Latest news with #9Investigates
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
FBI to meet with Pulse survivors, victims' families next week
The FBI plans to meet with Pulse shooting survivors and victims' families next week in Orlando. This is as dozens of survivors and victims' families are in Orlando for the Remembrance Ceremony on the 9th anniversary of the tragedy. Some--not all--are choosing to walk through the Pulse nightclub as the city opens the building up before its demolished. The city plans to build the permanent memorial at the site. The FBI says it will cover roundtrip travel and hotel stay for survivors and victims' families for two days next week. The email 9 Investigates obtained isn't clear about what exactly will be discussed at this meeting, but the FBI did state 'this is not an investigative update.' The agency writes in the emails to survivors and families, 'This is an opportunity for you to ask any outstanding questions as the FBI will be closing our case in the future.' This meeting is limited to the families and survivors. The public and press won't be allowed in. The FBI says in the email this is to protect survivors' and family members' privacy and safety. Those planning to attend the meeting are required to submit any questions they have for the investigative team in advance. They must fill out a form, and it's up to the FBI investigators on if they answer. They're also allowed to bring one support person with them. The FBI didn't release any other information. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New website launched by the State could address the issue costing Floridians their healthcare
For more than a year, 9 Investigates has reported on the problems with an online system that has caused some families to go hungry and others to lose healthcare. There now seems to be a fix for one of the many procedural issues that's cost Floridians both food stamps and their Medicaid. The Florida Department of Children and Families, which oversees the MyACCESS system for applicants, has launched a new website that streamlines the mandatory interview process for benefits seekers. A separate website also now allows users to schedule in-person appointments at a regional ACCESS Centers where people can get case updates and in-person help with their application. People who receive SNAP or Medicaid have always been required to complete mandatory interviews. They're also asked to upload documents verifying they really need the state's help. However, for months, 9 Investigates has brought you story after story of Floridians who lost health care and had to stretch the food in their fridge because they couldn't get past those two critical steps, due to issues with the MyACCESS portal, which launched in December of 2023…, Since then, Channel 9 has reported on the disconnecting phone lines, the website repeatedly down for maintenance, and user's documents disappearing after they've been uploaded. Now, instead of endlessly calling the state to try and complete mandatory interviews, Floridians can bypass some of that frustration and use this link to schedule their interview slot. Via the website, users get a time and date for their interview. They're told what number will contact them and get reminders until the interview happens. Community advocate Vanessa Brito has helped about 2 thousand people who have struggled with the call center and technical issues. She believes the new interview scheduling site will help those applying now. 'This is redeeming moving forward, but what are we going to do to deal with what has happened in the past and help those folks, who have already been affected and quite possibly lost benefit?' said Brito. Since Channel 9 began reporting on this issue over a year ago, the Department of Children and Families has stated that issues were due to 'user error.' However, in April, Channel 9 uncovered documents showing DCF has known about issues from the beginning. Channel 9 is still waiting for DCF's comment on that reporting. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 9 investigators reached out to DCF to ask them about the new websites. Channel 9 did not hear back before news time. the Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
FDLE investigating Orange County commissioners' use of Skybox tickets
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating how Orange County commissioners are using Skybox tickets. 9 Investigates obtained an email showing FDLE investigators requesting records from Orange County on all Skybox ticket receipts. FDLE specifically asked for the tickets issued to each county commissioner for each event from December 1, 2018 to the present day, in an email sent to the county on May 14. In a statement to 9 Investigates, the agency said it would not comment on complaints received or active investigations. Our 9 Investigates team has investigated how Commissioner Mayra Uribe gave hundreds of free Skybox tickets to her husband's former charity, All Star Dads. Some of these were tickets to big games like USA v Brazil and big-name acts like Bad Bunny, Travis Scott and Def Leopard. After our investigation, the county changed its Skybox policy. When Uribe announced she was running for Orange County mayor, she also told Channel 9's Ashlyn Webb that she would release information clearing up questions surrounding her use of Skybox tickets. Uribe said she would release that information by May 20. However, she hasn't released any new information so far. Check back with Channel 9 for updates. Do you have a story for WFTV's 9 Investigators? Click the banner below to submit a tip.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Amended lawsuit filed against FHP trooper accused of driving drunk, crashing into vehicle
A Morgan & Morgan attorney filed an amended complaint Thursday against a Florida Highway Patrol trooper accused of driving drunk and crashing into another vehicle. Derrick Connell, attorney for the person in that other car, spoke exclusively with Investigative Reporter Ashlyn Webb about Alexa Morales-Raftari's side of the story. Morales-Raftari is suing Trooper Wilfredo Febo, saying he got behind the wheel with an 'intentional willful and wanton disregard' and 'recklessness by his decision to drive while under the influence.' Connell filed a motion to add a claim for punitive damages against Febo. This updated suit comes after 9 Investigates reported Tuesday that Orlando Police Officers arrested Febo for DUI while the trooper was off-duty in March 2024. The charge was dropped after an Orange County judge said the officers were not credible and excluded nearly all evidence. 'You can only imagine how she feels to see the individual that caused her so much pain not have any consequences at that point,' Connell said. Photos shared by the firm with 9 Investigates show both Morales-Raftari's Nissan Rogue rear-ended and totaled from the collision. Febo's Ram truck was also totaled with airbags deployed. Derrick Connell says this very crash caused his client's neck and back injuries including a herniated disk. She's undergone several medical treatments and invasive procedures, he said. 'She has in excess of $75,000 of medical bills today,' Connell said. 'It's been nearly a year since the crash. What has that year been like for her?,' Webb asked. 'It's been terrible. She's had to suffer daily through these things. You know, having hope each day that maybe those injuries are going to get better with the next therapy, with the next doctor's appointment, with the next injection,' Connell said. Derrick Connell says this lawsuit will hopefully give his client the justice and closure she wanted. A jury will be tasked with deciding if Trooper Febo was negligent after they have a chance to watch the very body camera video we aired on WFTV. 'I have no idea how I ended up at fault in the crash,' Febo said. 'Well, I'm telling you, you rear ended a vehicle in traffic,' an officer said. 'How?' Febo asked. 'How? You drove your truck into the back of theirs. That's how,' an officer replied. Body camera video shows Trooper Febo declining to take field sobriety tests. 'I refuse everything,' Febo said. 'You're refusing everything,' an officer asked. 'Yes,' Febo replied. 'Stand up,' officers said. 'What? I'm trying. I'm not doing anything wrong,' Febo said. Connell says Febo's responses to officers along with his refusal to take the field sobriety exercises will be strong evidence to the jury. 'When a jury sees all of the things that they say, and whenever they get to hear about the smell of alcohol, when they get to see how he was acting, and then the fact that somebody who knows what those tests are meant to do, somebody who knows that those tests are typically, you know, pretty damning whenever you go to court. And he decided to not perform those. I think it's telling,' Connell said. The pending civil suit is happening as FHP says there is an active internal investigation into Febo. 'Do you think this trooper should still have a badge…If he was driving under the influence and caused a crash that your client was involved in?' Webb asked. 'Honestly, that's not for me to say,' Connell replied. 'Do I think that that is a horrible accident that could have been prevented with better judgment? Yes. Do I think that folks should be held to a higher standard whenever they are in that particular role and understand that? Yes.' We've reached out to Aaron Eagan, Febo's attorney on this case, but haven't heard back. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
