Marco Rubio takes a W on child tax credits in GOP tax overhaul: On Friday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio got his way on the Republican tax overhaul after nobody called his bluff when he threatened to vote against the measure for not expanding child tax credits to more low-income Americans. GOP leaders reportedly agreed to increase the per-child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. Nine million poor families who owe no income tax could only get $1,100 in credits in the older version of the tax plan. Negotiations increased that number to $1,400 to appease Rubio, whose support was crucial if Republicans want to pass their $1.5 trillion tax overhaul. But let's be honest, Rubio probably wasn't going to vote against giving huge tax cuts to millionaires and corporations, even if the GOP establishment had figuratively slapped him in the face by ignoring his palaver.
A man was stranded on the Lake Eola fountain after stealing a swan boat: The Orlando Police Department rescued a man around 3:30 a.m. Friday after he stole a swan boat at Lake Eola and then marooned himself on the fountain when the swan boat drifted away. The man, who may have been "under the influence of something," reportedly screamed for help until Orlando firefighters came to the rescue, as anyone in their right drunken mind would do.
Activists fasted outside Marco Rubio's Orlando office for immigrant protections: Bundled up to ward off the chilly weather, activists huddled in lawn chairs outside U.S. Senator Marco Rubio's office last Wednesday in downtown Orlando – and five of them went on hunger strike from Tuesday morning to Friday afternoon. Their aim: to persuade Rubio to vote for a "clean" DREAM Act for DACA recipients and permanent residency for immigrants with TPS designations.
Family of man shot by officers sues Orlando Police Department for $5.5 million: Last week the family of Eric Provost, who was killed by Orlando police last year, filed a suit against the two officers involved, citing excessive force and wrongful death. In January 2016, when officers responded to an emergency call about a possible break-in at the Provost family's home, police said Provost opened the door and pointed an airsoft gun at the officers. The incident spiraled into confusion, according to the officers' story, leaving Provost dead.
Orlando airport relief center for Hurricane Maria evacuees will close this month: The disaster relief center set up at Orlando International Airport in October to help Hurricane Maria evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will close on Dec. 29. As of last Thursday, the center had provided help to more than 28,000 people. A new disaster relief center providing the same services will eventually open in Orange County before the end of the year.
