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Orange County Jail Continues to Help Incarcerated Veterans Find Their Way

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ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Now in its fifth year, the Orange County Corrections Department Armed Forces Dormitory, which opened in November 2012, continues to exceed expectations as a blueprint for other correctional organizations seeking to establish similar programs. Making the dorm so unique is not just that it is for incarcerated military Veterans, but that those Veterans are supervised by correctional personnel who are also military Veterans or reservists.

The unit serves as a place where incarcerated Veterans can find solace among other members of the military and receive re-entry services designed to meet their specific needs. On the walls, one will find hand-painted military insignias, left behind by a former resident who painted them to represent the various branches of service both the inmates and staff represent. In comparison, the dorm is similar to many others at the Orange County Jail, but there is a different sense of order and pride on the floor. Here conversations among inmates, officers, as well as program managers often bridge across a common language of jargon and shared experiences from their past military lives.

The dorm, originally orchestrated by Orange County Correctional Captain Malik Muhammad, who is also a military Veteran, provides counseling, treatment and re-entry support while allowing Veterans to repay their debt to society. While the dorm offers a variety of supportive services, their Veteran status does not overlook the circumstances which led to their incarceration, nor excuse any behavior that may have caused hardship or pain to another.

Captain Muhammad explains that the effects from exposure to combat and military zones, coupled with substance abuse and mental illness is sometimes too much for many Veterans and likely why they are at a greater risk to be incarcerated than the general population.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 181,500 U.S. Veterans were incarcerated in prison and jails across the country in 2011- 12. Although the number is slightly lower in 2017, Veterans still make up approximately eight percent of all inmates in county and state correctional facilities.

https://newsroom.ocfl.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Veterans-article-photo.jpgEach incarcerated Veteran housed in the Armed Forces Dormitory is screened to meet a specific criteria. Individuals facing violent or more serious charges are not candidates for the program.

“We hope that through our efforts, we [correctional staff] are able to give them a glimpse of the individual they once were, and remind them that despite a temporary setback, they can again be that person who was so widely respected and contribute to their country, community and family,” said Captain Muhammad.

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NFL

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

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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.

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Florida

Scottie Scheffler Wins Second Red Cardigan at 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

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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.

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Golf

Lydia Ko and Jeff McNeil win the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions

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Lydia Ko win the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Sunday, January 21, 2024. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Lake Nona resident, Lydia Ko, has won the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations LPGA Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, while Mets All-Star Second Baseman, Jeff McNeil, has won the celebrities and amateurs competition. The four day tournament wrapped up Sunday. Ko takes home $225,000 of the $1.5 million prize pool, while baseball player McNeil wins $100,000 of the $500,000 designated for the athletes and entertainers.

 

Lydia Ko and Jeff McNeil win the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Sunday, January 21, 2024. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

Ko finished at -14, two strokes ahead of Alexa Pano. Defending champion, Brooke Henderson, finished third at ten under par. McNeil ended with 138 points using the Modified Stableford scoring system, in his first time competing in this tournament. Annika Sorenstam finished in second place amongst the celebrity golfers, with 136. Former Major League Baseball pitchers Derek Lowe and Mark Mulder tied for third place at 135.

The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions also announced today that they have extended their agreement with the LPGA to continue this tournament at Lake Nona for another five years, with a 65% increase in the prize pool money.

Stay tuned to Florida National News for more, and be sure to follow our Florida National News page on Facebook for more photos and videos from the tournament.

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