Orlando

Outside attorney: Government's case relies on 'finks and vermin'

Inset photo by Headline Surfer® / Will the jurors in the Volusia County mortgage fraud case believe government witnesses Sidney Coton and Christopher Mencis, who have already pleaded guilty and subsequently testified in exchange for lighter sentences or will they believe defendant James Sotolongo, shown at left in the display photo with his attorney, who didn't take the stand in his own defense? The jurors begin deliberating on Friday morning.

ORLANDO -- Federal prosecutor Tanya Wilson apologized to the jury of 12 on Thursday in closing arguments for the cast of unsavory characters she had to rely on to make her case of mortgage fraud against the three individuals from the Daytona Beach-area on trial in the courtroom.

Legal sources: Clear cut conflict of interest for jurist who may be forced to recuse himself from presiding at trial that begins Tuesday

Photos for Headline Surfer® / The big question heading into the trial for Jim Sotolongo and Ramara Garret, shown in the inset, is whether U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr., shown at far left, will be presiding.

ORLANDO -- Before he was nominated by President Obama and his appointed ratified by the U.S. Senate in 2011 for a federal judgeship in the Middle District of Florida, Roy B. Dalton, Jr.,was a member of the board of trustees for the Orlando-based Seaside National Bank& Trust for four years before laving to assume his position on the bench.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. -- A dolphin that washed ashore Thursday is being cared for by SeaWorld in Orlando, beach officials said.

Photo for Headline Surfer® / William Guthrie, an attorney with Foley & Lardner LLP, has been tabbed by Gov. Scott to fill one of three vacancies on a statewide board.

ORLANDO -- An Orlando attorney is among three appointees to the Community Association Living Study Council made by Gov. Rick Scott.

Was longest-serving member of the House until his death

Photo for Headline Surfer / Florida's longest serving Congressman, CW Bill Young, shown here at left, died Friday. He was 82.

ORLANDO -- Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement earlier tonight from Orlando regarding today's passing of Florida U.S. Congressman C.W. Bill Young, 82, and the the longest-serving Republican in the House, who had been hospitalized in recent weeks at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

“Ann and I join all Floridians as we mourn the passing of Representative Bill Young," Scott said in a statement e-mailed to Headline Surfer and other Florida media outlets.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Victor Oladipo was in action Sunday in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League opener at the Amway Center, scoring 18 points with seven assists, six rebounds, five steals and two 3-pointers in the Magic’s 95-88 defeat of the Boston Celtics. The Magic are hoping the Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, can transition from college shooting guard to NBA point guard.

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic have signed rookie guard Victor Oladipo, who was drafted second overall by the team in the 2013 NSBA draft, General Manager Rob Hennigan has announced.

Headline Surfer graphics / The crash of a van into a neighbor's home early Wednesday was the freshest news in the Google News Directories for Orlando as shown in the snapshot graphics at left and below.

ORLANDO -- Headline Surfer demonstrated once again why it truly is the 24/7 internet newspaper, picking up a bizarre motor vehicle crash early this morning under cover while the much bigger media outlets were asleep.

The brief story, headlined, "Florida Highway Patrol: Orlando man falls asleep at wheel of new Dodge Caravan; crashes into neighbor's garage," was filed just after 5 a.m. and picked by by the Google News Directories within 5 minutes where it was trending online as the freshest offering.