Latest news with #WinterHavenHighSchool
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis signs bills cracking down on false 911 calls, allowing armed guardians at child centers
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed three public safety bills into law during a stop at Winter Haven High School in Polk County on May 21, including one that stiffens penalties for making false 911 calls. DeSantis signed House Bill 279 on False Reporting introduced by Rep. Bill Partington, R-Ormand Beach, which has been dubbed Florida's "anti-swatting" bill. The legislation creates enhanced criminal penalties for people who call 911 to report false emergencies building on statutes enacted in 2021. "While that has been helpful, it has not been fully sufficient," DeSantis said. "We continue to see these swatting instances continue to happen the country, including Florida. Recently, they have targeted people who are influential in conservative media." The new law, to take effect July 1, makes it a third-degree felony if a false report causes great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement or injury; and raises it to a second-degree felony if someone dies due to the report. An individual who causes another person to make a false 911 report that results in an emergency response can be held accountable under the new legislation. Manny Diaz Jr., Florida's commissioner of education, said there had been a huge uptick in false 911 reports this year across the state. Diaz said several cases have been recently prosecuted. "The messages to parents is: You need to understand how severe that is and here in Florida we take it very seriously," he said. The "anti-swattting" bill also aims to reduce the number of false reports required before an individual can be charged with a felony from four to two. It changes the definition of convictions, so they are counted toward the lowered two minimum even if there is a plea deal or a plea of no contest is entered. It will mandate the court to make the perpetrator of the false report pay the costs for law enforcement's prosecution and investigations, as well as pay restitution for any material damages done. "Swatting has no place in the State in Florida," DeSantis said. "When you have swift penalties, strong penalties administered swiftly, you will deter it from happening in the future." The governor signed Senate Bill 1470, sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyr Hills, to enhance school safety by expanding the state's guardian program to child care centers. Under the Guardian Program, child care employees will be able starting July 1 to train with their local sheriff's office with firearms and other school safety measures in the event of an emergency. The facilities will also have the option of hiring a security agency, at their own costs, including mandatory state training. DeSantis signed House Bill 1099, sponsored by Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, to allow law enforcement officers more discretion when arresting individuals with severe medical conditions. Deputies or officers will be allowed to consider the need for immediate arrest when dealing with a patient in a hospital, nursing home or assisted care facility. Among the factors law enforcement may consider before arresting those with severe medical conditions include whether they continue to pose a risk to themselves or others or pose a flight risk. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: DeSantis signs 3 public safety bills, including anti-swatting law
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
No. 1 Winter Haven girls basketball remains dominant, advances to regional finals
WINTER HAVEN — Winter Haven has one more step to advance to state. The Blue Devils took care of business Tuesday evening at Winter Haven High School at the Class 7A regional semifinals, winning 89-35 over Riverview Sarasota. And if the Blue Devils win Friday at home against Venice, head girls basketball coach Johnnie Lawson will have advanced to his 15th state tournament in 17 years. 'Man, it never gets old. This is what we do all the training … for … and all the stuff they have to go through. … It's just big to know all the hard work pays off. But we sill got another game,' Lawson said. Knockout game: Winter Haven girls basketball use knockout game for chemistry, knock out Windermere LeDawn Gibson Tourney: LeDawn Gibson girls basketball tourney expected to bring the best out of Winter Haven's Quin Sanders In order to get to the regional championship, The Ledger's Player of the Year, junior point guard Serenity Hardy produced 17 points and three steals, junior point guard Quin Sanders racked up 14 points, four assists, eight steals, four rebounds and one block. Senior power forward Amary Shaw put up 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and three blocks and senior shooting guard Azzariah Styles tallied 10 points, four assists and four steals. But it was the defense of Winter Haven schemed up by assistant coach Billy D. Washington that really set the tone in the first half, as the Blue Devils ended the half with a 56-20 lead. A standard on the defensive end, the Blue Devils stuck to their full-court press that stalled Sarasota. Not only was Winter Haven inspired from their spirited defense, but they were also inspired by the return of sophomore center Victoria Hall — she's been back the last four games ― who suffered a torn ACL over the summer from a camp in Gainesville, which was a noncontact injury as she was going up and down. She ended up rehabbing three to four days a week, including using ladders, which allowed her to make a comeback at the start of districts. Her 6-foot-5 frame was able to clog the middle, grab some rebounds and just reinvigorate the entire team. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Winter Haven girls basketball remains dominant, advances to regional finals again
