A Pulse first responder and former police officer is suing OPD and the city of Orlando: Gerry Realin, who was among the members of the crew that removed 49 dead bodies from the Pulse nightclub following the mass shooting, filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Orlando and Orlando Police Department on Friday morning. The charges allege two things: that OPD violated Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards by not providing Realin with proper safety equipment on the scene, and that Realin was later harassed by fellow OPD officers over his inability to return to the force due to PTSD.
Arrests and deportations of undocumented Florida immigrants increase in 2017: According to numbers provided by ICE last week, arrests and deportations are on the rise for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. In Florida, the year-end figures show that arrests have increased by a 75 percent margin through 2017, with deportations having made a 27 percent jump. On a national scale, these numbers are staggering: In 2016, ICE arrested more than 110,000 undocumented individuals. So far this year, that number has already climbed to more than 143,000 – and counting.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announces new 24-acre community solar farm: It was announced Thursday morning that the city of Orlando will purchase enough solar energy per year to power all nine stories of City Hall and the 17 Orlando Fire Department stations. The OUC's Kenneth P. Ksionek Community Solar Farm will provide the city 4.8 megawatts of solar energy annually from the 13-megawatt farm as part of the city's Green Works Orlando sustainability efforts. Overall, the city's new solar subscription will lead to a reduction of just over six tons of carbon dioxide emissions and help prevent the burning of about three tons of coal each year.
A Florida man was paid to keep a massive data hack under wraps: In October 2016, a 20-year-old Florida man pulled off a major data breach against tech giant Uber Technologies Inc. The ride-sharing company then paid the unidentified hacker $100,000 to destroy all previously stolen information by using what's called a "bug bounty" program, Reuters reports. According to a statement from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's office, 32,000 of the drivers who were vulnerable to the data breach are based in Florida. In step with state law, the breach should have been reported to Bondi's office within 30 days.
Community raises funds for Pulse first responder with PTSD who's losing job: More than $30,000 has been raised for Cpl. Omar Delgado, a Pulse first responder who's being terminated by the Eatonville Police Department. The department's officials wouldn't comment on why Delgado is losing his job by Dec. 31, but he says it's because his doctor determined his PTSD, depression and anxiety have made him unfit for duty. The funds will help with Delgado's medical bills as he continues to recover.