Orlando

Congresswoman Val Demings Says Orlando International Airport adding 18 new federal officers

Published

7 years ago

June 26, 2018

ORLANDO, FL – Today, Rep. Val Demings (FL-10) announced that Orlando International Airport (OIA) will be allocated 18 new, permanent Customs and Border Protection Officers by the end of 2018, including three arriving this summer. This is the first significant and permanent staffing increase since 2009, even as OIA’s international passenger load has grown by 89%.

Said Rep. Demings, “I am grateful that Orlando International Airport will be allocated 18 additional officers to help our international passengers get off their planes and through the airport quickly and safely. This increase in staffing has been one of my top priorities as a member of Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

“Orlando International Airport is one of America’s best, and Orlando is the number one visitor destination in our great country—something for which we should all be very proud. As we continue to grow our economy and attract new and returning visitors to Central Florida, it’s vital that our infrastructure keeps pace. Today’s news helps ensure that we can continue to grow safely and quickly for years to come.”

Background

Customs and Border Protection currently has a shortfall of over 2,100 officers. The new agents are part of a nationwide hiring surge funded by the 2018 omnibus appropriations bill, which included $7.7 million for new officers. This appropriation was the result of efforts by Rep. Demings and others, who introduced legislationearlier in the year to fund additional staff.

Rep. Demings sits on the Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, with direct oversight over federal security at OIA. She has successfully led efforts to reduce and ultimately end TDY assignments from OIA’s two federal inspection stations and has protested attempts to shift CBP officers away from OIA.

From 2009 to 2016, international passengers arriving at Orlando International Airport grew by 89%, from 1.49 million to 2.83 million. However, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority reports that over the same period, Customs and Border Protection Officer staffing levels have remained flat. Even with maximum number of personnel in the facilities, the arrivals hall quickly overflows during peak times, forcing passengers to remain on aircrafts until previous arrivals have cleared Customs and Immigration. The new staffing additions should help to alleviate this backlog, processing visitors more quickly while maintaining a standard of excellence on security.

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Golf

Russell Henley Wins Red Cardigan at 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

7 days ago

March 9, 2025

Mike Brodsky

Russell Henley wins the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Russell Henley wins his first red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. This is Henley’s fifth win on the PGA Tour.

Russell Henley is greeted by his family on the 18th green after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Henley finished at 11 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 70 today. Collin Morikawa finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, finished today at 4 under par, tied for 11th place.

Scottie Scheffler tees off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

NFL

UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM

Published

5 months ago

October 30, 2024

Mike Brodsky

UCF Hall of Fame Inductee Shaquem Griffin Launches Search For Greatness Combine With Joey Grant and GMTM

Former UCF football players Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant have partnered with GMTM to launch their Search for Greatness Combine at UCF on Saturday, November 9th. They’re giving local athletes a chance to showcase their talents and explore new sports opportunities. Griffin will be inducted into the UCF Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 2nd, during halftime of the Arizona vs. UCF football game. He is remembered for his tenacity, setting an NFL Combine record with the fastest 40-yard dash by a linebacker, and playing four seasons in the NFL, overcoming the challenge of only having one hand. He is now training to make the USA Paralympic Track and Field Team and hopes to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Joey Grant, the co-founder and CEO of GMTM, is a former UCF team captain, playing mostly Center for the Knights from 2011-2015.

Participation at the upcoming combine is free and invite-only, targeting athletes over the age of 18. To be considered, athletes must submit a highlight video via GMTM’s platform, showcasing their athleticism. GMTM will evaluate submissions and invite the most promising athletes to participate in the combine. The goal for this year’s event is to get 1,000 athletes to submit videos and be part of the combine process. Athletes chosen will receive personalized invites with further instructions, including event time slots and details. The athletes will be evaluated for their key athletic traits, to identify opportunities for them across multiple Olympic sports or professional sports programs. To learn more, or to apply for the combine, visit: https://gmtm.com/articles/the-search-for-greatness-at-ucf-with-shaquem-griffin-what-you-need-to-know.

Florida National News spoke with Shaquem and Joey about the combine, college football in the era of NIL and the transfer portal, and Griffin’s hall of fame induction. You can watch the full interview here:

Shaquem Griffin and Joey Grant interview

Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com and www.FloridaSportsChannel.com for more.

Florida

Scottie Scheffler Wins Second Red Cardigan at 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

1 year ago

March 10, 2024

Mike Brodsky

Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – Scottie Scheffler wins his second red cardigan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, today, along with $4 million of the $20 million prize pool. The red cardigan was first awarded in 2017, in memory of Arnold Palmer who passed the year before. Scheffler first won the API in 2022.

Scottie Scheffler wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

The number one ranked golfer in the world, Scheffler finished at 15 under par for the four day tournament, carding a 66 today. Wyndham Clark finished in second place at 10 under par. API defending champion, Kurt Kitayama, did not make the cut, this weekend, finishing 7 over par after the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.

This coming week, the top golfers head to TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, for the 50th anniversary of The Players Championship. The winner will walk away with $4.5 million of the $25 million up for grabs. This is the PGA Tour’s largest regular season purse. Stay tuned to www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.