Sunrise

Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Dr. Joseph Lapado as Florida’s new Surgeon General.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried again spars with DeSantis — claiming he broke the law by independently appointing new Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton.

— Reporter Renzo Downey covered the spat for Florida Politics. He says the lone Democrat on the Cabinet has found an ally. Downey was also part of team coverage on DeSantis’ new agency heads.

— And the Joe Biden administration is expressing horror over videos showing U.S. Border Patrol agents confronting Haitian migrants with whips on horseback.

Republican lawmakers were caught red-handed using party officials to overhaul Florida’s election system.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— House Democrats blast attempts by Republican leaders to make school board elections partisan.

— Redistricting hearing gets underway during its first committee meeting.

— Planned Parenthood is holding a rally today against Florida adopting a Texas-Style abortion ban.

— Florida Politics reporter Jacob Ogles talks about sitting in on the Legislature’s first meeting in the once-a-decade redistricting process.

Lawmakers are kicking off the once-a-decade redistricting process, but they continue to block the public from seeing draft maps.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— This first committee week, lawmakers will try to produce a plan for what's next after Florida drops high-stakes standardized testing. Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran says something better is possible.

— A newly filed bill aims to make school board elections partisan. Christian Ziegler with the Republican Party of Florida says nonpartisan races are a sham.

— After an intensive search, authorities say they discovered a body Sunday in Wyoming believed to be Florida resident Gabby Petito.

— The Sunrise interview jumps right into a hot topic for committee week — redistricting. The guest is Ellen Freidin, campaign chair of the drive to amend the Florida Constitution to require more compact legislative and congressional districts — through Amendments 5 and 6, passed in 2010.

Black lawmakers are saying a ban on Critical Race Theory is a political spectacle that ignores U.S. history.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— When it comes to the claim by Gov. Ron DeSantis that people who have had COVID-19 now have very strong immunity, PolitiFact says that’s mostly true.

— Now DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio are lashing out at the Joe Biden administration for rationing the COVID-19 antibody treatment they’ve been heavily promoting.

— Two Sunrise interviews today: Rep. Geraldine Thompson, offers a history lesson for her colleagues calling for a ban on Critical Race Theory. Then we have PolitiFact’s senior correspondent Jon Greenberg who has been tracking the Governor’s natural immunity claims.

Rep. Randy Fine is filing a bill to ban the teachings of how racism has affected life throughout history and today.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— When it comes to making COVID-19 data public, open government groups are saying the Sunshine State has gone dark when compared to the rest of the country.

— Lying in state, former Florida Chief Justice Stephen Grimes is remembered.

— Michael Barfield, Director of Public Access at the Florida Center for Government Accountability, talks about their ongoing lawsuit to get the state of Florida, particularly the Department of Health to resume sharing critical COVID-19 data.

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried continues her weekly COVID-19 briefing.

— And the Lincoln Project is launching another attack ad against Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Florida’s Senate Democrats called on a critical care nurse to clear up misinformation on whether the COVID-19 vaccine changes your RNA.

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. Ron DeSantis announces an end to high-stakes testing.

— And while preparing to fight off a Texas-style abortion law, Rep. Anna Eskamani files a bill to repeal Florida’s 24-hour abortion waiting period law. Eskamani is on the Sunrise interview.

Gov. Ron DeSantis allows a supporter to spread disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines during a news conference. Instead of correcting the false statement, DeSantis fanned the flames of doubt over vaccination boosters.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Attorney General Ashley Moody called President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate unlawful and Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack vows to stop it.

— On the Sunrise interview, Democratic Rep. Omari Hardy chimes in on a federal judge's decision to temporarily block Florida’s anti-protest law.

— And First Lady Casey DeSantis launches Hispanic Heritage Month with the theme: “Celebrating Hispanic-American Community Leaders and Champions.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis kicks off the week with a win — his ban on mask mandates is back in force. Now he’s ready to spar with President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins says she simply can’t forget the lives lost, and credits mask mandates for keeping a tough situation from getting worse.

— Overcoming a breakthrough case of COVID-19, Congressman Darren Soto visits Sunrise to dive into his legislative priorities and what’s on the horizon for Florida from Washington.

— The Orlando Democrat is officially out of quarantine and is able to go back on the Hill in Washington to continue his work. On the Sunrise interview, Soto shares his experience dealing with COVID-19, his treatments, and tips for those working in Florida’s Capitol.

— During DeSantis’ tour to promote monoclonal antibody treatments, Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis praised the treatment for helping him recover faster as well as Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson.

Gov. Ron DeSantis rounds out the week with yet another legal defeat. A federal judge temporarily blocks the controversial ‘anti-riot’ bill.  

Also on today’s Sunrise:

— President Joe Biden announces strict new vaccine rules on federal workers, large employers and health care staff. 

— Tallahassee City Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem Jeremy Matlow weighs in during the Sunrise interview on the sweeping corruption case which landed Former Tallahassee Mayor and City Commissioner Scott Maddox five years in prison. 

— DeSantis delivers big checks to Walton County for infrastructure projects, broadband, Northwest Florida Commerce Park. 

— In a bonus Sunrise Interview Margy Grant, CEO of Florida Realtors, discusses their decision to pursue a legislative solution instead of the affordable housing ballot initiative. 

A judge once again shuts down the Governor’s attempt to block local mask mandates. But even before the judge’s ruling, Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed that he would fight back through appeal and win.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried touted the safety of vaccines during her COVID-19 briefing, but issued a statement calling on news outlets to stop broadcasting “the Governor’s misinformation without immediate editorial correction with the facts.”

— And Florida’s largest teachers’ union weighs in on the judge’s mask ruling against the state.

— On the Sunrise Interview, Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association, says they are prepared for the Governor's appeal as they continue the fight to keep teachers and students safe.

— And finally, a Florida Man fed up with a private road in poor condition near his Southwest Florida business produced a novel solution: plant a banana tree in a pothole to warn motorists away.