ICYMI

Florida COVID cases continue to climb, Greenberg sentencing delayed again, Fringe to take over Mad Cow space and other news you may have missed.

» Florida reports 60,000 new COVID-19 cases

Like the jump scare that sets up a horror movie sequel, Florida saw a climb in COVID-19 cases last week. In addition, reported deaths of Florida residents during the pandemic went up to more than 74,300. A report issued Friday by the state Department of Health said the state had a reported 60,204 new COVID-19 cases during the week of May 13-19. That was up from 39,374 new cases the previous week and continued a steady increase during the past two months. For example, the state reported 8,040 cases during the week that started March 11. The increases have come as variants of the coronavirus have developed and spread. Meanwhile, the Department of Health report said 74,330 Florida residents had died of COVID-19 as of a Thursday count. That was up from 74,060 deaths in a report issued two weeks ago.

» UCF professor fired following controversial tweets about ‘Black privilege’ has job reinstated

Charles Negy is once again a University of Central Florida professor after an arbitrator ruled in his favor this week. Negy, a professor of cross-cultural psychology who has taught at the university for more than two decades, was terminated after posting a series of tweets claiming that Black Americans receive special treatment in academic discussions, university enrollment and other areas. “If Afr. Americans as a group, had the same behavioral profile as Asian Americans (on average, performing the best academically, having the highest income, committing the lowest crime, etc.), would we still be proclaiming ‘systematic racism’ exists?” Negy tweeted during the summer of protests following the murder of George Floyd. Negy went on to say that “Black privilege” shields Black Americans from criticism. Those tweets and the subsequent protests by student organizations sparked an investigation into Negy’s behavior by the university. They terminated Negy’s contract in January 2021 based on what they claimed was a pattern of “discriminatory harassment” in the classroom. The university took care to note that the tweets were not a basis of his firing, as they believed his words were protected under the First Amendment. An arbitrator found that this didn’t constitute “just cause” for Negy’s termination because the school did not give Negy the opportunity to amend his behavior. UCF is refusing to fight the ruling and will reinstate Negy, though they stand by their decision to fire him.

» More Floridians are expected to use hurricane shelters this season

An increased demand for shelter space is expected if hurricanes threaten Florida’s coastline in the upcoming storm season. With COVID-19 protocols lifted and people pinching pennies as inflation hits a four-decade high, emergency-management officials anticipate people will opt for public shelters rather than drive to hotels hundreds of miles away when storms approach. To cut down on an overreliance on shelters, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said people should make plans before storms about places they can go, such as staying at the homes of friends or relatives. Researchers are projecting above-normal forecasts for the hurricane season, which starts June 1 and ends Nov. 30. While hurricane season formally begins in June, a named system has developed before the start date in each of the past seven years. The National Hurricane Center has already started posting daily advisories on conditions across the Atlantic and throughout the Caribbean. Colorado State University researchers have predicted 19 named storms, with nine growing into hurricanes. Four of the hurricanes could have winds topping 111 mph, according to the experts.

» Florida disputes claim that sanctuary cities ban had ‘racist motivations’

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office this week asked a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling that blocked key parts of a 2019 law that banned so-called sanctuary cities in Florida. A 61-page brief filed at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disputed conclusions last year by U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom that Republican lawmakers had “discriminatory motives” in passing the highly controversial immigration-enforcement law. The brief said Bloom “committed numerous errors to arrive at the remarkable conclusion that the Florida Legislature had secret racist motivations in enacting SB 168.” Bloom issued a 110-page ruling in September that said two major parts of the law violated constitutional equal-protection rights and issued a permanent injunction against them. The South Florida-based Bloom delved extensively into the Legislature’s development of the law and pointed to what she described as an “immigrant threat narrative” that helped lead to it. She also cited behind-the-scenes involvement of the group Floridians for Immigration Enforcement in pushing for the law, including contacts with the office of Senate sponsor Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota. Lawmakers passed the measure in May 2019 along nearly straight party lines, before Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it. The city of South Miami and Several groups, such as the Florida Immigrant Coalition and the Farmworker Association of Florida, filed the lawsuit in July 2019. Bloom dismissed parts of the case in 2019 but allowed other parts to move forward. The brief filed this week argues, in part, that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the law. That argument includes issues about the lawsuit naming Moody and DeSantis as defendants.

» Osceola County Sheriff’s Office announces charges for deputy who lit suspect, himself on fire during arrest

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez announced charges against a deputy who lit himself and a suspect on fire while trying to apprehend the suspect at a Wawa gas station back in February. During a press conference on Thursday, Lopez shared footage of 26-year-old Jean Barreto riding his dirtbike on roads in Osceola and Orange County. He noted that deputies were called to the scene, with the 911 caller alleging that the group of dirtbike riders that Barreto was with were armed. When Osceola deputies arrived, the entire dirtbike group fled and an Osceola County helicopter followed Barreto. In the clips shared by Lopez, Barreto can be seen riding recklessly and frequently against traffic. Rather than let the facts of the video stand, however, Lopez characterized the video with comments about what could have happened. OCSO admits that the dirtbike spilled gas from its open gas cap and that gas was ignited when a deputy attempted to fire a Taser at Barreto while they both were covered in gasoline. The Taser was discarded by another deputy who appeared to understand the danger of shooting electrical current into a puddle of gas. Because Deputy David Crawford was aware of the gasoline and went against OCSO policy around using a Taser in the presence of flammable materials, he is being charged with misdemeanor culpable negligence. In the video, Barreto can be seen running while fully engulfed in flames. An OCSO deputy grabs a fire extinguisher and puts the 26-year-old out on the grass near the station. Barreto suffered burns on 75% of his body, according to his attorney.

» Orlando Fringe will take over former home of Mad Cow Theatre

The City of Orlando approved a long-rumored deal to allow Orlando Fringe to operate in the soon-to-be former home of Mad Cow Theatre. After years of issues with the theater company and ongoing complaints of mismanagement, the company was served a notice of eviction in November. Mad Cow managed to secure a settlement that allows them to finish their current season of performances in the space. That season ends at the end of May. The city has reached a multi-year lease agreement with Fringe on the space at 54 W. Church St. The plans for the space include a permanent home for the company, a theater to bring in national touring productions in line with Fringe’s outsider ethos, and an incubator to foster the creation of new productions and arts organizations. The city of Orlando approved a $307,000 grant to help with the accelerator program at the same time as they approved the lease with Fringe. Fringe expects to open the space next May.

» NRA challenges Florida’s under-21 rifle ban

Pointing to a ruling in a California case, lawyers for the National Rifle Association last week urged a federal appellate court to strike down a Florida law prohibiting sales of rifles and other long guns to adults under age 21. A three-judge panel of the Atlantabased 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March heard arguments in the Florida lawsuit, which the NRA filed after the Legislature passed the law in 2018 in response to the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The ban on long-gun sales to people ages 18 through 20 was included in a sweeping school-safety law. Federal law already barred sales of handguns to people under 21. The NRA’s lawsuit argued, in part, that the state age restriction infringes on Second Amendment rights of young adults, who are authorized to use weapons when they serve in the military or in law enforcement. In a 2-1 ruling last week, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that a California law banning sales of semiautomatic centerfire rifles to people under age 21 was unconstitutional.

» Joel Greenberg’s sentencing delayed yet again

Former Seminole County Tax Collector and Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg had his sentencing delayed yet again. The convicted fraudster and former associate of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is believed to be cooperating in an ongoing investigation of Gaetz. The investigation has roped in a large cast of characters, including Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend and a former radio shock jock. Greenberg’s sentencing has been delayed twice on the condition that he was cooperating with investigators and this cooperation might lead to a lighter sentence. The latest delay pushes his sentencing to August. Since allegations that Gaetz may have sex-trafficked a minor, details have leaked out steadily. Greenberg confessed to paying the then-underage girl for sex during his trial. Gaetz and Greenberg were seen moving money on Venmo that was then paid to escorts. However, no connection between Gaetz and the girl has been publicly established. The congressman has maintained that the entire investigation is an extortionate plot against him.

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