>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, CONTROVERSY AND POLARIZATION IN TALLAHASSEE AS THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE SO-CALLED ANTI-RIOT BILL.

AND CENTRAL FLORIDA'S COVID 19 NUMBERS TREND IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WITH A WARNING: MASK REQUIREMENTS COULD BE HERE FOR SEVERAL MORE MONTHS.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M NANCY ALVAREZ AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

AND WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK, MATTHEW PEDDIE RETURNING TO US FROM 90.7 WMFE AND HAZEL ORTIZ OF UNIVISION.

I'LL SAY IT IN ENGLISH TOO STEVE, UNIVISION NEWS HERE IN ORLANDO.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS WEEK.

MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT, WITH ME IN THE STUDIO.

AND TONIGHT, STEVE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>>THANK YOU, NANCY.

FIRST TONIGHT, GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNED HB ONE THIS WEEK, THE CONTROVERSIAL SO-CALLED ANTI RIOTS BILL WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

IT CAME AHEAD OF THE GUILTY VERDICT TUESDAY IN THE TRIAL OF FLOYD'S KILLER, FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER, DEREK CHAUVIN.

HB ONE PLACES THE TOUGHEST RESTRICTIONS ON PROTESTS IN THE NATION, WHICH SUPPORTERS SAY ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY.

>>IF YOU RIOT, IF YOU LOOT, IF YOU HARM OTHERS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HARM A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DURING ONE OF THESE VIOLENT ASSEMBLIES, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO END UP LIKE PORTLAND, WHERE THIS IS JUST A DAILY OCCURRENCE FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS.

THEY GET ARRESTED, THEY HAVE THEIR MUGSHOT TAKEN, AND THEN THEY GET PUT RIGHT BACK ON THE STREET TO DO IT AGAIN.

>>IT HAS BEEN A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR AND FOR A LOT OF HOUSE MEMBERS.

AND IRONICALLY, THEY CERTAINLY PUSHED IT EARLY FROM THE BLACK LIVES MATTERS PROTEST.

THAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A REACTION TO THAT.

BUT THEN IT FADED UNTIL AFTER THE INSURRECTION RIOT AT THE CAPITOL.

AND THEN THE GOVERNOR WAS ABLE TO SAY, "WELL, SEE, YOU KNOW, LOOK, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR PROTEST.

THIS IS ABOUT ANY KIND OF PROTEST THAT GOES BEYOND LEGAL PROTESTING, RIGHT?"

IT'S IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD SAY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PROTESTING.

IT'S ABOUT THE RIOTING.

>>THERE'S NO WAY THAT ANY OF US SITTING HERE TODAY THINK THAT THIS BILL LANDS ON OUR DESK BASED ON AN INSURRECTION IN WASHINGTON, DC ON JANUARY 6TH.

>>BUT OPPONENTS OF THE NEW LAW SAY IT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

AND THEY REJECT CLAIMS THAT THE AUTHORS OF THE LAW HAD THE CAPITOL INSURRECTION IN MIND.

>>HOUSE BILL ONE IS RACIST AT IT'S CORE.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS KNOW IT, HE CAN'T PUT THIS OFF ON THE JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION.

HE GOT...

THE ONLY THING HE COULD PUT THIS OFF ON IS THAT HE CAME UP WITH THIS BILL WHEN HE SAW PEOPLE OUT PROTESTING FOR GEORGE FLOYD IN THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

AND WHAT CONSTANTLY CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

AND FOR THAT, IS WHY I STAND HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES TODAY, NOT JUST MOURNING, THE DEATH OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, BUT ALSO MOURNING THE DEATH OF OUR DEMOCRACY AS IT SLOWLY SLIPS AWAY FROM US.

>>DURING THE SIGNING OF THE BILL IN POLK COUNTY, GOVERNOR DESANTIS REFERENCED THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL IN MINNEAPOLIS.

CHAUVIN WAS FOUND GUILTY THIS WEEK OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, WHICH CAME AHEAD OF MASS PROTESTS LAST YEAR.

REACTION TO THE VERDICT HAS BEEN SWIFT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, ACTIVISTS AND BLACK LIVES MATTER CAMPAIGN HAS HELD A VIGIL OUTSIDE ORLANDO CITY HALL, SOME CALLING FOR ACTION OVER THE SHOOTING OF BLACK 22-YEAR-OLD, SALAYTHIS MELVIN, BY AN ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AGENT LAST YEAR AT THE FLORIDA MALL.

MANY KEY LEADERS IN POLITICS, POLICING, AND RACE RELATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE JURY'S DECISION IN THE CHAUVIN CASE, AMONG THEM ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR, JERRY DEMINGS, WHO SAID IN A STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VERDICT, "AS A 40-YEAR VETERAN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, I AM PLEASED WITH THE JURY FINDINGS AND NOW LOOK TO THE SENTENCING PHASE TO DETERMINE IF JUSTICE PREVAILS.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROTECT AND SERVE ARE GOOD PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

BUT WHEN OFFICERS CROSS THE LINE AND COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS, THEY MUST BE PROSECUTED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE."

>>IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, SHERIFF MIKE CHITWOOD, SAID IN A STATEMENT, "JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY PREVAILED, DEREK CHAUVIN IS GUILTY AS CHARGED.

THIS VERDICT ISN'T GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING, BUT I HOPE IT'S ONE PLACE WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND."

>>WE GOT IT DONE.

>>MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR DESANTIS ON WEDNESDAY, APPEARED TO IMPLY THE GUILTY VERDICT MAY HAVE BEEN DOWN TO THE JURY BEING SCARED OF QUOTE, WHAT A MOB MAY DO.

OF COURSE THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS.

FOLLOWING GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER WITH A CATALYST FOR THE WRITING OF HB ONE IN TALLAHASSEE.

SO, IT'S REALLY PART OF A BROADER STORY HERE IN FLORIDA.

A FEDERAL LAWSUIT HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED IN ORLANDO, CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF HB ONE.

I SPOKE TO DARALENE JONES FROM WFTV.

WHO'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ALL FROM THE START.

>>BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE LEGISLATION, I THINK THAT'S WHY OPPONENTS AND THOSE WHO ARE SCREAMING VERY LOUDLY ABOUT THIS BILL BEING SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR IS THAT, WHO AND WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO TARGET?

AS WE KNOW, IT ALL CAME AFTER A VERY VOCAL BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST LAST SUMMER.

AND SO, I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERN IS HERE.

WHO AND WHAT ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO IMPACT?

AND WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO EMPOWER?

>>WELL, CRITICS SAY THIS LEGISLATION IS A WAY TO SPECIFICALLY TARGET BLACK LIVES PROTESTS.

AND DURING THE POLK COUNTY EVENT WHERE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THIS BILL, HE TALKED ABOUT THE DERRICK CHAUVIN TRIAL AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACQUITTAL, WHICH OF COURSE DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT HE DIDN'T MENTION THE JANUARY 6TH CAPITAL RIOT, CORRECT?

>>OH, INDEED.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE, ALREADY, PEOPLE ARE THREATENING LEGAL ACTION REGARDING THIS.

AND YOU HAD A VERY HEAVY CONTINGENT OF STATE LAWMAKERS, OBVIOUSLY DEMOCRATS WHO WERE OPPOSING THIS MEASURE BECAUSE THEY FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY FELT THIS WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH QUOTE UNQUOTE, "KEEPING LAW ENFORCEMENT SAFE."

BUT IN THEIR EYES, IT WAS A TARGET ON A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION AND VARIOUS COMMUNITIES HERE ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

>>OF COURSE, ALL THIS COMES AS THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IS NOW VERY MUCH AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

WE HEARD STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHEVRIN JONES CALLED THIS BILL RACIST.

ARE WE EXPECTING A SIGNIFICANT PUSH BACK NOW?

>>WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THE LAWMAKER YOU JUST REFERENCED, HE FLAT OUT SAID, I HEARD HIM SAY DURING AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK THAT THIS REPLICATES, OR IT MIRRORS, I SHOULD SAY, JIM CROW LOSS OF THE PAST.

AND SO, I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION HAPPENING.

I DON'T THINK A LARGE CONTINGENT OF FOLKS ARE GOING TO LET THIS BILL JUST LIE.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A BIG LEGAL FIGHT REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE OF FLORIDA MAINTAINS THIS MEASURE IN THE BOOKS.

>>POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY GOVERNOR DESANTIS APPEARS TO BE WORKING HARD TO FASHION HIMSELF AS A LEADER IN THE TRUMP ERA GOP.

DOES GETTING A BILL LIKE THIS PASSED, HELP HIM IN THAT EFFORT DO YOU THINK?

>>MAJOR.

WHAT IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, STEVE?

EVERYONE, NOT LOCAL MEDIA, NATIONAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW IS TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND LOOK, I DON'T THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT WHETHER HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

I THINK THAT YOU'VE GOT A GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA LOOKING AND EYEING A PRESIDENTIAL RACE COMING UP.

AND SO, ABSOLUTELY, THERE ARE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS HERE IN THE STATE AND NATIONALLY.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT HB ONE RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN'T GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR READ A NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLET'S WEBSITE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT SEEING SOME REFERENCE TO HB ONE.

>>YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE DEBATE OVER THIS BILL CONTINUES.

SO MATT, WE SAW THE REACTIONS THERE FROM MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS, FROM SHERIFF CHITWOOD.

YOU COVERED A VIGIL AT ORLANDO CITY HALL THE NIGHT OF THE VERDICT ON TUESDAY.

SO, LET'S TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT OTHER FIGURES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE TELLING YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THE VERDICT.

>>SURE.

WELL, PEOPLE I TALKED TO THAT VIGIL REALLY EXPERIENCED A SENSE OF RELIEF.

I MEAN, THEY TALKED ABOUT WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THE VERDICT TO COME DOWN.

I TALKED TO A LADY NAMED CASEY JOHNSON.

SHE'S BEEN PROCESSING SINCE LAST SUMMER.

AND SHE TOLD ME SHE ALMOST HAD AN ANXIETY ATTACK ON TUESDAY, JUST WAITING FOR THE JURY TO COME BACK WITH THEIR DECISION.

ANOTHER MAN, ASTON MAC, HE SAID THE SOUL OF THE COUNTRY WAS ON THE LINE.

SO, THAT KIND OF SUMS UP HIS FEELING OF ANXIETY WAITING FOR THAT VERDICT TO BE DELIVERED.

>>THERE'S ALSO A SENSE OF JUSTICE BEING SERVED.

BUT MAXWELL FROST IS THE NATIONAL ORGANIZING DIRECTOR FOR MARCH FOR OUR LIVES SAID, "IT WASN'T JUSTICE.

IT WAS ACCOUNTABILITY."

AND HE SAID, "THERE'S OTHER CASES TOO WHERE THEY NEED TO CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY."

YOU HIT THOSE CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS SAYING THIS WAS THE RIGHT DECISION.

WE'RE HEARING THAT PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD, IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AT LEAST.

AND ALSO, I'VE TALK FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, ORLANDO ROLON FROM THE ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING, "NOW'S THE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND TRY AND ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE RAISED."

>>YEAH.

AND YOU JUST MENTIONED CHIEF ROLON, NO DOUBT, HE ADDRESSED THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OF THIS.

SO HAZEL, WE'LL TURN TO YOU ON WHAT MORE YOU'RE HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL, PARTICULARLY IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

>>IT'S JUST LIKE MATT SAID, I THINK ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE HAVE BEEN THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY SOUNDING DURING THIS TIME.

MINORITY COMMUNITIES FINALLY CAN BREATHE.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THAT PARTICULAR SENTENCE BECAUSE JUSTICE WAS SERVED.

HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE END OF IT.

I'VE SPECIFICALLY HEARD THAT THIS IS NOT...

THIS IS JUST A STEP IN DIRECT DIRECTION.

AND WITH ALL THE LAWS BEING PAUSED, WHICH I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO GET ON SPECIFICALLY HERE IN FLORIDA, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE FINALLY HAD THE CHANCE WHERE THEY'RE FINALLY BEING HEARD.

SO, THEY'VE BEEN VERY PLEASED.

SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE HISPANICS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY BLACK, WE REALLY ARE IN RESONATION WITH THEM BECAUSE WE...

SOMETIMES WE'RE NOT BEING HEARD AND LOST LIKE THIS AND MOVEMENTS LIKE THIS REALLY WAKE UP EVERYBODY IN A SENSE OF EQUITY AND A SENSE OF RESPECTING EVERYBODY.

SO, I THINK THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS VERY RELIEVED THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

>>YEAH.

AND HAZEL, AS YOU AND I BOTH KNOW IN MANY CASES, INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY COULD BE IMPACTED BY LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN, NOT JUST IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO, HOPEFULLY THAT'S SOMETHING, THAT WE'LL BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AS WELL AS AN OUTCOME OF ALL OF THIS, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY.

MATT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE, REFERRING TO QUOTE, "WHAT A MOB MAY DO."

SO, THAT MADE HEADLINES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO, GIVE US SOME CONTEXT TO THAT STATEMENT.

DID HE EXPLAIN WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT DURING THAT NEWS CONFERENCE OR AFTER?

>>SURE.

WELL, THE COMMENT IS ACTUALLY MADE DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH FOX NEWS' LAURA INGRAHAM.

SO, IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE AUDIENCE THAT HE'S TALKING TO THERE.

AND THEN IT GOES TO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE HEARD EARLIER FROM DARALENE JONES.

YOU KNOW, HE'S REALLY ON THIS NATIONAL STAGE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS AS A SET UP FOR POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

IF NOT THAT THOUGH, OF COURSE, HE'S PROBABLY CAMPAIGNING FOR GOVERNOR IN A COUPLE OF YEARS TOO.

SO, YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

AND HE WAS ASKED DURING THIS INTERVIEW ON FOX NEWS, WHETHER THE JURY CONVICTED CHAUVIN OUT OF FEAR OF MOB VIOLENCE IF THEY DIDN'T CONVICT.

AND DURING THIS INTERVIEW, DESANTIS SAYS, '"WELL, HE WASN'T SAYING THAT THAT NECESSARILY HAPPENED IN THIS CASE, BUT IF THEY HAD, THEN IT WOULD BE TROUBLING."

IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD DESANTIS LAST YEAR, RIGHT AFTER THE VIDEO CAME OUT OF THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

HE LIKE MANY OTHERS, YOU KNOW, SPOKE OUT ABOUT THE CASE, SAYING CHAUVIN WAS CLEARLY WRONG.

IN JUNE LAST YEAR, IN FACT, HE BASICALLY EQUATED CHAUVIN'S ACTIONS TO MURDER.

SO, SPEAKING OUT, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE SAYING, THIS WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO, BUT THEN THERE'S A LITTLE NUANCE IN THERE ABOUT AROUND THIS ISSUE OF MOB VIOLENCE OR MOB RULE.

AND IT GOES TO A LITTLE BIT OF THE LEGISLATION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER AS WELL.

>>YEAH.

LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK BACK NOW AT THE BILL AND REALLY BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER.

THIS TERM MOB INTIMIDATION.

IT'S A NEW CRIME IN FLORIDA UNDER HB ONE.

SO, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS HB ONE TARGETS THE ACTIONS OF PROTESTERS, HAZEL.

>>ABSOLUTELY, NANCY.

BASICALLY IT'S COMBATING PUBLIC DISORDER ACT.

NOW, THIS HAS BEEN VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

BASICALLY, IT INCREASES PENALTIES FOR EXISTING CRIMES COMMITTED DURING A VIOLENT ASSEMBLY OR WHAT THEY CALL A RIOT.

NOW, IT PROTECTS THE COMMUNITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT MAY BE IN THE ADJACENT AREAS.

IT DOES INCREASE THE PENALTIES, AND I'M GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC BASED ON WHAT THEIR WEBSITE IS SHARING WITH ALL OF US, IT BASICALLY...

WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMES OF MOB INTIMIDATION AND CYBER INTIMIDATION AS WELL, BOTH WILL BECOME FIRST DEGREE MISDEMEANORS, CONSEQUENCES SECOND DEGREE FELONY AND PAYING RESTITUTIONS FOR THE REPAIRING OR REPLACING OF MEMORIALS DESTROYED IN THESE ACTS.

IT ALSO INCREASED PENALTIES AND RANKING FOR MANY OF THE OFFENSES, SUCH AS ASSAULT BATTERY, BATTERY, BATTERY ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, AND BURGLARY AND THEFT, WHEN THESE CRIMES ARE NOT COMMITTED DURING AND AFTER OF A RIOT.

SO BASICALLY, IT INCREASES PENALTIES FOR CRIMES DURING THESE RIOTS.

>>AND MATT, AS WE DISCUSSED WITH DARALENE, OPPONENTS OF HB ONE HAVE CALLED IT A RACIST LAW.

THEY'RE JUST NOT HOLDING BACK AT ALL ON THAT TERM.

AND SO, HAVE THOSE, YOU'VE TALKED TO ABOUT THE VERDICT THIS WEEK, ALSO BEEN REACTING TO THE LEGISLATION?

BECAUSE THE TIMING IS VERY INTERESTING.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN THEY HAVE, AND I'VE, I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE LIKE SOME OF THE PEOPLE I MENTIONED BEFORE LEADING UP TO THAT VISUAL AND DURING IT AS WELL, I MEAN THE VISUAL WAS A FAIRLY QUIET AFFAIR, THERE WERE ABOUT 40 MAYBE 50 PEOPLE AT THE VIGIL.

SO, PRETTY QUIET.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A POLICE PRESENCE, ABOUT SEVEN OFFICERS ON BIKES, WATCHING FROM IN FRONT OF CITY HALL.

BUT PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE VIGIL SAID, THEY THINK THIS LAW IS INTENDED TO INTIMIDATE PROTESTERS LIKE THEM INTO STAYING HOME, BUT THEY SAY THEY'LL KEEP COMING OUT AND PROTESTING.

AND OF COURSE, THERE IS THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THAT LAWSUIT FILED ALREADY.

THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE TO COME.

>>I TALKED ALSO NOT TOO LONG AGO TO FORMER FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PEGGY QUINCE.

SHE'S ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE BILL.

SHE'S NOW IN THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS BOARD.

AND SHE SAYS, THIS BILL IS AN ATTACK ON FREE SPEECH AND SHE EXPECTS MORE LEGAL CHALLENGES AS WELL, BUT WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS IN EFFECT WHEN WE SEE MORE OF THESE BIG PROTESTS AND BIG MOVEMENTS, AND SEE HOW POLICE RESPOND.

>>THERE'S ANOTHER BILL WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT QUICKLY HERE.

HAZEL, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE HAS FAST-TRACKED A BI-PARTISAN BILL ON POLICE STANDARDS, HB 7051 INCLUDES IMPROVED USE OF FORCE TRAINING FOR POLICE.

SO, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT BILL DOES.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

IT BASICALLY PROHIBITS AN OFFICER.

IT ACTUALLY HAS MANY SECTIONS.

ONE OF IT IS IT PROHIBITS AN OFFICER WHO HAS BEEN FIRED OR UNDER ANY INVESTIGATION TO BE HIRED IN AN OTHER DEPARTMENT OR A POLICE AGENCY.

IT ALSO IS REQUIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO COLLECT DATA, TO TRACK AND REPORT USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS.

IT ALSO LIMITS THE FAMOUSLY KNOWN CHOKE HOLDS, THAT SOMETIMES POLICE OFFICERS TEND TO USE IN THEIR ARREST, AND WHEN THEY'RE INTERVENING WITH A PERSON OUT IN THE STREETS, WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO STOP THEM.

INTERESTING ENOUGH, IT ALSO INCLUDES A SECTION TO NOT ARREST A CHILD OR CHARGE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN, COMES FROM 2019 CASE OF ORLANDO AFTER A KAIA ROLLE AT JUST SIX YEARS OLD, WAS ARRESTED.

SO, IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED A LOT OF CONTROVERSY FOR ONES THAT ARE PRO ABOUT IT AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE CON ABOUT IT.

>>YEAH.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.

I WANT TO NOTE, WE ARE TAPING THE SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING, BY THE WAY.

SO, THINGS CAN CHANGE BY AIR TIME.

WELL, ANOTHER KEY LEGISLATIVE GOAL FOR REPUBLICANS THIS SESSION, WAS A BILL TO RESTRICT THE PARTICIPATION OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

THAT EFFORT APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED, AT LEAST FOR THIS SESSION.

THE FLORIDA HOUSE PASSED A BILL LAST WEEK TO BAN TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM WOMEN'S SPORTS TEAMS IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

BUT THE SPONSOR OF A LESS RESTRICTIVE SENATE VERSION NOW SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY THERE'LL BE TIME TO PASS THE LEGISLATION BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.

THE NCAA OF COURSE, HAD THREATENED TO PULL EVENTS WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE OUT OF FLORIDA IF THE LEGISLATION PASSED, I ASKED LINDSAY MCCLELLAND THE FLORIDA MOTHER OF A 10 YEAR OLD TRANSGENDER GIRL FOR HER REACTION.

>>I WAS VERY HAPPY, VERY RELIEVED.

I FELT LIKE I COULD JUST BREATHE.

MY HOPE IS THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAVE...

THERE'S SO MANY MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT NOW, OTHER THAN SOMETHING SO SENSELESS AND HARMFUL, NOT HARMFUL TO TRANSGENDER CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY KNOWN CASES OF ANY TRANS FEMALE ATHLETES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHO HAVE CREATED ANY KIND OF A CONFLICT OR AN ISSUE.

SO, I'M EXTREMELY RELIEVED.

I HOPE THAT THIS BILL WILL STAY DEAD.

I HOPE WITH... THAT THIS IS THE GRACE IN THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO... OR THAT THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS IS SERIOUSLY A WASTE OF TIME.

AND THEY'RE ONLY HURTING THE MOST VULNERABLE, THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE VULNERABLE, WHICH IS TRANSGENDER CHILDREN.

>>AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU CAN FIND ALL THE TAX OF ALL THE BILLS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE TONIGHT ON THE SHOW, ON OUR WEBSITE, JUST HEAD OVER TO WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU'LL ALSO FIND MORE OF THE INTERVIEWS THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE PROGRAM.

OKAY.

UP NEXT TONIGHT, MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS HAD SOME WORDS OF CAUTION THIS WEEK AFTER PROMISING TO REVIEW ORANGE COUNTY'S MASK MANDATE.

ON MONDAY, THE MAYOR SAID CURRENT TRENDS MEAN IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE HE'S WILLING TO LOOSEN THE RULES.

MAYOR DEMINGS THIS WEEK HAD A BLUNT MESSAGE FOR THOSE HOPING FOR A SWIFT END TO THE MASK MANDATE, THE NUMBERS ARE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>>WE WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AWAY WITH FACIAL COVERINGS AT A TIME WHEN THE VIRUS IS SPREADING RAPIDLY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>ORANGE COUNTY OFFICIALS CITE A SLOWDOWN IN THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS, AMID THE WITHDRAWAL THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE, AS ONE OF THE REASONS TO GO SLOW ON EASING THE USE OF MASKS.

FIGURES SHOW HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE POSITIVITY RATE FOR NEW CASES ARE MOVING HIGHER, AS VARIANTS TAKE HOLD IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALSO FACE A KEY DECISION ON THE USE OF MASKS WHEN THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS IN AUGUST.

LAST WEEK, FLORIDA EDUCATION COMMISSIONER, RICHARD CORCORAN, ISSUED A MEMO TO DISTRICTS, URGING THEM TO MAKE FACIAL COVERINGS VOLUNTARY.

IN THE MEMO, CORCORAN WRITES QUOTE, "THE DATA SHOWS US THAT DISTRICTS FACE COVERING POLICIES DO NOT IMPACT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, FACE COVERINGS ARE A PERSONAL DECISION AND CERTAINLY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS SHOULD MAINTAIN THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS UNIQUE TO THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.

BROAD, SWEEPING, MANDATORY FACE COVERING POLICIES SERVE NO REMAINING GOOD AT THIS POINT IN OUR SCHOOLS."

>>SEVERAL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING ORANGE COUNTY, SAY THEY HAVE YET TO MAKE A DECISION ON MASKS IN THE FALL.

MEANWHILE, A NUMBER OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FLORIDA, INCLUDING OSCEOLA, LAKE, BOULEVARD, AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES, SAY THEY WILL DO AWAY WITH THE SO-CALLED INNOVATIVE E-LEARNING PLATFORMS IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

THE PROGRAMS ALLOW STUDENTS ENROLLED IN BRICK AND MORTAR SCHOOLS TO STUDY REMOTELY.

ORANGE COUNTY SAYS IT WILL DELAY ANY DECISION ON ITS LAUNCH AT-HOME PROGRAM UNTIL THE STATE DETERMINES THE FUTURE OF SUCH PLATFORMS.

DIGITAL LEARNING WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL OR VIRTUAL SCHOOLS RUN BY INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES.

>>ALL RIGHT, MATT.

SO, LET'S KICK OFF THIS CONVERSATION BY TALKING ABOUT THE THING ALL PARENTS WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK, AND IT'S ALSO WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM TEACHERS AND UNIONS ABOUT THAT MEMO FROM COMMISSIONER CORCORAN ON REMOVING MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING HE SAID IN THAT MEMO ABOUT HOW USEFUL THOSE MASKS ARE IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, THIS IS KIND OF A MIXED BAG, NANCY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RESPONSES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK, THE TEACHERS, THE PARENTS OF STUDENTS, STUDENTS THEMSELVES, AND OF COURSE, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

FOR ONE VIEW, WENDY DOROMAL, SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY TEACHER'S UNION.

SHE REALLY SAYS, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO REMOVE THAT MASK MANDATE WHEN CASES ARE CLIMBING.

AND THERE'S THE SENSE FROM A LOT OF FOLKS THAT RICHARD CORCORAN SHOULD BE GETTING ADVICE FROM MEDICAL EXPERTS TO MAKE THIS CALL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME SAY THAT MAYBE THIS IS THE WAY TO GO.

IN LAKE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, SUPERINTENDENT DIANE KORNEGAY SAID THAT, THAT'S THE BEST OPTION AND SHE TOLD PARENTS THAT IN THE LETTER.

AT THE BACKGROUND OF THIS, THERE IS STILL REGULAR... AND ANY PARENT WILL KNOW THIS THERE'LL BE GETTING REGULAR AUTOMATIC UPDATES FROM THEIR SCHOOL SAYING THERE'S ANOTHER INDICATION OF A CASE, PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AND WE HAVE SEEN THOSE CASES GO UP.

SO, I GUESS IT'S A BIT OF A WAITING GAME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND THE FALL AS TO HOW THIS IS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED WHEN SCHOOLS RETURN AFTER THE SUMMER BREAK.

>>AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE VARIANT CASES WE'RE SEEING A RISE IN THEM HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

SO, HAS MAYOR DEMINGS GIVEN AN INDICATION ON WHEN HE'S EXPECTING TO BE ABLE TO EASE UP ON THE MASK MANDATE, GIVEN THE RISING NUMBERS OF VARIANT CASES, HAZEL.

>>THE LAST INFORMATION THAT WE GOT IS THAT ORANGE COUNTY, IN PARTICULAR, OBVIOUSLY CENTRAL FLORIDA IS COMPOSED OF MUCH MORE THAN ORANGE COUNTY, BUT ORANGE COUNTY ,IN PARTICULAR, RIGHT NOW HAS ABOUT 30% OF ITS PEOPLE VACCINATED.

SO, UNTIL THEY'VE REACHED 50%, WHICH IS WHAT MAYOR DEMINGS SAID WAS THE GOAL, APPROXIMATELY.

THAT'S WHEN THEY'LL START CONSIDERING RELIEVING SOME MASK MANDATES AND SOME RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID-19.

SO, AS WE KNOW, AND AS WE SAW IN THE VIDEOS, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL.

SO, RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, LET'S SEE UNTIL WE GET TO THE 50%, WHICH SOME SAY THAT IT MAY BE AROUND SUMMER.

IT'S A MATTER TO REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS PARTICULAR COUNTY.

>>YEAH.

WAIT AND SEE IS OFTEN THE PHRASE OF THE DAY HERE IN FLORIDA THESE DAYS.

ALL RIGHT.

FINALLY, TONIGHT, A NEW CREWED LAUNCH FROM THE SPACE COAST.

I TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK WITH BRENDAN BYRNE OF 90.7 WMFE'S "ARE WE THERE YET?"

PODCAST.

NOTE, WE ARE TAPING THIS PROGRAM ON THURSDAY MORNING.

>>THIS IS THE SECOND OPERATIONAL MISSION OF THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.

AND IT'S BASICALLY THE SECOND LONG DURATION CREW THAT'S GOING TO BE SENT UP TO SPACE THROUGH THIS PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH SPACEX.

SO, AS THIS CREW LAUNCHES, THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER CREW ON BOARD, MEANING THERE'S GOING TO BE 11 PEOPLE ON THE SPACE STATION AT ONE TIME.

AND THIS IS THE MOST THAT THE SPACE STATION HAS HAD SINCE THE END OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM.

AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS NINE IN 2015 WHEN SCOTT KELLY WAS THERE, BUT THIS MEANS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUOUS STAFFING OF NASA OR EUROPEAN PARTNER ASTRONAUTS ON THE STATION.

SO, THAT MEANS MORE SCIENCE CAN GET DONE ON THE STATION.

THERE COULD BE MORE THINGS HAPPENING UP THERE.

AND NASA HAS NEVER WORRIED ABOUT HAVING A LIMITED CREW LIKE THEY HAVE HAD IN THAT GAP BETWEEN A SPACE SHUTTLE AND COMMERCIAL CREW.

>>AND WHAT ABOUT THE COST BENEFITS THAT NASA IS SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF HAVING COMMERCIAL OPERATORS LIKE SPACEX REUSING ROCKETS?

THE BOOSTERS ON THIS MISSION, ARE THEY RECYCLED FROM A PREVIOUS MISSION?

>>THIS IS THE FIRST TIME NASA IS REUSING BOTH PARTS OF THE VEHICLE.

SO, THE SPACECRAFT AND THE BOOSTER, THE SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED BOB AND DOUG ON DM-2, AND THIS BOOSTER LAUNCHED THE PREVIOUS CREW THAT WENT UP THERE.

THIS DOES SAVE SPACEX MONEY.

IT IS A FIXED PRICE CONTRACT FOR THIS FIRST PART OF COMMERCIAL CREW.

BUT I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT NASA WHO CERTIFIES THESE THINGS TO FLY DURING FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW AND HAVING PRE FLOWN HARDWARE ACTUALLY SPEEDS UP THAT PROCESS AND MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO GET IT TO THE PAD, RIGHT?

YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS THING LAUNCHES, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS SPACECRAFT HAS BEEN INTO SPACE AND BACK AND BROUGHT A CREW SAFELY THERE AND HOME.

SO, THE BENEFIT TO NASA IS KNOWING THAT THERE'S THIS RELIABILITY BUILT INTO IT.

AND ALSO THIS KIND OF EXPEDITED TURNAROUND OF THE HARDWARE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR NEW HARDWARE TO BE BUILT.

IT'S ALREADY BUILT.

>>WE COULD TALK SPACE WITH BRENDAN ALL NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME THOUGH THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO MATTHEW PEDDIE OF 90.7 WMFE AND HAZEL ORTIZ OR UNIVISION NEWS IN ORLANDO.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 RIGHT HERE ON WUCF, FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, HAVE A SAFE AND GOOD WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.