5 things you need to know happening in Florida on Wednesday, August 15

TAMPA - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Wednesday, August 15.

(1) FAMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Florida A&M University will hold its first of two days of meetings on campus today beginning at 9 a.m. 

Alumni have been asked to attend and support the school as it seeks confirmation of its interim leader.  The school's provost, Dr. Larry Robinson, is expected to be confirmed as the university's interim president following sudden resignation of FAMU President James H. Ammons on July 16. 

The meeting takes place just days before students are set to return to campus for the new school year.  Scandal rocked the school last year when drum major Robert Champion died following a hazing incident on a band tour bus.  The famed "Marching 100" was shut down days after Champion's death and will remain shut down for the upcoming school year.

Other items on the board's agenda include the presidential search process and anti-hazing efforts.

(2) Deportation Deferrals

Young undocumented immigrants can start applying today for a two-year deferral from deportation.

The program grants undocumented students who were brought to the United States before the age of 16 two years of protection from deportation and allows them to apply for work permits.

The deferral comes with several requirements: the students must earn a U.S. high school diploma or a GED, or serve in the military, and $465 in fees applies to the program.

The policy is an adaptation of the DREAM Act, which was killed in Congress in 2010.

For more information, visit http://www.nilc.org/FAQdeferredactionyouth.html.

(3) Local Amputee to Compete in Paralympic Games

Tampa resident and 28-year-old below-knee amputee David Prince will soon travel to London where he will compete in the Paralympic Games as a member of the 2012 U.S. National Paralympic Track and Field Team.

In 2002, after dropping out of high school, Prince was in a life-changing motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and the loss of his right leg below the knee. Soon after the accident, Prince changed his reckless lifestyle and focused his energy on triathlons.

To help him increase his speed and compete at a higher level, Prince was fit with a custom-designed prosthetic leg made specifically for running by Hanger Clinic prosthetist Don Smith.

Prince will have his final prosthetic follow-up appointment at the Hanger Clinic in Brandon at 10 a.m. before he departs for London.

In addition to chasing his Paralympic dream, David  is involved in personal training and motivational speaking.

More information on David is available at www.facebook.com/coachdavidprince and www.runwithhim.com.

(4) Youth Ranch Makeover

Pasco County firefighters will give the HOPE Youth Ranch in Hudson an extreme makeover beginning at 9 a.m. today in memory of Rachel Bodi Levine, a young surgical technician who had a passion for kids and horses.

Levine died on July 21, and to honor her life, Pasco firefighters and her friends and relatives are coming together to give Rachel Bodi Lavine her desire to help the HOPE Youth Ranch, with everything from construction, to landscaping, and painting.

HOPE's new barn will be named "Rachel's Barn" after her.  The makeover will take place over the next two days at the Ranch, which is at 17933 East Road in Hudson.

For more information, you can visit http://hopeyouthranch.org/Rachel_Bodi_Lavine.html.

(5) Meatloaf in concert

Iconic singer Meat Loaf performs in concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall tonight at 7:30 p.m.

It's part of the singer's "Mad, Mad, World" tour for his newly released album Hell In A Handbasket.

This will be Meat Loaf's first performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall since his 2008 appearance.  

Meat Loaf's 1977 breakout album Bat Out Of Hell helped define the arena rock genre and remains one of the world's five top-selling albums of all-time, with more than 43 million copies sold to date.  His new album features some unlikely contributors such as rappers Chuck D and Lil Jon, country star Trace Adkins, and Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath.

For more information on tonight's 7:30 p.m. concert, call Ruth Eckerd Hall at (727) 791-7400.

To learn more about Meat Loaf, visit his official website at meatloaf.net.