Writer and Co-Founder of The Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news for over tens years, starting and writing for several different websites, covering topics from politics to religion to movie and entertainment news.
The Tampa City Council approved $952,000 to purchase more than 600 body cameras for the Tampa Police Department on Thursday, a move Police Chief Brian Dugan says many members of his force may not like, but if they don’t like it, “then I suggest that you turn your badge in.”Continue Reading
During the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group meeting Thursday afternoon, Hillsborough Commissioner Sandy Murman discussed the recent in coronavirus cases as testing has risen during recent weeks. Murman warned that the George Floyd rallies and protests could further the spike, stating they “are like incubators for the virus.’’ “I’m pretty concerned,’’Continue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about several people who burglarized a jewelry store during the George Lloyd protests in Tampa last week, stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise. Check out the photo supplied by authorities below. Among the four images capture, one shows a suspect without aContinue Reading
An Austin teen named Brad Levi Ayala has medical treatment after a police officer shot him in the head with a projectile during a protest, Texas police confirmed. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told reporters on Monday that Ayala, 16, was injured during a protest over the weekend when the teenagerContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a group of women who allegedly broke into a liquor store and stole thousand’s of dollars worth of alcohol under the guise of the George Floyd protests. Lawrencia Dixon, 19, was been identified from the surveillance video from inside the store, thenContinue Reading
The NBA Board of Governors is expected to approve a plan to resume play on Thursday afternoon. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN summarized the latest plan for the league to invite 22 teams, 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams, to Orlando to compete in eight regular-season games. ThoseContinue Reading
New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones drew backlash on Tuesday when she claimed that the destruction of property “is not violence.” During an interview with CBSN, Hannah-Jones was asked how the rioting and looting from the George Floyd protests should be “interpreted.” “I think we need to be very carefulContinue Reading
A 77-year-old retired St Louis police captain who served 38 years on the force was shot and killed by looters at a pawn shop early Tuesday, authorities said. David Dorn was found dead on the sidewalk in front of the ransacked store. At the time of this writing, no oneContinue Reading
Republican Congressman Michael Waltz, spoke out against the violent protests Tuesday night, supporting President Trump’s call to deploy 28,000 National Guard troops in 28 states and the District of Columbia. Waltz, a National Guard Colonel appearing on Wednesday morning’s Fox and Friends, said the show of force was necessary to ensure protestsContinue Reading
As the protests and rallies in the wake of the George Floyd murder erupted and transformed in some places into riots, ripe with violence and looters. As part of the rage filled mobs descend on communities, journalists report being beaten, chased and even shot at by those rioting. In SeattleContinue Reading
The headlines at Mother Jones, Rolling Stone and other outlets describe Tony McDade as a transgender black man who was shot and killed by police. Sadly, the reports don’t lead with the key facts that McDade was wanted for the fatal stabbing of Malik Jackson and point a handgun atContinue Reading
Police details some of the looting and riot arrests from early Tuesday, listing Lady Nicole Nash, Javonta McCloud, and Eddie Bryant among those charges with inciting a riot. Anthony Koedel was arrested for organizing the attack as a “protest” but the event quickly turned violent and dangerous. Koedel, 29, ofContinue Reading
As some protests and rallies erupt into riots and lootings over the last few days, Orange County Sheriff’s Office shows Sheriff John Mina and Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon made headlines by kneeling and praying with protesters. According to WOFL, Rolon urged protesters to do their part “to make sureContinue Reading
President Trump signed an executive order yesterday for government agencies to enforce speech protections across the Internet as the editorial liberties and censorship from Silicon Valley companies continues to expand. Section 230 is a signature piece of legislation that protects outlets from lawsuits from content posted by users. Many socialContinue Reading
Tampa Bay Rays returned to the field with an informal, voluntary, light workout Monday at Tropicana Field. “It was great seeing everybody,” said manager Kevin Cash. “It was good to see some smiling faces.” Players, coaches and facility workers had their temperatures taken before entering the building. Everyone in attendanceContinue Reading
Disney presented their reopening plan today during an Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force meeting, proposing a July 11 date for Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom with a July 15 reopen date for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Jim MacPhee, senior vice president of operations for Disney World presentedContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court’s office is now offering certified court documents online as part of their efforts to reduce the possible spread of the Chinese coronoavirus. Clerk Pat Frank says the move toward accommodating the digital age during the last decade proved to be another opportunity for constituents toContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released the Sunshine State’s unemployment, a tragic stat which hit a record high in April, at 12.9 percent. The state’s unemployment rate tripled from 4.3 percent in March to 12.9 percent in April. Gov. Ron DeSantis hopes the state re-opening can bring some ofContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Justice charged Mawdo Malick Sallah, of Florida and South Carolina’s Kirk Douglas Johnson, with three counts of arson, two counts of using a fire or explosive to commit a federal felony and two counts of bank larceny Sallah, 33, and Johnson, 34, could face a maximumContinue Reading
OPINION The Tampa Bay Times editorial board took aim at Gov. Ron DeSantis, circling the wagons around Rebekah Jones, calling the incident a “smear job by DeSantis’ office” to elevate Jones beyond her credentials and actual contributions. “Gov. Ron DeSantis loves to share praise from Washington about Florida’s handling ofContinue Reading
Health Care Voter hosted the latest in its extended town hall series “Our Lives on the Line: The Hardest Hit” featuring four mayors from across the country. The discussion focused on some of the cities left behind by the Trump administration’s haphazard response to the coronavirus pandemic. Led by formerContinue Reading
