ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — Orange County officials announced updated operating hours for the county’s temporary warming centers following revised weather forecasts indicating temperatures will not fall below 40 degrees for at least four consecutive hours.

As a result, warming centers will be closed Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. The centers will reopen Saturday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. and remain open continuously through Monday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m.

Warming Center Locations and Hours

Temporary warming centers are located at the gymnasiums of Barnett Park Recreation Center and Goldenrod Recreation Center and will operate on the following schedule:

• Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026: 5 p.m. – 9 a.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 29 – Friday, Jan. 30: Closed

• Saturday, Jan. 31: Opens at 5 p.m.

• Sunday, Feb. 1: Open 24 hours

• Monday, Feb. 2: Closes at 10 a.m.

Transportation Services Available

For residents in rural East Orange County, Bithlo Community Park will continue to serve as a transportation hub, with LYNX bus service providing access to the Goldenrod Recreation Center.

LYNX Bus Schedule:

• Saturday, Jan. 31 – Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026: 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

LYNX buses provide free transportation to warming centers.

Pet Policy and Additional Shelter Resources

Secured pets are permitted on buses and at warming centers. Pet owners must provide carriers for cats, leashes for dogs, and all necessary food and supplies.

Warming center operations are subject to change based on weather conditions. For the latest updates, visit www.ocfl.net/cold.

Additional Homeless Services Network partner locations include:

• Coalition for the Homeless, 18 N. Terry Ave., Orlando

• Matthew’s Hope, 611 Business Park Blvd., Winter Garden

• Orlando Union Rescue Mission, 3300 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando

• The Salvation Army Orlando (Men Only), 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando

• The Salvation Army Orlando (Women and Children Only), 400 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando

By Dr. Jessica Henlon | Education Contributor for Florida National News

On January 7, 2026, Valencia College and Lift Orlando announced the launch of the Lift Scholars program, offering full tuition and fee coverage at Valencia for every graduate of Jones High School’s Class of 2026 through 2029. Whether pursuing an associate degree or short-term technical certificate, students will now have the opportunity to earn credentials without the burden of tuition.

Lift Orlando CEO Eddy Moratin called the initiative a commitment to removing obstacles: “Cost should never stand in the way of a student’s future” (Valencia College, 2026). Valencia President, Dr. Kathleen Plinske, noted that the program builds on the success of Osceola County’s Prosper initiative and affirmed that “the lives of hundreds of Jones students and their families will be transformed by today’s news” (Valencia College, 2026). Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez described the scholarship as “an extraordinary gift” that “opens doors” for students who might have otherwise seen college as out of reach (Valencia College, 2026).

The announcement was met with tears, cheers, and celebration. Perhaps no moment captured the joy more vividly than when OCPS District 5 Board member and Jones High alumna Vicki-Elaine Felder took the mic, pointing to students proclaiming: “You get a scholarship, and you get a scholarship!” On social media, she shared her pride with fellow alumni, calling the news a “wonderful opportunity for my Alma Mater JHS🧡💚🐅🎉🥳🙌🏾.”

Building on Proven Promise Programs

The Lift Scholars model joins a national movement of place-based Promise scholarships. Since Michigan’s Kalamazoo Promise launched in 2005, more than 400 similar programs have emerged nationwide. These scholarships have shown powerful results: Bartik et al. (2021) found recipients were significantly more likely to enroll in and complete college compared to similar students without aid.

Closer to home, Osceola County’s Prosper program has enrolled over 10,000 students since its launch in 2022 and helped more than 1,100 earn associate degrees through Valencia (Mead, 2025). The initiative raised Osceola’s college-going rate from one of Florida’s lowest to among its highest, a compelling model for Lift Scholars’ potential (Valencia College, 2026).

Cost Is Still the Biggest Barrier

Research consistently affirms that financial strain is the top barrier to college enrollment. A Gallup–Lumina Foundation survey found that 85% of adults who never enrolled or who left college early cited tuition and fees as a major factor (Carrasco, 2024). Removing those costs measurably boosts participation.

Even modest scholarship programs have demonstrated impact. A multi-state study by Mayer et al. (2015) showed that performance-based aid increased both persistence and five-year graduation rates. More recently, Berlanga and Corti (2025) found that scholarship recipients earned higher GPAs and graduated at significantly greater rates than peers.

A Personal Lens: Support Must Follow Access

My doctoral research explored how financial support, when paired with meaningful engagement, drives student persistence. I interviewed first-generation online learners who described how virtual co-curricular experiences boosted their motivation, belonging, and academic follow-through (Henlon, 2025). Financial access opens the door, but relationships, visibility, and mentorship sustain the journey.

A Gift That Multiplies

For Jones High families, this is more than a scholarship. It’s a public affirmation that their children’s futures matter. It’s also a community investment with long-term dividends. As Dr. Vazquez noted, this program will empower students “to pursue their goals with confidence” (Valencia College, 2026).

When students are relieved of tuition burdens, they gain freedom to explore careers in healthcare, logistics, education, or advanced manufacturing. To dream, to plan, and to persist. And when communities like Orlando come together to send a bold message of hope, everyone benefits.

About the Author: Dr. Jessica Henlon holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Education. She is an Education Contributor for Florida National News. Dr. Henlon can be reached at Education@FloridaNationalNews.com or book.jessicahenlon@gmail.com.