Orlando

Rep. Thompson says FDLE Ignores Groveland Four Exoneration Pleas, Retaliates

Published

3 years ago

July 20, 2021

ORLANDO, Fla. – In 2019, State Representative Geraldine F. Thompson (D – Windermere) and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried met in Fried’s offices with administrators of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to discuss exoneration of the Groveland Four—four young African American men who in 1949 were falsely accused of raping a white woman in Groveland, Florida. After being represented by Thurgood Marshall, the United States Supreme Court granted a new trial for the Groveland Four in 1951. Though the Florida Cabinet, at the urging of Commissioner Fried, Representative Thompson and others, granted a pardon to the Groveland Four on January 11, 2019, Representative Thompson understood that a pardon is something that is granted to guilty individuals and she continued to push for exoneration to clear the names and have the innocence of the Groveland Four acknowledged.

Directors of FDLE indicated during the January 2019 meeting that they would review all information regarding the Groveland Four and issue an opinion. Nothing from FDLE has been forthcoming regarding the Groveland Four in 2021, though members of the families of the men have pressed for resolution. Representative Thompson’s contacts with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to urge exoneration of the Groveland Four have been ignored and instead FDLE filed a complaint against Representative Thompson with the Florida Commission on Ethics regarding an appropriations’ request that then Senator Thompson made for the Sankofa Project in 2016. The complaint from FDLE to the Florida Commission on Ethics was filed on April 28, 2021, outside of the five-year statute of limitations under which the Ethics Commission is bound.

Representative Thompson said, “This is reprisal from Governor DeSantis and his appointees including the Florida Secretary of State, Laurel Lee, who referred the Sankofa issue, despite no findings of improprieties, to the U. S. Attorney of the Middle District where she once worked. She also once worked for U. S. District Judge James Moody, the father of State Attorney General, Ashley Moody. Lee was appointed as judge by former Governor Rick Scott and as Secretary of State by Ron DeSantis and is married to former Florida Senator Tom Lee. The referrals from Laurel Lee and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement follow a lawsuit which Thompson filed in 2020 with the Florida Supreme Court. Representative Thompson won that lawsuit through a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court when the Court ruled against DeSantis and affirmed Thompson’s contention that the Governor acted unlawfully to appoint a constitutionally unqualified political crony to the Florida Supreme Court. “There was no finding of criminal wrongdoing regarding Sankofa after numerous examinations, so this is a reach and another approach to attack me in a different arena even though it is outside of the five-year statute of limitations which applies to complaints with the Florida Commission on Ethics. This is straight out of the Trump play book to use governmental agencies to bully and silence detractors,” said Representative Thompson.

Florida

Scottie Scheffler Wins Second Red Cardigan at 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

1 month 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.

Golf

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

Published

3 months ago

January 21, 2024

Mike Brodsky

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.

Golf

Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions Returns to Lake Nona

Published

3 months ago

January 17, 2024

Mike Brodsky

Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

ORLANDO, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions is back at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando Thursday, 1/18 through Sunday, 1/21. This tournament kicks off the LPGA Tour’s 74th season, featuring top women golfers, who have qualified by winning a tournament in 2022 or 2023, playing alongside celebrities from the world of sports, entertainment, and music.

Annika Sorenstam practices on the driving range for the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. (Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)

Comedy fans can watch Larry The Cable Guy entertain the crowd with his one-liners and banter. “Fresh Prince” fans can tune in to Alfonso Ribeiro in hopes of seeing him dance “The Carlton.” Bachelor fans can follow Ben Higgins or Wells Adams to see if they’re passing out any roses.

Sports fans can see some true legends in a different light. Basketball fans can look for Vince Carter, Ray Allen, or Chandler Parsons. Baseball fans can watch for John Smoltz, Albert Pujols, or Roger Clemens. Football fans will find Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, Marcus Allen, Brian Urlacher, and Charles Woodson.

You’ll find many other actors, musicians, and champions of various sports. If you’d like to watch some fun golf while also celebrity spotting, be sure to visit the tournament’s website to get your tickets, and to see who else will be playing this year.