The Tallahassee Reports Daily Briefs: Wednesday, March 6, 2024

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LOCAL NEWS

Two months into 2024, the number of crime incidents reported by the Tallahassee Police Department is down when compared to 2023. However, fatal shootings are up.

A Tallahassee man convicted in a deadly home invasion has just been sentenced to life in prison. Court records show 29-year-old Rovontai Payne was found guilty in January and sentenced in a Leon County courtroom Monday afternoon. Payne was convicted in a robbery turned shooting at Plato’s Villas at San Marcos in September 2022. Prosecutors say both a resident and one of the robbers were killed in an exchange of gunfire.

A 14-year-old boy was left with injuries after being shot during the overnight hours Monday. That’s according to Tallahassee Police. Just after 1:15 a.m. Monday, police say officers dispatched to the 2200 block of Keith Street regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a 14-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

LOCAL SPORTS NEWS

Gene Deckerhoff, the longtime voice of Florida State University athletics, is being recognized as one of Florida’s greatest broadcasters of all time.

FLORIDA NEWS

A controversial proposal designed to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places while requiring local governments to address the issue is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Republican-controlled Senate on Tuesday voted 27-12 along party lines to pass the bill (HB 1365), which would bar cities and counties from allowing people to sleep at places such as public buildings and in public rights of way. The House approved the bill last week, and DeSantis has voiced support for it.

Florida lawmakers gave final approval to legislation on Tuesday targeting those who try to secretly track others. The proposed law would target individuals who uses devices such as Apple AirTags, which allows someone to view on a smartphone or other device the exact location of the gadget attached to another person’s property.

On Monday, federal judges put a stop to aspects of Florida’s Stop WOKE Act. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the restrictions violated First Amendment rights. The panel upheld a preliminary injunction issued in 2022 by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker against the restrictions. 

NATIONAL NEWS

Voters in 15 states and the US territory of American Samoa headed to the polls yesterday on what is known as Super Tuesday, the single biggest day of primary voting in the presidential election cycle. 

The Dartmouth men’s basketball team voted to unionize yesterday, the latest step in challenging the long-standing amateur model of college sports. The 13-2 vote means the players will be allowed to negotiate on issues like compensation and working conditions, including practice hours. Dartmouth has until March 12 to file an objection to the union.

US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -1.0%, Dow -1.0%, Nasdaq -1.7%); Apple shares drag broader market down after report finds iPhone sales in China fell 24% in first six weeks of the year (More).

TALLAHASSEE WEATHER