>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT AS THE PACE OF VACCINATION SLOWS, CAN FLORIDA'S STAVE OFF ANOTHER WAVE OF COVID-19 INFECTIONS?

AS THE DELTA VARIANT LOOKS POISED TO DOMINATE THE LATEST PHASE OF THE PANDEMIC AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS HE WANTS TO MEASURE VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY IN FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITIES TO COMBAT WHAT HE CALLS STUDENT INDOCTRINATION.

BUT CRITICS SAY IT AMOUNTS TO AN ATTACK ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

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

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK ARE NADEEN YANES OF WKMG CHANNEL SIX VIA SKYPE AND IN THE STUDIO WITH ME, DANIELLE PRIEUR OF 90.7 WMFE.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

NANCY ALVAREZ IS OFF THIS WEEK.

ALL RIGHT, FIRST TONIGHT, WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAGEDY THAT IS STILL UNFOLDING IN SURFSIDE AS PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITED THE SITE OF THE CONDO COLLAPSE THURSDAY.

THE DISASTER THERE HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE COLLAPSE OF SIMILAR TOWERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BUT THE PAIN STAKING WORK OF COMBING THROUGH THE ENORMOUS PILE OF DEBRIS FROM THE CHAMPLAIN TOWER SOUTH COLLAPSE IS CONTINUING WITH EVERY URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM IN THE STATE INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION.

>>IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING, IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION.

HAVING HALF OF THE TOWER COLLAPSING, YOU ALWAYS GOT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND BEHIND YOU, THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR SECONDARY COLLAPSES, WHICH PUTS A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS ON US AS FAR AS THE WORK GOING ON, ON THE PILE.

THE WEATHER HASN'T BEEN COOPERATING WITH US.

AS YOU CAN SEE NOW WE STOPPED THE PROCESS.

SO THOSE BREAKS INTERRUPT THE CONTINUITY.

AND AGAIN, JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND THE LIVES THAT HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN LOST HERE, IT JUST DELAYS THE PROCESS.

AGAIN, WE'RE HERE HOPING FOR THAT MIRACLE.

HOPING TO FIND THAT LIVE VICTIM UNDER THIS DEBRIS.

AT THE SAME TIME, IF THAT CAN'T COME TO FRUITION, AT LEAST FIND THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND GIVE FAMILIES CLOSURE FOR THEIR LOST ONES.

>>WELL A REMINDER, WE ARE TAPING THE SHOW ON THURSDAY MORNING, SO THINGS CAN CHANGE BY AIR TIME.

WELL, I SPOKE WITH ONE OF OUR FREQUENT GUESTS ON THE PROGRAM, VERÓNICA ZARAGOVIA OF WLRN, WHO HAS BEEN IN SURFSIDE SINCE THE COLLAPSE TOOK PLACE.

>>THEY HAVE RESCUE TEAMS FROM FLORIDA.

AND THEY HAVE HAD ALSO HELP FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE FLOWN IN FROM ISRAEL AND FROM MEXICO.

THEY WORK IN 12 HOUR SHIFTS AND THEY'VE DUG A BIG TRENCH, 40 FEET DEEP INTO THE RUBBLE, AND THAT'S BEEN HELPING THEM TO LOCATE THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE FOUND SO FAR.

THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

CHIEF AMONG THEM, THE SAFETY OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM MEMBERS.

IF THERE'S RAIN.

FOR QUITE A WHILE THERE WAS A FIRE THAT THEY COULDN'T LOCATE.

SO MUCH GOING ON, ON THAT SITE.

>>VERONICA, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THOSE THAT REMAIN MISSING OR UNACCOUNTED FOR AT THIS TIME?

I MEAN, YOU MUST BE HEARING LOTS OF VERY DIFFICULT STORIES.

>>SUCH DIFFICULT STORIES RANGING FROM THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THINGS.

OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE WHO SAVED THEIR LIVES TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR SOMETHING.

YESTERDAY I INTERVIEWED A WOMAN WHO CAME TO HANG A BIBLE VERSE ON THE FENCE OF A TENNIS COURT THAT'S BECOME A MEMORIAL AND SHE WAS VERY EMOTIONAL AND IT JUST REALLY HAS HIT THIS WHOLE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY HARD.

>>WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

SURFSIDE IS JUST NORTH OF MIAMI BEACH.

DESCRIBE THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW IT.

>>YEAH.

IT'S A SMALL, VERY SMALL COMMUNITY.

THE ENTIRE POPULATION IS JUST UNDER 6,000 AND IT'S ABOUT EIGHT BLOCKS IN LENGTH.

AND IT'S A QUIETER OPTION FOR PEOPLE ORIGINALLY WHO MAYBE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN MIAMI BEACH.

SO IT HAD OLDER RESIDENTS AND ALSO A LOT OF LATIN AMERICAN RESIDENTS AS WELL.

IT HAS A VERY STRONG JEWISH COMMUNITY TOO.

YOU HEAR A LOT OF RUSSIAN AND SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND ALL SORTS OF LANGUAGES ON THE STREETS.

>>WELL LET'S TALK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AS IT STANDS.

THE STATE ATTORNEY SAYS SHE'LL ASK A GRAND JURY TO REVIEW THE CONDO COLLAPSE AND ISSUES OF BUILDING SAFETY.

HER OFFICE CAN REVIEW FOR POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES.

STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED WITH THIS BUILDING BACK IN 2018.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

AND WHAT HAVE INVESTIGATORS SAID ABOUT IT?

>>WHEN I'VE ASKED OFFICIALS UP THROUGH THE EVENING TIME ON TUESDAY, THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENGINEERS COMING DOWN TO DO INVESTIGATIONS.

SOME OF THEM ARE COMING FROM WASHINGTON DC.

SOME OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCES...A FIRM THAT'S COMING THAT WAS TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING THE 9/11 ATTACK AT THE PENTAGON AND THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE HERE IN MIAMI AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

AND BASICALLY THAT 2018 REPORT, WHILE IT DID POINT OUT SOME VERY SERIOUS FLAWS IN THE CEMENT, FOR INSTANCE ON THE POOL DECK, IT DIDN'T SAY THAT THE BUILDING WAS FACING IMMINENT COLLAPSE.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO HEAR ABOUT CORROSION IN BUILDINGS NEARBY.

WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING ACROSS THE REGION, ACROSS THE STATE, PEOPLE REALLY INVESTIGATING THE CONDITION OF THEIR BUILDINGS.

>>WELL, THE MAYOR OF BAL HARBOUR SAYS THAT VILLAGE WILL DO SITE VISITS WITH ALL 52 BUILDINGS UNDER COUNTY RE-CERTIFICATION JURISDICTION.

WHAT ARE THE SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS SAYING ABOUT HOW THEY'LL CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES BASED ON THIS TRAGEDY?

>>YES, EXACTLY.

AND IT IS UP TO THE CITIES TO TAKE INITIATIVE ON THIS BECAUSE MIAMI DADE COUNTY HAS REQUIRED IT, BUT THAT'S IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF MIAMI DADE COUNTY.

SO NOW THE CITIES LIKE BAL HARBOUR, THE VILLAGE OF BAL HARBOUR, SURFSIDE, MIAMI BEACH IS ALSO GOING TO BE INVESTIGATING BUILDINGS.

SO I THINK THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE DEMANDING IT.

AND CERTAINLY THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS GOING TO NEED SOME KIND OF REASSURANCE THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED.

SO WE'LL BE SEEING CERTAINLY A LOT OF THAT.

EVEN UP NORTH, ALONG THE COAST OF FLORIDA.

>>NPR REPORTED THAT THE CITY OFFICIAL HAD ASSURED TOWER RESIDENTS THAT THE BUILDING WAS IN, QUOTE, "VERY GOOD SHAPE".

THAT WAS IN 2018, DESPITE THAT ENGINEERING REPORT.

HAS THE CITY OR THE CONDO ASSOCIATION SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE TIMELINE LEADING UP TO THIS?

>>AT THIS TIME, THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING'S UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THEY HAVEN'T REALLY OFFERED VERY CLEAR RESPONSE TO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, GIVEN THE TIMELINE THAT WAS LEADING UP TO IT.

AND THEY SAY THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO TAKE AWHILE.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE CLEAR INFORMATION COMING OUT AS INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE.

>>SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW IN THIS INVESTIGATION?

WHAT'S THE NEXT STAGE IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT?

>>ON TUESDAY EVENING THE DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAID THAT THEY ACTUALLY ASKED WASHINGTON FOR ANOTHER TEAM OF SEARCH AND RESCUE.

AND IT'S BECAUSE THE STATE HAS ITS EYE ON TWO DISTURBANCES IN THE ATLANTIC THAT COULD COMPLICATE MATTERS IF THEY BECOME AN ACTUAL STORM.

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ROTATE PEOPLE OUT AND ROTATE PEOPLE IN.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'VE ASKED FOR A LITTLE MORE SUPPORT.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO COMPLICATE ISSUES AS WE'RE IN HURRICANE SEASON.

AND SO THAT MIGHT PROLONG MATTERS.

>>BUT THEY DON'T STEP AWAY SO FAR FROM THEIR MESSAGE OF HOPE.

THEY'VE BEEN GIVING EXAMPLES IN PRESS CONFERENCES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURVIVED.

IN BANGLADESH, FOR EXAMPLE, A WOMAN WHO SURVIVED MANY, MANY DAYS UNDER RUBBLE.

THEY DO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THIS WILL TAKE QUITE A WHILE BEFORE THEY WRAP THINGS UP.

>>JUST FINALLY, YOU'VE TALKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT BEING PART OF THE MIAMI BEACH JEWISH COMMUNITY YOURSELF, DOES THIS TRAGEDY HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR YOU?

>>I GO THERE AND IT'S LIKE MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD IN FRONT OF MY EYES, JUST IN TERMS OF I KNOW WHAT THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE, HARDING, LOOKED LIKE IN THE EIGHTIES.

IT'S CHANGED A BIT SINCE THEN, BUT GOING TO DINNER WITH MY GRANDFATHER AND MY GRANDPARENTS AT RESTAURANT THAT'S NO LONGER THERE, IT'S REPLACED NOW BY A FLANIGAN'S, BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT I DEEPLY CARE ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S A LATIN AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY.

AND WE HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES OF FEELING VERY ATTACHED TO HOME COUNTRIES AND THEN ALSO KIND OF REBUILDING LIVES HERE.

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD, TO BE HONEST.

IT'S JUST BEING THERE SOMETIMES 15 HOURS A DAY FOR MY OWN CHOICE.

MY EDITORS ARE WONDERFUL AND WOULDN'T EXPECT SUCH A LONG DAY THERE, BUT I JUST HAVE SO MUCH I AM TRYING TO SEE.

AND THERE'S THIS KIND OF LAYER OF ANXIETY THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING, WHETHER YOU'RE A JOURNALIST OR NOT.

>>VERÓNICA ZARAGOVIA THERE.

WELL, DANIELLE, WHAT ARE THE LOCAL AGENCIES FROM OUR PART OF THE STATE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS?

THIS IS A STATEWIDE EFFORT, RIGHT?

>>IT IS.

WE'VE SEEN TASK FORCE FOUR DEPLOYED AND TASK FORCE EIGHT FROM THIS AREA.

THOSE ARE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE WORKING 12 HOUR SHIFTS ALONGSIDE ALL THOSE PERSONNEL WE JUST SAW.

SOME OF THEM FROM FLORIDA, SOME OF THEM FROM FAR AWAY LIKE ISRAEL AND MEXICO.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN DONATIONS COLLECTED.

I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE PHONE YESTERDAY WITH THE CHABAD OF SOUTH ORLANDO.

AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY'RE RAISING FOOD AND WATER AND CLOTHING AND EVEN BEDDING DONATIONS TO SEND TO VICTIMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN SURFSIDE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE JEWISH COMMUNITY THAT WAS EFFECTED.

>>CERTAINLY THIS DOES REALLY HIT HOME- >>IT DOES.

>>FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO WLRN'S EXTENSIVE REPORTING ON THE SURFSIDE CONDO COLLAPSE ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, THE JULY 4TH FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT LAKE EOLA WILL TAKE PLACE AGAIN THIS WEEKEND.

IT'S ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW LIFE HAS CHANGED SINCE THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT EPIDEMIOLOGIST ARE MONITORING THE EMERGENCE OF THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT, WHICH IS SPREADING RAPIDLY AMONG THE UN-VACCINATED.

>>THE PACE OF VACCINATION HAS SLOWED CONSIDERABLY SINCE INOCULATIONS BECAME WIDELY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

BUT WITH THE DELTA VARIANT FIRST DISCOVERED IN INDIA, AND LIKELY TO BECOME DOMINANT HERE, DOCTORS SAY UN-VACCINATED OR EVEN PARTIALLY VACCINATED FLORIDIANS RISK SERIOUS ILLNESS.

>>THE ONES THAT WE SEE NOW IN THE ICU, IN THE HOSPITALS, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A LESSON FOR ALL OF US.

>>INDICATIONS ARE ALREADY EMERGING ABOUT THE RISKS OF BEING UN-VACCINATED AMID A RETURN TO NORMAL.

AT MANATEE COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT BUILDING TWO EMPLOYEES DIED AND FOUR WERE HOSPITALIZED.

ALL AFTER RETURNING TO THEIR OFFICE, ALL WERE UN-VACCINATED.

MASKS WERE NOT REQUIRED.

AND AS CRUISES RESUME, TWO UN-VACCINATED CHILDREN ABOARD A ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE TESTED POSITIVE OVER THE WEEKEND FOR COVID-19.

AS CRUISE LINES DEVISE WAYS TO TRY TO REDUCE RISKS WHILE CONTENDING WITH FLORIDA'S VACCINE PASSPORT BAN.

DISNEY THIS WEEK POSTPONED TO TEST CREWS OF AFTER SOME EMPLOYEES HAD INCONSISTENT COVID-19 TEST RESULTS.

MEANWHILE, LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS ARE DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY, BUT WITH FEWER THAN 50% OF THE POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED, INCLUDING CHILDREN UNDER 12 WHO ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE, CASES ARE TRENDING YOUNGER.

>>YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE DISEASE THE SAME WAY THAT OLDER PEOPLE DID.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SEVERITY OF THESE CASES AND HOSPITALIZATION ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

NOT OUR LEVEL, BUT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL OF THOSE VARIANTS CASES.

AND THAT WILL HAPPEN TO US EVENTUALLY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO PREPARE.

AND WE HAVE A PERFECT TOOL.

LET'S GET VACCINATED.

>>BUT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND AROUND THE STATE, THE RETURN TO NORMAL CONTINUES AT PACE.

MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DROPPED THEIR MASK MANDATES AS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

BUT AS BRITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES EXPERIENCE A SURGE IN CASES, EVEN WITH A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE FULLY VACCINATED AS THE U.S., FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR SAYS THE STATE IS POISED TO AVOID ANOTHER DEADLY SURGE.

>>THE EVIDENCE THAT WE GOT FROM THE UK IS THAT THE VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT VARIANTS LEADING UP TO THIS.

I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY...I THINK IT GETS PUT OUT THERE IN WAYS DESIGNED TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE.

>>ALL RIGHT, DANIELLE.

SO DO HEALTH OFFICIALS REALLY THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE HERE TO PREVENT THIS BECOMING A PROBLEM AGAIN?

GIVEN THAT WE KNOW THAT JUST ONE DOSE OF VACCINE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

>>THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 40% OF THE POPULATION IN THIS AREA THAT ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

SO THE ANSWER IS NO.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE DELTA VARIANT IS REALLY RISING HERE.

WE'VE SEEN CASES ALMOST DOUBLE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

SO NOW WE HAVE 23 CASES AND ALREADY ONE DEATH FROM THAT VARIANT.

SO I THINK THE CONCERN IS ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT LETTING THAT ORDER KIND OF GO AWAY IS SENDING.

IT'S BASICALLY SUGGESTING THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.

AND IT'S FAR FROM OVER.

THE CDC AND EVEN DR. ANTHONY FAUCI HAVE CALLED THE DELTA VARIANT A VARIANT OF CONCERN.

SO WE SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION JUST LAST WEEK SAID FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE SHOULD STILL WEAR FACE MASKS BECAUSE THERE'S STILL BREAKTHROUGH CASES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED, WHO ARE GETTING SICK WITH A DELTA VARIANT AND OTHER VARIANTS, AS WELL.

>>CERTAINLY VERY DIFFERENT ADVICE FROM WHAT WE'RE GETTING HERE IN FLORIDA.

NADEEN, WHAT HAVE LOCAL OFFICIALS ATTRIBUTED THE SLOW DOWN IN VACCINATIONS TO?

I MEAN, IS THIS FEAR OR IS IT MISINFORMATION?

>>WELL, FEAR AND MISINFORMATION GO HAND IN HAND, RIGHT?

AND MANY LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY THAT THERE IS MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

DR. ALTINO IN ORANGE COUNTY, YOU JUST SAW HIM.

HE WAS ACTUALLY OUT TO LUNCH LAST WEEK AT A LATIN RESTAURANT.

AND HE SAID, HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES WEREN'T VACCINATED BECAUSE OF MISINFORMATION.

SO HE TOOK TIME TO SIT THERE AND EXPLAIN AGAIN THE BENEFITS OF THE VACCINE, BUT THEN THERE'S THIS OTHER GROUP, STEVE, THAT IS THE WAIT AND SEE GROUP.

WE'RE HEARING IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST WAITING TO SEE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT.

THESE VACCINES HAVE BEEN OUT A LITTLE OVER SIX MONTHS NOW, AND WE KNOW THAT FAMILIES ARE WANTING THEIR KIDS TO NOW GET VACCINATED.

AND IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, WHAT THEY'RE SEEING ARE PARENTS SAYING, "HEY, LOOK, IF I WANT MY KID TO BE PROTECTIVE, I MIGHT AS WELL TRUST THIS VACCINE AND GET MYSELF PROTECTED AS WELL."

AND SO A SLOW DOWN, DEFINITELY.

BUT NOT A COMPLETE STALL AS PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE.

AND THIS IS WHY LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IF YOU RECEIVED THE VACCINE AND YOU KNOW FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVEN'T, GO AHEAD AND TELL THEM WHAT YOUR IMPACTS WERE OR LACK THEREOF IMPACTS OF THIS VACCINE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND KIND OF SPEED UP THIS PROCESS.

BUT I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S A COMPLETE STALL, DEFINITELY A SLOW DOWN.

>>YEAH.

AND DANIELLE, FLORIDA IS THE ONLY STATE REALLY THAT ONLY RELEASES COVID DATA ON A WEEKLY BASIS NOW.

AND THE DATA WE DO GET SEEMS TO BE MISSING INFORMATION ON COUNTY BY COUNTY DEATHS AND VACCINATIONS.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THAT THAT MIGHT BE RISKY IN FAST CHANGING SITUATIONS.

WHY DOES THE STATE SAY THAT IT'S DONE THAT?

>>BASICALLY THE STATE SAYS WE'RE MOVING FROM A STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO A LOCAL APPROACH.

AND WE'VE HEARD THAT EVEN FROM DR. RAUL PINO, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO NOW WE ONLY GET ONE REPORT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT ON A FRIDAY, USUALLY QUITE LATE.

AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT'S HARD TO MAP THE TRENDS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE DATA.

BUT BASICALLY THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID, "LOOK, THE CASES ARE DOWN, VACCINATIONS ARE UP.

WE SEE A REALLY GOOD POSITIVITY RATE, BELOW 5%.

THE PANDEMIC IS WANING.

AND SO LET'S FOCUS LESS ON THIS AND MORE ON THINGS LIKE THE ECONOMY."

WHICH IS NOBLE, BUT I THINK ALSO THE PANDEMIC IS STILL HERE.

>>YEAH.

AND NADEEN, JUST BRIEFLY IF YOU CAN, WE'RE SEEING MORE OPERATIONS IN THE TOURISM SPACE RELAX THEIR COVID-19 RULES ON MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

WHAT DO THE BIG THEME PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS SAY ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PLANNING TO MANAGE THE REMAINING CHALLENGES OF COVID?

>>WELL, IN SPEAKING WITH TRAVEL EXPERTS WHO ARE PLANNING THESE THEME PARK VACATIONS, THEY SAY THAT THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM FAMILIES IS DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK?

WHEN ARE FIREWORKS RETURNING?

AND WHEN CAN MY KID HUG MICKEY MOUSE AGAIN?

AND WE HAVE ANSWERS TO TWO OF THE THREE.

UNIVERSAL RESORTS, SEAWORLD, DISNEY WORLD, NOW GETTING RID OF MANY OF THEIR MASK MANDATES.

DISNEY WORLD BOTH INDOORS AND OUTDOORS EXCEPT FOR TRANSPORTATION.

YOU STILL HAVE TO WEAR YOUR MASK.

ALSO A LOT OF POSITIVE NEWS COMING OUT OF DISNEY WORLD REGARDING FIREWORKS.

THEY'RE RELAUNCHING FIREWORKS THIS WEEK, AS WELL, HEADED INTO JULY 4TH WEEKEND, AS THEY'RE HOPING TO HAVE A RECORD BREAKING SUMMER, BRINGING US BACK TO THOSE 2019 NUMBERS.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THOUGH, DISNEY WORLD IS NOT QUITE YET BACK AT A HUNDRED PERCENT CAPACITY.

THEY ARE TAKING THINGS SLOWER IN DIFFERENCE TO UNIVERSAL AND SEAWORLD.

WALT DISNEY WORLD, IT COULD BE A STAFFING ISSUE THERE.

WE KNOW A LOT OF SHOWS HAVEN'T RETURNED YET.

A LOT OF RESTAURANTS HAVEN'T OPENED YET.

AND I THINK THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO GET BACK TO SOME OF THAT 28,000 PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE FURLOUGHED.

BUT OF COURSE, WALT DISNEY IS LOOKING FOR A BIG 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BY OCTOBER 1ST.

THEY'RE HOPING TO BE BACK BY A HUNDRED PERCENT CAPACITY BY THE FALL.

>>YEAH.

AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN THIS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM.

OKAY.

FINALLY TONIGHT, THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

RECENTLY WE DISCUSSED THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S DECISION TO BAN CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM FLORIDA CLASSROOMS.

WELL SINCE THEN GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS SIGNED THREE BILLS TACKLING ISSUES IN EDUCATION.

TWO OF THE BILLS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR TACKLED CIVICS, INCLUDING HB 5, WHICH REQUIRES HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM TO INCLUDE A COMPARATIVE DISCUSSION OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES, SUCH AS COMMUNISM AND TOTALITARIANISM THAT CONFLICT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY ESSENTIAL TO THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE BILL OUTLINES WHAT IT CALLS PORTRAITS IN PATRIOTISM.

FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS OF VICTIMS OF OTHER NATION'S GOVERNING PHILOSOPHIES WHO CAN COMPARE THOSE PHILOSOPHIES WITH THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES.

MEANWHILE, HB 233 TACKLES INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY AT STATE UNIVERSITIES.

IT SAYS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL REQUIRE EACH FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTION TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF THE INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY AT THAT INSTITUTION.

SUCH SURVEYS WILL MEASURE THE EXTENT TO WHICH COMPETING IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES ARE PRESENTED AND MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF FEEL FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR BELIEFS AND VIEWPOINTS ON CAMPUS AND IN THE CLASSROOM.

WELL, I SPOKE THIS WEEK WITH CLAY CALVERT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM COMMUNICATIONS.

HE'S ALSO DIRECTOR OF THE UF'S MARION B. BRECHNER FIRST AMENDMENT PROJECT.

>>PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE CONSIDERED GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND THEY ARE BOUND BY THE PRINCIPLES OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

SO STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF AT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL SPEAKERS WHO WANT TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES DO HAVE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

AND ONE OF THE KEY PRINCIPLES UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VIEWPOINTS.

AND SO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AS IS THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND ALL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ALREADY MUST SUBSCRIBE AND ABIDE BY THE PRINCIPLES OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AS WELL AS THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE.

SO THAT RAISED A REAL QUESTION, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION IF VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY ALREADY IS PROTECTED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, INCLUDING UNIVERSITIES, MUST COMPLY WITH THAT.

SO IT LEADS TO ONE POSSIBLE KIND OF NEFARIOUS SUGGESTION OR ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

AND THAT IS THAT THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, THE DATA, COULD BE USED POSSIBLY TO WITHHOLD MONEY OR FUNDING FROM STATE APPROPRIATIONS TO UNIVERSITIES THAT LAWMAKERS IN TALLAHASSEE MAY FEEL SOMEHOW DO NOT ADEQUATELY PROMOTE A DIVERSE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS OR POLITICAL CLIMATE ON CAMPUS.

>>SUPPORTERS OF THE MOVE SAY IT'S INTENDED TO ENSURE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS THAT ARE ALREADY ENSURED, BUT YOU'VE SAID IT COULD DO THE OPPOSITE BY HAVING A CHILLING EFFECT ON SPEECH.

WHY IS THAT?

>>THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THE LAW WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT AND LEAD TO SELF-CENSORSHIP OF PROFESSORS IN THE CLASSROOM WHO MAY BE AFRAID OF SPEAKING OUT ABOUT PARTICULAR CONTROVERSIAL VIEWPOINTS FOR FEAR THAT A STUDENT WILL TAKE THAT AS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THOSE VIEWPOINTS, NOT SIMPLY, "I'M PROPOSING HERE'S A VIEWPOINT, HERE'S ONE POSSIBILITY YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND."

AND THEN IN TURN THAT THAT STUDENT MAY ESSENTIALLY REPORT THAT PROFESSOR TO THE LAWMAKERS IN TALLAHASSEE.

IN OTHER WORDS, A CHILLING EFFECT ON SPEECH IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO THERE'S A GREAT IRONY HERE.

WHILE THIS IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE A DIVERSE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS, IT ACTUALLY MAY BACKFIRE IN THAT THE PROFESSORS WILL STAY AWAY FROM DISCUSSING CONTROVERSIAL VIEWPOINTS, SIMPLY FOR FEAR THAT THOSE VIEWPOINTS WILL BE TAKEN AS THE PROFESSOR'S ENDORSEMENT, NOT SIMPLY DEBATING AND DISCUSSING.

>>BUT CAN UNIVERSITIES ACTUALLY BE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT THE PREVALENCE OF VIEWS ARE ON CAMPUS?

THEY CAN'T FORCE STUDENTS OR STAFF TO TAKE THESE SURVEYS, CAN THEY?

>>THAT'S CORRECT THAT THE SURVEY IS MANDATED TO BE GIVEN OUT BY PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES OR STATE UNIVERSITIES, BUT THERE'S NO MANDATE THAT STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY ACTUALLY FILL IT OUT.

SO THEN THERE COMES THE QUESTION KIND OF ALMOST A RESPONSE BIAS.

WHO ARE GOING TO BE THE MORE LIKELY STUDENTS TO RESPOND TO IT?

AND PROBABLY I WOULD BET, AND IT'S JUST A GUESS, BUT I'D SUSPECT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO RESPOND TO IT ARE THOSE WHO SOMEHOW FEEL AGGRIEVED OR HURT OR FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN IMPLICATED OR INDOCTRINATED BY A PROFESSOR WITH A PARTICULAR VIEWPOINT IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND MAYBE THAT STUDENT HASN'T DONE WELL IN THAT CLASS.

AND SO THOSE WHO RESPOND MAY BE A SKEWED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO EITHER FROM THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT FEEL THAT SOMEHOW THEIR VIEWPOINTS ARE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO BE EXPRESSED.

>>WELL, YOU CAN SEE THAT FULL INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE, BY THE WAY.

DANIELLE, FLORIDA REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD A KEEN EYE ON EDUCATION OVER THE LAST RECENT MONTHS.

I MEAN, WHY DO THEY SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE BELIEFS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO BE KNOWN?

>>I THINK THEY WANT TO PROTECT INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, STEVE, AND IT'S AGAIN, VERY NOBLE, BUT THE PROBLEM THERE AS WE JUST HEARD IN THAT CLIP IS THAT WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE QUESTIONS ON THAT SURVEY ARE GOING TO BE.

>>WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION IS ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE.

I MEAN THE POLICY ON VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY IS NOW IN EFFECT- >>IT IS.

>>IN FACT, AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY.

CRITICS HAVE SAID, AS WE TALKED JUST NOW ABOUT THAT IT SMACKS OF AUTHORITARIANISM.

I MEAN, HOW DOES THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION ANSWER THAT?

>>I THINK BASICALLY THEY SAY IT'S NOT TIED TO FUNDING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A THREAT, BUT IT'S NOT DIRECTLY TIED RIGHT NOW TO FUNDING.

SO EVEN IF A SCHOOL DOESN'T PERFORM WELL ON THE SURVEY, WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR THE SCHOOL.

THERE'S NOT REALLY A PUNISHMENT RIGHT NOW.

AND THE SURVEY WILL BE WRITTEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

OBVIOUSLY WON'T BE WRITTEN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

SO THEORETICALLY WILL BE UNBIASED IN THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASK STUDENTS.

>>YEAH.

WE'VE CERTAINLY HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR THE WORD UNBIASED USED.

>>NADEEN, WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THIS DATA WHEN IT'S COLLECTED?

I MEAN, WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE USED FOR?

DO WE KNOW?

>>WELL, DANIELLE SAID IT.

I MEAN, THE BILL IS VERY BROAD ON WHAT THE QUESTIONS WILL EVEN BE.

SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT KIND OF DATA THE STATE IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT HERE ON QUOTE, "VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY."

>>WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUESTIONS WILL BE.

WE DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT THE STATE IS TRYING TO DO IN THE LONG RUN.

AS DANIELLE MENTIONED, THERE COULD BE PENALTIES AND PUNISHMENTS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE EITHER.

AND THOUGH THE GOVERNOR HASN'T OUTRIGHT SAID THERE WILL BE BUDGET CUTS, HE DID SAY THAT IF A SCHOOL FAILS AND IT SHOWS INDOCTRINATION THAT A SCHOOL COULD...TAX DOLLARS SHOULDN'T BE GOING TO THAT UNIVERSITY.

CERTAINLY A THREAT FOR SOME OF THOSE UNIVERSITIES.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT EXACTLY THIS DATA IS, IS STILL UNKNOWN.

OUR TEAM DID REACH OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CLARITY, WITH NO ANSWERS.

THEY TELL US THAT THE SURVEY IS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

>>NADEEN, YOUR COLLEAGUES AT WKMG HAVE ALSO ASKED UCF STUDENTS WHAT THEY THINK OF THIS NEW MANDATE ON STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

AND WHAT DO THEY FIND?

WELL, JUST AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THAT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SOME STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THIS IS ALMOST UNNECESSARY.

WE SPOKE TO ONE YOUNG WOMAN WHO SAYS THAT SHE HAS HER VIEWPOINTS EXPRESSED FREELY IN CLASSROOMS, IN DISCUSSIONS ON AND OFF CAMPUS.

AND THOUGH SHE MIGHT DISAGREE WITH OTHERS, SHE STILL LISTENS, AND SHE STILL GETS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.

SO SHE WAS UNSURE.

AND AS DANIELLE MENTIONED, A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW FAR THIS SURVEY WILL GO IN REGARDS TO, WILL IT ASK ABOUT MY PERSONAL POLITICAL BELIEFS, MY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.

IS THE SURVEY ANONYMOUS?

WILL THE STATE BE HOLDING...I MEAN, WILL THE STATE BE HOLDING MY NAME TIED TO THESE BELIEFS?

AND WHAT WILL IT BE USED FOR?

NOW THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS SAID THAT A STUDENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE THIS SURVEY AND THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SHARE THEIR IDENTITY, SO THAT KIND OF CALMS THOSE CONCERNS.

BUT AGAIN, SURVEY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED, BUT WE KNOW THAT THOSE RESULTS NEED TO BE PUBLISHED ANNUALLY ONCE IT'S RELEASED ON JULY 1ST.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE TEXT OF HB 233 MANDATING VIEWPOINT SURVEYS AT FLORIDA STATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO NADEEN YANES AT WKMG CHANNEL SIX JOINING US ON SKYPE, AND DANIELLE PRIEUR OF 90.7 WMFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.