David Simmons

Last week, someone told the Rev. Joel Hunter that they hoped his family dies in a fire. Why? Because Hunter had the audacity to speak out against intolerance, specifically intolerance against Muslims. Hunter quickly paid the price, receiving...

TALLAHASSEE — There's sort of a politico cognitive dissonance occurring this year in Florida's Capitol when it comes to corporate welfare. The Legislature is in a full-throated "show me the jobs" mood over Gov. Rick Scott's plans to give $278...

They control some of the largest work forces in town. They can affect your health care, your daily commute, even your kids' education. Some of them have direct lines to the White House. They are Central Florida's power players. And you deserve to...

This is why Florida is the butt of the nation's jokes. We can't count our votes on time. The road to CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus' downfall veered straight off Interstate 4 and into the mansion of "Tampa Kardashian" Jill Kelley. We order...

It's time to hear what you guys have to say — about everything from big payouts at the Sanford airport to shoddy treatment of veterans. Plus, we have an abundance of strange and funny notes from confused readers. Mr. Maxwell: I want to ask you...

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House edged closer Tuesday to blocking Orange County voters from having a referendum on whether to offer paid sick-leave to workers. The House took up HB 655, which among other changes, preempts local governments from...

A bill to block paid sick time referendums such as the one pending in Orange County continued to glide through the state Senate this week while a companion measure now sits on the House calendar, a legislative push the Florida Chamber of Commerce strongly...

TALLAHASSEE — A Tallahassee judge has temporarily banned part of a massive auto insurance overhaul passed by the Legislature in an attempt to drive down personal injury protection rates. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis issued the ban on a part of the...

The race for next year’s open Orange County District 6 post may soon get a familiar and formidable name: former Commissioner Homer Hartage. Hartage, a Democrat, left the board in 2006 and has been working on a business venture since then. Yet he&#...

It's hard to keep track, but state Rep. Steve Precourt, R-Orlando, appears to be willing to carve out local exceptions to a bill he's filed to block cities and counties from passing stronger wage and benefit protections for workers. An amendment to his...

Sen. Bill Nelson talks at Florida Hospital last month. Photo credit: Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED: In public-affairs programming this weekend: ***Sen. Bill Nelson discusses the economy, the sequestration cuts and...

A coalition of progressive groups released its upcoming legislative agenda, and killing bills that block local wage and benefit measures sits near the top of it's list. “Florida’s low-income earners should be protected from corporate...