Covering all things Florida Man for the Orlando Sentinel / “A free press, like a free life, is always in danger” / Story tips: sswisher@orlandosentinel.com https://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mqk2utzctc27Invasive lizards are moving into Central Florida. More may be on the way. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/07/13/invasive-lizards-are-moving-into-central-florida-more-may-be-on-the-way/13 Jul 2026 16:01 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqk2utzctc27https://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mq2qiipink2y"Among Perez’s clients over the past two years were CDR Maguire, a consulting firm owned by two Republican donors that has earned more than $120 million in new government contracts since 2024." https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/07/06/filing-reveals-fla-house-speakers-private-client-list-including-airbnb-newsmax/07 Jul 2026 13:46 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2qiipink2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mp24gcsdzs2mJohn Morgan's new political party will be named "The Common Ground Party." The Orlando attorney invited Americans to submit a name for the group and offered a $100,000 prize. The prize will be split among more than 250 people who submitted the winning name independently.24 Jun 2026 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp24gcsdzs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3moftb2pftk2aFlorida economists project cities and counties to lose $12 billion under property tax plan https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/15/florida-economists-project-cities-and-counties-to-lose-12-billion-under-property-tax-plan/16 Jun 2026 12:44 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3moftb2pftk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mnx3re6kzk2s"Prices have now risen faster than wages for several months, pressuring many Americans’ finances and causing consumers to take a decidedly dim view of the economy." https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/06/10/inflation-gas-prices-may/10 Jun 2026 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnx3re6kzk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mnshgaga5k2sThe Society of Professional Journalists, the Orlando Sentinel and nine other Central Florida news outlets are calling on Orange County Public Schools to revise its media policy, which appears to require employees to obtain district approval before speaking with reporters.08 Jun 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnshgaga5k2shttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mnkixuxeas2pOrange County Mayor Jerry Demings suspends race for governor after cancer diagnosis https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/05/jerry-demings-suspends-race-for-governor-after-cancer-diagnosis/05 Jun 2026 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnkixuxeas2phttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mndcrerg5c2eFla. Legislature sends property tax overhaul to voters after adding protections for schools https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/06/02/florida-legislature-poised-to-vote-on-desantis-property-tax-overhaul/02 Jun 2026 19:18 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mndcrerg5c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mna5dkt7lc2j“It is a complete takeover by the state government,” House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa said, https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/31/desantis-property-tax-measure-would-strip-power-from-local-governments/01 Jun 2026 13:03 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mna5dkt7lc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mmrce6jwlk25"Visit Florida reported an estimated 39.89 million people journeyed to the state between Jan. 1 and March 31, down 1% from the first quarter of 2025." https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/26/fewer-tourists-visited-florida-in-first-quarter-of-2026/26 May 2026 15:23 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmrce6jwlk25https://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mmhc4nuot223"CFO Blaise Ingoglia, Florida’s fiscal watchdog, has tapped state agents to provide him transportation and security at big-ticket sporting events around the state, raising questions about why taxpayers are footing the bill for his private activities." https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/22/floridians-pay-for-cfo-ingoglias-rides-security-detail-at-sporting-events/22 May 2026 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmhc4nuot223https://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mlef2cdlks2qLake Eola swans to be moved elsewhere as Orlando 'pauses' program after flu outbreak https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/08/lake-eola-swans-to-be-moved-elsewhere-as-orlando-pauses-program-after-flu-outbreak/08 May 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlef2cdlks2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mlbmtk5cd22oFederal and state officials consider closing Alligator Alcatraz https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/05/07/federal-and-state-officials-consider-closing-floridas-alligator-alcatraz/07 May 2026 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbmtk5cd22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mhy53iju7227Democratic victory in Mar-a-Lago district: Ominous for Republicans, embarrassing for Trump https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/03/25/democratic-victory-in-mar-a-lago-district-ominous-for-republicans-embarrassing-for-trump/26 Mar 2026 17:31 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhy53iju7227https://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mhy4t7msl223Global forecasting group sees U.S. inflation at 4.2% this year, much higher than Fed estimate https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/26/global-forecasting-group-sees-us-inflation-at-4point2percent-this-year-much-higher-than-fed-estimate.html26 Mar 2026 17:27 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhy4t7msl223https://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mh7kojvylc2dSheriffs on Florida immigration enforcement board criticize federal mass deportation efforts https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/03/16/florida-sheriffs-on-immigration-enforcement-board-criticize-federal-mass-deportation-efforts/16 Mar 2026 22:58 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh7kojvylc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mgx4a4tmgc2xThe measure restricts IDs Florida voters can use to identify themselves. Student IDs and retirement center IDs would no longer be valid; driver’s licenses, state ID cards, military ID and licenses to carry concealed weapons would still be accepted. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2026/03/12/florida-senate-votes-to-require-citizen-verification-for-voters-restrict-ids-accepted-at-the-polls/13 Mar 2026 14:18 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgx4a4tmgc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3me4ss3a5js2qLayoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says https://cnb.cx/4r5oYyk05 Feb 2026 16:30 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4ss3a5js2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mbagd73f4c2wState says 52 bears killed in Florida hunt https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/30/just-52-bears-killed-in-florida-hunt-state-reports/30 Dec 2025 22:42 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbagd73f4c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3mbagamp2sk2iGov. Ron DeSantis appoints football legend Urban Meyer to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees.30 Dec 2025 22:40 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbagamp2sk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m73ttupfg22c"A potential multi-billion-dollar development is in the early stages of planning on the prominent site of the Orlando Sentinel’s former headquarters, which Mayor Buddy Dyer said would be a catalyst for the downtown economy." https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/02/developer-eyes-catalytic-development-on-former-orlando-sentinel-downtown-site/03 Dec 2025 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m73ttupfg22chttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m6z3hnstis2fFlorida health officials probe possible Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Orange County https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/01/health-officials-probe-possible-legionnaires-disease-outbreak-in-orange-county/02 Dec 2025 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6z3hnstis2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m6x3yaszak2fPaul Renner, a GOP candidate for gov and former FL House speaker, is calling on U.S. Reps. Cory Mills and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to resign. Mills is facing a House ethics investigation, while Cherfilus-McCormick was recently indicted on charges of stealing FEMA funds.01 Dec 2025 18:52 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6x3yaszak2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m6wjnix7yc2fNew this morning: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer endorses Bale Dalton, a Democrat vying to challenge U.S. Rep. Cory Mills. Dalton is a former NASA chief of staff and Navy veteran.01 Dec 2025 13:24 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6wjnix7yc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m4tbocqncs2oThe Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is holding another food drive for airport workers affected by the government shutdown. Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through Friday at the Orlando International Airport's Terminal C departures lane.04 Nov 2025 19:33 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4tbocqncs2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m4snhbcibc2hQuarter of Florida residents 'seriously' contemplate leaving state because of high cost of living, survey says https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/11/04/quarter-of-florida-residents-seriously-contemplate-leaving-state-because-of-high-cost-of-living-survey-says/04 Nov 2025 13:31 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4snhbcibc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m4iqcwucts2fOrange County Mayor Jerry Demings schedules 'announcement rally'; run for governor likely https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/31/jerry-demings-schedules-announcement-rally-run-for-governor-likely/31 Oct 2025 14:56 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4iqcwucts2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/skylerswisher.bsky.social/post/3m4iqal6fuk2aMillions of Floridians slated to lose food stamp benefits Saturday https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/31/millions-of-floridians-slated-to-lose-food-stamp-benefits-saturday/31 Oct 2025 14:55 +0000at://did:plc:prucoorak67pmfssrn3zfsss/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4iqal6fuk2a