Orlando

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 […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2017

Winter Park Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy is introducing two bills aimed at addressing international security concerns with North Korea and the Asian-Pacific theater. Her bills, which she discussed Wednesday in a committee hearing and again on the floor of the House of Representatives, would require the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic agencies to set up […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2017

Orlando Democratic State Sen. Victor Torres and his wife Carmen Torres were injured in a car crash Wednesday morning in Tallahassee but have been released from the hospital. The three-car crash – with the Torreses in the middle – occurred early Wednesday right in front of the Capitol Building, at the corner of Apalachee Parkway […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court denied the first attempt by Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala to win back first-degree murder cases that Gov. Rick Scott reassigned to another state attorney. In denying Ayala’s emergency, non-routine petition to overturn Scott’s executive orders reassigning the cases to Ocala’s State Attorney Brad King, the Supreme Court concluded that the […]

Scott PowersApril 25, 2017

Saying he’d had enough and isn’t taking it anymore, Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh announced he’s suing to find out who was behind political action committees that ran a smear campaign against him in last year’s election. Flanked by his lawyers at Morgan & Morgan, two Orlando political heavyweights, Frank Kruppenbacher and former Judge […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2017

A second Republican candidate, political newcomer, banker and veteran Sean A. Buchan of Winter Haven, has entered the race for Florida’s 9th Congressional District. Buchan, 31, a banker with Wells Fargo Bank in Winter Haven, filed to run late last week, joining last year’s GOP nominee Wayne Liebnitzky of St. Cloud in hoping to take down […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2017

The next big SunRail project, connecting the north-south line to Orlando International Airport, has settled on a route that would provide for transfer passengers only – with no parking lot – with a $250 million estimated pricetag. The Florida Department of Transportation still is a long ways from settling on how to extend service from […]

Scott PowersApril 21, 2017

Friends of the court are beginning to crowd into the Florida Supreme Court case pitting Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and Gov. Rick Scott, with families of homicide victims siding with Scott, and the ACLU and House Minority Leader Janet Cruz siding with Ayala on Friday. Several filings Friday are loading the case with friends. Also Friday, a group […]

Orlando

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

Stephanie Murphy introduces bills to address North Korea, Asia-Pacific security

Victor Torres, wife Carmen Torres, recovering after car crash

Supreme Court denies Aramis Ayala’s first writ to win back cases Rick Scott reassigned

OC Property Appraiser Rick Singh sues to get at mysterious PACs he says libeled him in campaign

Sean Buchan of Winter Haven enters CD 9 Republican field

SunRail airport route set with transfer station only, for $250 million

Families of homicide victims, ACLU, Janet Cruz join filers in Aramis Ayala case