Mike Schneider - Associated Press

Federal officials confirmed that a $608 million reimbursement had been approved for the center earlier this month.

The University of South Florida College Republicans and the Pinellas County Young Republicans filed a request for a three-judge panel to hear their lawsuit.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has been filing reports twice a month since being found in civil contempt for telling officers they could ignore the judge's order.

The handbook submitted last week by the state of Florida in the separate legal-access lawsuit suggests that detainees are warned that guards would enforce strict rules on dress, hygiene and behavior.

The man in his 30s was found unresponsive after riding the coaster at Epic Universe on Wednesday. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Florida may be forced to choose between forgoing federal reimbursement for the immigrant detention center or facing an environmental review that would risk shutting down the facility.

The three-judge panel in Atlanta on Thursday decided by a 2-1 vote to stay the federal judge’s order pending the outcome of an appeal. The judges in the majority said it was in the public interest.

The legal rights lawsuit claims detainees have been denied the right to meet privately with their attorneys.

The news comes less than a week after a federal judge ordered the detention center to wind down operations — with the last detainee needing to be out within 60 days.

Officials say that the crosswalk, a tribute to the 49 victims who died during the 2016 mass shooting, was painted over overnight.