Time again to test your knowledge of current events in Central Florida and the state. Take this quick quiz to see how closely you were paying attention.
To celebrate the upcoming Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, several local restaurants have teamed up with Florida Citrus Sports to offer Cheez-It inspired dishes. All of the following are real dishes that local chefs have cooked up — except which one?
A. Buffalo chicken pizza with a Cheez-it crust
B. Crab cakes that substitute Cheez-its for bread crumbs
C. White Cheddar Cheez-it garlic knots
D. A rum cocktail with a side of Cheez-its
Answer: B. I made that one up. But I’d probably eat it.
Florida Citrus Sports launches local food and beverage collabs
Gov. Ron DeSantis often criticizes news stories by Florida newspapers and instead touts start-up online outlets like “The Florida Standard,” which give the governor flattering coverage. What did the Seeking Rents newsletter and an NBC News reporter reveal last week about the “Florida Standard”?
A. The now-defunct “news” site was funded in part with $925,000 from a dark-money nonprofit set up by DeSantis’ political advisors
B. The site’s “reporters” were given directions on what to write and ask directly from the governor’s staff
C. After the site went belly up, its “editor” got a gig working for New College of Florida
D. All of the above
Answer: D. The site’s motto was: “The only place for real and honest news in the state of Florida.”
Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, captured awards from the Themed Entertainment Association for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, How to Train Your Dragon’s Isle of Berk and what other attraction that’s unique to the Sunshine State?
A. Not-so-Fast but Frequently Furious: A rush-hour ride on I-4
B. Steep hikes, scary spikes: Trying to ride out Florida’s property insurance market
C. Who wants to be a Millionaire: The Florida public university, political-crony, job-snagging edition
D. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
Answer: D. The other three experiences are all real but a lot less fun.
This past week, the Orlando Sentinel finally got hold of the tax documents that show how the region’s tourism-promotion bureau, Visit Orlando, spends its money. How much did the records reveal this taxpayer-funded nonprofit pays its CEO?
A. $693,170
B. $562,580
C. $475,000
D. $399,990
Answer: A. That was the total compensation package, including bonuses and incentives. By comparison, the CEO of the statewide tourism-promotion bureau, Visit Florida, makes $215,000. The head of the bureau in Las Vegas — which cited the salary of Visit Orlando’s CEO in justifying a recent pay raise there — now makes $724,711.
The latest wage reports show that Las Vegas and Orlando rank dead last and second-to-last, respectively, in median wages among the nation’s 50 largest metros. Though Orlando is the nation’s 20th-largest metro, many regions that don’t even crack the top 50 in population outperform Central Florida in wages. In fact, all but one of the of following metro areas boasts higher median wages than Orlando, even though they’re about a third our size and have lower costs of living. Which region do we beat?
A. Tulsa, Oklahoma
B. Omaha, Nebraska
C. El Paso, Texas
D. New Orleans, Louisiana
Answer: C. Yeah, we trail Tulsa. But take that, El Paso.
Maxwell: Orlando now ranks 49th out of 50 in wages
After a man died on Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers in September, the state division that inspects rides, run by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, said Universal voluntarily welcomed its inspectors. The office then issued a statement that said its “current findings align with those shared by Universal,” which said the ride “functioned as intended.” That was two months ago. WKMG-Channel 6 asked for copies of the inspection reports that led the state to reach its conclusion. What did the station get?
A. Photos inspectors took of the ride
B. Reports that inspectors created about their findings
C. Emails from inspectors that summarized their conclusions.
D. None of the above.
Answer: D. WKMG said the state responded it had “no responsive records” to requests for all of those things, leading the station to conclude that the agency “did not write any reports or take any photos documenting their observations.” That sounds like quite an investigation.
The Orlando Sentinel and Washington Post reported Wednesday that the U.S. House has opened an ethics investigation into Central Florida Congressman Cory Mills, R-New Smyrna Beach. What accusations is the committee probing?
A. Sexual misconduct
B. Campaign finance violations
C. Improperly benefitting from office
D. All of the above
Answer: D. Mills, who has a restraining order against him and is seeking re-election, has said he will be vindicated.
Ethics panel opens investigation into Central Florida U.S. Rep. Cory Mills
The Vans Warped Tour attracted somewhere around 80,000 fans to Tinker Field last weekend to catch extreme-sporting action, but where music is the main attraction. If you’re wondering whether you’re hip enough to hang with the Vans kids, try selecting the one band name below that wasn’t part of the real concert lineup.
A. Bowling for Soup
B. Falling in Reverse
C. Adrenaline Rising
D. Less Than Jake
Answer: C. But it’d be a pretty righteous band name, right?
