Orlando

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

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You get a former prosecutor, a retired judge and a defense attorney together to talk about legal issues underpinning Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue death penalty prosecutions, and you might expect lively disagreement. But a brawl? A debate in Orlando Wednesday between former 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jeff Ashton and […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Repeatedly saying that his concern is with her blanket statement to decline death penalty prosecutions, state Rep. Bob Cortes renewed his call Tuesday for the resignation or suspension of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala. Cortes is emerging as one of Ayala’s sternest critics after the state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit announced last month […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

In Jacksonville Tuesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott discussed his ongoing war with State Attorney Aramis Ayala. In March, Scott took the Markeith Loyd murder case away from Ayala, due to her reluctance to pursue the death penalty for the cop killer. In April, Scott scored another pre-emptive strike: reassigning 21 first-degree murder cases that “represent a horrific loss of life.” […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Democratic state Senator Randolph Bracy has published a national defense of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala Tuesday with an op-ed column in the New York Times contending Gov. Rick Scott has overreached in removing cases from her. In the column headlined “Florida’s Vengeful Governor,” Bracy argues that Scott’s reassignment of 22 death penalty cases from […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has stripped 21 more first-degree murder cases from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and reassigned them to Ocala’s State Attorney Brad King to prosecute. In 21 new executive orders decrying Ayala’s announced policy to not pursue the death penalty in any cases in her 9th Judicial Circuit, Scott declared his “grave concerns […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

The Florida Legislature may be negotiating how to cut funding to the office of 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala — and ironically the less-controversial potential cut to her budget is the bigger of two now moving through committees. That sorting may begin this week when the House and Senate appropriations committees begin their […]

Scott PowersMarch 31, 2017

The company planning the Brightline passenger train service has won a key State Administrative Court decision in a case that was holding up an environmental permit needed for the West Palm Beach to Orlando leg of the train line. On Thursday Administrative Judge Bram Canter sided with Brightline and the St. Johns River Water Management […]

Drew WilsonMarch 31, 2017

House District 28 Republican candidate David Smith picked up an early endorsement in the 2018 cycle from Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari, his campaign announced Thursday. “Colonel David Smith is a proven leader,” said Dallari. “He is a committed conservative with a passion for service to his country and community. David’s storied military background, business […]

Scott PowersMarch 31, 2017

Business consultant Debra Kaplan of Eustis has filed as a Democrat to run for Florida’s House District 31, to take on Republican state Rep. Jennifer Sullivan. Kaplan, 64, is a former cable-TV Emmy-award-winning political reporter in Connecticut, and Apopka, and former public relations agent, who said she strove to remain politically independent until recently, and […]

Scott PowersMarch 30, 2017

In an effort that could greatly reduce the cost and turnaround time of launching rockets, SpaceX successfully launched a used rocket Thursday evening from Kennedy Space Center. The Falcon 9 rocket – with a previously launched, recovered, and refurbished first stage – blasted off from Launch Complex 39A at 6:27 p.m., and successfully lifted the […]

Orlando

Legal debate over Aramis Ayala’s decision turns into hockey game

Bob Cortes, others renew call for Aramis Ayala’s removal

Rick Scott says decisions related to Aramis Ayala ‘nothing to do with politics’

Randolph Bracy comes to Aramis Ayala’s defense with NY Times op-ed

Rick Scott strips 21 more murder cases from Aramis Ayala’s jurisdiction

Legislature to consider cuts to Aramis Ayala’s office — deeper or angrier

Brightline railroad wins key court decision for environmental permit

David Smith earns endorsement from Bob Dallari in HD 28 race

Democrat Debra Kaplan files to run for House District 31

SpaceX launches used rocket from Kennedy Space Center