Florida eases path for death penalty after Parkland verdict

TALLAHASSEE, Fla (AP) Gov Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday ending a unanimous jury requirement in death penalty sentencing, a response to a verdict that spared the life of a school shooter who killed 17 people DeSantis, a Republican, signed the bill in a private ceremony with families of victims of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland

The new law, which went into effect as soon as the governor signed it, allows capital punishment in Florida with a jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of execution Only three states out of the 27 that impose the death penalty do not require unanimity Alabama allows a 10-2 decision, and Missouri and Indiana let a judge decide when there is a divided jury.

“Once a defendant in a capital case is found guilty by a unanimous jury, one juror should not be able to veto a capital sentence,” DeSantis said in a statement “I’m proud to sign legislation that will prevent families from having to endure what the Parkland families have and ensure proper justice will be served in the state of Florida ”

The governor pushed for the legislation after a divided 9-3 jury spared Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz from execution in a verdict last year that outraged victims’ families Cruz instead received a life sentence without the possibility of parole

“A few months ago, we endured another tragic failure of the justice system Today’s change in Florida law will hopefully save other families from the injustices we have suffered,” said Ryan Petty, whose 14-year-old daughter Alaina was killed in the shooting

The legislation easily passed in the Republican-dominated statehouse Some Democratic critics had argued the state should not make it easier to send people to death row in reaction to the Cruz case

DeSantis, an expected presidential candidate, had included the legislation as part of a larger criminal justice package he described as a counter to the “soft on crime” policies in Democrat-led states, a move aimed at conser- vative voters who typically decide Republican primary contests

For decades, Florida had not required unanimity in capital punishment, allowing a judge to impose capital punishment as long as a majority of jurors were in favor of the penalty But in 2016 the U S Supreme Court threw out state law, saying it allowed judges too much discretion

The state Legislature then passed a bill requiring a 102 jury recommendation, but the state Supreme Court said such recommendations should be unanimous, prompting lawmakers in 2017 to require a unanimous jury

Three years later, the state Supreme Court, with new conservative jurists appointed by DeSantis, rescinded its earlier decision and ruled that a death recommendation does not need to be unanimous Florida’s unanimity standard had remained untouched, though there was no overwhelming desire to change state law before the Cruz case

Weapons detection systems to be installed in schools

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A $3 2 million weapons detection system will be installed in Lee County schools next year as another safety measure for students and staff T

OPENGATE, was approved by the School Board of Lee County at its April 11 meeting The approval was to piggyback the Interlocal Purchasing System for Technology Solutions Products and Service to Communications Technologies, Inc from April 11, through April 10, 2024 The system has a price tag of $3,221,372,45, which is funded through sales tax dollars

The system allows for fast and automatic screening, no removal of backpacks, bags, or purses and easy walk through flow, officials said

S a f e t y , S e c u r i t y & E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t Executive Director David Newlan said OPENGATE is a good thing that will come to fruition for the 2023-24 school year

“You have to do your due diligence to make sure you choose the right (system) to fit our needs and our district,” he said

The system is a good fit for the district because of the way it was designed, Newlan said It has good mobility, as it is easy to maneuver. The system is 25 pounds and can be set up in 30 seconds, he said

“That’s what students want, to feel safe in their schools This is another layer that we are going to do to our current procedures to make sure we are going to keep our students and staff safe ”

David Newlan, executive director of Safety, Security & Emergency Management for the School District of Lee County

The system is not a metal detector, which would require individuals to take everything out of their pockets, purses, backpacks, as well as taking off their watch That would not be conducive in a school environment where you have 2,000 students walking through, Newlan said

“It allows them to walk through as they normally would,” he said, adding that sometimes you may not know you are walking through a detection device “It will be in every school Every school in Lee County will have a weapon detection device.”

The device detects contraband by its formation and shape

“It makes more sense for our type of environment We are trying to make sure our kids are safe It’s another layer of security to keep students and staff safe,” Newlan

Florida Board of Education expands ban on gender identity discussion in school classrooms

Associated Press

The Florida Board of Education on Wednesday approved a ban on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” at the request of Gov Ron DeSantis as he gears up for an expected presidential run

The proposal will take effect after a procedural notice period that lasts about a month, according to an education department spokesman

The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4-12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take Florida currently bans such lessons in kindergarten through third grade

The DeSantis administration put forward the proposal last month as part of the Republican’s aggressive conservative agenda, with the govern o r l e a n i n g h e a v i l y i n t o c u l t u r a l divides ahead of his looming White House candidacy DeSantis has not commented on the proposal He previously directed q u e s t i o n s t o E d u c a t i o n Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr , who said it was meant to clarify confusion around the existing law and reinforce that teachers should not deviate from existing curriculums

“Our instruction should be based on state academic standards,” Paul Burns, chancellor of the state’s division of public schools, told board members on Wednesday

The prohibition, which began last year with the law banning sexual orientation and gender identity lessons in kindergarten through third grade, has drawn intense backlash from criti c s w h o a r g u e i t m a r g i n a l i z e s

L G B T Q + p e o p l e a n d h a s v a g u e terms that result in self-censorship from teachers Democratic President Joe Biden has called it “hateful.”

The current law is also the root of an ongoing feud with Disney, one of the state’s largest employers and political donors

The entertainment giant publicly opposed the legislation last year, and as punishment, DeSantis pushed lawmakers to give him control of a selfgoverning district that Disney oversees in its theme park properties

Before a set of new DeSantis appointees could assume control of the district, Disney’s board passed restrictive covenants that strip the incoming members of most of their p o w e r s , b l u n t i n g t h e g o v e r n o r ’ s retaliation

DeSantis has directed the chief inspector general to investigate the Disney board’s move and vowed to take additional revenge against the company through legislation said

There will be a slow roll out of OPENGATE starting at the beginning of next school year It will not all happen at once, as there needs to be training and the ability to work out issues to ensure it is smooth for staff to use

The number of systems at a given school will depend on the school’s design, how it is set up, as well as the population of the school

“We will look at the school itself We are protecting all of our schools,” Newlan said

He said he has received positive feedback from students, parents and staff regarding the system

“That’s what students want, to feel safe in their schools,” Newlan said “This is another layer that we are going to do to our current procedures to make sure we are going to keep our students and staff safe ”

Motorcyclist killed in San Carlos Boulevard crash

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

A motorcyclist heading north on San Carlos Boulevard off island near WalMart, was killed when he struck a pickup truck that was turning

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the 43year-old Fort Myers male was traveling on a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a 43-year-old female passenger approaching Heidi Lee Lane when the motorcyclist attempted to pass a Ford pickup truck on the right side while the truck was turning right onto a residential driveway

The motorcycle collided with the truck, killing the motorcyclist The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not released by the Florida Highway Patrol His passenger, a 43-year-old Fort Myers female, sustained critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital

The three occupants of the truck, all residents of Fort Myers, were uninjured

The crash remains under investigation