John Torres

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | John Torres

It's always sad when you receive news that a former coworker has passed away. It's so much worse when that coworker was a kind, gentle, compassionate soul who spent her life fighting against social injustices the best way she knew how: with her writing. And she was a hell of a writer.

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | John Torres

Jeff Abramowski's 23-year journey to clear his name is not quite over. Despite the state agreeing to vacate his 2006 murder conviction after new DNA results showed it was highly unlikely he ever handled the murder weapons in the case, they are not ready to drop murder charges ... yet. Abramowski has been free on bond since mid-April waiting to see if the state will move forward to try him a third time for the murder of 78-year-old Dick "Cortney" Crandall in 2002.

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | John Torres

Well, it's a story that's definitely touched as nerve on both sides of the issue and it doesn't appear to be going away any time soon. I'm, of course, talking about "Namegate."The hullabaloo started when Satellite Beach High School teacher Melissa Calhoun's contract was not renewed because she violated the Parental Rights in Education law, known by detractors as "Don't say gay," by using a student's preferred name without parental authorization.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | John Torres

Orlando's first new major theme park in 26 years opened this week with the doors opening on Universal's Epic Universe, prompting me to ask, is Islands of Adventure really already 26 years old? Time really does fly. Except, of course, you're one of thousands waiting on a two-hour line in the scorching sun sipping on a $14.25 Belgian beer all to experience the four-minute "Curse of the Werewolf" roller coaster. Ah, the joy of an Orlando theme park.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | John Torres

I recently wrote a column about the Daily Bread soup kitchen closing its doors as it transitions from providing food to a housing-based model. I repeated a phrase in my piece I'd heard a lot in recent months about how the soup kitchen model is old fashioned and no longer works. That comment prompted David Brubaker, the CEO of the Central Brevard Sharing Center, to reach out to me with an email, inviting me to come have lunch at the sharing center's community kitchen.