Latest news with #OrlandoSentinel
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Port Canaveral-Bound Harmony of the Seas Among 3 Royal Caribbean Ships Getting Makeovers
By Patrick Connolly Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla.—Royal Caribbean is giving three of its ships face-lifts with revamped pool decks, new dining options and modernized amenities—including Port Canaveral-bound Harmony of the Seas.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The night WWE legend Scott Hall killed a man
"Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Professional Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," the upcoming book written by Marc Raimondi which documents the rise of the legendary nWo faction and the impact it had on the broader world, publishes on Tuesday, June 24. The following is an excerpt detailing the rise of Scott Hall, aka two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee Razor Ramon, who emerged as a central figure in wrestling's New World Order. Scott Hall was at work the night of January 15, 1983, tending bar at the strip club Thee Dollhouse in Orlando, Florida. He was bracing himself. Hall knew an altercation — 'of course it was over a girl' — was imminent. Advertisement It was early in his shift when Hall got word that the husband of the woman he had been seeing was outside in the parking lot. The man had busted all the windows out of Hall's car, and was fixing to get a piece of Hall next. Hall, a well-built, 6-foot-5 bodybuilder, went outside to confront the man and knocked him down immediately with one punch. The man, named Rodney Perry Turner, reached for a firearm and a struggle ensued. Hall took hold of the gun first — and shot Perry Turner in the head. He died instantly. Hall, then just 24 years old, was charged with second-degree murder. The case against him was later dismissed when sworn testimony was not enough to prosecute. 'I drilled him, and he went down, and his shirt went up and he was reaching for the gun, so I reached for it, too,' Hall recalled. Advertisement A bar employee told the Orlando Sentinel at the time Perry Turner had threatened to kill both Hall and Perry Turner's wife, Carol, when he found out Hall and Carol were dating. Two months earlier, Perry Turner had fatally shot another man. Perry Turner claimed he was attacked after the man made a pass at Carol. Perry Turner was never charged, as the killing was ruled justifiable. 'I should have sought counseling right then, but I didn't know anything,' Hall said. 'I was a kid.' Hall was raised in a military family. He has referred to his father as a 'big shot' in the U.S. Army. Hall's parents and grandparents had issues with alcohol, an addiction that definitely did not skip a generation. Advertisement 'We come from a long line of hard-drinking rednecks,' Hall said. Hall went to high school in Germany where his dad was stationed and moved just about every year before his family settled in Florida when he was a teen. Hall's father was a pro-wrestling fan, and Hall himself wanted to be a wrestler ever since he was eight years old when his dad took him to a hair-versus-hair match. Hall took a piece of the losing wrestler's hair home with him. 'And I just was hooked since then,' Hall said. Hall had spent time working the regional circuit as a wrestler in the 1980s, including a stint in the AWA like Hulk Hogan. Hall had a run with Curt 'Mr. Perfect' Hennig as the AWA tag-team champions, and Verne Gagne then wanted to position Hall as his No. 1 babyface. Hall absolutely looked the part. He was tall and handsome with light brown hair and a bushy mustache. With a wide chest, big arms, and bulging trapezius muscles, Hall looked kind of like a jacked-up Tom Selleck. Razor Ramon makes his entrance at WWF Wrestlemania X8. (George Pimentel via Getty Images) 'When Verne started pushing him to be his top guy, I know other people were going like, 'Oh man, same size as Hogan, better body, better-looking,'' Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer said. 'But when it didn't work, it was kind of like, 'Oh, he doesn't have charisma.'' Advertisement Things just didn't click for Hall as a generic good guy. The fans didn't get behind him. After taking a hiatus from wrestling, Hall found his way to WCW in 1991. He knew he had to change things up, because regular old Scott Hall, as impressive as he looked with his shirt off, wasn't working. And Hall really committed to changing things up. His new character was called The Diamond Studd. He was a cocky ladies' man with slicked-back black hair, a toothpick between his teeth, and dark sunglasses. The bushy hair and mustache were long gone. The Diamond Studd wore a five o'clock shadow and didn't skip trips to the tanning bed. The leaner Studd looked nothing like 'Big' Scott Hall from the AWA. The Diamond Studd was managed on screen by Diamond Dallas Page, who previously had accompanied the very popular Fabulous Freebirds to the ring. Like Hall, Page had a background in the nightlife industry, managing several Florida clubs. Hall and Page got along well, in the ring and outside of it. And Hall started to have some success in WCW with Page by his side. Hall had size, good looks, and could work an entertaining match in the ring. There might not be a blueprint for wrestling stardom, but he checked a lot of boxes. Still, Hall wasn't being positioned past the early matches on WCW cards. The main event wasn't even in sight. Advertisement That didn't matter to Hall so much. He was grateful just to have the job of his dreams. But Hall and his wife, Dana, had just had their first child, Cody. Making more money to support his growing family would have been nice. So Hall started having conversations with Pat Patterson, McMahon's right-hand man. nWo members Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan face off with Lex Luger, The Giant and Booker T during WCW Monday Nitro in February 1997. (WWE via Getty Images) 'Some guys were higher up [in WWF], but everybody was a star,' Hall said. 'So I said, 'I don't have to be a main eventer, I still want to wrestle.' Because even the lower-paid wrestlers are getting paid, and I had no education. So I thought, this is what I still want to do for a living. If I have to be a bottom guy, I'd rather do it for the best company.' 'Bottom guys' in wrestling — or low carders and midcarders — are kind of like the fighters you see on the preliminaries of boxing or UFC events. They're talented enough and have a big enough following to earn a spot on the event, but don't have the skill level or star quality to make the main event. Their main role is to lose to wrestlers tabbed as stars as those would-be stars make their way to a headlining role. Advertisement Hall would never be a 'bottom guy' again. He was pushed near the top of the card immediately in the WWF with a new character: Razor Ramon. Hall, as Ramon, became an arrogant, well-dressed, and villainous Cuban American from Miami. It was basically a rip-off of Al Pacino's suave but brutally violent Tony Montana character in "Scarface," which had gained a renewed cult following a decade after its release. McMahon had never seen the movie and when Hall came to him with the idea, he thought Hall was a genius. For weeks on WWF television there were taped vignettes trumping up his arrival. Hall wore gold chains with an open, button-down shirt revealing his chest hair. He spoke with a fake Cuban accent, called people 'chico,' and borrowed phrases from "Scarface," adding his own spin, like 'say hello to the Bad Guy.' Hall was neither Cuban nor even Hispanic, just like Hogan wasn't actually Irish. In wrestling, everything is about the performance. And Hall was more than believable enough as Razor Ramon.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Brother vs sister fight in Democratic primary in Florida state Senate race
AP Former state Sen. Randolph Bracy, a candidate in the Democratic primary for state Senate District 15 (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel via AP) The candidates Randolph Bracy: The elder sibling, 48, is a former Florida state senator with a background that includes professional basketball overseas in Turkey. He announced his candidacy shortly after Thompson's death and has expressed disappointment over his sister's decision to run against him, calling it 'disappointing and hurtful'. LaVon Bracy Davis: At 45, she is an attorney by training and a current Florida state representative. She announced her candidacy in March 2025, flanked by her mother, Lavon Wright Bracy, and members of Thompson's family. Davis emphasizes that her campaign is focused on serving the people of District 15 rather than targeting her brother or other candidates. Alan Grayson: A notable contender is the former Democratic U.S. congressman known for his combative style and national notoriety, including his 2009 House speech criticizing the Republican health care plan. Grayson has served multiple terms in Congress but lost a Senate bid in 2016. His presence adds a high-profile element to the primary. Coretta Anthony-Smith: A personal injury attorney, also running in the Democratic primary, adding further competition. Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In an extraordinary political contest that blends family dynamics with public service, brother and sister Randolph Bracy and LaVon Bracy Davis are competing against each other in the Democratic primary for Florida's State Senate District 15 seat. This rare sibling showdown is unfolding in adistrict that includes parts of metro Orlando such as Ocoee, Oakland, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Apopka, Eatonville, and sections of Orlando race is to fill the seat formerly held by Geraldine Thompson, a pioneering and veteran lawmaker who passed away earlier this year due to complications from knee-replacement was highly respected for her advocacy on civil rights and education, and her legacy is a significant point of reference in this election. LaVon Bracy Davis has received the endorsement of Thompson's family, underscoring her commitment to continue that legacy, particularly in advancing voters' rights and increasing pay for public school is not the first time family endorsements have split along sibling lines. In 2024, when Randolph Bracy ran against Geraldine Thompson in a Democratic primary, LaVon Bracy Davis endorsed Thompson over her brother, illustrating the complex political and personal dynamics at 15 is a Democratic stronghold where Black voters constitute more than half of the registered Democrats, making the primary the decisive contest ahead of the general election against Republican Willie Montague in September. The district's demographics and political leanings set the stage for a vigorous Democratic primary.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Cloud council strips deputy mayor of post after Pride Month proclamation controversy
The St. Cloud City Council stripped its deputy mayor of his position this week after he publicly accused the council of blocking efforts to issue a proclamation for Pride Month. Shawn Fletcher, the council's first openly gay member, was removed from his post at the tense Thursday evening meeting by a unanimous vote of the five-member council, with Fletcher also voting to remove himself as 'deputy mayor.' Though the city's mayor is elected by voters, the deputy mayor is selected by other council members. Fletcher did did not explain why he also voted to remove himself from that post. The vote followed sharp criticism of Fletcher by the other council members for statements he gave to news outlets in May after the council decided to temporarily halt all city proclamations. Council members didn't explicitly say Pride Month was the reason behind the pause, but the timing of their action effectively nixed their ability to declare June as Pride Month in St. Cloud. And that upset Fletcher, who said he felt Pride Month was targeted. Council member Kolby Urban, who made the motion to take the deputy mayor title from Fletcher, said Fletcher's statements and press release prompted nationwide, and negative, media coverage and included false information. 'Mr. Fletcher knows full well that these statements were false and grossly mischaracterized his fellow council members and the nearly 70,000 residents of our community,' Urban said. 'I find these comments not only offensive, but also irresponsible and borderline defamatory.' Some of the statements Urban referenced were published in the Orlando Sentinel. Urban proposed the moratorium on proclamations during a May 20 workshop meeting saying some may be 'controversial,' and that the current proclamation policy doesn't allow enough time for review. At the Thursday meeting, Fletcher said he did not understand the need for the pause or why it couldn't wait until July. June is recognized as Pride month in many communities around the country in recognition of the Stonewall Uprising in New York in 1969, a protest considered a turning point for gay rights in the U.S. In Central Florida, June has even deeper meaning for the local community because of the 2016 massacre at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, a haven for the LGBTQ community, in which 49 people were killed. Mayor Chris Robertson also criticized Fletcher. 'You need to apologize to all of us,' he said. 'You ran us all through the mud.' Robertson also said Fletcher had 'betrayed' his fellow council members and called his actions 'sickening.' He asked Fletcher if he thought he was a homophobe, to which Fletcher said no. He then asked if Fletcher thought he targeted the LGBTQ community, to which he also said no. 'I'm sorry, Shawn, I'm pissed,' Robertson said near the end of the meeting. 'I'm not letting it go.' Robertson spent around an hour asking questions about an upcoming Pride Month event, Proud in the Cloud, and the volunteer group behind it, the St. Cloud Pride Alliance. The event is scheduled to be held on city property, and Robertson said the city financially supported it. 'I said, 'Wait a minute, didn't we just bend over backwards to help these folks? And how can we be — they say that we're discriminating against them?'' Robertson said. The mayor was upset an Alliance member posted online Fletcher's comments about the proclamation pause. He was also concerned about 'irregularities' and 'misrepresentation' in the applications for the event and if city tax dollars had been used properly. Fletcher apologized for some of what happened. 'I think some things got really emotional. Council member Urban, I personally apologize to you,' he said. But he also stood by some of his other statements. 'I do believe it's undemocratic, because I do believe it was targeted. I do, I really do,' Fletcher said. The Pride Month proclamation should have been voted on, he added. 'To not have something move forward to where you put your name on it and you actually vote for it. That's undemocratic,' he said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maxwell: 7 things to know about recently arrested Sheriff Marcos Lopez
Any time a sheriff gets arrested, it's obviously a big deal. And with Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, it was a wild deal to boot, with authorities saying he ran a 'massive' gambling operation that included a full-fledged casino — in Kissimmee, of all places. Still, anyone who paid even passing attention to Lopez's tenure probably wasn't shocked to learn he may have done something wrong. This is a man, after all, who was deemed untrustworthy by the region's last two prosecutors. Lopez may have been a red flag in a green uniform, but he found an ally in Gov. Ron DeSantis in their joint crusade against State Attorney Monique Worrell. And the sheriff had a generally high-profile career that got even higher with his recent arrest and suspension from office. If you haven't been following along before, here are seven things to know about Lopez: 1. Two different state attorneys declared Lopez untrustworthy. Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, a Democrat, and Andrew Bain, the man our Republican governor chose to temporarily replace Worrell, may not have agreed on much. But both agreed Lopez couldn't be trusted. Bain was the first to place Lopez on the office's official 'Brady List' of law enforcement witnesses the office considered unreliable after an incident where the sheriff's office improperly and indecently posted a photo of a dead 13-year-old girl on social media. Bain concluded that Lopez's office had conducted an inadequate, if not laughable, probe into the sheriff's role in the incident and that Lopez's conflicting statements made him untrustworthy. After Bain left office, Lopez appealed his decision. But Worrell's office rejected his plea, deciding to keep Lopez on the scarlet-letter list of cops with veracity concerns. It doesn't get much more damning than that. Osceola Sheriff Lopez placed on Brady list of law officers deemed untrustworthy 2. The Orlando Sentinel editorial board also urged voters to remove Lopez from office. This might not normally be noteworthy — except that the Sentinel endorsed Lopez in 2020 back when Lopez promised to usher in a new era of transparency and accountability. Voters liked what they heard. So did the ed board. But it turned out to be a crock. So last year, instead of defending its prior last decision, the ed board acknowledged reality and reversed course, urging voters to get the Democratic incumbent out of office, saying he had clearly lost the public trust. 3. Lopez was a key ally to Ron DeSantis in the governor's crusade against Worrell. The DeSantis team said it also consulted with Orange County Sheriff John Mina but relied heavily upon accusations made by Lopez that purported to prove Worrell was soft on crime. Well, many of those accusations turned out to be bunk. A Sentinel investigation would later reveal that nearly half of the 74 drug-trafficking cases that Lopez claimed Worrell had dropped were still working their way through the system and that other cases weren't prosecuted because of evidentiary problems. Interestingly, DeSantis teamed up with Lopez to go after Worrell in 2023 — the same year the state said it started investigating Lopez's crimes. 4. Attorney General James Uthmeier called the arrest 'solemn.' Anyone who has watched Florida's newly appointed attorney general knows he gets downright giddy when he talks about Worrell's removal from office. (As evidence, watch the press conference Uthmeier did last month in Orlando where he taunted Worrell with Sheriff Mina at his side.) But Uthmeier took a very different tone when Lopez was arrested, calling it 'a solemn day for Florida and our law enforcement community.' Lopez's arrest was definitely darkly serious. But it was probably especially solemn for members of the DeSantis administration who'd essentially made Lopez their lead character witness in the case against Worrell. 5. Lopez didn't put body cameras on all his officers. Three years ago, Osceola deputies shot and killed a 20-year-old man accused of shoplifting pizza and trading cards. Lopez said it was a fair shooting — but never had any body-camera footage to prove it. After that case raised questions and prompted a lawsuit, Lopez vowed to get to work on cameras. But that was the same thing he'd told the Sentinel more than two years earlier when he was first trying to get in office. Cameras are so commonplace nowadays that any sheriff or chief who chooses not to make body cams standard equipment is making an intentional decision not to give prosecutors and the public the full story. No body-cams rolled as Florida cops shot 20-year-old. That was a choice | Commentary 6. Lopez is innocent until proven guilty. Lopez hasn't been convicted of a thing so far. Maybe he never will be. He deserves his day in court. But the sheriff's office at large has a lot of questions to answer. Chief among them: How was this casino allowed to operate as long as it did? The Sentinel reported Wednesday that, prior to the sheriff's arrest, the sheriff's office had been dispatched to 'at least 50 incidents at The Eclipse casino.' Well, casinos aren't legal in Central Florida. So how many times should a law-enforcement agency have to show up at one before shutting it down? Osceola deputies made multiple responses to casino allegedly controlled by sheriff 7. He still shouldn't be in office. That is one of the main takeaways from all this: Even if you don't account for this recent arrest, Lopez has provided ample evidence that Osceola voters deserve better. Take it from the two different prosecutors who agreed on little else. smaxwell@
