Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?
Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations.
US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people
By MICHAEL CASEY
The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country, federal officials said Friday.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless — a number that misses some people and does not include those staying with friends or family because they do not have a place of their own.
That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. The 2023 increase also was driven by people experiencing homelessness for the first time. The numbers overall represent 23 of every 10,000 people in the U.S., with Black people being overrepresented among the homeless population.
“No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe, and quality housing they deserve,” HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a statement, adding that the focus should remain on “evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness.”
Review: Disney Treasure cruise ship leans into adventure for unique feel
The Disney Treasure may be a sister ship to 2022’s Disney Wish, but it has enough unique features to give it its own identity.
The ship made its maiden voyage out of Port Canaveral on Dec. 21 beginning a spate of seven-night, year-round Caribbean voyages, taking on longer sailing duties while the Wish continues three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries.
Just like its sister ship, the Treasure features the signature AquaMouse water slide on the top decks amid a bevy of pools and hot tubs. The interior is carved up with a similar footprint for kids play areas, adult spaces, restaurants and theaters.
Feeding its unique identity, though, is the theme of adventure, which Jason Roberts with Walt Disney Imagineering, credited to Walt Disney.
“It was Walt’s love of travel and exploring new, unknown, mysterious places and learning about the culture, learning about their storytelling,” Roberts said. “We really have a truly rich history of storytelling at Disney, and so we focus on all those amazing stories that we’ve told throughout the decades, and focusing on the adventure aspect.”
History center builds to finale of ‘Figurehead’ exhibit
Orange County Regional History Center will drop the curtain soon on its exhibit called “Figurehead: Music & Mayhem in Orlando’s Underground” but not before presenting putting out more music-oriented programming.
A session called “Bootleg TV: Documenting Live Music in Orlando” will feature Dave Segal, who created a local music and art TV series that aired from 1998 to 2006. The Jan. 16 event, running from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will include clips from Will’s Pub, Sapphire Supper Club, Go Lounge, Skinny’s and other venues that played host to hometown bands and national acts.
The “Bootleg” session is free as part of the monthly Third Thursday event organized by the Downtown Arts District, but registration through the history center is requested.
“A Conversation With the Punk Rock Museum” will feature a talk by Vinnie Fiorello, a founder of Less Than Jake, a Florida-based ska punk band, on Jan. 17. Fiorello, a core member of Las Vegas’ Punk Rock Museum, will discuss his experiences and views about underground music’s relationship with museums.
Orlando’s theme parks in review, 2024: Reviving and recycling
If this theme park year were a laundry detergent, it could be marketed as “new and improved.” Several major additions to Central Florida attractions were updates, takeovers or re-imagined rides. As another old slogan used to say, recycling makes sense, right?
At Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a makeover of Splash Mountain with new scenery, characters, story and music. The signature splashdown remains. Country Bear Musical Jamboree, its Frontierland neighbor, modernized its tunes and reopened with a slightly elongated name (just add “Musical”).
At Universal Studios, DreamWorks Land opened in the space previously known as Woody’s KidZone. It features attractions based on “Kung Fu Panda,” “Puss in Boots,” “Trolls” and “Shrek” as well as “DreamWorks Imagination Celebration,” a musical stage show with characters and dancers.
SeaWorld Orlando introduced Penguin Trek, a launch coaster that reuses space from its former Empire of the Penguin dark ride and maintains a fairly close (and definitely chilly) encounter with the birds.