1st hearing in fight over release of Pulse 911 calls

Orlando, Fla. (AP) — A preliminary hearing will lay out ground rules for another hearing later this week on the fight between media companies and the city of Orlando over whether 911 calls from the mass shooting at a Florida nightclub can be made public.

Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber is presiding over Tuesday's scheduled hearing involving Orlando officials and nearly two dozen news organizations including The Associated Press, CNN and The New York Times.

The media lawsuit contends city officials are wrongly withholding recordings of 911 calls and communications between gunman Omar Mateen and the Orlando Police Department. Mateen was killed by police early June 12 after a standoff in the shooting at the Pulse nightclub that killed 49 people and wounded 53 others.

City officials claim the recordings are exempt under Florida law.

By Mike Schneider, Associated Press. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – June 28, 2016 @ 7:45 a.m.