Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 23, 2017

The crisis of heroin and other opioids that is pounding Orlando, every part of Florida and every part of America might not be any easier to solve than it is to blame, as panelists from Orange County’s Heroin Task Force blamed doctors, middle schoolers and dealers. It’s a crisis that is causing three to five […]

Terry RoenMay 11, 2017

Visit Orlando announced Thursday that a record 68 million visitors came to Orlando last year, making it the number one destination in the United States. The number was released during Visit Orlando’s annual Travel & Tourism Luncheon at the Hilton Orlando. “Orlando’s visitation number represents the emotional connections we make with millions all over the […]

Scott PowersApril 7, 2017

After going through the usual positive notes on the economy, building activity, law and order, and county finances, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs turned Friday to the heart as she delivered her annual state of the county address. For all the government service activity high points she presented, it was Orange County’s – Central Florida’s – […]

Scott PowersMarch 27, 2017

The anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre is being declared as “Orlando United Day – A Day of Love and Kindness and will feature several memorial and commemorative events around Orlando and a call for all to join in acts of love and kindness. The city and Orange County jointly announced Monday that the first […]

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 […]

Scott PowersMarch 7, 2017

New Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla has to be getting used to being a kicked-around rookie on the Board of Commissioners, especially as an outspoken Democrat on a Republican-dominated panel, but Tuesday she got taken down by all of her fellow commissioners. “I feel it is pretty disrespectful,” Bonilla told them during Tuesday’s meeting, after […]

Scott PowersFebruary 21, 2017

Facing the increasingly obvious conclusion that its 30-year-old animal services shelter is no longer adequate, Orange County is moving ahead with plans to replace it, but a new one could cost up to $35 million and take several years. The Orange County Board of Commissioners heard that news Tuesday while also reviewing information that showed […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2017

No one has identified Orlando as one of the “sanctuary cities” providing safe havens for undocumented immigrants while sustaining conservatives’ wrath and potential funding cuts from President Donald Trump‘s orders, but when the question comes up, Orlando responds with a puzzle. “While it’s not clear exactly what the definition of a “sanctuary city” is, it is clear […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2017

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Never mind who’s running for Governor in 2018, Floridians want to know which Republicans are in the running for Florida Chief Financial Officer now that CFO Jeff Atwater announced he is leaving this year, with speculation starting with Tom Grady, Tom Lee, Will Weatherford and Teresa Jacobs and including seven or eight others. Grady, a securities lawyer who is a former state representative who also has held several […]

Scott PowersFebruary 6, 2017

Orange County leaders long have talked about turning the International Drive region into a “downtown Orange County” essentially rivaling downtown Orlando though to different ends. On Tuesday the county board of commissioners will hear a plan that would fashion what such a district would look like. The Orange County Board of Commissioners will hold a […]

Tag: Teresa Jacobs

Opioids epidemic crisis blamed on careless doctors, unsupervised children

Orlando is the number one destination in the U.S.

Teresa Jacobs: ‘We discovered our culture of compassion’

Pulse anniversary memorials set; Orlando calling for ‘acts of love and kindness’

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

Emily Bonilla clashes with other Orange commissioners over parks appointee

New Orange County animal shelter would cost $25-35 million

Is Orlando a ‘sanctuary city?’ What’s a ‘sanctuary city?’

Jeff Atwater’s surprise departure makes CFO job the hottest in state

I-Drive plan to start fashioning ‘Downtown Orange County’