Orlando

Associated PressMarch 18, 2017

The Florida prosecutor who thrust herself into the forefront of the anti-death penalty movement is a political novice who was elected just seven months ago. Aramis Ayala, a Democrat and former public defender and assistant state attorney, surprised many of her own supporters when she announced this week that her office would no longer seek […]

Terry RoenMarch 17, 2017

The TRUST Orlando Coalition Friday unveiled statewide legislation designed to protect the safety and constitutional rights of Florida’s immigrant communities. Carmen Torres, wife of Senator Victor Torres, and Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith, spoke on the steps of Orlando City Hall urging passage of House Bill 1407 and Senate Bill 1674. “Florida is home to 925,000 […]

Scott PowersMarch 17, 2017

Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue death penalty cases drew blistering criticism from one of Florida’s police union heads who called her a coward and a traitor. John Rivera, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, blasted Ayala in a press release saying that her decision outraged law enforcement officers. He called […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has used an executive order to pull the prosecution of alleged cop-killer Markeith Loyd away from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and to reassign it to State Attorney Brad King in Lake County. Scott’s unprecedented move comes hours after the unprecedented announcement by Ayala that she would not prosecute death penalty charges, […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2017

Former State Attorney Jeff Ashton – former boss and then election opponent to current State Attorney Aramis Ayala – said Thursday he believes she might not have legal ground to take the unprecedented “no death penalty” position she announced earlier Thursday. Ashton also said he believes Ayala may have adopted the position to please her political benefactor, […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2017

Saying she has concluded that Florida’s capital punishment laws are unjust for all, State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced Thursday she would not pursue the death penalty in any cases in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit, which includes Orlando. The policy begins with perhaps the most obvious and highest-profile potential death penalty case that has come along […]

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2017

Orlando’s three Democratic members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy, have sent the White House a wish list of transportation projects that include I-4, Sunrail and the Orlando International Airport. The trio sent the list Wednesday urging the administration of President Donald Trump to push the Central Florida package because […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2017

A social media campaign to draft Anna Eskamani to run for Orange County mayor is catching steam on Facebook and has convinced at least one major potential mayoral candidate to declare he won’t run because he’d rather back her – Bob Poe. Eskamani, a 26-year-old Orlando Democrat who is director of external affairs for Planned […]

Bill RuftyMarch 13, 2017

The current bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act will never pass Congress in its current form, freshman U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, an Orlando Democrat, told members of the Polk County Tiger Bay Club during a Monday lunch in Bartow. “I believe ‘Trumpcare’ will be difficult in the House now that the joy […]

Scott PowersMarch 13, 2017

The U.S. Department of Justice is awarding an $8.5 million grant to help the victims of last June’s massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub. The grant, to be awarded Tuesday by the Department of Justice to the Florida Office of Attorney General Pam Bondi, was announced Monday by the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of […]

Orlando

Aramis Ayala anti-death penalty stand surprises many

Orlando Trust Coalition urges legislators pass protections for immigrants

Police union head John Rivera calls Aramis Ayala coward

Rick Scott yanks cop-killer case from Aramis Ayala, reassigns it

Jeff Ashton: Aramis Ayala may not have legal grounds to ban death penalty

Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala vows no death penalties

Val Demings, Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy submit transportation list

Draft-Anna Eskamani for Orange Mayor movement draws Bob Poe backing

Darren Soto: Current GOP health care bill won’t pass

Federal grant to provide $8.5 million to help Pulse victims