Latest news with #OperationForcedLabor
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longtime I-Drive attraction goes on the market
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. An iconic Orlando attraction's building is on the market. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theatre Inc. put its building at 8267 International Drive up for sale Feb. 10 with an asking price of $11.9 million. The 5.37-acre property is being offered for a hotel redevelopment with approvals for 275 guest rooms. Read: Operation Forced Labor: Central Florida law enforcement arrest 29, save 4 human trafficking victims Charles Rudis of Remax 200 Realty in Winter Park is handling the sale. He said he believes the best use for the property will be a hotel, even though the site abuts two other hotels: a Fairfield Inn & Suites and the Element Orlando. 'There's room for more … especially with Epic Universe coming in across the street.' Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘This plane is unrecognizable': pilot killed in single plane crash in Flagler County
Investigators with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office spent several hours, going through the night, in a wooded area near State Road 11 Saturday morning. That was the final destination where authorities say they found what was left of the small plane. 'It was the worst condition that you could imagine to try to find an aircraft,' said Sheriff Rick Staly from Flagler County. The more than 12 hours-search ended with a tragedy – the plane's pilot was killed in the crash. Read: Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, Aldi put some limits on egg purchases 'Last night, about 8 p.m., the Sheriff's office received a call about a missing aircraft. The last known location on the radar was in this general area of Lake Disston. Channel 9 obtained radar video showing the moment the aircraft seems to disappear while flying 2,000 feet up in the sky. The plane had taken off around 6 p.m. from Sebastian Airport and was headed to the Palatka airport when it lost contact with the base near DeLand. Read: Operation Forced Labor: Central Florida law enforcement arrest 29, save 4 human trafficking victim Later, just past midnight, the aircraft was found in Bunnell. The Drone 9 video above shows the heavy wood, the farm-like spot where investigators were focused. According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the Cessna Caravan is registered under the company Eagle Air Transport Inc., based in Chicago. The ten-seater plane is used for skydiving. 'Deputies went there, and basically, this plane is unrecognizable from the impact into the ground,' the Sheriff said. According to the company, the pilot was the only person onboard the aircraft when the malfunction was reported. Read: A historical marker is unveiled to commemorate the site of the original Jones High School In a statement sent to Channel 9, Eagle Air Transport said: 'We became aware around 8 p.m. last night of an incident involving one of our aircraft. Around 6 p.m., an experienced pilot departed Sebastian, FL, en route to Palatka. The aircraft did not make it to its destination for unknown reasons. We have little information beyond this and are working with local and federal authorities on the ongoing investigation.' The FAA sent the following statement: 'A Cessna 208 crashed in a field in southern Flagler County, Florida, around 1:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, February 15. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A historical marker is unveiled to commemorate the site of the original Jones High School
Elected officials and former students were amongst the crowd that gathered today to honor Parramore's unique history by unveiling a state historical marker commemorating the original Jones High School and Callahan Elementary School. There was a time when the Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center we know today honed the original site for Jones High School. The original Jones was built at the corner of North Parramore Avenue and West Washington Street, later opening in the 1922-23 school year. Read: Light showers to kick off weekend, sunny skies to come Jones High School was the first and only high school for Black students in Orlando, playing a critical role in the education and empowerment of the Black community during segregation. Read: Operation Forced Labor: Central Florida law enforcement arrest 29, save 4 human trafficking victims The school was named Jones because the family of L.C. Jones donated the land for the construction. Prior to that, Black students attended school at Whitson Academy, which operated at the corner of Jefferson and Chatham Streets. Read: Virally famous PopUp Bagels pursues Central Florida locations The school was believed to have been established in 1895. It has been relocated to 801 Rio Grande Ave, Orlando, FL 32805 and has continued to provide students with positive experiences and academic here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Massive Florida human trafficking bust: 29 arrested for prostitution and drug charges, 4 victims rescued
The Brief A recent Florida undercover operation led to a massive human trafficking bust. The Lake County Sheriff's Office said they were able to arrest 29 people for prostitution and drug charges, as well as rescue four victims. Officials said they were able to provide resources to safely relocate and stabilize the victims. Detectives said they were able to arrest one of the suspects responsible for trafficking one of the victims during the investigation, and additional arrests related to the remaining three human trafficking victims are pending further investigation. LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - A recent Florida undercover operation has led to a massive human trafficking bust. The Lake County Sheriff's Office said the operation led to the arrest of 29 people for prostitution and drug charges. In addition, deputies reported rescuing four victims. They said they were able to provide resources to safely relocate and stabilize them. The backstory The Lake County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Bureau recently conducted a three-day human trafficking operation, which they called "Operation Forced Labor." Reports show that the operation was conducted from Feb. 6-8 at an undisclosed location in the central part of Lake County. Deputies said the focus of the undercover operation was the identification, safe recovery and stabilization of human trafficking victims. The investigation was a collaboration between detectives from the Clermont, Eustis, Leesburg and Mount Dora police departments, along with detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security. During the operation, detectives said they worked in an undercover capacity using various known prostitution websites to solicit prostitutes and individuals looking for services provided by prostitutes. During the operation, 33 individuals traveled to meet undercover detectives with the intent of engaging in criminal activity, officials stated. What's next Detectives said they were able to arrest one of the suspects responsible for trafficking one of the victims during the investigation: Darion Smith. Additional arrests related to the remaining three human trafficking victims are pending further investigation, reports show. Officials from multiple organizations said they collaborated to help provide monetary aid to the victims to supplement necessary expenses associated with recovery and stabilization, such as food, clothing, temporary lodging and transportation. Lead detectives said they plan to maintain communication with the victims to support continued stabilization efforts and to attempt to facilitate relationships between victims and non-governmental support organizations. What they're saying "This was a collaborative effort," Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell said. "Our detectives and other law enforcement partners worked very hard together to identify and rescue these victims of human trafficking and connect them to valuable resources that are available to assist them. We want these victims to know there is a way out." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Warm and windy with rain conditions expected
If you have outdoor plans this weekend, we can expect some nice and warm weather, although be prepared for windy and rainy conditions on Sunday. Tonight, there is a chance of some moisture in the air, which may lead to a few light rain showers later in the evening. The risk for these light showers will continue through the night, depending on whether the warm front moves northward. The Daytona500 will start an hour earlier at 1:30 pm1:30 p.m. to get ahead of the late afternoon rain that's expected around 4 to 5 p.m. READ: Operation Forced Labor: Central Florida law enforcement arrest 29, save 4 human trafficking victims We'll also have a windy Sunday afternoon with gusts over 35 miles per hour. For the rest of Presidents Day weekend, we're looking at much warmer temperatures tomorrow, with only stray morning rain showers expected. Another cold front will arrive on Sunday, so there is a good chance of rain and thunderstorms. Presidents Day will be cooler, with high temperatures in the upper 60s. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
