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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2008

Hurricane Bertha Weakens To Category 2 Storm

MIAMI - Forecasters say Hurricane Bertha has weakened to a Category 2 storm.

As of 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, the center of the storm was about 660 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and about 975 miles southeast of Bermuda.
Maximum sustained winds decreased to 105 mph with some higher gusting. The storm is expected to continue weakening over the next couple of days. The Atlantic season's first hurricane is headed to the northwest at about 10 mph.

Bertha is expected to continue heading toward Bermuda. Forecasters urged people on the island to continue monitoring the storm's progress. It's unknown if or when the hurricane will make landfall.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30.

Disney Guard Fired For Bringing Gun To Work

ORLANDO - Walt Disney World has fired a guard who challenged the theme park on a new state law allowing gun owners to keep firearms in their cars while at work.

Disney World believes it is exempt from the law, which has a loophole for employers who have permits to handle explosives. Disney has a permit for its fireworks shows.

Security guard Edwin Sotomayor was terminated Monday after declining to let Disney authorities search his car late last week. The 36-year-old had told local media he planned to challenge Disney's claim of an exemption by having a gun locked in his car when he reported to work at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez has said the company maintains a zero-tolerance policy for employees who bring guns onto the property.

Crist Weighs Next Step For Gambling Pact

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist continues to weigh his response to a court ruling that overturned a gambling agreement he made with the Seminole Tribe to expand gambling at its casinos.

The Florida Supreme Court said last week that Crist doesn't have the constitutional authority to enter into the pact. Crist's top advisers met with representatives from the tribe on Monday.

The governor says he wants to do "what's in the best interest of Florida and education dollars." He said many options are on the table, including working with the Legislature to alter the law.

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