Orlando

Scott PowersDecember 6, 2018

Winter Park’s U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy has received another leadership role in Congress, elected chair of “Future Forum,” a caucus of young Democrats in Congress seeking to pursue positions of interest to millennials. Murphy’s office announced Thursday that she was unanimously elected to head the 50-member group of young Democrats in Congress, just over a […]

Scott PowersDecember 5, 2018

Republican state Rep. David Smith will be heading to Tallahassee with a broad platform of ambitions covering education, the economy and the environment, but the retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel gets particularly excited about prospects he sees to improve the lot for Florida’s military veterans. Smith was elected Nov. 6 to succeed Jason Brodeur in […]

Scott PowersDecember 5, 2018

The Orange County Republican Party and Democratic Party are both heading for what may be tumultuous executive committee elections this week that have Republican Chair Charles Hart and Democratic Chair Wes Hodge each playing defense but likely heading for re-elections. Hart, who took over the party in June after the retirement of longtime Chair Lew Oliver, […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

Progressive organizer Kristellys Estanga is becoming the new legislative aide to Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando, as Ida Eskaman leaves to go into lobbying for progressive groups. Estanga, who worked on Andrew Gillum‘s Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign and Florida’s voting rights restoration amendment campaign, most recently served as senior advisor to Smith’s successful […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

When it came to talking about how far he’d come, the son of a taxi driver from the hardscrabble Orlando neighborhood Washington Shores, to Orange County’s most powerful office, newly sworn-in Mayor Jerry Demings finally cracked for a moment Tuesday. Demings, who just two hours earlier ended a 10-year tenure as Orange County sheriff and […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2018

Orange County Mayor-elect and still-Sheriff Jerry Demings has made no announcements yet on any of the imminent changes the county’s government will undergo on matters ranging from his chief of staff to departmental reorganizations when he is sworn into office Tuesday. But that doesn’t mean he’s not looking ahead. He says he is looking far […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2018

The Seminole County Republican Party, fresh off an election that saw voters turning more than ever toward Democratic candidates, has dropped two former state representatives from the executive committee, Bob Cortes and Jason Brodeur. Seminole Republican Executive Committee Chair Kathryn Townsend said Friday that both were dropped from the committee because they lost their standing […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2018

Democratic state Sen. Linda Stewart has refiled a bill to create a license plate honoring Orlando’s united spirit and efforts for a memorial after the 2016 Pulse massacre, and said she’s also seeking a $1 million state grant to help support the planned Pulse memorial in Orlando. Stewart, whose Orlando district includes Pulse nightclub, the […]

Scott PowersNovember 29, 2018

Two former officials in the office of Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh have filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit against him alleging that he manipulated finances, reports and audits to cover up unethical and illegal activities, led a hostile work environment that included sexual and racial harassment, and then terminated them in retaliation for earlier, […]

Scott PowersNovember 29, 2018

Brightline’s proposal to build and operate a higher-speed passenger train from Tampa to Orlando includes provisions for three possible stops in the Orlando area, including one that could serve Walt Disney World and one that could resolve Orlando’s frustrated desire to connect SunRail to the airport. The new Brightline proposal, submitted Nov. 7 and accepted Wednesday […]

Orlando
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Stephanie Murphy to chair Democrats’ Future Forum in Congress

David Smith riding new wave of veteran-advocates in the Florida Legislature

Orange County Republican, Democratic leaders dig in for re-election challenges

Kristellys Estanga succeeding Ida Eskamani as Carlos Smith’s aide

Jerry Demings, new commissioners take control in Orange County

Jerry Demings’ eyes future to govern in Orange County

Republican battles in Seminole County: Bob Cortes, Jason Brodeur ousted from executive committee

Linda Stewart refiles Orlando United plate bill, seeks money for Pulse memorial

Whistleblower lawsuit charges corruption, hostile workplace by Orange County Property Appraiser

Brightline Tampa-Orlando proposal discusses Disney, SunRail stops