Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 19, 2018

Martin and Indian River counties and Citizens Against Rail Expansion Florida are asking a federal judge to vacate the federal approval that would allow All Aboard Florida to sell $1.15 billion in private activity bonds to finance the railway expansion to send higher-speed Brightline passenger trains between Souh Florida and Orlando. In a federal case […]

Scott PowersJuly 17, 2018

At this point Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is counting on it not taking much – maybe 20-something, 30 percent – to win the August 28 Democratic primary for governor and he is counting on inspiring a midnight-blue wave of progressive Democrats and people of color to make him the party’s nominee this fall. Gillum, in […]

Scott PowersJune 14, 2018

A trio of Orlando-area Democratic members of Congress, joined by Florida’s two U.S. Senators, is calling on the United States Customs and Border Protection agency to suspend proposed transfers of safety officers out of Port Canaveral and Orlando International Airport. Democratic U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy, along with Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill […]

Scott PowersMarch 30, 2018

The Orlando International Airport may have been stopped from the prospect of privatizing security checkpoints now that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is rushing to make improvements. Swift changes coming to expand TSA staff, add more screening dogs, and bring in new state-of-the-art equipment have happened in a matter of less than seven weeks, and […]

Scott PowersFebruary 27, 2018

In an economic wave sure to splash throughout the tourism economies of Orlando and Florida, projections and airline activity indicate that a rebounding Brazilian economy is expected to show up big at Orlando International Airport this year, officials said Tuesday. “Brazil is back! And this resurgence from our third largest international market brings a welcomed […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is reassigning 10 border patrol agents away from the Orlando International Airport to the Mexican border for the next six months, a move that led airport officials and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy to protest Friday that the already overwhelmed airport security will be seriously compromised. CPB informed Orlando airport […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Brightline has secured federal approval for $1.15 billion in private activity bonds to finance its private, high-speed passenger train planned to link its South Florida passenger train railway with Orlando, the company announced Friday. The company, formerly known as All Aboard Florida, has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for the tax-exempt bonds to double-track […]

Scott PowersNovember 16, 2017

A new parking garage with 1,600 spaces opens just after midnight early Friday morning at the Orlando International Airport, offering immediate relief for the airport’s parking crunch but also a glimpse of the future authorities hope will glisten starting in 2020. The south parking garage and an automated people mover tram connecting it with the […]

Scott PowersOctober 31, 2017

Federal and state comprehensive, strategic plans are desperately needed to coordinate services for Hurricane Maria evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands so that they can best find the services wherever they’re available in Florida, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs warned that someone needs to be coordinating where tens of […]

Scott PowersOctober 21, 2017

Rene Plasencia sees it in the faces of countless Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria refugees when he or someone else says, “we’re here to help you.” A mixture of anguish, relief, pain, joy, fear, confidence, hopelessness, hope — all the emotions of losing everything and traveling to a strange, new place with almost nothing, and then […]

Tag: Orlando International Airport
Image via AP.

Martin, Indian River counties ask federal judge to stop Brightline’s bonds

Andrew Gillum sees his path in five-way primary

Val Demings leads call to end transfers of customs agents from Orlando, Port Canaveral

Orlando showdown with TSA brings swift airport security changes

‘Brazil is back!’ declares Orlando airport director

Orlando airport officials: announced loss of border agents ‘will seriously diminish security’

Brightline gets $1.1B financing approval for Orlando train

New Orlando airport garage opens, first anchor to future terminal

Teresa Jacobs expresses frustration over lack of FEMA, state coordination plans to help evacuees

Anguish, relief, fear, hope: Relief efforts serving thousands of Puerto Rico storm refugees