Orlando

Scott PowersFebruary 18, 2017

SpaceX scrubbed its debut launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A Saturday morning because of uncertainty regarding readings from the second-stage thruster control system. The company was saying little else Saturday. The issue was noted about an hour before launch but the countdown was allowed to proceed to […]

Scott PowersFebruary 17, 2017

As SpaceX prepares to launch its first rocket from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A Saturday – marking the first launch from Kennedy in more than five years – company president Gwynne Shotwell said she was more nervous than ever. “I never get nervous speaking in front of a crowd and my heart is […]

Scott PowersFebruary 17, 2017

Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto declared Friday that he’s willing to work with Republicans on an appropriate replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act but completely dismissed the GOP’s current proposal as no where near acceptable. Soto, representing Florida’s Orlando-Kissimmee based 9th Congressional District, is participating in the House of Representatives Democrats’ “National Day of Action” […]

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2017

The 115th Congress and new administration of Presidential Donald Trump got its first public discussion Thursday of what should be the priorities for NASA, and Congressional leaders and expert witnesses all agreed NASA needs bold specific goals and funding stability to support them. That would mean Mars based on NASA’s current plans, but it also should […]

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2017

U.S. Rep. Val Demings of Orlando is joining the call for an independent investigation of ties between Russia and former White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and President Donald Trump. Demings, a Democrat, sits on the House Oversight Committee – whose Republican chairman U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz has dismissed prospects of such an investigation […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

NOAA needs back-up hurricane hunter planes, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto insist. The pair of Democratic Florida lawmakers – Soto is from Orlando – have introduced bills requiring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to buy and maintain back-up planes. “Right now we only have one set, so if there is […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2017

Walt Disney World employee unions, community members, faith leaders, immigrant organizations, students and others are planning a protest outside the gates of the theme park resort Tuesday afternoon seeking to urge Walt Disney Co. Chairman Bob Iger to step down from President Donald Trump‘s Strategic and Policy Forum. he organizers, who include Disney’s UNITE HERE union […]

William PatrickFebruary 14, 2017

On the same day an Uber- and Lyft-friendly ridesharing bill passed its first committee stop in the Florida House, state Sen. Jeff Brandes was presenting his vision of where he believes the transportation industry is headed. “We’re in a generational shift from the horse and buggy to the Model-T,” Brandes said Wednesday evening at the […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2017

Winter Park businessman Chris King is mulling a 2018 Democratic run for governor in Florida, sources close to him said Monday. While not highly active in Central Florida political circles, King, president and CEO of Elevation Financial Group in Winter Park has been exploring prospects, with national consultants based in Washington D.C., of an outsider’s run with […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 13, 2017

A split appellate court panel has thrown out the molestation convictions of an Orlando-area man, saying he was the victim of “egregious prosecutorial misconduct.” In a 2-1 opinion, a three-judge panel of the 5th District Court of Appeal last week vacated Marco Antonio Rodriguez’s convictions and remanded the case back to the Orange County Circuit […]

Orlando

SpaceX scrubs Saturday launch, retry Sunday

‘Heart pounding’ as SpaceX prepares to reopen Kennedy launch pad

Darren Soto willing to work with GOP on health care, but not on this plan

NASA continuity, moon landings, urged in congressional hearing

Val Demings calls for investigation into Michael Flynn’s, Donald Trump’s ties to Russia

Darren Soto, Bill Nelson want NOAA to double up on hurricane planes

Unions, others urging Disney Chair Bob Iger to quit Donald Trump

Ridesharing bills could pave the way for transformational changes

Winter Park businessman Chris King mulling gubernatorial run

Orange County molestation convictions overturned after prosecutorial misconduct