Orlando

Staff ReportsDecember 24, 2017

Guests at the three monorail resorts at Walt Disney World are seeing tighter security during their hotel stay, just in time for the holiday season. If you’re staying at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian or Contemporary resorts, you will no longer have a “Do Not Disturb” sign to put on your hotel door. Walt Disney World […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is reassigning 10 border patrol agents away from the Orlando International Airport to the Mexican border for the next six months, a move that led airport officials and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy to protest Friday that the already overwhelmed airport security will be seriously compromised. CPB informed Orlando airport […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Their work in Puerto Rico gone, their home still without power, their family now living in a motel in Orlando, and their future still uncertain, Emanuel Ortiz and Crystal Rodriguez now hear their bank threatening to foreclose on their home in Bayamón because they haven’t been able to make a house payment since Hurricane Maria wiped […]

Scott PowersDecember 20, 2017

Democrat Anna Eskamani qualified for the 2018 ballot in Florida’s House District 47 race, collecting more than 1,400 petition signatures. Eskamani, an Orlando-based executive for Planned Parenthood, faces Winter Park businessman Stockton Reeves, a Republican, in the 2018 race. They seek to succeed state Rep. Mike Miller, who is running for Congress. She needed 1,200 signatures […]

Scott PowersDecember 19, 2017

With the scheduled end coming for a federal emergency housing voucher program being used by Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, state Sen. Victor Torres and several other Democratic lawmakers are urging Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello to ask the federal government for an extension. The program provides temporary housing vouchers for people who’ve fled […]

Scott PowersDecember 18, 2017

State Rep. Amy Mercado has thrown her support behind Democratic businessman Lee Mangold in the House District 28 race, Mangold’s campaign announced Monday. Mercado, who represents District 48 in Orange County, is the second sitting Democratic state representative to back Mangold in the Seminole County district contest, following John Cortes, who weighed in a couple […]

Scott PowersDecember 18, 2017

A bill shepherded through the House of Representatives last week by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto to rename a Kissimmee post office for the Puerto Rican “Borinqueneers” U.S. Army regiment now is getting pushed in the U.S. Senate by Florida’s U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. The bill, House Resolution 4042, intends to rename the […]

Scott PowersDecember 14, 2017

After years of soft scheduling that has kept pushing its debut out into the future, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful rocket, is being prepared for its maiden launch from Kennedy Space Center in January. The Falcon Heavy, essentially three Falcon 9 rocket boosters together, is designed to be the most powerful rocket the […]

Scott PowersDecember 14, 2017

Five Central Florida candidates for the Florida House each raised more than $10,000 for their campaigns in November, including incumbent Republican state Reps. Bobby Olszewski, Rene Plasencia, David Santiago, and Bob Cortes along with first-time Democratic candidate Anna Eskamani. Olszewski of Winter Garden, who took his seat after winning a special election in October, reported raising […]

Scott PowersDecember 14, 2017

Republican state Rep. Jason Brodeur continues to rake in campaign finance money for his 2020 bid for the Florida Senate, raising $19,229 for his official campaign and another $35,000 for his independent political committee in November. Brodeur, of Sanford, leads all Central Florida state Senate candidates even though the election he’s shooting for is three […]

Orlando

Disney hotels add new security measures

Orlando airport officials: announced loss of border agents ‘will seriously diminish security’

Groups calling attention to foreclosures following Puerto Ricans fleeing to Florida

Anna Eskamani qualifies for HD 47 ballot by petition

With program set to end, Victor Torres, other Democrats seek extension to Puerto Rican housing

Amy Mercado endorses Lee Mangold in HD 28 race

Bill to rename Kissimmee post office for Borinqueneers gets Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson push

SpaceX finally sets maiden launch of Falcon Heavy: January

Bobby Olszewski, Rene Plasencia, Anna Eskamani, lead Central Florida House campaign gains

Jason Brodeur continues to rake in cash for 2020 Senate bid