Posted inNews
South Florida mayor urges cities like Orlando to reconsider ICE agreements
A city spokesperson declined to confirm whether Orlando would reconsider at this time, citing a pending legal case.
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.
Posted inFlorida News
Florida Medical Association defends vaccines for kids after state leaders target mandates
Records show the doctors group has donated to campaign accounts associated with DeSantis in the past.
Posted inFlorida News
Florida leaders face criticism after announcing plans to drop vaccine mandates
Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried denounced the move as a “morally bankrupt play.”
Posted inOrlando Area News
Democrats LaVon Bracy Davis and Rashon Young win Florida special election seats
Young will be the first Gen Z Democrat to enter the Florida Legislature, according to the Orange County Democratic Party.
Posted inNews
Why did the Florida DOT remove a rainbow crosswalk outside Pulse that they recently paid to repaint?
State officials have claimed safety was the reason for the change, even though they paid to repaint the Pulse crosswalk as recently as last year
Posted inNews
Disney Epcot workers to vote on strike at Italy Pavilion
If approved by workers, a strike could be called for as soon as Sept. 30.
Posted inNews
Florida city councilman had side gig as Amazon union-buster, but his required reporting is full of holes
Layton City Council member Jared Rodriguez reported earning $2,100 per day for a month-long job last year to ‘assess’ employees at an Amazon facility in New Jersey.
Posted inNews
Orlando’s Pulse memorial rainbow crosswalk painted over in ‘callous’ overnight act
The crosswalk had served as both a safety measure and memorial to the 49 victims of the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub.
Posted inNews
Orlando’s new ‘dignity buses’ offer nightly shelter for the homeless
Each bed costs just a fraction of what it would cost to jail a person for sleeping on public property
Posted inNews
Orange County jail medical staff decry ‘two-tier’ pay system, report feeling undervalued
One nurse told Orlando Weekly that federal orders to house undocumented immigrants on behalf of ICE have worsened short-staffing problems.
Posted inNews
LGBT+ Center to close Kissimmee office due to budget constraints
The nonprofit plans to centralize services at its main Orlando locations, which will remain open and operational.
Posted inNews
Orange County School Board rejects bid to ditch LGBTQ+ History Month proclamation
This is the second time school board member and Moms for Liberty activist Alicia Farrant has tried to get rid of the proclamation.
Posted inNews
Florida healthcare advocates are organizing in Orlando to expand Medicaid – and invite you to join
Advocates with Youth Action Fund and the Eskamani-linked People Power for Florida hold a canvass and phone bank Wednesday evening to help get Medicaid expansion on the 2026 ballot.
Posted inNews
Orlando distributor paid union-busting firm to persuade workers to ditch union
The union-busting firm Quest Consulting has reported billing rates of $300 to $450 per hour.
Posted inNews
Judge rejects Orlando bars’ push to pause costly after-midnight alcohol rules
The federal lawsuit was filed by several downtown business owners last year, claiming the city’s costly rules amounted to ‘unconstitutional government overreach.’
Posted inNews
Orange County leaders ratify change to ICE agreement after threats of removal from office
Just two county commissioners — Nicole Wilson and Kelly Semrad — dissented and voted against ratification.
Posted inNews
Demings reverses course, signs up Orange County jail staff for still more ICE duties
The mayor’s change of mind happened after he was threatened by Florida AG James Uthmeier with removal from office.
Posted inNews
Workers demand Disney investigate contractor for allegedly violating Disney code of conduct
The workers are employed by the Patina Group, a Disney subcontractor that operates several restaurants at Disney Springs.