Orlando

Scott PowersNovember 13, 2017

Note: a previous version of this story inaccurately reported the campaign finances of Lee Mangold, Democrat running in House District 29 in northern Seminole County. Republican State Rep. David Santiago led all Central Florida candidates for the Florida House of Representatives in October fundraising drawing in $21,000 for his re-election bid in Florida’s House District […]

Scott PowersNovember 13, 2017

Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke reported raising $9,301 in his first month of campaigning for the Orange County mayor’s job in 2017. That starts him off well behind the two leading candidates in the money chase so far, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and Rob Panepinto, president of Orlando Inc., the Orlando-area chamber of commerce. […]

Scott PowersNovember 10, 2017

State Sen. Dorothy Hukill reported raising more than $30,000 in October toward her 2018 re-election bid in Florida Senate District 14 in the northern Space Coast. Hukill’s haul was her biggest one-month total yet, and brings her contributions to $84,700. After expenses the Port Orange Republican had $57,400 in the bank at the end of […]

Scott PowersNovember 9, 2017

The Central Florida Expressway Authority has approved a deal with a consortium of northern toll agencies that will allow their customers to drive Central Florida toll roads, paying tolls with their hometown transponders. The deal, approved Thursday by the CFX Board of Trustees, is with the E-ZPass group representing 37 toll-road and toll-bridge agencies in 16 […]

Scott PowersNovember 9, 2017

The results of Tuesday night’s elections for the Longwood City Commission – with three new commissioners elected to office – has spurred state Reps. Scott Plakon and Bob Cortes to file a bill that would strip cities from having any approval of cardrooms at pari-mutuel facilities such as dog tracks. Longwood is home to the […]

Scott PowersNovember 9, 2017

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and his wife Karen Dyer are divorcing after a a 29-year marriage, Dyer’s office confirmed Thursday morning. News of the breakup broke through the Orlando Sentinel, which reported that the Dyers are seeking an amicable split after separating for some time. In a statement issued by his office, Buddy Dyer stated, […]

Scott PowersNovember 8, 2017

The Florida Hospital Association is expressing strong support and “deep appreciation” for a bill by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy that would make Puerto Rican evacuees almost immediately eligible for full Medicaid coverage by the federal government if they have to evacuate to Florida. The hospital association praised Murphy’s “Disaster Displacement Act of 2017,” House Resolution […]

Scott PowersNovember 8, 2017

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The influx of Puerto Rican refugees to Florida may reach the hundreds of thousands, many might stay, and the need to help them recover from Hurricane Maria and assimilate could take years as the commonwealth slowly recovers from the devastation, a group of Central Florida Puerto Rican leaders told Adam Putnam Wednesday. And the Republican gubernatorial […]

Scott PowersNovember 8, 2017

The hunting of black bear mothers of cubs under 100 pounds would be banned in Florida under a bill filed Wednesday by state Rep. Bobby Olszewski. House Bill 559 also makes harvesting of saw palmetto berries, the primary food of Florida black bears, to be declared petit theft of the second degree. Olszewski, a Winter […]

Scott PowersNovember 7, 2017

Orlando is virtually a boomtown city and voters are seeing it that way, returning all three incumbent city commissioners, Jim Gray Robert Stuart and Regina Hill to new terms on the City Council. With all but provisional ballots counted, Gray easily won a second term, strongly defeating challenger Tom Keen in District 1, 53 percent to 40 percent. In […]

Orlando

David Santiago leads all Central Florida House candidates in October fundraising

Pete Clarke raises $9,300 in Orange County mayor’s race, while Jerry Demings, Rob Panepinto now top $240K

Dorothy Hukill raises $30K, Dennis Baxley $33K, in Florida Senate re-election bids

Expressway Authority deal allows E-ZPass use from Northeast on Central Florida toll roads

Longwood city election spurs bill to strip cities of control of cardroom gambling

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, wife Karen Dyer divorcing

Florida Hospital Association lauds Stephanie Murphy’s ‘Disaster Displacement Act’

Puerto Rico leaders say evacuees’ needs may last years; Adam Putnam pledges help

Bobby Olszewski files bill to restrict hunting of mother black bears

Jim Gray, Robert Stuart, Regina Hill all re-elected to Orlando City Council