Seminole County

Chewie is one of two male sloths to recently progress out of intensive care at the zoo in Sanford.

Florida regulators stood by as dozens of sloths died, new records reveal

Katie Surma, Kiley Price

Internal emails obtained by Inside Climate News show the state of Florida saw no need to stop the unfolding mass deaths of sloths at a planned Orlando tourist attraction.

Several Central Florida counties saw higher-than-average heat exposure calls in June as the summer continues to swelter. Experts are urging parents and coaches to keep kids safe from the heat this weekend.

Health

Osceola County heat exposure calls spiked last month versus the year before

Joe Mario Pedersen

Several Central Florida counties saw higher-than-average heat exposure calls in June as the summer continues to swelter. Experts are urging parents and coaches to keep kids safe from the heat this weekend.

Staff with Bike/Walk Central Florida’s “Best Foot Forward” program will cross certain crosswalks over and over again, giving drivers a safe stopping distance to react based on the speed limit. By tracking how many drivers yield versus keep driving through the crosswalk, program staff can glean whether certain infrastructure improvements, like signing or striping, seem to be making a difference.

Environment & Climate

Pedestrian deaths are down in Orlando. But nationally, they’re rising

Molly Duerig

Six of the country’s top 20 deadliest metros for pedestrians are in Florida, according to an analysis of fatality data.

Dolce, one of the eight sloths at the zoo, hangs out while chewing on a snack.

Environment & Climate

Eight sloths are making progress at Central Florida Zoo

Molly Duerig

The sloths are getting more comfortable with zoo staff and the veterinary processes required to ensure their health.

Environment & Climate

Burn bans lifted for Brevard and Seminole counties

Molly Duerig

Drought conditions are improving, but wildfire risk still remains.

Willow was humanely euthanized on Tuesday, according to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Despite daily care and regular medical treatments, her condition had steadily declined in recent weeks.

Environment & Climate

Another sloth from Sloth World dies, leaving eight at zoo in Sanford

Molly Duerig

Willow is the fifth sloth to die at the zoo since 13 arrived there in poor condition from a Sloth World warehouse on April 24.

The hydrothermal processing system that converts biosolids into oil and gas in Altamonte Springs is housed in a trailer parked right next to the city’s water reclamation plant. The system has the capacity to process everything from the plant, according to project engineers.

Environment & Climate

Altamonte Springs turns sewage sludge into energy, usable water

Molly Duerig

The pilot project’s technology can break down PFAS in biosolids while also converting those biosolids into energy.

Raindrops plummet to the ground, forming puddles during a storm.

Environment & Climate

Five Central Florida groups get storm prep grants ahead of hurricane season

Molly Duerig

The grants will support storm preparedness and community resiliency.

Dolce is one of two male sloths to recently progress out of intensive care at the zoo in Sanford.

Environment & Climate

Two sloths from Sloth World progress out of intensive care at zoo

Molly Duerig

Nine sloths remain in the care of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, after 13 recently arrived there in poor condition from a Sloth World warehouse.

Thirteen sloths, including the one shown above, arrived on Friday from “Sloth World Orlando” to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.

Environment & Climate

Young sloth from Sloth World dies, leaving nine at zoo

Molly Duerig

At just several months old, Mr. Ginger was the youngest sloth to recently arrive at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.