High 87 Low 77 65% chance CHARLOTTE SUN of rain Pulitzer Prize winner MASSIVE CROWD PROTESTS IN HONG KONG STREETS 2016 Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong on Sunday to voice their opposition to legislation that would allow people to be extradited to mainland China where they could face politically charged trials. See The News Wire Monday, June 10, 2019 Vol. 127 | Issue No. 161 www.yoursun.com AMERICA’S BEST COMMUNITY DAILY $1.50 AN EDITION OF THE SUN Sick of seeing derelict boats? Governor signs law to make it easier to get rid of them By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH boat changed, Florida Gov. Ron and Wildlife Conservation COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR DeSantis signed a new law Commission, Division of Law (SB 1666), which changes the time Enforcement, Boating and A new Florida law could make frame for boat removal, studies Waterways Section, who helped it easier for local governments the impact on the environment change the law. and law enforcement to remove specifically where these boats are derelict boats from waters in their left behind, and adds a source The new law is intended to SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH jurisdictions. for continuous grant funding for save taxpayers money, eliminate This is one of nearly a dozen derelict boats that cluttered the Derelict boats are an environ- derelict boat removal. The new law navigation hazards and reduce waters of Chadwick Cove in Englewood. A new law makes it mental hazard and safety concern, goes into effect July 1. the potential for environmental easier for law enforcement, counties and cities to remove dere- state and local officials have said. The Sun spoke to Phil damage caused by leaking fuel, oil lict boats. Funding for these projects is also continuous under After three years of confusion Horning, Derelict Vessel Program the new law which begins July 1. since rules for removing derelict administrator for Florida Fish BOATS | 4 The best nest With some help, osprey relocates to a more suitable Punta Gorda home By LIZ HARDAWAY STAFF WRITER PUNTA GORDA — The osprey had lived among a cul-de-sac near Bayshore Court and Marion Avenue for at least three years. Jim Blue, a Punta Gorda resident, observed the osprey building nests on and off in his neighborhood. “They found a home in a power pole,” Blue said, “but when their nest was blown down, they started looking someplace else.” The osprey then started living in one of the neighbor’s chimneys. “It wasn’t working out too well for the neighbor or the osprey,” Blue said, with the neighbor installing spikes and reflective CDs to deter the bird. SUN PHOTO BY JERRY BEARD On Tuesday, Florida Power & Light provid- ed a solution and installed an artificial nest The two ospreys established their nest on the platform on a power pole. power pole Wednesday. At first, the osprey didn’t take to the new nest, according to Blue. The bird kept perching on the chimney, surrounded by the spikes. But then, with the help of Mylar balloons, “A little the bird moved to the artificial nest. “They are effective,” said Melody Kilborn, encouragement a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokes- to move to a person. “These artificial platforms can assist in keeping the ospreys from getting electro- cuted and keeps the nests from damaging the better home.” transformers. It also reduces disturbances or — Jim Blue, Punta Gorda resident a need to remove the nest if work has to be conducted around the poles.” Ospreys are known for building large Right: A fake owl is perched where the osprey’s nest used to be, to deter the birds OSPREY | 4 from returning. Trump still hangs tariff threat over Mexico despite deal By JILL COLVIN Mexican goods that he had threatened to Guard to the country’s southern border with Says he may ASSOCIATED PRESS impose Monday, but he warned Mexico that, Guatemala. Mexico, however, had already “if for some unknown reason” cooperation intended to do that before Trump’s latest renew tariffs STERLING, Va. — President Donald Trump fails, “we can always go back to our previ- threat and had made that clear to U.S. on Sunday dangled the prospect of renewing ous, very profitable, position of Tariffs.” officials. against them his tariff threat against Mexico if the U.S. ally Still, he said he didn’t believe that would “We want to continue to work with the doesn’t cooperate on border issues, while be necessary. U.S. very closely on the different challenges if they don’t some of his Democratic challengers for the The tweets came amid questions about that we have together. And one urgent White House said the last-minute deal to just how much of the deal — announced one at this moment is immigration,” said cooperate on avert trade penalties was overblown. with great fanfare Friday — was really new. Mexico’s ambassador in Washington, Martha In a series of tweets, Trump defended the It included a commitment from Mexico, border issues agreement heading off the 5% tax on all for instance, to deploy its new National MEXICO | 4 DAILY $1.50 CALL US AT THE SUN OUR TOWN NEWS WIRE SPORTS CHARLIE SAYS 941-206-1000 Crosswords .......... 8 Local News...1B-2B, Comics/Puzzles ....5-7 Local Sports ........ 3 Now how is Viewpoint ........6-7 11B-12B Entertainment .... 8 Lottery ................ 2 Santa supposed FIND US ONLINE Obituaries ........... 5 www.yoursun.com — Nation ................. 3 Sports on TV ........2 to get down the 7 05252 00025 8 INDEX Police Beat .......... 9 Legals .........3B-11B State ................... 2 Weather .............. 8 chimney? Page 2 E/N/C www.yoursun.com LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWS The Sun | Monday, June 10, 2019 Legal fight could affect cities and counties’ ability to restrict guns Lawyers argued fines were unconstitutional By LAWRENCE MOWER staff last year. could face fines up to TAMPA BAY TIMES Lawyers for Gov. Ron $5,000. And they can’t DeSantis and Attorney use their city or county Lawyers for more General Ashley Moody, attorneys’ offices to than 70 elected officials both Republicans, were fight lawsuits, like they argued Friday that a state in court in Tallahassee on normally would. Instead, law that fines them for Friday defending what local officials would adopting gun control laws has become the strongest have to bear the costs has had a chilling effect challenge yet to the eight- themselves. that prevents them from year-old state law. Gun-rights activists even considering gun Backed by the National and companies have used issues. Rifle Association, the the law to challenge city City officials are afraid law was created by the actions. to require gun owners Legislature in 2011 and Last year, one use locks, post signs signed into law by Gov. company sued the City prohibiting guns in Rick Scott. It allowed of Fort Lauderdale after government buildings or public officials to be it decided in the wake of ensure that businesses fined up to $5,000 and the Parkland shooting not are complying with be removed from office if to renew the company’s mandatory waiting they violated the law. gun show at the city- AP PHOTO periods. The law is owned War Memorial “This has caused extraordinary. Florida’s Stadium. Display at Miami gun store. almost a freezer effect Republican-led And gun-rights groups number of cities and do anything “that is across the state,” Weston Legislature has for years grant the governor new used the law to sue counties had gun laws even remotely related to Mayor Daniel Stermer consolidated its power powers to remove local former Tallahassee Mayor that varied wildly. In firearms.” said. “There are people by restricting the types of officials. Andrew Gillum and the Broward County, for “We don’t know what dead scared about it.” ordinances and policies The state Constitution city after it didn’t remove example, someone we can and cannot do,” Stermer, along with cities and counties can says the governor can an old ordinance that wanting to carry a Broward County Deputy more than 30 cities and adopt. only suspend county banned guns in city concealed weapon had County Attorney René three counties, based But with gun officials for “malfeasance, parks. A judge ruled in to be interviewed by a Harrod argued. primarily in South restrictions, they tacked misfeasance, neglect favor of the city, finding psychologist and county Moreover, lawyers Florida, sued Florida’s on a critical penalty for of duty, drunkenness, that while the ordinance officials and show they for the cities and governor and attorney local officials: If they pass incompetence, was on the books, the city had a threatening job counties argued Friday general two months gun ordinances, they permanent inability to knew the ordinance was or other need to carry a that the fines and perform official duties, or after a gunman entered could be removed from no longer valid and wasn’t weapon. suspension powers were commission of a felony” Marjory Stoneman office. enforcing it. Fewer than 40 people unconstitutional. — not for violating this Douglas High School in And it’s not just But a chilling effect had permits, while more The fines apply to local particular state law. Parkland and shot and potential removal from than 10,000 people had officials who “knowingly Colleen Ernst, a killed 17 students and office. Local officials is the intent of the law. Sponsored by permits in Duval County, and willfully” violate the lawyer representing former state Rep. Matt where the restrictions law. But to prove that, the office of Gov. Ron Gaetz, who’s now a were looser.