(UPDATE) Former Disney Cast Members Say They Were Fired For Refusing COVID19 Vaccine -- Transfer Lawsuit from State Court to Federal Court.

1/ Seven now former Walt Disney World cast members (employees) have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Orlando, alleging the theme park and entertainment company fired them for refusing to get a COVID19 vaccine.

2/

January 14, 2004. It's now been -19- years since I started that adventure that blossomed into amazing friendships and wonderment of a new world.

1/ Wide eyed and caffeinated on pure excitement there I was at the beginning of a brand new chapter that would forever change and shape my life moving forward. The sign at the gate said “Vista Way”.

2/

It's a busy Friday.

Here are six stories we're keeping close watch on: (1) Central Florida To Face Another Cold Snap This Weekend: mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new…

📬 🗳 LAST CALL 📬 🗳

There are three ways to vote in the upcoming 2022 General Election

➡️ MAIL
➡️ EARLY (in person)
➡️ ON ELECTION DAY (in person)

THREAD: 📬 In Florida, Ballots have to be IN HAND at the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. Election night. NOT postmarked, but IN HAND. Consider this if you’re going to try to mail your ballot this weekend.

You can drop off mail ballot at any early voting location.

FL MIGRANT FLIGHTS: FL DOT just provided more docs regarding Florida's Texas - Martha's Vineyard migrant flights.

The document, provided in response to a Public Records Request, includes 50 waivers the Governor's Office said the migrants voluntarily signed.

THREAD: What the documents don't reveal is any context or insight about what conversations took place -- what migrants were actually told and how they were enticed onto the flights.

Past reporting says the migrants were told they were going to Boston: npr.org/2022/09/15/112…

FL LAYOFFS: Even in a good economy, workers can face layoffs or changes.

Booking.com is laying off 168 call center workers in Orlando. Southpark Circle center will permanently close December 18, 2022.

It's part of a plan to outsource services. Amentum told FL DEO it could lay off 188 workers at Kennedy Space Center "...may be reduced effective November 30, 2022 due to contract ending.”

In 2017, NASA awarded Amentum a five year deal worth more than $69.4 million.

You get what you vote for.

Florida Republicans are turning out is a larger surge than Democrats - and the gap is growing.

Thread: Ahead of last weekend of early voting in Florida, polling show Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) with a double digit lead over Rep. Charlie Crist (D).

While all expectations are that DeSantis will easily win re-election, the results are compounded by an extraordinarily LOW TURNOUT thus far.

FL Voter Turnout: Republicans are confident as many voters sit home, skipping the polls.

NERD ALERT: This is one of those posts for data nerds who like to deep dive into the depths of numbers and data to find the trends and themes of Florida politics.

Thread: 🗳 One week from 2022 General Election, 3 Million Floridians have cast ballots via mail and early in person.

Turnout, however, is still quite low: 22.78%

UPDATE: A South Florida judge ruled Tuesday to move a Florida unemployment lawsuit to Tallahassee.

The ruling could make it easier for statewide relief if a Leon County judge rules in favor of the plaintiffs.

Back Story: mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new… Attorneys filed the lawsuit in Broward County on behalf of a dozen unemployed county residents. The plaintiffs are suing the state, including Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and DEO Executive Director Dane Eagle.

Happening Now: Broward Co. Judge is hearing arguments regarding a lawsuit filed in response to Florida shutting down extended federal unemployment benefits.

Back Story: mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new… Currently, Chief Judge Tuter is hearing arguments from attorney for DEO/Governor on why they believe this case should be transferred to Leon County - state capital.

Since State of Florida is not publicly publishing daily COVID data, Florida Hospital Association is.

Record 11K+ COVID hospitalizations statewide. ICU capacity at 86.5%.

95%+ hospitalizations are those unvaccinated. Mary Mayhew, Governor Ron DeSantis’ own former Secretary of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, now CEO of FL Hospital Association calls “Current hospitalizations and the growth rate continue to be extremely troubling.”

RAW: Gov pivots to COVID.

Says vaccines are helping to reduce mortality. Touts success in vaccinating seniors first.

Downplays record daily new cases; says that's media fixation. Gov says look at hospitalizations.

Except: mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new… Governor DeSantis says record daily new cases of COVID-19 is “seasonal” and a ‘media fixation’.

This has hospitalizations are also a record high. 10K+. Many hospitals also restriction procedures and visitors.

Gov predicts peak in next week or two.

MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS: Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Barbara Jenkins appeared on CNN, saying district attorneys called it a "moot point" to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis' Executive Order effectively blocks districts from requiring masks be worn in schools. With a week to go until the new academic school year, Jenkins said they're working to boost vaccinations where they can. Those age 12+ are eligable.

Happening Now: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings' Reconvened Economic Recovery Task Force is meeting.

Watch LIVE: This comes as the county and State of Florida are seeing record peaks in daily new covid cases. (See: mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new…)

"These vacines are saving lives"

In his most direct effort to encourage people to get vaccinated, Governor Ron DeSantis said 95% of the new COVID cases are those who are not vaccinated. 2/ COVID19 cases spiking in Florida, Gov. DeSantis said he's frustrated with local efforts to push mask mandates.

Says it sends the wrong message about vaccines. Adds those hesitant to get vaxxed - won't - -if they're heckled.

COVID: A deep dive thread on the pandemic, politics, vaccines, and the numbers...

@MyNews13 @BN9 President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he has intentions of hitting his 100 Million Shots in 100 First Days ahead of schedule, by his 60th day in office.

President Biden also said that he is pushing for every state to open vaccine eligibility to all adults by May 1.

(dis)CONNECTED: Contractor Lays Off Unemployment Call Center Agents

A third party contractor - hired to provide call center services to handle unemployment claim issues for Florida Department of Economic Opportunity -- laid off an undisclosed number of workers today (Thursday). A laid off agent with Titan Technologies/KForce shared an email they received this morning.

The agent told me they were given only several hours notice, and knew something was up when suddenly this morning the entire IT system went offline.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign the $1.9 Trillion 'American Rescue Plan' Act today (Thursday) at 1:30 PM (instead of Friday as originally planned).

President Biden will also give his first prime time national address this evening.

STORY: mynews13.com/fl/orlando/new… There are many questions about the new $1.9 Trillion ‘American Rescue Plan’.

Specifically child and income tax credits.

(dis)CONNECTED: I'm getting word a third party company is laying off an unknown number of call center agents hired to handle unemployment claim issues for Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. An agent with Titan Technologies/KForce shared an email they received a short time ago.

The agent told me they were given only several hours notice, and knew something was up when suddenly this morning the entire IT system went offline.

FILING FAILURES: Many people remain anxious as Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is slowly going through endless claim issues.

(THREAD) CLAIM CERTIFICATION
Recently, FL DEO started sending claimants a survey to certify benefits claimed April 2020. As I've shared before, and as FL DEO is now providing in a statement, this survey is a retro-active effort to comply with the standards set by US Department of Labor.

🦠 COVID19: BY THE NUMBERS 🦠

Analyzing the most recent CDC data, here’s how FLORIDA & STATES RANK in various respects to COVID19 and the response to the pandemic.

(THREAD) 🍊 FLORIDA
• 3RD Cases
• 4TH Deaths
• 3RD Vaccines Received
• 3RD Vaccines Administered
• 3RD First Shots Administered
• 26TH First Shots Per Capita
• 3RD Second Shots Administered
• 20TH Second Shots Administered