Orlando

Florence SnyderDecember 26, 2016

Now that Pitbull has opened Pandora’s Box, all sorts of corporate welfare stories are flying around where Richard Corcoran can see them. Last week, the University of Central Florida (UCF) put itself on the radar with its unprecedented decision to turn a private, not-for-profit outfit called Limbitless into a university direct-support organization (DSO). Limbitless is by […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2016

Upset that the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission voted 3-2 this year to increase levels of water contaminants when it was short two members, state Sen. Linda Stewart filed a bill seeking to avoid such short-handed votes in the future. Stewart, a Democrat from Orlando, filed a bill Wednesday that would require the governor to fill […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2016

U.S. Congresswoman-elect Stephanie Murphy announced Tuesday she intends to join the two moderate-Democrat organizations in Congress, the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition. Murphy said the coalitions – the New Democrats promote small business, the Blue Dogs, fiscal conservatism – “align with her goals of strengthening Central Florida’s growing entrepreneurial and small business […]

Associated PressDecember 20, 2016

Families of three patrons killed in the Orlando nightclub massacre sued Facebook, Google and Twitter, claiming the gunman who killed their loved ones was radicalized through propaganda found through social media. The families of Tevin Crosby, Juan Ramon Guerrero Jr. and Javier Jorge-Reyes filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court in Michigan. They are seeking […]

Staff ReportsDecember 20, 2016

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A former Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority board member now is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review his 2014 state bribery conviction. Scott Batterson, 40, filed his “petition for a writ of certiorari” on Dec. 12, court dockets show. The request comes after a three-judge panel of the state’s 5th District Court of Appeal split in […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 16, 2016

Florida Governor Rick Scott will appear at Friday night’s “thank you” rally in Orlando for President-elect Donald Trump. The governor’s schedule has him slotted for a 6:00 p.m. appearance at the Trump event, to be held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds’ Orlando Amphitheater. Trump’s event officially starts at 7:00 p.m., however. Friday night’s gubernatorial appearance at the Trump […]

Scott PowersDecember 13, 2016

Florida’s Space Coast saw solid increases in tourism and hospitality employment fostered by rising hotel and cruise ship occupancies but tempered slightly by a drop in gambling boat passengers in the past year. A new “Space Coast Tourism Report” from the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast projects that 2016 will break the tourism […]

Scott PowersDecember 12, 2016

While no one from Central Florida will be chairing full committees in the Florida House of Representatives this spring, several local representatives will be chairing key subcommittees, Health Care Appropriations, Tourism & Gaming Control, and Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs. The committee appointments came down Monday from House Speaker Richard Corcoran. State Rep. Mike La […]

Scott PowersDecember 12, 2016

The sun never quite rose in Orlando Monday morning as fog and thick overcast lay a mourning atmosphere for the city’s six-month remembrance of the day it can never forget. Southeast of downtown Orlando, at the city’s Greenwood Cemetery, the Earthly remains of Cory James Connell, Anthony L. Laureano Disla, Leroy “Indara” Valentin Fernandez, and […]

Mike SchneiderDecember 9, 2016

Six months after her brother and his longtime partner were killed in Orlando’s gay nightclub massacre, Jessica Silva is re-opening the couple’s beauty salon. Half a dozen black salon chairs are in place. One of them faces a large photo of the brother Juan Rivera Velazquez and his partner Luis Daniel Conde, who died June 12 in the worst mass shooting […]

Orlando

Hold the door on the DSOs

Linda Stewart files bill to stop short-handed contamination votes

Stephanie Murphy joining Blue Dogs, New Democrats

3 Pulse families sue social media, alleging aid for IS

Scott Batterson appeals bribery conviction to Supreme Court

Rick Scott to appear at Donald Trump rally in Orlando

Space Coast reports rising tourist trade

Central Florida reps pleased with tourism, health care subcommittee chairs

Six months later Orlando contemplates unity, loss from Pulse

Months after brother died at Pulse, sister reopens his salon