Central Florida News
Ruth’s List Florida Endorses “Ineffective” Orange County Lawmaker in HD 44 Race
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The voters in Florida House District 44 will vote in a rematch election between former State Representative Daisy Morales and incumbent State Representative Rita Harris as the 2024 Primary race begin to heat up over Ruth’s List Florida endorsement of Harris.
Morales campaign recently fired off a press statement responding to a news article written in FloridaPolitics.com announcing Ruth’s List Florida endorsement of Rep. Harris, a first-term lawmaker who defeated Morales during the August 2022 Democratic primary.
The Honorable Jennifer “Rita” Harris, Florida State Representative (2022-2024) Photo: Florida House
Morales continue to slam Harris as “ineffective” and called her the “worst lawmaker in the Orange County state delegation.”
Rita Harris’ 2023 Report Card: Bills Passed 0
“With a disastrous record of zero wins in passing seven different pieces of legislation in the Florida House, Harris recently filed for re-election, kicking off her campaign as an ineffective lawmaker,” Morales stated previously.
Daisy Morales’ Campaign full statement:
“Ruth’s List is wasting its time endorsing an ineffective candidate and showing its partiality ahead of the 2024 election,” said former State Representative Daisy Morales.
In 2014, I was first elected to countywide office and trained with Ruth’s List several years ago like other women candidates; and stood alongside Ruth’s List on the front lines to support them, yet while I was the only woman running against four men in 2020, they still choose not to endorse me, despite how much I supported them. As the only woman—and only Puerto Rican woman—running for a State House seat at the time, endorsing me would’ve been a powerful sisterhood statement on their part and showed what it means for Puerto Rican girls who want to make a difference in the Democratic Pro-Choice women movement. Ruth’s List missed a prime opportunity.
The Honorable Daisy Morales, Florida State Representative (2020-2022) Photo: Florida House
“As for the disinformation still being spread about me, I didn’t break with my Party on a handful of bills. One, that’s vague.
Do the homework and specify which bills because while the announcement in Florida Politics links to HB 1033, the incorrect bill is typed out, showing “HB 1220” instead. Two, I also love how the 2021 tax bill, HB 15 taxation legislation, I co-sponsored with nearly 10 Democratic lawmakers, is used as an example of me breaking with the Party when in fact Democrats voted in favor of the Senate companion bill (SB 50) since it included a tax break for Floridians.
Since the Republicans are the majority, there will be times when we vote with them on bills. It happens.
“What is the magical number for how many times you choose to make a bipartisan vote or not vote at all that suddenly makes you a problem in the eyes of the Party? Because there are many examples of other Democrats voting with Republicans on legislation or not voting, yet I don’t see anyone else getting ostracized or smeared.
“I was voted a pro-Floridian lawmaker by two Progressive organizations, Progress Florida and Florida Watch, based on my voting record, which includes reproductive freedom. My voting record was graded at 97 percent in 2022 in the top three percent of 56 Democratic lawmakers along with Rep. Anna Eskamani, Rep. Ben Diamond, and then representative Carlos Smith, above many of the most prominent names in the Party. As a rookie lawmaker at that. I’m not sure how anyone can paint a broad brush saying I don’t vote with my Party.
“Now that Harris’s first Legislative Session (2023) is behind her, the voters of District 44 and the state of Florida have something to measure her by: her legislative record.
In her first term, she delivered sound bites, but not results for the people of District 44 and the people of Florida. Out of her seven sponsored bills, one had no Senate sponsor, and one, the Holocaust Bill, only made it through one committee, though it should’ve made it to the House floor and been signed into law by the governor.
Morales Highlight Legislative Accomplishments
“As a freshman lawmaker, I was able to move my very first piece of legislation, the Barber Services bill (HB 855), to the House floor with bipartisan support (with seven cosponsors) and it got signed into law in the middle of the pandemic. The language for my Commercial Telephone Solicitation bill (HB 857) was included in another piece of legislation that was signed into law, also during the pandemic. And while my Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans bill (HB 1347) passed on the House floor (with nearly 20 cosponsors) and the Senate companion bill died in 2021, I re-introduced it (HB 45) in 2022 and it was signed into law.
“Also in 2022, my Property Tax Exemption bill (HB 13), which was added to the massive historic taxation bill (HB 7071) and signed into law, gives widowed, widower, blind, and totally disabled Floridians an increased homestead tax break from $500 to $5,000. Plus, my Specialty Tag legislation (HB 213) for those with Down Syndrome was added into the larger Specialty Tags legislation that was signed into law.
“That’s results, and that’s what matters to the voters.
HB 1033 / SB 1076 Reproductive Health Protections Rights Bill Received Lukewarm Support from Democrats
“Ruth’s List called Harris a ‘champion’ for reproductive rights, but her reproductive bill wasn’t signed into law. She—and Ruth’s List—couldn’t even get the Party to fully get behind her to cosponsor her reproductive rights bill, and there are plenty of Democrats in the Florida House to back her. Three, Reps. Eskamani, Casello, and Edmonds, out of 34 Democrats cosponsored the bill. The Democrats in the Florida Senate didn’t cosponsor the companion bill. It was dead on arrival. There are 12 named Democrats in the State Senate—male and female alike—who tout themselves as very passionate about reproductive rights, yet none of the other 11 cosponsored that bill.
“Ruth’s List is an advocacy group, but it appears they dropped the ball on getting Democratic cosponsors for this bill. The voters would expect that reproductive rights legislation this important wouldn’t be given to a rookie to push through committee, especially in light of the Roe v. Wade reversal.
This is legislation you give to at least a sophomore or definitely senior lawmaker to make sure it gets support and makes it to the House floor for a vote. Veteran lawmakers understand the ins and outs of how to get legislation moving—including working across the aisle, which is how you get results when your party is not the majority.
“Women’s advocacy groups like Ruth’s List are much needed, but they must be fair and impartial, not a hub for cliquish behavior, because then the women of Florida suffer with no results that benefit them.
“Champions get things done and deliver results for the people of Florida.” Rita Harris is no champion to the voters of Florida House District 44.
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Central Florida News
Attorney General James Uthmeter announces 100 felony counts against Kissimmee man, sues AI platform
ORLANDO, 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.
Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon. Photo by Florida National News
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.
Potential prison penalties
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
ORLANDO, 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.
Photo by Florida National News
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
