Orlando

State Rep. John Cortes Endorses Supervisor Daisy Morales for State Representative

Published

6 years ago

May 27, 2020

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – The Daisy Morales for State Representative HD 48 campaign announced today that she’s been endorsed by former Democratic Deputy Whip and State Representative John Cortes for State Representative, District 48. Morales announced her endorsement in a press release.

The release states: Representative Cortes, a retired New York City Corrections Officer, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014. He currently represents part of Osceola County in House District 43.

“With a steadfast drive to serve her constituents and be as accessible to them as possible, Supervisor Daisy Morales is deeply rooted in the community,” said State Representative John Cortes. “She has no problem working with elected officials across county lines, and she’s no stranger to Tallahassee, having advocated for various issues such as housing, agriculture, the environment, and working wages.”

Cortes added, “She’s a strong advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves, which is exactly what we need in Tallahassee. She is someone that I know and trust, and I look forward to working with her to become the next State Representative of House District 48.”

“It is wonderful to have the backing and guidance of Representative Cortes,” said Supervisor Morales. “I’m honored to have the support of a remarkable public servant at the state level who works every day to keep Floridians safe and plan for smart growth. We share a strong dedication to public safety.”

Morales retired from the U.S. government after working 24 years for various agencies, including the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and State Department.

“I am a candidate the voters in House District 48 already know and trust for the last six years as their elected Supervisor with the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District,” Morales noted. “They know I have a proven track record of creating partnerships with diverse communities and working with elected officials in both parties to get things done for the benefit of the people.”

Being consistently active and visible across Orange County has resulted in over 256,000 voters re-electing her to a second four-year term in 2018. Over 33,700 voters in House District 48, which is part of Orange County, also used their voice and vote to keep Morales in countywide office.

It’s clear that Morales has made a name for herself as being the face of public engagement at community events and working with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels.

She was the first Orange County Soil & Water Supervisor to be sworn in to office by a member of Congress in 2014: then Congressman and Democratic firebrand Alan Grayson administered the oath of office. In 2018, Morales tapped Orange County’s first African American Mayor, Jerry Demings, to officiate her re-election swear-in ceremony in 2018. At the time, Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang attended the ceremony as Morales’s special guest.

Supervisor Daisy Morales, Nelson Pena, Anthony Tsonis, and Samuel Vilchez Santiago, all Democrats filed to run for Florida House District 48. Jesus Martinez is the first Republican candidate to file paperwork on May 26, 2020 to run.

The ballot qualifying deadline is June 12, and the primary election happens August 18.

Golf

Russell Henley Wins Red Cardigan at 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Published

1 year 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

2 years 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

2 years 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.