Orlando

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2017

As state Rep. Amy Mercado declares, Florida’s now-annual black bear hunt has become a “slaughter.” Mercado and fellow Orlando Democratic state Sen. Linda Stewart laid out bills Wednesday to ban the hunts for 10 years, as well as steps to keep bears happy enough in the forests and stop raiding neighborhoods. “The bears, we’ve encroached […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2017

If SpaceX founder and billionaire Elon Musk is preparing to send civilian space-tourist astronauts around the moon by the end of 2018, how about having a place they can stop while they’re there? Take pictures? Buy souvenirs? Relax with some Tang? Another New Space billionaire entrepreneur is floating that proposition, or something like it, Wednesday. By […]

Associated PressMarch 1, 2017

A California judge will decide Wednesday whether to free the widow of the gunman who killed dozens of people at a Florida nightclub or keep her behind bars until she faces trial on charges of aiding his attack. Noor Salman, 31, also has been charged with lying to investigators after the shooting at Pulse nightclub […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2017

A gun laws debate featuring staunch 2nd Amendment Republican state Rep. Scott Plakon and irrepressible “common-sense reforms” Democrat state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith boiled down Tuesday night between a demand that fundamental rights should not be abridged without compelling reasons, and expressions of perceived compelling reasons. Plakon, a Longwood Republican who sponsored House Bill 6005, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 28, 2017

Republican businessman David Smith announced Tuesday he has filed to run for Florida’s House District 28 in 2018, seeking the seat that will be vacated by the term limit of state Rep. Jason Brodeur. Smith, 56, of Winter Springs, is a retired Marine Corps colonel and former director of the Marines simulation and modeling center in the University […]

Scott PowersFebruary 28, 2017

With Florida’s 2011 law forbidding doctors from talking to patients about guns struck down in federal appeals court, state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and state Sen. Gary Farmer are seeking to repeal it. The law, introduced in 2011 by Republican state Rep. Jason Brodeur of Sanford as the “Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act” has been derided […]

Scott PowersFebruary 27, 2017

SpaceX announced Monday the company has plans to send two private citizen astronauts on a trip around the moon in late 2018. SpaceX still is trying to get its program together to fly NASA astronauts to the International Space Station in a multi-billion contract with the nation’s space agency. And the company said in a […]

Scott PowersFebruary 27, 2017

State Reps. Scott Plakon and Carlos Guillermo Smith – opposite sides on most gun rights debate in Tallahassee – will headline a debate panel being sponsored Tuesday by the Young Democrats of Orange County. Plakon, a Republican from Longwood who has sponsored a guns on campus bill and supported open carry bills; and Smith, the […]

Scott PowersFebruary 27, 2017

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine believes Florida’s Space Coast is the state’s unique opportunity to capture 21st Century technology. He wants to see it become the Sunshine State’s Silicon Valley. Levine, a potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate, sees his vision as not unlike that already pursued by officials at Space Florida and the Economic Development Commission […]

Larry GriffinFebruary 27, 2017

Six months ago, 18-year-old Joseph Tello was homeless and living without much thought or hope for his future. But after finally finding a friend willing to provide him a stable residence and being referred to Aloma Charter High School, his hope is being restored and he is getting back on track to earning a high school diploma […]

Orlando

Linda Stewart, Amy Mercado introduce bills to protect bears, their food and habitat

Robert Bigelow tweets he wants his space stations in lunar orbit

Judge to weigh freeing Orlando shooter’s widow before trial

Young Dems’ guns debate pits ‘fundamental rights’ versus ‘compelling reasons’

David Smith files to run in House District 28

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Gary Farmer seek to repeal ‘Docs vs. Glocks’

SpaceX announces it will fly private astronauts around the moon soon

Scott Plakon, Carlos Smith to duel in Young Dems’ guns panel

Philip Levine: Space Coast should be Florida’s Silicon Valley

After life on Orlando streets, Aloma Charter High gives teen renewed focus