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Tag: Keith Landry

  • CAIR responds after DeSantis declares it ‘foreign terrorist organization’

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    TAMPA, Fla. — (DEC. 16 UPDATE): The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with a law firm and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announced the filing of a federal lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

    The suit comes days after the governor declared CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization. 

    According to CAIR, the lawsuit challenges what the organization calls DeSantis’ “blatantly unconstitutional” executive order targeting the Council on American-Islamic Relations, America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its Florida chapter, CAIR-Florida.

    CAIR-Florida plans to host a press conference in Tampa to address Tuesday afternoon to address the lawsuit.


    PREVIOUS STORY: The Florida chapter and the national headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Tuesday they plan to file a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    It comes one day after the governor declared CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization.

    The Florida chapter of CAIR says it will fight it out in court. 

    CAIR Florida says it was an attack on their First Amendment rights, that the accusations are baseless and that they look forward to proving that in court. 

    Hiba Rahim, CAIR Florida’s interim director, called the governor’s remarks an attack on the Constitution.


    “If you are truly American, America first, then you have to prioritize fighting against these types of attacks and standing with minority groups,” Rahim said. “Whether they are Muslim community or any other minority group. Because today the Muslims, tomorrow, someone else.”

    She added: “To our Governor, your designation has no basis in law or fact. You do not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally declare any American or an American institution a foreign terrorist group. Nor is there any basis to level this smear against our organization.”

    DeSantis posted an executive order (Florida Executive Order 25-244) to social media Monday night, declaring both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. The order said CAIR is an unofficial U.S. cover representing the Islamic community to conceal ties to Islamic extremist groups like Hamas.

    At a press conference on Tuesday in Miami, DeSantis said he welcomes the lawsuit.

    “I welcome the lawsuit because what will happen is that will give the state of Florida discovery rights, (to) be able to subpoena the bank records,” he said. “It would give us even more reason, I believe, and so this is something I know our attorney general is ready, willing and able to be fighting on this.”

    Rahim says she worries there will be threats, and that now is the time for all faiths to come together. She said the organization has nothing to hide.

    “We will respond to whatever comes our way — piece by piece, day by day,” she said. “And in the meantime, we will continue to uphold our vision and mission, which is to protect Americans and to enhance people’s understanding of Islam and Muslims and to defend civil rights.” 

    DeSantis says members of the legislature are crafting legislation to stop Sharia Law and that he hopes to codify these protections for Floridians against CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood in future legislation.

    “I think you’re going to see the legislature probably mirror what Texas has done, and ultimately that’ s going be in the best interest of the people,” DeSantis said.

    DeSantis added that CAIR has the right to sue Florida, but that the state’s attorney general has the right to get the financial information Florida needs to uphold the laws here.

     

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    Jeff Van Sant, Spectrum News Staff, Keith Landry

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  • Disconnect between two Florida databases could affect vote by mail

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — A disconnect between two Florida state databases could cause big problems for the 2026 elections all across Florida if it is not closed.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida DMV’s new license numbers aren’t updating in the state voter database

    • The disconnect mostly affects mail-in voters in Florida

    • Voters with new licenses are encouraged to update their registration info to avoid disruptions


    This year, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles started issuing driver’s licenses with more random numbers to better protect people’s personal information. Everyone who gets a new license will get a new number.

    But when people get those new licenses, the information is not going into the Florida Department of State database, which is used to verify IDs when voting.

    “If they don’t update their voter registration at all, then that data is not bundled up and sent to the Secretary of State and then down to the Supervisor of Elections,” Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph said.

    Orange County Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel says the gap between the FLHSMV database and the state department database is affecting people who need to vote by mail.

    Castor Dentel’s office reported last year that nearly 152,000 people voted by mail in Orange County. That’s about 25% of all the votes cast in that election.

    “We’re seeing people who have problems requesting their vote by mail ballot and other issues if they don’t update that driver’s license number,” Castor Dentel said.

    Castor Dentel says voters will be able to vote at the polls on election day by bringing their current ID or voter registration card, but some people who are trying to get a vote by mail ballots may not receive them as the databases do not talk to each other.

    “Not everyone can get out to the polls and vote,” she said. “Whether their work schedule does not permit it or they have disabilities that won’t permit it. So it is important that people do have access to the vote by mail.”

    Castor Dentel and Randolph are working on temporary solutions. Customer service workers at the tax collector’s office are asking every person who gets a license to update their voter registration, even if they don’t want to make any changes.

    “When my employee asks you to update your voter registration and you think, ‘I don’t have any changes,’ please just go through the steps. I promise if you go through those steps, you won’t have that issue,” Randolph said.

    Randolph says in the end, the solution must come out of Tallahassee.

    “In the longer term, the two state agencies, DHSMV and the Secretary of State, are going to have to work out their databases to cure this issue,” he said.

    Another short-term solution, Castor Dentel says, is people can call or visit the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office, and the staff will update their voter ID information, so it goes into the Department of State database correctly.

    Spectrum News reached out to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of State by phone and email on Tuesday to see what they are doing to fix this problem. We did not hear from either agency on Tuesday.

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    Keith Landry

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  • NeoCity Academy High School students are ready for high tech jobs now

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    KISSIMMEE, Fla. — It’s the top ranked high school in Central Florida, and it’s ranked second in Florida. The NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee offers a cutting-edge science and technology curriculum for students.

    It’s also making sure they are ready right away to meet the quickly changing needs of Orlando’s tech companies.

    What You Need To Know

    • Almost 90 students from NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee are working at 14 Orlando area companies

    • High school students who have STEM skills to meet fast changing needs of local tech companies

    • NeoCity Academy working to add artificial intelligence classes to remain competitive


    That includes Skywater Technology, which produces semiconductor chips for the aerospace, defense and automotive industries. The company has a cleanroom at Kissimmee’s NeoCity tech hub.

    Jaylon Prophet is a senior at NeoCity Academy, located right across the street from Skywater. This mechanical engineering student interns there five days a week after school, doing hands-on work.

    “They don’t really focus on the knowledge-based things, but actual application. They are teaching us things about the manufacturing process, getting gowned up and sort of being in the fab,” Prophet said.

    Prophet is one of almost 90 students from the academy working at 14 companies in Central Florida. They are young workers offering high tech skills.

    Almost 90 students from NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee are working at 14 Orlando area companies. (Spectrum News/Keith Landry)

    Jeremiah Swartz is the man behind this movement. The school’s experiential learning coordinator believes many traditional education models lag behind what companies need now.

    “If I can reduce that lag time, that’s what I want to do,” Swartz said.

    Swartz spends every day creating opportunities for students to earn certifications and to learn the most current tech and soft skills.

    “We can be great at our academics, but what are we doing for our students to be workforce ready within their careers? That’s what matters,” Swartz said.

    Senior Josera Barran is focusing on computer science and interns with Skywater Technology as well.

    “They’re seeing that we have all of the technical skills,” Barran said. “They’re seeing that we have all the soft skills, and they know that the workers that are pushed out of that school are going to be great for their companies.”

    Skywater Technology is right across the street from NeoCity Academy. (Spectrum News/Keith Landry)

    Skywater Technology is right across the street from NeoCity Academy. (Spectrum News/Keith Landry)

    Gustavo Gil is Skywater’s director of business operations. His team is comfortable using the school’s students for day-to-day work in the production facility and not just to do paper work.

    “NeoCity Academy in particular has such a strong program that we know we are getting students that are already college level,” Gil said.

    Prophet knows having tech industry experience in high school will make him more competitive when he enters the work force.

    “It’s definitely really important to have the skills on hand, because the industry really progresses really fast,” Prophet said.

    Swartz added that the academy is incorporating more artificial intelligence classes into its curriculum so students can remain on the cutting edge.

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    Keith Landry

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  • Attorney calls for transparency in Stardust Racers death investigation

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — The attorney for the family of the man who died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe on Sept. 17 held a news conference on Wednesday to discuss his death.

    Attorney Ben Crump began by emphasizing how Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was loved by his family, friends and others in his life.

    He noted previous reporting that said Zavala had a pre-existing spinal condition, one he said the 32-year-old had been living with since birth.

    Members of Crump’s legal team pointed out that Universal employees were at least partially aware of Zavala’s disability, because they made accommodations for it so he could experience the ride.

    Crump also addressed a letter that Universal sent to employees following the incident. In that letter Universal Orlando’s president said the ride operated as intended. 

    “It’s very important that it’s transparent, not only to Kevin’s family, but to your families, too,” Crump said, adding that he believed “everybody needs to know what were the safety deviations that caused this.”

    Thus far, investigators for Universal Orlando and the state have not reported finding any such deviations.

    Members of Zavala’s family also shared their thoughts at the news conference.

    “Like I told you, I don’t know what else to do in order for this guy here to help me out, that nothing else happens to somebody else in that attraction,” said Carlos Rodriguez Zavala, Kevin’s father. “I don’t want anybody else to feel how I feel right now.”

    Memorial services for Kevin Rodriguez Zavala will be held Friday, his family announced.

    Spectrum News 13 reached out to Universal for comments on statements by Crump and Zavala’s family. No response has been received yet.

    Officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that they did not have any updates to share about the investigation into Zavala’s death.

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    Keith Landry

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  • State confirms Universal’s finding that Stardust Racers ‘functioned as intended’

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Monday that state investigators came to the same conclusion as Universal Orlando concerning the death of 32-year-old Kevin Zavala, who died on Sept. 17 after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe.

    In a letter obtained by Spectrum News, Universal Orlando president Karen Irwin told employees that internal findings show the roller coaster “functioned as intended” and that “equipment was intact” throughout the duration of the ride.

    The FDOA, which regulates theme park rides, confirmed those findings in an announcement Monday, saying in a statement: “The department’s current findings align with those shared by Universal after monitoring the same tests and reviewing the same information.”

    “The investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available,” the statement added.

    What You Need To Know

    • Universal Orlando president Karen Irwin addressed employees about the recent death on Stardust Racers in a letter

    • Irwin states internal findings show the roller coaster “functioned as intended” and “equipment was intact”
    • On Monday, the Florida Department of Agriculture issued a statement that said its findings mirrored Universal’s

    • Park officials say the attraction will remain closed for the time being


    In the letter to employees, Irwin said that it appears there were no problems with the ride itself, and that operators did their job ahead of Zavala’s ride.

    “Our internal findings to date confirm that the ride systems functioned as intended, equipment was intact at the ride’s start, throughout the duration of the ride and upon the ride vehicle’s return to the station, and our Team Members followed procedures,” he wrote.

    Irwin added that the attraction will remain closed as the company continues to “work through a comprehensive review process in cooperation with the ride manufacturer of record.”

    The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office had investigators on scene Friday amid the ongoing investigation into the incident.

    Agency officials said that, “Universal has been extremely cooperative and has complied with all required notifications.”

    Joshua Stephany, M.D., the chief medical examiner for Orange and Osceola counties, said that an autopsy was performed on Thursday morning and Zavala’s death was caused by “multiple blunt impact injuries.”

    The cause of death was determined to be an accident.

    According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office incident report, investigators were told at the scene that Zavala had a pre-existing spinal injury.

    Attorney Ben Crump announced Monday in a statement that he will be representing Zavala’s family, and will be seeking additional information about the Stardust Racers roller coaster — including maintenance logs, inspection records, ride data and video footage — “to understand the circumstances surrounding Kevin’s death.”

    “This tragic loss demands a thorough investigation and full transparency,” Crump said in the statement. “A man died after boarding a ride that should have been safe. We will hold all responsible parties to account and fight to ensure Kevin’s family receives the answers and justice they deserve.”

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    Keith Landry

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  • Orange County provides $2 million for Wells’Built Museum fixes

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County commissioners approved $2 million this week to repair and modernize the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture.

    It tells the stories of African-American residents and visitors in Orlando from the 1920s up until today.

    The museum anchors a rich history in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood.

    It was originally a hotel, built in 1926.

    “Dr. William Monroe Wells built the hotel and a nearby entertainment venue for African Americans visiting Orlando. During the Segregation era, this hotel served as host to several now famous African American performers. On February 4, 2000, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places,” the museum’s website explained.

    The passing of time is taking its toll on the historic building. Outside, you can see the need for structural repairs.

    Inside, the museum needs major repairs to the air conditioning system, updates to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and several other structural repairs.

    Elizabeth Grace is the museum’s interim executive director.

    The museum was originally a hotel, built in 1926. The passing of time is taking its toll on the historic building. (Spectrum News 13/Keith Landry)

    “We are in a building that is over 100 years old,” she said. “So there is physical maintenance that needs to happen just to the building itself.”

    Grace is the daughter of the museum’s founder, the late State Sen. Geraldine F. Thompson, who opened the museum inside the historic building and pushed to fill it with unique exhibits to capture part of Orlando’s history.

    “It was her absolute passion for African-American history and for making sure the knowledge was available, not just for her, but for generations after,” Grace said.

    Displays from the 1920s through modern times capture various chapters in the region’s history. Grace showed Spectrum News 13 green books that include a list of hotels safe and welcoming for African-American travelers during a different era.

    The museum's interim executive director showed us green books that include a list of hotels safe and welcoming for African-American travelers during a different era. (Spectrum News/Keith Landry)

    The museum’s interim executive director showed us green books that include a list of hotels safe and welcoming for African-American travelers during a different era. (Spectrum News 13/Keith Landry)

    “Right here under hotels, you’ll see it has the Wells’Built and you’ll also see it was the only hotel that was listed here in Orlando,” she said.

    The money will also help preserve historic displays and art.

    It’s a local government’s commitment to maintain decades of stories about our region’s history and a renovation to keep an historic place and a powerful legacy moving forward.

    Orange County funding will also help to renovate the Wells’ Heritage Home.

    The museum tells the stories of African-American residents and visitors in Orlando from the 1920s up until today. (Spectrum News 13/Keith Landry)

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    Keith Landry

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  • Windermere police chief leads mission to support mental health of officers

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    WINDERMERE, Fla. — Responding to trauma and tragedies are part of the job for police, sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement officers across the country.

    What You Need To Know

    • Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden leading national effort to support police officers’ health

    • Ogden said the spiritual component can’t be ignored

    • He uses podcasts, public speeches, counseling programs and new book to reach his audience

    Too often, it has taken a hidden toll on their mental health. Advocates say police have a higher risk of suicide and divorce and other mental health challenges compared to the general population.

    Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden checks on the mental and spiritual health of his colleagues each day. Ogden has been in law enforcement for 38 years, and he knows the terrible toll responding to tragedies can take.

    “I have seen law enforcement officers unfortunately take their own lives in the line of duty, and I’ve seen them killed in the line of duty, and the devastation that leaves behind,” Ogden said.

    The law enforcement support group Sound Thinking says 170 law enforcement officers died by suicide in 2022 and that 122 took their own lives in 2023. Ogden is on a mission to boost the mental and spiritual health of police officers and their families.

    Ogden said the spiritual component can’t be ignored.

    “I’ve seen over the years, us talking about mental health, talking about physical health, but we refuse to talk about spiritual wellness and we refuse to talk about relationship wellness,” he said.

    Ogden spreads his focus on mental and spiritual well-being through podcast appearances, public speeches and magazine articles he writes on a regular basis.

    Next week, Ogden and his wife will travel to Colorado to counsel officers and their spouses through the Healing Warriors Program.

    Windermere’s top cop also wrote a book called “Seeds of Leadership.” It is a daily devotional with spiritual support for officers and deputies during their most difficult days. The book is small and will easily tuck in a police car console or in the visor.

    Ogden hopes officers will spend a couple of minutes each day reading the uplifting passages.

    “Maybe they open that book and maybe they just see something that just brings some good peace to them,” he hoped.

    Mark De Stefano is working with Ogden to support police. De Stefano was a sheriff’s deputy and police officer for 43 years. He says dealing with the deaths of children and the passing of two colleagues who took their own lives was very painful.

    “During my career, I went to 18 funerals of people I worked with, and that was my biggest trauma,” he said.

    De Stefano is president of Blueline Support, a 24-hour crisis hotline for law enforcement officers and their families.

    “Most people who call our hotline, they just want to talk. They want to vent. They want an ear away from their agency so they have someone to talk to,” De Stefano said.

    Ogden plans to retire in a few years, but he pledges unwavering support to stand with his brothers and sisters for years to come.

    “I think if you do something for 30 or 40 years, you should have the opportunity to finish well,” he said.

    This law enforcement leader is offering colleagues support during their toughest times, during their lifetimes of serving and protecting.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline. It is available 24 hours a day.

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    Keith Landry

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