Central Florida News
Roger Chapin Wins Orlando District 3 Runoff, Defeating Establishment-Backed Mira Tanna
Published
11 months agoon
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Roger Chapin won Tuesday night’s runoff election for the Orlando City Commission District 3 seat, defeating establishment-backed candidate Mira Tanna with 51.33% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Chapin will become the district’s first new commissioner in nearly two decades, following the retirement of longtime incumbent Robert Stuart.
Chapin entered the runoff with a strong advantage, backed by several high-profile endorsements. His supporters included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, outgoing District 3 Commissioner Robert Stuart, Orange County Sheriff John Mina, former opponents Chris Durant and Kimberly Kiss, local police and firefighter unions, the Orlando Sentinel editorial board, the Orlando Regional Realtors Association, and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association.
Fundraising Edge and Name Recognition Boost Chapin
Chapin also benefited from a substantial fundraising lead. His campaign reported $293,000 in contributions—more than double Tanna’s $114,000. His name recognition as the son of former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin further strengthened his visibility among voters.
The runoff followed a tight Nov. 4 general election in which Chapin and Tanna emerged from a five-candidate field separated by only 14 votes, with neither securing the required majority. That narrow margin set the stage for Tuesday’s decisive head-to-head contest.
District 3 includes Baldwin Park, Audubon Park, College Park, Rosemont, and several neighborhoods north of Colonial Drive.
Democratic Establishment Support Falls Short for Tanna
Tanna ran with the backing of a wide network of Democratic, labor, and grassroots organizations. Her endorsements included
Federal and State Officials:
U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost
State Senators LaVon Bracy Davis and Carlos Guillermo Smith
Former State Senator Victor Torres
State Representatives Anna V. Eskamani, Johanna López, Rita Harris, and Rashon Young
Local Officials:
Orange–Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell
Orange–Osceola Public Defender Melissa Vickers
Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado
Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph
Orange County Commissioners Mike Scott and Nicole Wilson
Orange County School Board Member Angie Gallo
Orange County Soil and Water Supervisors Dr. Jim Moyer and Matthew Grocholske
Orlando City Commissioner-Elect Tom Keen
Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner
Organizations and Unions:
Ruth’s List Florida
SEIU Florida
Central Florida AFL-CIO
Florida Rising
Equality Florida Action PAC
Florida NOW PAC
Orange County Classroom Teachers Association
Orange County Environmental Caucus
Young Democrats of Orange County
Sierra Club Florida
Despite the extensive coalition, the broad establishment support ultimately did not translate into a runoff victory.
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Business
New AdventHealth Middleton Clinic Brings Pediatric Specialists, Urogynecology Near The Villages
Published
1 day agoon
October 30, 2026The multispecialty clinic features 24 treatment rooms, pediatric imaging and services designed to bring care closer to Middleton families.
MIDDLETON, Fla. (FNN) — Families in Middleton have a new option for pediatric and women’s specialty care with the opening of the AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic, according to an Oct. 29 news release from AdventHealth.
Located at 2274 Alder Ave., the clinic brings together pediatric primary care, pediatric cardiology, pediatric orthopedics and women’s urogynecology services. The facility includes 24 treatment rooms, a pediatric X-ray room and spaces for children’s heart screenings.
Bringing care closer to families
Middleton, a master-planned community along Central Parkway, is home to approximately 1,200 families and households, many with residents who work in and around The Villages, according to the release.
For Jenny Trew, whose family was the first to move to Middleton, the new clinic could mean fewer long trips for routine appointments. She has been driving nearly an hour to Clermont for pediatric care for her 13-year-old twin sons, Jasen and Jackson.
“Going to the pediatrician usually means pulling both boys out of school, taking time away from work and making a day out of something that should be pretty simple,” Trew said in the release.
Having a pediatrician in the neighborhood will make it easier to balance health care appointments with work, school, sports and other activities, she said.
Dr. Vanessa Carroll, chief medical officer of AdventHealth for Children, said proximity matters when families are seeking care for a sick or injured child.
“Parents don’t want to take their child to just any doctor. They want someone they can trust, right around the corner,” Carroll said in the release. “Because when your child is sick or injured, an hour-long drive can feel even farther.”
Expanding women’s specialty services
The clinic also provides urogynecology services, including care for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor conditions.
The location gives women a nearby option for specialized treatment aimed at improving comfort, health and quality of life, according to AdventHealth.
“Women spend so much of their lives caring for others, and it can become very easy to put their own health last,” Kristen Toth, vice president of AdventHealth for Women, said in the release. “We want women to know there is care here for them, too.”
The clinic brings AdventHealth for Children and AdventHealth for Women together at one location to serve families through different stages of life.
Supporting students and schools
Middleton’s early childhood centers, two K-8 schools and high school collectively enroll more than 3,000 students, according to the release.
LeAnne Yerk, principal of The Villages Charter Elementary School, said access to nearby pediatric care supports students’ health and readiness to learn.
“As educators, we see firsthand that a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive in the classroom is deeply connected to their health and well-being,” Yerk said in the release.
She described the clinic’s proximity to schools as an important resource for students and families, helping connect health care with educational support.
Location and appointments
The AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic is located at 2274 Alder Ave., Middleton, Florida.
To schedule an appointment, call:
- Pediatric primary care: 352-467-7862
- Pediatric cardiology: 352-353-2788
- Pediatric orthopedics: 407-303-5687
- Women’s urogynecology: 407-303-1380
For online appointment information, visit MyMiddletonPediatrics.com for children’s services or MiddletonUrogyn.com for women’s services.
Central Florida News
Attorney General James Uthmeter announces 100 felony counts against Kissimmee man, sues AI platform
Published
3 days agoon
October 28, 2026ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday, Oct. 28, that a Kissimmee man faces 100 felony counts involving child sexual abuse material and images depicting sexual activity with animals. In a separate action, the state sued an artificial intelligence company accused of enabling users to generate sexualized images of children and other people without their consent.
The criminal case names Jerry Jesus Reyes, 26. The civil lawsuit targets Rengstorff Consulting Ltd., the company operating the A2E artificial intelligence platform.
“There is nothing more evil than the sexual exploitation of children, and anyone who possesses, shares, or creates these images is an active participant in that abuse,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
Tip leads to criminal investigation
According to the attorney general’s office, the Reyes investigation began with a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children concerning activity on a Snapchat account.
Detectives with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit used subpoenas and search warrants to link the account to Reyes, authorities said. Investigators reported finding files depicting the sexual abuse of children and sexual activity involving an animal.
The charges include:
- 86 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting sexual performance by a child.
- 13 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting sexual activity with animals.
- One count of transmitting child pornography by electronic device.
According to the announcement, the child sexual abuse material possession charges were reclassified as first-degree felonies because the case involved 10 or more images. First-degree felonies generally carry a maximum sentence of 30 years per count under Florida law.
The second-degree felony transmission charge carries a five-year mandatory minimum, according to the announcement, and a statutory maximum of 15 years. Third-degree felonies generally carry up to five years per count.
Reyes could face decades in state prison if convicted. His total sentence would depend on the convictions, applicable sentencing provisions and whether the judge orders sentences served concurrently or consecutively.
The attorney general’s office said Reyes was being held at the Osceola County Jail on $100,000 bond, with conditions of release prohibiting internet access and contact with minors.
Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Lauryn Day is prosecuting the case in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Separate lawsuit targets AI platform
In the civil case, the state alleges A2E allows users to upload photographs or videos of real people, including children, and generate nude or sexually explicit depictions without their consent.
The complaint also alleges the platform permits users to digitally alter adults to appear underage in sexualized imagery.
Although A2E’s terms prohibit certain abusive content, the state alleges the company failed to enforce those restrictions through adequate monitoring, consent verification and reporting of illegal material.
The complaint cites separate criminal investigations in Tampa and Tallahassee in which people allegedly used A2E to generate child sexual abuse material.
“Predators who traffic in the abuse of children and animals have no place in Florida,” Uthmeier said.
He added that companies profiting from AI tools that facilitate child sexual abuse material or nonconsensual sexual imagery “will be held accountable.”
State seeks injunction and financial penalties
The lawsuit, filed in Sarasota County, alleges violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
The state seeks a permanent injunction restricting the company’s provision of the challenged AI tools, restitution, recovery of profits and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per willful violation.
Reyes is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The allegations against Rengstorff Consulting have not been proven in court. Responses from Reyes or his attorney and the company were not included in the materials available for this report.
Central Florida News
FBI Director Kash Patel Addresses Global Threats, Crime-Fighting Partnerships at International Police Conference in Orlando
Published
4 days agoon
October 28, 2026ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — FBI Director Kash Patel discussed bureau priorities, violent crime and cooperation across jurisdictions during the 2026 International Association of Chiefs of Police conference at the Orange County Convention Center.
The annual conference and exposition, held Oct. 24-27, brought together law enforcement professionals from the United States and abroad for training, presentations and discussions about public safety.
Patel addressed the evolving global threat environment and the importance of partnerships among federal, state, local, territorial and international law enforcement agencies confronting violent crime and transnational threats.
FBI priorities and violent crime
Violent crime enforcement was among the priorities Patel discussed during his Orlando visit.
Published coverage of his weekly update from Orlando described a broader agenda encompassing cybercrime, fraud and other investigative responsibilities. The update also highlighted cooperation among the FBI, the Justice Department and state and local authorities.
The conference provided an opportunity for bureau leadership to discuss those priorities with police executives whose agencies work alongside federal investigators.
Cooperation across jurisdictions
Partnerships were a central theme of Patel’s appearance, including coordination among agencies at different levels of government and cooperation with international counterparts.
Transnational investigations can involve suspects, evidence and criminal activity spanning multiple jurisdictions, requiring agencies to work across geographic and institutional boundaries.
Published coverage of Patel’s visit also reported plans for meetings with the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the IACP Board of Directors.
Patel highlights partnerships in X post
“Great to be in Orlando visiting with our brilliant law enforcement partners,” Patel wrote in a post on X about the conference.
Patel described the gathering as drawing more than 20,000 law enforcement professionals, leaders and partners. He credited cooperation with the FBI for reductions in crime.
In the post, Patel cited a 20% reduction in the national murder rate and more than 54,000 FBI violent crime arrests, which he described as a 90% increase.
The post did not specify the reporting periods or underlying datasets for those figures. The statistics were not independently verified for this article..
Global threats and local policing
The changing threat environment was another focus of Patel’s remarks, connecting the FBI’s national responsibilities with challenges facing police departments and their international partners.
The gathering offered law enforcement leaders an opportunity to discuss shared concerns, exchange professional knowledge and strengthen relationships that support investigations.
FBI Director Kash Patel, right, participates in a fireside chat with IACP President David B. Rausch during the Closing General Assembly of the 2026 International Association of Chiefs of Police conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Florida National News.
Training and professional development
Beyond executive presentations, the four-day conference featured educational sessions, networking opportunities and an exposition showcasing products and services for law enforcement.
Organizers identified training, networking and exhibit hall education as the conference’s three central components.
The Orlando event brought those activities together to help police leaders develop their agencies and exchange approaches to public safety.
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Florida National News Staff | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
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