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Orange County Sheriff’s Office buys ice-cream truck with money ‘seized from drug dealers’
According to OCSO, the total cost of the truck (including interior and wrap) was roughly $92,000
McKenna Schueler
General news reporter for Orlando Weekly, with a focus on state and local government and workers' rights. You can find her bylines in Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, In These Times, and Facing South.
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Florida moves to incentivize employers to make it harder for their workers to unionize
It’s not a unique idea, and no, the bill sponsors didn’t come up with it themselves.
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Florida Republicans advance bill to allow ‘opportunity’ to earn less than minimum wage
Critics argued the bill undermines the will of a majority of Floridians who voted to raise the state minimum wage in 2020.
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Central Florida advocates launch ‘No ICE in our streets’ online petition drive
Petitions will be automatically filed with the signer’s local, state and federal representatives
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City to place construction fencing outside Pulse nightclub as next step in memorial process
Don’t worry, the fencing is not another hostile move by the state Department of Transportation.
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Florida lawmakers unanimously advance bill to expand protections for temp workers
The bill would make it easier for temp workers to secure stable jobs and establish accountability measures for exploitative temp agencies.
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Florida Republican says ‘American Dream is dying’ because minimum wage is too high
A Florida House committee advanced a bill that would legally allow employers to pay certain entry-level workers less than the state minimum wage
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Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer says the city can’t block feds from building ICE detention center
Dyer, who’s not seeking re-election next year, says their hands are tied by the federal supremacy clause in the U.S. Constitution.
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Student activists organize ‘Red Card’ immigrant rights campaign for Orange County schools
They’re planning to publicly present their idea to the Orange County School Board on Feb. 10
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Orlando lawmaker Anna Eskamani calls to defund, abolish ICE after Alex Pretti killed
Eskamani doesn’t have the power to withhold funding from ICE, but local U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost has similarly stated that he believes “ICE is lawless and should not exist.”
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Orlando activists plan ‘ICE Out for Good’ protest in solidarity with Minneapolis day of action
Unions, community organizers, and faith leaders in Minneapolis are organizing a one-day economic shutdown on Jan. 23 in protest of violence waged by federal ICE agents.
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Feds toured Orlando warehouse as potential new ICE detention center
Orlando City Council member cautiously ‘skeptical’ of rumored plans for ICE detention center
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Officials join voices, ask Disney to investigate restaurant group for alleged workers rights’ violations
Disney has consistently ignored requests for comment on calls from workers and lawmakers to investigate.
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‘Be brave’: Advocates repeat demand for Orange County to end work with ICE after killing of Renee Good
More than a dozen people pleaded with Orange County leaders on Tuesday to seek legal clarification on its obligations to federal immigration enforcement.
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Legislative session primer: Florida bills to keep an eye on in 2026
From further eroding abortion rights to making it harder to access the state’s meager unemployment benefits, Florida lawmakers have filed a number of bills they hope to turn into law this year.
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Roger Chapin to hire former opponent Chris Durant for $69K job as aide
Durant placed third in an Orlando City Council race that Chapin later won in a runoff election against Mira Tanna
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Hundreds rally at Orlando City Hall to protest ICE killing Renee Good
The rally was part of a coordinated weekend of nearly 1,200 peaceful protest actions and vigils organized across the U.S.
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KFC to pay $200K for sexual harassment, retaliation charges affecting Orlando workers
The global fast food giant has also agreed to implement annual sex discrimination training for staff, per the EEOC
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Orange County mayor says local taxpayers ‘unfairly’ shouldering cost of federal ICE duties
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings wrote a letter to the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday seeking full reimbursement for jailing ICE detainees
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City staff remove artifacts from Pulse to prepare for memorial
Objects removed from the club, including posters and chandeliers, are being transferred to a warehouse for temporary storage, according to the city