Orlando

Scott PowersNovember 15, 2016

Long before young Trayvon Martin‘s tragic death sent destabilizing shockwaves from Central Florida throughout America, long before Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter turned into a standoff, and certainly long before the divisive election campaigns of 2016, Democrat Val Demings was calling for unity in Orlando and in America. Now, thanks to her resounding victory last Tuesday, […]

Terry RoenNovember 15, 2016

Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit government watchdog, has urged state leaders to hold Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute accountable for the $155 million in tax incentives they received to move to Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Development (DEO) asked Sanford Burnham last month to return half, or $77 million in taxpayer money, if it […]

Larry GriffinNovember 14, 2016

The City of Orlando’s plans to purchase the Pulse nightclub and turn it into a memorial were originally scheduled for Monday’s City Council meeting, but have now been delayed until the Dec. 5 meeting. The reason given by Mayor Buddy Dyer is that the city wants more time to formulate a plan moving forward to […]

Terry RoenNovember 14, 2016

Guest spending at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts helped boost fourth quarter earnings for the Walt Disney Company by 6 percent to a record $55.6 billion. Higher average ticket prices and room rates, along with increased food and beverage spending caused Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ revenue to increase 5 percent to a record $17 […]

Larry GriffinNovember 12, 2016

A small group of people met up at the edge of Lake Eola bordering Rosalind Avenue, all carrying signs and ready to protest Donald Trump‘s presidency Friday afternoon — though, his name was not mentioned at all by many protesters on purpose, so as not to give him credit for their passion. They were few in […]

Scott PowersNovember 10, 2016

Outside groups spent $8 million in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, mostly to help Democrat Stephanie Murphy oust Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica. Updated campaign finance documents filed with the Federal Election Commission this week show outside groups such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democrats’ House Majority PAC combined to spend nearly $6.3 […]

Associated PressNovember 9, 2016

Metro Orlando’s future U.S. congressional delegation just became a whole lot more diverse. Voters in central Florida on election night picked an African-American woman, a Puerto Rican man and an Asian-American woman to represent them in Washington. The increased diversity was helped by the redrawing of some congressional districts that made the central Florida districts […]

Terry RoenNovember 8, 2016

Incumbent Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes won another two years in House District 30 by defeating political newcomer Ryan Yadav. Cortes gathered 39,304 votes, or 53 percent, ahead of Democrat Yadav’s 34,324, or 47 percent of the vote. “This is the culmination of two years of hard work,” said Cortes. “I knew it was going to […]

Scott PowersNovember 8, 2016

Facing light competition, state Reps. Jennifer Sullivan, Jason Brodeur, John Cortes, and Bruce Antone cruised to re-election to Florida House seats in Central Florida Tuesday. Brodeur, a Republican from Sanford, won his fourth term in the House, defeating independent candidate Steve Edmunds in House District 28, by 64 percent to 36 percent. Sullivan, a Republican from […]

Terry RoenNovember 8, 2016

Attorney Michael Barber won the District 1 seat in Orange County’s Soil and Water Conservation race. The former assistant state attorney beat Environmentalist Maria Bolton-Joubert and Star Grayson, Congressman Alan Grayson’s daughter, for the win. Barber garnered 159,987 votes or 42 percent of the vote over Bolton-Joubert’s 145,714 (38 percent), and Grayson’s 76,628 (20 percent). “I […]

Orlando
Alexandra Islas. Image via New College of Florida.

Meet Congresswoman-elect Val Demings of Orlando

Florida TaxWatch blasts Sanford Burnham’s escape plan

City of Orlando delays decision on buying Pulse nightclub until Dec. 5

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts reports fourth quarter earnings up 6 percent

Protesters storm downtown Orlando after Donald Trump election to show solidarity with the marginalized

$8 million spent by outside groups in CD 7, mostly to help Stephanie Murphy upset John Mica

Orlando’s congressional delegation got a lot more diverse

Bob Cortes wins Seminole County’s House District 30

Jason Brodeur, Jennifer Sullivan, John Cortes, Bruce Antone return to House

Orlando attorney wins seat on Soil & Water Conservation