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Save the date: CFHLA’s 9/11 breakfast The Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association is hosting its annual Patriot Day Community Breakfast on Friday, September 10. The event remembers victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and recognizes regional “first responders.”  CFHLA said this year’s program will honor several first responders and feature: Jeff Cox, Orange County Citizen of the Year for District 1, [...]

AirTran Airways signs 7-year lease for Atlanta airport Orlando-based AirTran Airways said it has reached a deal with the city of Atlanta on a 7-year lease at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. AirTran, which runs much of its operations from its primary hub in Atlanta, said the long-term lease “brings economic certainty to the airline and sets the platform for future growth.” The airline did not [...]

Tourist family sues SeaWorld, claims child who saw orca attack is traumatized A New Hampshire family who witnessed the Feb. 24 death of a killer-whale trainer at SeaWorld Orlando has sued the company in Orange County Circuit Court, claiming their child has been traumatized by the event. The family of 10-year-old Bobby Connell says the boy has been bothered by nightmares ever since seeing trainer Dawn Brancheau battered [...]

Husband of deceased SeaWorld killer-whale trainer hires law firm The husband of Dawn Brancheau, the 40-year-old SeaWorld Orlando killer-whale trainer who was drowned earlier this year by a six-ton orca named Tilikum, has hired a law firm that specializes in wrongful-death litigation. Story here.

U.S. Rep. Grayson intervenes in SeaWorld probe U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a vocal supporter of SeaWorld  Parks & Entertainment, acknowledged Thursday that he intervened in a federal investigation into the death of a SeaWorld killer-whale trainer. Grayson, D-Orlando, personally contacted the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration earlier this week to discuss the agency’s probe of the death of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld [...]

The Buzz-Florida Politics

Governor candidates offer two approaches to job creation: cut or enhance Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are both CEOs-turned-politicians who agree that Florida needs to revamp economic incentives, provide tax breaks, and streamline regulations. But they fundamentally disagree on how to do it. More here. Dominic Calabro, president of...

Marco Rubio's father dies at age 83 Mario Rubio who fled Cuba to bring his family to America, has died at age 83. His son, Marco, ascended in Florida politics to become the first Cuban-American speaker of the House and is now a leading candidate for U.S....

As midterms near, Obama on shaky ground The weekend in Florida was conceived to soothe one distraction — the gulf oil disaster — but only intensified another. "I was not commenting, and I will not comment, on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque...

Bill Clinton raising money for Meek, again Bill Clinton will headline a fundraiser Tuesday night in NYC for Kendrick Meek. It's being hosted by Sant Singh Chatwal, a major Democratic donor, and is expected to a be a "six figure event," our source says. Clinton has held...

Republican foes, lobbyists now flock to Scott In the aftermath of a mean-spirited primary, supporters of vanquished Bill McCollum are eagerly boarding the Rick Scott bandwagon, especially those Tallahassee special interests Scott vilified in the primary. When McCollum got money from special interests, Scott speculated about what...