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Guest AuthorJune 17, 2016

I, like every American, am deeply saddened by the horrific terrorist attack that took place in Orlando last weekend. Innocent lives were viciously taken, and families were torn apart. There are a lot of questions surrounding the details and motivations of this attack. We do know a shooter, who had previously been under investigation by […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 17, 2016

The state’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in May, according to new employment figures released by state’s jobs agency Friday. Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in May, down from 4.8 percent in April. The rate is down from 5.4 percent a year ago, according to monthly employment numbers released by the Florida Department […]

Melissa RossJune 17, 2016

Expressions of sympathy and support from Jacksonville’s political leadership in the aftermath of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting massacre are falling flat with North Florida’s LGBT community. “It was a bias-motivated attack against a gay bar to kill LGBT people,” said Jacksonville attorney and activist Jimmy Midyette. “When leaders neuter expressions of sympathy of that fact […]

Scott PowersJune 16, 2016

Pool report on the visit of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to Orlando, to offer comfort and support to families, employees, first responders and others from the Pulse nightclub massacre, filed by Orlando Sentinel reporter Steven Lemongello: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were at Amway Center for two hours […]

Anne LindbergJune 16, 2016

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and police Chief Anthony Holloway met with members of the community and media Thursday to reassure them Pride weekend would go ahead as planned, but with a bit more security. The reassurances became necessary in the wake of Sunday’s shooting at the gay Pulse nightclub in Orlando that left 49 […]

Associated PressJune 16, 2016

Offering sympathy but no easy answers, President Barack Obama came Thursday to Orlando to try to console those mourning the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Air Force One touched down at midday in this grief-stricken community, where Obama planned to spend a few hours meeting in private with families of the 49 victims, […]

Scott PowersJune 16, 2016

President Barack Obama arrived in Orlando Thursday afternoon to pay his respects and offer any comfort he might to survivors and families of those killed in Sunday’s Pulse nightclub massacre. The president arrived at 12:45 p.m. and headed out by motorcade to Orlando’s Amway Center arena, and then to Orlando Regional Medical Center, for private […]

Mary Jo MeloneJune 16, 2016

Driving I-4 through Orlando, you see them. The billboards proclaim what is now ho-hum in this country. #OrlandoStrong #LoveOrlando #PrayforOrlando Add this to the list, please. #AmericaSickandTired Have you noticed the phrase “take him out” is now part of our everyday language? We are accustomed to terms like “SWAT team,” “active shooter,” “on lockdown,” “armored […]

Scott PowersJune 15, 2016

Orlando-area clergy, politicians, and leaders of the LGBT community came together Wednesday afternoon at the Orange County Administration Building to preach scripture, love and unity as the city prepares for its 49 Pulse funerals. In what some called a nationally unprecedented showing, dozens of Central Florida clergy representing faiths including the Roman Catholic Church, mainline […]

Guest AuthorJune 15, 2016

“When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” — Mister Rogers Dear Daughter, This week your mama’s birthplace, and where you took YOUR first breath, suffered an attack I am selfishly grateful I […]

Tag: Orlando

Randy Perkins: Hatred, terrorism, gun violence and mental health

Florida unemployment rate at 4.7 percent in May

City of Jax ‘Dear Orlando’ postcard campaign criticized as tone-deaf

Obama in Orlando: ‘They are our families’

Rick Kriseman: ‘I’ll be damned if we’re going to let violence stop us’ from celebrating St. Pete Pride weekend

Barack Obama offering sympathy but no easy answers in Orlando

Barack Obama meeting with Pulse families in Orlando

Mary Jo Melone: Not a column; a plea for Orlando

Men and women of cloth and rainbow unite in Orlando

Leandra Preston-Sidler: Dear daughter, in face of tragedy, try to keep spirit intact