Local News Now

Lesson in history? 2012 election year more like 1980 than 2008

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With the RNC and DNC conventions over, the presidential campaign escalates as the nominees battle for victory in November. When the results are in, will the voters stick with President Barack Obama or move on to a new president in Mitt Romney?

The Roundtable: The GOP convention in Tampa

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Headline Surfer videos for The Roundtable produced by Serafina Frederick / Dana Dougherty Swanson of DeBary joins the show as a regular panelist.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The hoopla of the Romney-Ryan ticket at the Republican National Convention in Tampa is critiqued in Headline Surfer's weekly online news and public affairs show, "The Roundtable."

Romney connected with the American people in acceptance speech

ORLANDO -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney descended upon the Republican National Convention in Tampa on a mission: to humanize himself and dispel caricatures portraying him as a corporate raiding automaton focused on profits and losses, not people.

If that was Romney’s aim, his forceful acceptance speech achieved solid footing for the 65-year-old successful businessman to capitalize on during the upcoming sprint to Nov. 6.

NIMBY: New Smyrna Beach residents oppose workforce housing on North Causeway

Housing siteWorkforce housing proposed, 100 block N. Causeway, NSB / Headline SurferHeadline Surfer photo by Henry Frederick / The 100 block of the North Causeway in New Smyrna Beach is being proposed for a 202-unit development that includes workforce housing, something nearby neighbors in the upscale Venezia neighborhood want no part of.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's known as NIMBY or "not in my backyard."

That was the message of some 250 New Smyrna Beach residents to a development on the North Causeway that includes workforce units or affordable housing for families making between $20,000 to $40,000 annually.

But the residents attending a special meeting at the Brannon Center called for by the project's developers want no part of the 239-unit apartment complex Causeway Landings.

The Sunday Conversation: Carl Persis

Headline Surfer video by Sera Frederick / Carl Persis didn't take power attorney Ted Doran lightly in the primary and he won't take surprise second-place finisher Jason Davis either in the general election. Click the video to hear more in 'The Sunday Conversation: Carl Persis.'

DAYTONA BEACH -- Carl Persis wants to become the face of Volusia County as its next elected chair. But standing in the way is surprise second-place finisher in the primary, Jason Davis.