Pulse owner plans 'iconic' memorial to honor victims, survivors:
The site of the worst mass shooting in modern American history will be turned into an "iconic" national memorial and museum that will honor the 49 victims and the survivors who escaped that night from the gay nightclub Pulse. Almost 11 months after the massacre, Pulse owner Barbara Poma and community leaders with the onePULSE Foundation announced last week the start of a process to create and construct a memorial. The onePULSE Foundation will also use funds raised for community grants to care for survivors and victims' families, endow educational scholarships in honor of the 49 victims, and build a museum showcasing historic artifacts and stories from the tragedy.
Florida lawmakers fail to pass a framework for medical marijuana:
House and Senate members walked away from a deal after the House proposed a cap of 100 retail outlets for each of the state's seven medical marijuana growers. The Senate, which had proposed a cap of 10 per grower, did not agree. The Florida Department of Health will now be in charge of implementing Amendment 2, which was passed by 71 percent of voters last year. Orlando attorney John Morgan has threatened to sue the Legislature over the issue. Florida lawmakers agreed on little this session, but there was one thing they were able to compromise on – an expansion of the state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law that will shift the burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors.
Magic, DeVos family plan to buy Orlando Solar Bears:
The Orlando Magic and its owners, the DeVos family, are planning to purchase the Orlando Solar Bears hockey team. The Solar Bears will play in the Amway Center for the 2017-18 season. The DeVos family, which includes Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, previously owned the Orlando Solar Bears, part of the International Hockey League, from 1995 to 2001.
Legislators approve naming local roads after fallen officers:
Florida lawmakers approved a bill to designate two Orange County roads in honor of fallen Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton and Orange County Deputy First Class Norman Lewis. Clayton was killed at the Walmart on Princeton Street. Murder suspect Markeith Loyd is accused of shooting her "execution-style" after she began pursuing him inside the store last January. Lewis was killed on the same day as Clayton in a traffic crash while he was helping search for Loyd after Clayton was shot.
