way for them by allowing the state to launch and oversee schools without working through the local school board. The high court decision upheld the opinion of a Leon County judge, who ruled that the ballot language would mislead voters. (Orlando Weekly)

Back on the ballot: In other Supreme Court news, greyhound racing is something that will be on the November ballot, after the court overturned a previous ruling. The measure, known as Amendment 13, would ban betting on live dog racing. It requires 60 percent voter approval to pass. (WESH)

Tiny satellite, big collaboration. The Florida Space Institute at UCF is working with aerospace engineering students from Puerto Rico’s Interamerican University to launch a miniature satellite called CubeSat into space. The satellite — about the size of a breadbox — would study the role of dust in planet formation. UCF is also in headlines this week for receiving its biggest alumni donation to date; the $10.25 million gifts will support a sales-training program in the business school. (UCF Today, WCTV)

Ready for its close-up. A film crew will be at Carol’s Diner in the SODO neighborhood this week, shooting an episode of David Makes Man. Set to premiere in 2019, the drama series is written by Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (best known for Moonlight) and will air on the Oprah Channel. (The Daily City)

DeSantis is all in. In what’s already become a tight race to November, Ron DeSantis resigned from his U.S. congressional seat to focus on his campaign for Florida governor against Andrew Gillum. DeSantis said he doesn’t want taxpayer money wasted on paying his salary as he campaigns full-time. (Tampa Bay Times)

IS IT NAP TIME YET?

Does anyone else want this job for a day, or just us?

Stay fun, Orlando,
-Pulptown