Latest news with #UniversityofCentralFlorida
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
37-year-old 'bridesmaid for hire' has been in over 100 weddings: Here's the No. 1 thing she's learned about relationships
When Jen Glantz, 37, graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2010, she didn't know what she'd do for a living. She tried consulting for sororities, doing public relations for Jewish nonprofits and copywriting for startups. By 2014, Glantz picked up on a pattern in her personal life: Her friends regularly asked her to be their bridesmaid. And she was good at it. Glantz posted an ad on Craigslist as a "bridesmaid for hire" to see if she could get paid for her unique skillset and within days, she'd received hundreds of requests. Glantz ultimately founded her business, Bridesmaid for Hire, where she offers an array of services from helping couples write their vows to being a bridesmaid. Bridesmaid for Hire services include phone calls, texts and in-person meetings with local clients. Glantz says she works to build a "foundation of friendship" and helps to guide her brides "through the drama and the chaos" that comes with planning a wedding. Glantz has now been part of over 100 weddings and says the No. 1 thing she's learned so far is that "people are inherently lonely." The people who hire Glantz don't want for close ties in their lives. "[They] have tons of friends," she says. But they don't seem to have anyone they feel like they can be honest with. Glantz has observed that it can be difficult to open up, even to the people who are closest to us. "We're scared of how they're going to react," she says. "Or we're scared that they're going to remember what we said for years, and the relationship will never be the same." And so in this flurry of excitement, stress and high-stakes decision making, Glantz becomes the unbiased outsider and the listening ear her clients need. "They tell me their deepest and darkest secrets," she says. Her clients have shared that they're getting married because they want kids and feel like they're running out of time, or because they want the financial stability. One person even confessed that they weren't interested in getting married at all. "She sat down and said, 'Jen, I didn't hire you to be my bridesmaid. I hired you to help me end my engagement,'" Glantz says. "She knew she didn't want to marry her person, but knew if she told her friends, they'd talk her into it, or if she told her parents, they'd remind her how much money she spent on the wedding." Glantz can relate to feeling that loneliness and the want for someone she can just be honest with. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to strangers about really serious, tough things," she says. But she's working on it. Her advice to anyone who feels like they don't have someone they can truly talk to in their lives is to ask "what parts of yourself can you open up to different friends about?" and to remember that you don't have to tell everyone everything. You might also want to consider reaching out to a professional, like a therapist, who you can spill your inner most secrets to and who can help you work through whatever feelings that brings up. "It does make a huge difference in your mental health and also [gives] you that safety you need as you go through life," she says.
The Hill
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump order aims to make it easier to remove the homeless off the streets
President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order making it easier for cities and states to remove homeless people from the streets and get them treatment elsewhere. The order also calls on Attorney General Pam Bondi to 'reverse judicial precedents and end consent decrees that limit state and local governments' ability to commit individuals on the streets who are a risk to themselves or others,' according to a White House fact sheet. On the surface, it's framed as a solution — but underneath, it represents a troubling expansion of forced institutionalization, with few real answers about long-term care or housing. Trump's recent executive order on homelessness, which prioritizes forced relocation of unhoused people to treatment centers and penalizes open-air encampments, reads more like a campaign tactic than a compassionate or effective public policy. While public frustration around homelessness is understandable, this order channels that frustration in the wrong direction — targeting symptoms instead of causes, and people instead of systems. Framing homelessness as a threat to public safety rather than a humanitarian crisis is not only dangerous — it's inaccurate. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, 'By removing vagrant criminals from our streets the Trump Administration will ensure that Americans feel safe …' This kind of language paints unhoused people as violent offenders, despite studies — like one from the University of Central Florida — showing that unhoused individuals are typically arrested for nonviolent infractions like public intoxication or shoplifting, not for violent crime. In fact, research shows they are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Trump's approach to homelessness relies on institutionalization, encampment sweeps, and prioritizing states that crack down on outdoor sleeping. But it offers no real investment in building or preserving affordable housing — which experts across the political spectrum agree is the core issue. Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center said it best: 'Trump's expected actions are reckless, expensive, and make homelessness worse. … Real leaders focus on solutions, not on kicking people when they are down.' Supporters of the order argue that it gets people into treatment, but forced treatment rarely leads to long-term recovery — especially when it's divorced from stable housing. Research has consistently shown that Housing First, which prioritizes placing people in permanent housing before mandating treatment or sobriety, reduces homelessness by up to 88 percent and lowers costly emergency care visits. The problem isn't that Housing First failed — it's that we've underfunded and inconsistently applied it across the country. This order also disproportionately affects Black and brown communities, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities — groups who are already overrepresented in the unhoused population. And in cities like D.C., where Trump is directing federal agencies to evict people from public parks, the move will simply push people out of sight, further away from services and case managers. A few high-profile, tragic incidents involving homeless individuals should not dictate national policy. Fear should not be driving our response to poverty. If we want real results, we need real solutions: housing, mental health access, wraparound services — and most importantly, humanity. Homelessness isn't a crime. And treating it like one won't solve it.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
University of Utah students win NASA Lunobotics grand prize
A team of over 30 students from the University of Utah took home the prestigious grand prize from the NASA Lunobotics competition thanks to their robot. Their design won multiple awards and cemented many of the students' love of STEM, space and collaboration. The team was comprised of students from the Utah Students Robotics club. To compete, the team had to apply for the competition. Out of 70 universities, the team was selected to be one of the 30 official competitors based on their project management plan. The competition was held at the University of Central Florida May 15-17. Over the course of a year, the students prepared for the competition. Early on in the process, the students received a rubric and competition layout for what to expect. The teams then began working on the systems engineering paper, presentation demonstration and, most importantly, the robot itself. 'You are building a robot to compete in a simulated lunar environment,' explained Jeffrey Hansen, a University of Utah chemical and computer engineering student. 'The goal is to navigate through an obstacle zone and then do digging and dumping to build a berm.' Judges look at numerous factors, including the size of the berm compared to the size and energy usage and the different amounts of autonomous operations. Those areas all contributed to the four main areas of scoring: the systems engineering paper, the outreach paper, the presentation demonstration and the construction competition. After competing at Florida, the top 10 teams are chosen to go to the Kennedy Space Center and compete for the grand prize. The Utah-based team split into three different subteams, including mechanical, electrical and software teams. Supporting teams also included an admin and systems team. Frequent meetings, collaborations and trial and error were a must for the students. Hansen called their work an 'evolutionary design style.' 'We had a systems engineering approach. We did it a bit differently than we had done in the past,' Hansen elaborated. 'We decided to start with building a version of the robot that met the basic competition requirements. … Once we had that, we went through different versions to improve upon that design.' Working with 30 students was no small feat. With so many minds hard at work, it was sometimes difficult to find the direction the team wanted to take. Additionally, the challenge was extremely open-ended. As long as the robot was under the specified maximum weight and dimensions, the robot could do anything. Digging systems, electronics, batteries and microcontrollers could all be chosen by the students. Another key piece of the journey was the collaboration with the U. The students worked with the administration to build a lunar simulation to test the robot. The chance to practice before the competition was everything for the team. 'We didn't have (the simulation) done until close to the end of the year, but even that little bit of time helped,' Hansen said. 'It was quite a big process to get that approved.' When they brought their robot to the competition, the team knew they had something special. After taking home the first place in presentation and demonstration, first place in STEM engagement and outreach, second place in construction, special recognition for exceptional use of systems engineering tools and various judges' awards, the team thought they may have a chance to compete in the top 10. Their suspicions were correct. The team ecstatically welcomed the invitation to present their robot at the finals. After an excellent demonstration, the team was awarded the Artemis Award, or grand prize. 'The team just erupted in energy when we found out we won. It felt like we had accomplished everything we went there to do,' Hansen said. 'It was very emotional. It was so much work across a lot of time with so many people. It felt incredible to have all that work come together and walk on stage knowing we had done it.' The experience has helped to shape the students' futures. 'It's been absolutely incredible for getting hands-on experience. … There are real-world applications of participating in this team that I would've never experienced in any of my classes,' Hansen said. To supplement their work, the students also traveled around to numerous K-12 schools around Utah. Their presentations aimed to inspire the future generation of students to try new things, specifically in the STEM field. 'It's how we keep improving the world. It's how we've gotten to where we are today,' Hansen said. 'It's the most important thing out there.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Families of men killed in Halloween shooting to sue City of Orlando, OPD
On Oct. 31, Tyrek Hill was preparing to discuss with his mother the possibility of buying a truck to start his own towing company. Timothy Schmidt Jr. was showing a friend around Orlando, where Hill was a student at the University of Central Florida. That night, both men decided to hit downtown for its annual Halloween block party. Neither made it out alive after being gunned down by 17-year-old Jaylen Edgar, who inexplicably was carrying a weapon as he strolled among the partygoers. Now, the families of both men are suing, accusing the city and the Orlando Police Department of wrongful death by failing to provide adequate security. On Tuesday, two of their parents — Timothy Schmidt Sr. and Teresa Clinton, Hill's mother — met in person for the first time to announce the lawsuit, joined by attorneys Michael Haggard and Douglas McCarron. 'We're in an awful club that you don't want to be in,' Schmidt Sr. said. Hill added, 'Our sons left here somewhat the same. … We're trauma-bonded.' Several businesses that make up the city's Entertainment District are also set to be named in the lawsuit, but the attorneys declined to name them. Haggard said the city and OPD have been notified of the coming lawsuit, which is expected to be filed later this month. This month also marks the ninth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 49 people before the shooter was killed by law enforcement. 'Everybody in the community should be asking: has anything changed?' Haggard said. 'Has anything changed in society? Has anything changed in how businesses deal with this, the government deals with this, or anything along those lines?' About 75,000 people were partying downtown Halloween night when gunfire erupted on two separate occasions. The first happened on the corner of North Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard, where city surveillance video showed Edgar shot Hill in the head from close range while walking past him. He then shot Schmidt Jr. shortly after, striking him in the heart in front of Sly Fox Bar following an altercation in which Schmidt Jr. wasn't involved. Edgar, who turns 18 in September, was arrested as he tried to flee amid a panicked, scattering crowd. He was charged as an adult on two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder, with his next court appearance expected to take place Aug. 25. While a City of Orlando spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation, officials at the time of the shooting pointed to a state law allowing gun owners to carry in public places without a permit. They said that prevented the city from conducting its own weapons checks in the downtown area, as it had previously. Still, Haggard said, city authorities should have been prepared for that. In 2024 there were about 500 mass shootings throughout the U.S. including 32 in Florida, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings nationwide. This year, six of the 133 mass shootings so far were in the state. 'Our laws in the State of Florida are awful regarding gun safety, there's no question about that,' Haggard said. 'But the City of Orlando knows that, the police department knows that, the entertainment district knows that. … So businesses have to step up in the environment they're in.' As for the families, they intend to carry on their sons' legacies. Since the shooting, Schmidt Sr. founded a nonprofit seeking to help others in similar situations. Clinton, Hill's mother, seeks to do the same. While they both seek justice for their children's deaths, Schmidt Sr. and Hill say they share a common aim: reform. 'We can point the blame at anybody, but who will step up and make a change?' Hill said. 'Let's make a difference. It doesn't have to just be us, it can be all — or is it just another person dead in the streets and another suspect in jail?'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers discover unexpected threat to dolphins off US shores — here's what's happening
A study has revealed another worrying consequence of seagrass dying in Florida's Indian River Lagoon that's now hitting the region's most iconic marine mammals. Researchers found that declining seagrass beds (which support everything from shrimp to fish) are making it harder for dolphins to hunt and survive, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The Indian River Lagoon, one of North America's most biodiverse estuaries, has lost more than half its seagrass over the past decade due to poor water quality, algae blooms, and nutrient pollution. Without seagrass, fish populations plummet. In this case, dolphins, which once thrived in the area, are now showing signs of malnutrition and habitat stress. As the base of the ecosystem vanishes, so do the species that dolphins rely on to feed. Some have been found severely underweight, while others are showing unusual foraging behavior that signals growing distress. Researchers from the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida said 17% of the dolphin deaths between 2000 and 2020 were caused by malnutrition, a number that is likely an undercount. The collapse of marine habitats like seagrass meadows isn't just threatening dolphins — it threatens the fishing industries and local economies that depend on them. Events like these weaken coastal protections and signal a broader breakdown of biodiversity. While dolphins could look for another location where food is more plentiful, they typically stay within their territories. As seagrass disappears, species like shrimp and ladyfish are losing habitat. This provides the dolphins with less to eat. It's a stark reminder that when we harm nature's foundation, the damage affects the entire food chain, including us. Fortunately, some areas of the Indian River Lagoon are beginning to recover, with seagrass making a small comeback. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Florida has pledged $100 million to upgrade septic systems and reduce runoff through the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program. Meanwhile, The Nature Conservancy is backing tech that cuts pollution from urban neighborhoods, offering hope that targeted investment and restoration efforts may reverse some of the damage. On a personal level, being aware of local environmental issues is also key to mitigating them. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
