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Guest AuthorSeptember 27, 2017

I am a disaster researcher. I study the social processes by which communities work in building resilience to emergency events, particularly natural disasters. But earlier this month when the possibility of Hurricane Irma striking Central Florida was becoming real, I also became part of the unfolding event. Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency […]

Scott PowersSeptember 13, 2017

Five Central Florida members of Congress – three Democrats and two Republicans – joined a call Wednesday for Central Florida counties to be designated so that individuals can become eligible for Federal Disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irma. U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Val Demings of Orlando, Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park, Dennis […]

Scott PowersSeptember 11, 2017

Central Florida is mainly dealing with power outages throughout, with more than 1.1 million residences and businesses reported without electricity Monday, a situation that also plagues traffic lights and other services. With an estimated 372,000 residences and businesses without power and counting countywide, Orange County’s curfew remains in effect through 6 p.m. Monday. The Orange […]

Scott PowersJuly 18, 2017

The rapidly-growing Venezuelan community in Central Florida sent a message home and to Florida and American politicians with a vote Sunday they said drew more than 28,000 people who waited hours in line at six poling places to vote overwhelmingly to condemn the government and policy of that country’s dictator Nicolás Maduro. Led by radio show […]

Scott PowersJuly 5, 2017

How big is the Puerto Rico migration to Florida? In one county, in one single service, the number plays out: an average of 104 people every workday are transferring their driver’s licenses from Puerto Rico to Florida, just in Orange County. The Orange County Tax Collector’s Office reported that in a six-month period recently sampled […]

Bill RuftyJune 8, 2017

Former state Rep. Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven said he will run for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. The grandson of the late citrus baron and one-time gubernatorial candidate, Ben Hill Griffin Jr., Troutman will enter the competitive race to succeed Adam Putnam, a Bartow Republican who is term-limited and is running for governor. “I will file […]

Scott PowersMay 30, 2017

Winter Garden-based Knox Medical is set to open Orlando’s first medical marijuana dispensary Friday in a location near Florida Hospital’s downtown campus. Knox is one of nine companies statewide licensed to produce and sell medicines derived from cannabis. Knox has been in operation for several months, relying primarily on delivery service, and earlier this month […]

Scott PowersMarch 10, 2017

Republican candidate David Smith has started his run for Florida House District 28 with a personal $25,000 loan to his campaign. Smith, of Winter Springs, is running to replace state Rep. Jason Brodeur, who is term-limited out in 2018, in a district that covers east Seminole County. The former Marine colonel and modeling and simulation […]

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2017

The social fallout from Puerto Rico’s multi-fasceted financial crisis must be dealt with in more immediate ways in Central Florida where so much of the diaspora is fleeing, a panel of scholars urged key Puerto Rican political leaders in Orlando Friday. Their call for concern for recognizing, assisting, and empowering Puerto Ricans settling by the […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 11, 2017

Tim Giuliani has been tapped as the new head of Central Florida’s soon-to-be-announced economic development/chamber group. The organization will be officially named in March, and its purpose will be to oversee “strategic efforts to bring more high-wage jobs to Central Florida while promoting and enhancing the region’s dynamic business climate and quality of life,” according to […]

Tag: Central Florida

Fernando Rivera: Should I stay or should I go? A disaster researcher’s personal dilemma

Central Florida congressional members seek disaster call for Central Florida

372,000 customers without power in Orange County, 1.1 million in Central Florida

More than 28,000 Venezuelans in Central Florida vote to oppose Nicolás Maduro in straw poll

Puerto Rican migration causes flood of Central Florida driver’s license requests

Baxter Troutman entering competitive Agriculture Commissioner race

Knox to open Orlando’s first medical marijuana dispensary Friday

David Smith starts Florida House run with $25K loan; David Santiago, Mike La Rosa raise $21K

Puerto Rico crisis panel brings it home to Florida

New Central Florida economic development and chamber group names Tim Giuliani as CEO