Orlando

Scott PowersMay 4, 2017

In a friend of the court brief bound to raise state attorneys’ eyebrows throughout Florida, the Florida House is arguing that prosecutors have no discretion with regard to capital punishment, that the state Legislature’s intent was to rest all discretion with juries. The House filed the brief in the Florida Supreme Court case of Orlando’s State Attorney […]

Jim RosicaMay 4, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a 90-day unpaid suspension and public reprimand for an Orlando-area judge who “circulated a deceptive, misleading advertisement.” The court’s hearing panel also suggested paranoia on the part of Circuit Judge Kimberly Shepard, who believed “sinister forces (were) at work” trying to defeat her, they said. Shepard previously was a Democratic state […]

Scott PowersMay 4, 2017

The owner of the Pulse nightclub announced Thursday her newly formed foundation will seek to develop a national-caliber memorial and museum campus on the site of America’s worst recorded mass shooting. Barbara Poma pushed through the pain of last year’s tragedy to declare her new foundation’s motto, “We will not let hate win,” and announced […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2017

The $1 trillion stop-gap budget deal congressional leaders have struck to keep the federal government open through September includes $295.9 million to shore up Medicaid in Puerto Rico, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto‘s office said Monday afternoon. That’s a little less than halfway between the $500 million congressional Democrats such as Soto were pushing for, and […]

Drew WilsonMay 1, 2017

Republican Tim Tumulty announced Monday he would run again for House District 51, where he unsuccessfully challenged Republican Rep. Tom Goodson last year. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had over the years to develop a deep understanding of our community,” said Tumulty. “As the former Mayor of Cocoa Beach, I saw firsthand how the […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2017

As the future race for Orange County mayor continues to be a mystery involving potential major candidates still thinking about it but none yet committing, one name that keeps coming up raises questions of precedent and interpretation of curious language differences in the county charter. Former Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, who served two-plus terms […]

Scott PowersApril 28, 2017

Republican state Rep. Rene Plasencia and his family are starring in a new promotional internet video released Friday by the vacation rental home marketing giant Airbnb. The minute, 41-second video shows interviews with Plasencia, his wife Marucci Guzman, and her daughter [his stepdaughter,] in scenes at vacation homes they have rented through Airbnb in Georgia […]

Scott PowersApril 27, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott together with Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a 60-page response to Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s charge that he overstepped his authority in reassigning her cases, contending Ayala has asked him to reassign other cases, and that her argument of “prosecutorial discretion” is actually one seeking no discretion. Scott’s response, filed late […]

Scott PowersApril 27, 2017

President Donald Trump has thrown Puerto Rico into his Twitter cannon, bringing angry responses from Puerto Rican leaders and activists in Florida, including from Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, who charged Trump was declaring war against Puerto Rico. The president sent out two tweets, one Wednesday night and one Thursday morning, tying Puerto Rico relief to Democrats’ budget demands […]

Scott PowersApril 27, 2017

Sometimes fate plays that unexpected card that makes all the difference, such as Wednesday when the Florida House of Representatives narrowly approved the controversial “whiskey & Wheaties” bill, allowing whiskey to be sold in grocery stores. Earlier that day a 30-year-old Monticello man driving in Tallahassee was distracted by a device, didn’t see the red […]

Orlando
Images via Florida Politics.

House argues prosecutors have no discretion on death penalties

Orlando-area judge ordered suspended for campaign ad

Barbara Poma, foundation, to develop national memorial, museum at Pulse site

Federal budget bill deal offers $296M for Puerto Rico Medicaid

Third Republican files for House District 51

As Orange County mayor’s race awaits major candidates, can Rich Crotty run again?

Rene Plasencia stars in Airbnb promotional video

Rick Scott, Pam Bondi answer Aramis Ayala’s suit: she’s not practicing discretion

Donald Trump tweets on Puerto Rico infuriate Puerto Ricans, raise budget deal questions

Fate takes a hand in whiskey & Wheaties bill as Amy Mercado cares for her parents