ICYMI

Bob Saget’s cause of death still under debate, Florida reps want to punish schools that required masks, and other news you may have missed last week.

» Bob Saget’s autopsy report shows multiple skull fractures, raises new questions

Comedian and actor Bob Saget was found dead in an Orlando hotel room last month. Since then, it has been revealed that Saget’s death was caused by a head injury, with multiple statements saying Saget hit his head, thought nothing of it, and passed away in his sleep. However, the recently released autopsy report has raised questions about this story. The autopsy report showed that Saget had multiple fractures to his skull, injuries to his eye sockets and bleeding on both sides of his brain — severe injuries that are atypical for a fall. While medical experts have weighed in to say that the injuries could be consistent with falling backwards onto a hard floor, still others note the injuries are more consistent with a fall down a set of stairs, or a bicycle, motorcycle or car accident. Sheriff John Mina appeared on CNN to reiterate that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office considers the investigation closed. They say that Saget died from trauma due to a fall. “There was no sign of a struggle,” Mina said. “There’s speculation he may have slipped in the bathroom.”

» Florida House wants to punish school districts who violated mask mandates

A House proposal unveiled last week would shift $200 million away from 12 school districts that required students to wear masks last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The House included the proposal in a budget plan that it will take up during a floor session this week. The proposal would redirect the $200 million to districts that did not require students to wear masks. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that he would rather allow lawsuits against the districts instead of taking away the money. “My view would be let’s not do that. But what you could do is say any parent whose kid was illegally forcemasked this [school] year in Florida in any of those districts, they should have the right to sue if their kids have any negative effects of it, if they have speech problems, if they have emotional problems, physical problems,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Jackson County. “They [school districts] flouted the law and they should be liable for the consequences of their actions.” The House proposal — dubbed the “Putting Parents First Adjustment” — would reduce money going to the school districts in Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Volusia counties. The Senate has not proposed shifting money away from the districts.

» Long-lost cat who disappeared in Maine found in Longwood, returned home after 7 years

A gray tabby cat named Ashes was less than a year old when she went missing from Chesterville, Maine, on Aug. 14, 2015. Denise Cilley said that her kitten disappeared during her daughter’s 10th birthday. Then, about two weeks ago, Cilley received a call from a Seminole County veterinarian saying that her cat had been found in Longwood — 1,500 miles away. She was confused because she didn’t have a missing cat, especially not in Florida. And then it clicked. A couple in Longwood had found the “stray” cat and fed her. A trip to the veterinarian uncovered a microchip, and Cilley was given an unbelievably unlikely call. Cilley said the microchip that allowed her to reunite with Ashes is “like magic.” A family friend in Florida temporarily took custody of the cat until Ashes could be chaperoned home to Maine by a flight attendant who was touched by the story. “I think I’m probably going to cry,” Cilley told WFTV. “It’s like a long-lost child. My baby is coming home.”