Free Republic

Orlando Florida Patrolled By Surveillance Drones As Early As This Summer Robert JohnsonJan. 13, 2013, 8:18 AMOctatron shows the camera aboard the SkySeer drone used for surveillance and reconnaissance for law enforcement When Congress passed a bill last February allowing unmanned drones to fly American skies it became only a matter of time before UAVs patrolled U.S. cities for local law enforcement. While most drones in the U.S. are flown along the Mexican border, the Orange County Sheriff's Office wants to put them over metro Orlando within the next few months. The Greater Orlando metropolitan area is home to more...

ORLANDO, Fla. - The city of Orlando says it's trying to work with the couple whose front yard vegetable garden has sparked controversy nationwide by passing new regulations that would require changes to their garden, a move that would affect several others in College Park. In November, Local 6 first reported the story about the controversial garden after the city told the Helvengstons their 25-by-25-foot garden was not in compliance with the city's code.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is squeezing in one last visit to Central Florida Monday, while First Lady Michelle Obama will rally support for her husband in south Orange County the same day. .....This will be Romney's fourth visit to Central Florida in as many weeks. President Barack Obama's only scheduled visit to the area during the past month was canceled because of Hurricane Sandy.Romney will speak at 9 a.m. at Avion Jet Center, 2841 Flightline Ave., Orlando Sanford International Airport. Doors open at 6:30 a.m. Free tickets are are available at mittromney.com/FL or through Romney For President offices at:...

President Obama To Attend Orlando RallyOctober 28, 2012 2:17 PM MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – President Barack Obama will speak at a rally early Monday in Orlando before heading back to monitor the progress of Hurricane Sandy. President Obama scrapped campaign events Monday night and Tuesday morning. “This is an example, yet again, of the president having to put his responsibilities as commander in chief and as leader of the country first, while at the same time he pursues his responsibilities as a candidate for re-election,” Josh Earnest, a White House spokesman.

Check out video from Glenn’s speech above – he begins at the 51 minute mark Friday night at Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida, Glenn Beck once again delivered the keynote speech for FreedomWork’s FreePAC. Working with a dedicated staff from his company Mercury Radio Arts as well as a mix of musicians and artists, Glenn experimented with a new type of live event that would inspire and entertain the attendees.

An interesting panel on using pop culture to advantage this morning. Madison Rising (Richard Mgrdechaian)was there, Alan Korwin, J. Neil Schulman and Peggy Tartaro. I had known J. Neil and Alan, but hadn't had a chance to talk to J. Neil yet, so I went up after his talk and arranged for a place to meet and catch up. "Tex" Fuller hit me at the door and suggested lunch. I told him I wanted to talk to J. Neil and he came along. They had never met, and did not know each other, but it soon became obvious that they...

Last night at the GRPC I went to a party hosted by Dead Patriot Films, who are working hard on "Assualted - Civil Rights Under Fire". Like all good projects, they need money. I will likely send them some after I get back to Arizona. http://www.deadpatriotfilms.com/assaulted/ At the party, I met people that just clicked. What are the chances of three guys talking, and it comes out that they all have had some familial experience with Asperger's? This morning, I was checking out of the hotel, and spot Mike Vanderboegh sitting in an armchair in the lobby. We greeted each...

I arrived at the GRPC yesterday evening after 6pm. While checking in David Kopel came up to the counter in running gear. An hour later, Mike Vanderboegh advised me on how to obtain a free internet connection. This is clearly the place to network on restoring the Second Amendment and the Constitution to the United States. Today, numerous panels discussed everything from how to overcome the MSM bias and tips on forming and running effective state organizations, to Awards to activists and breifings on what is happening with Fast and Furious. Everyone is quite approachable. I met with old friends...

I am in need of great places to stay that will not break the bank. I recall many months ago a thread that showed some very nice inexpensive places to stay in the Disney area. One of the sites actually had a sort for 3 bedroom, 4 bedroom, 5 bedroom or more. I loved the site, but never thought I would be going. I didn't bookmark it and I just can not find it again! Freepers please help and/or pass this along to anyone you know that has touted their stay. Thank you very much!

The owners of the Orlando Magic are coming under fire for a 2009 donation they made on behalf of one of their executive's marriage beliefs.The Douglas and Maria DeVos foundation, which is financially supported by Amway president Doug DeVos, donated $500,000 to NOM, the National Organization for Marriage.The organization is among those leading the charge against same-sex marriage initiatives in several states.Now, gay rights activists are calling for a ban of the Michigan-based Amway and all of its affiliates, including the Orlando Magic, which is also owned by the DeVos family.Here's the official statement from Amway on the issue,...

A Days Inn housekeeper was arrested on charges that he molested a 14-year-old boy in a room at the International Drive hotel Wednesday. The housekeeper, identified as 35-year-old Vanessa Olmos, partially came through the door and asked if there were any dirty towels. (SNIP) The teen told the housekeeper no, but Olmos then asked the teen if he was alone. After the teen said yes, Olmos asked how old he was. (SNIP) The police report said Olmos, a male who identifies himself and lives as a female, asked the teen "Can I touch?"

“Governor Romney respects our Flag and would be for an amendment honoring our American Flag,” said chief spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom in response to this reporter’s question about pictures of Barack Obama’s crotch salutes making the rounds on the internet. In sharp contrast to the current President’s Muslim education in Indonesia, Mitt Romney, standing in front of a huge American Flag, proved to his Orlando audience of over 600 this week he is steeped in the principles of our American education and history. Founded on Life, Liberty, and Freedom, the United States is Free Enterprise, he said. “He’s so out of...

ORLANDO, Fla. — A postal worker says a mysterious leaking package from Yemen has left him seriously ill, but the U.S. Postal Service denies the package ever existed. The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, in a story printed in Sunday's Miami Herald and The Ledger of Lakeland, reported that Jeffrey A. Lill suffers from extreme fatigue, tremors, and liver and neurological problems. The symptoms are consistent with toxic exposure, problems that he said began after he handled the leaking package on Feb. 4, 2011. The center tracked down co-workers who said that they saw and smelled the package and that...

Orlando Arena -- alternately known as Amway Arena, TD Waterhouse Center, and most annoyingly (a rare feat, considering the corporate naming entities) the O-rena -- was demolished on Sunday. With the Orlando Magic now playing their home games in the newish Amway Center (opened in 2010), it came time to end the O-rena's run. But not before it once played host to Greg Kite in pinstripes, and not without its debris taking a scratch out of a bystander's leg some two blocks away.

If you think gas prices in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are getting out of control as they approach four dollars a gallon for regular, you wouldn’t believe what some stations are charging in Orlando. According to FloridaStateGasPrices.com, a Shell station in Lake Buena Vista, not far from the Walt Disney World Resort, was charging $5.89 a gallon. Midgrade was $5.94 while premium was $5.99 a gallon. Whether the prices are a publicity stunt to draw attention to the station is anybody’s guess. But if it was a stunt – it’s working. Word of the price spike has made headlines nationwide....

I spent about two hours with this young woman at lunch after church on Sunday, August 21st, 2011, one day after she quit working at a local abortion center. Meeting with her and getting to share my faith and what I sensed the Holy Spirit would prompt me to say to her was one of the most profound moments of my life. I told her that God had another job for her making more money. I hope that people who read this blog will pray for Clarissa. I know that “the effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much”...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Despite trailing in the polls, GOP contender Newt Gingrich was in Orlando on Friday to focus on Florida. The latest Rasmussen poll puts Gingrich in a distant second place in Florida. Gingrich opened up his campaign headquarters in Orlando on Friday. Gingrich's campaign said it feels Florida, with its size and diversity, is a good gauge of how the rest of the country could go. Gingrich may trail in the polls, but he can still fill a room. "I know in some parts of the political process it's unusual to have a candidate who thinks on his...

As one of the most popular shoes in the world, there are few people who don't own a pair of Converse All-Stars. But Penny Gold loves them more than most. The retired teacher, 63, from Lake Mary, Florida, has just been named a world record holder for her 733-strong collection by the World Records Academy. Mrs Gold, who is now submitting an application to Guinness World Records in the hope that it too will award her a title, told how she started collecting Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars when she was a child living in Brooklyn, New York. She admits...

On August 23, 2011 the FBI arrested Imam Abu Taubah aka Marcus Dwayne Robertson. The charge was possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, Case Number: 6:11-mj-1380 Attached to Imam Abu Robertson’s case is a Notice of Intent To Use Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Information (FISA). The U.S. Government’s intention to use its FISA powers signals probable cause to charge Imam “Taubah” Robertson “the target of such search is a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power”. The facts presented in these filed charges leads this reporter to suspect an element of foreign intrigue may be...

The stolen credit-card numbers taken surreptitiously from customers at a Winter Springs gas station and the more than $125,000 in charges racked up to those accounts were just the beginning. Twelve miles away, in an inconspicuous storage yard full of trucks and boats on Forsyth Road, suspected members of Central Florida crime rings were running their own black-market gas station where they sold fuel bought with the stolen credit-card numbers. Those associated with the criminal rings — including co-owners of an Orlando mobile-phone store — were so successful in their illegal endeavors that they got away with millions of dollars...