Sunrise

Turns out Republicans who complained about voter fraud in last year's election were right … but it was one of their own behind it. Democrats call for a do-over after a GOP operative and former state lawmaker was charged with financing a sham candidate in Senate District 37 to siphon votes away from the Democrat.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The House Public Integrity and Elections Committee takes up a bill that’s being sold as a fraud-prevention measure but doesn't do a thing about sham candidates. All it does is make it harder to vote by mail, the method often preferred by Democrats.

— Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than 70% of Florida seniors have now been vaccinated for COVID-19, so he's lowering the age to get a shot. As of today, anyone 50 and over can sign up.

— Florida reached another milestone in the COVID-19 crisis over the weekend as the number of cases passed the 2 million mark, one of every 10 Floridians.

— House and Senate leaders agreed on a bill to provide businesses and health care entities with protection from COVID-19 liability lawsuits, and the bill could be on its way to the Governor by the end of the week. But there's another group asking for legal protection for an entirely different reason: Urban Search and Rescue Structures Specialists who volunteer to enter collapsed or partially collapsed buildings first to help clear a path to help first responders get to victims.

— The problem is liability lawsuits; Allen Douglas, head of the Florida Engineering Society, says these volunteer engineers deserve the same sort of protection enjoyed by good Samaritans.

— And finally, two Florida Couples who ran afoul of the law. One is accused of letting students smoke weed at their home; the other pair was caught with lamb and seafood stuffed in their pants at Costco.

The Florida Senate approves a bill to protect businesses from COVID-19 liability lawsuits. Democrats tried to change the bill and Republicans shot down every amendment before passing the bill on a 24-15 vote.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. Ron DeSantis presides over a roundtable discussion on COVID-19 with doctors who share his view that lockdowns are dangerous. And they all think the media screwed the pooch.

— The Department of Health reports 99 new fatalities and more than 5,000 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday.

— The Governor also meets with officials from the pari-mutuel industry to talk about a new gambling bill. Senate President Wilton Simpson says they may or may not be drafting a bill this weekend.

— Senators vote to close a loophole in state law that allowed a child molester to keep his name off the sex offender list by simply refusing to pay court-ordered fines after doing time.

— A bill to limit the strength of medical marijuana sold in Florida passes a second committee in the House.

— And finally, a Florida Man who once served in the Legislature is accused of hiring a straw man candidate to rig a South Florida election.

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis lowered the age limit for COVID-19 vaccinations to 60; he says it's going to drop to 55 before the end of the month.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The state reported Wednesday another 59 fatalities and 4,600 new cases of COVID-19.

— Telehealth came into its own during the pandemic, as doctors saw patients over Zoom or FaceTime; now there's bill to do the same with VideoVets.

— A legislative committee approves Sen. Lauren Book's bill that suspends the medical license of any doctor arrested for child pornography … like her family’s pediatrician.

— DeSantis wants to spend more than $100 million federal COVID-19 relief money to keep up civics education in Florida schools.

— From the Governor's description, it sounds like kids will be getting a sanitized version of American civics. For example, they won't be allowed to discuss critical race theory.

— And finally, two Florida Men: One accused of rioting for Donald Trump; the other accused of setting off a smoke bomb outside the former President's home at Mar-a-Lago.

The Senate Education Committee votes to reduce Bright Futures Scholarships for college students who insist on following their passions instead of going for the big bucks. Students are not amused.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. Ron DeSantis still believes Florida is not getting its fair share from the new federal COVID-19 relief law … but he's already figured out how he wants to spend it.

— Among other things, DeSantis wants to use Joe "Biden Bucks" to fix the unemployment system, replenish the DOT road fund, give a thousand-dollar bonus to every first responder and bail out the seaports.

— Democrats launch a new campaign to thwart the Governor's reelection next year — called "Ron Be Gone."

— And finally, two Florida Women are charged with successfully hacking the election ... of homecoming queen.

Over the past 24 hours, the Florida Department of Health reported 99 fatalities and more than 2,800 new cases of COVID-19.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The bill to crack down on social media platforms for banning Donald Trump passes its first committee in the state Legislature.

— Lawmakers from both Parties have problems with social media, but they're also wondering if they have any authority over the tech giants because that power has been preempted by the feds.

— Despite a decrease in the total number of jobs, Florida's unemployment rate was down by three-tenths of a point in January.

— Florida's unemployment compensation system melted down last year when the state went into lockdown; lawmakers are finally getting around to fixing it. The bill to try to revamp the unemployment system got such a friendly reception at its first hearing, the committee chair called it a “lovefest.”

— It's been more than 30 years since the state created a special fund to compensate families when a baby suffers catastrophic injuries at birth. Lawmakers did that to try to solve a medical malpractice insurance crisis. Now Kenney Shipley, who runs the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association, says it's time to increase the payments to parents.

— And finally, a Florida Man is accused of spitting on a Disney guard when she asked him to follow the rules and wear a mask.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is excited about the progress made by lawmakers during the first two weeks of the Legislative Session. Democrats do not share this enthusiasm.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Democrats haven't had any luck stopping the Governor or thwarting his agenda, but there is a way to derail DeSantis. A train stopped the Governor from talking for less than a minute.

— It’s a big day for Floridians between the ages of 60 and 64, they can now get vaccinated for COVID-19.

— Getting a dose in Leon County was surprisingly easy.

— It's been a year since Florida went into a brief lockdown and the schools went virtual. Most teachers are back in the classroom, but they paid a price.

— When they wrapped up last year's Session, the Governor and his legislative allies declared 2020 was the “Year of the Teacher.” Teachers say it didn't work out that way.

— And finally, a Florida Man named "Babycakes" was chillin' in his birthday suit … at 71-years-old.

On Day 11 of the 60-day Legislative Session, the House Ways and Means Committee signed off on a billion-dollar tax increase… or is it?

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Whatever you call it, that bill is moving fast — thanks to a new deal between the House Speaker and Senate President on how to spend the windfall.

— The Senate Rules Committee passes the COVID-19 liability protection bill.

— The Senate had been working on two separate bills … one for business, the other for health care workers and facilities… but they've combined the two in a single package that is now ready for the Senate floor.

— A House subcommittee passes a bill saying doctors cannot perform an abortion if the fetus has a genetic disability.

— The Governor stops in Lake City and Jacksonville to plug the COVID-19 vaccine … and Walgreens.

— And finally, two Florida Men: one faces charges for The Capitol riot; a Tesla saved the other from a carjacker.

Republican leaders in the Senate unveil a new plan to mess with the vote-by-mail process, and voting rights groups are calling them out.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Republicans insist they are not trying to suppress the vote; it's all about preventing fraud in the future.

— The Governor and Cabinet adopt new rules to try to streamline the clemency process. Attorney Richard Greenberg says it's about time.

— The clemency board also voted to rescind any fines imposed by local governments for violating mask mandates or other COVID-19 rules.

— Gov. Ron DeSantis opens a new pod where seniors in Sumter County can get the one-dose COVID-19 vaccination from Johnson & Johnson.

— The Florida Department of Health reports 62 more fatalities from COVID-19. Did you ever imagine a time when 62 deaths in one day is considered an improvement?

— And finally, a Florida Woman is jailed in New Orleans, accused of firing several shots into a crowd and wounding two teenagers on Bourbon Street. And a Florida Man is busted after bouncing on his neighbor's trampoline in the nude.

A new report by the Miami Herald lends more credence to complaints the Governor is trading COVID-19 vaccinations for votes and campaign donations. Gov. Ron DeSantis calls it nonsense, accusing the media of hating wealthy seniors.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The state reported 132 more COVID-19 fatalities Tuesday, as our death toll hits 32,481.

— A House committee approves a bill to slap limits on the amount of THC in medical marijuana. The sponsor, Rep. Spencer Roach wants to stop people from using medicinal weed for recreational purposes.

— Critics of the bill claim Roach is trying to gut Florida's medical marijuana program.

— A House committee votes today on a bill that combines God and Guns — the ultimate Florida combo. Patti Brigham with the League of Women Voters says House Bill 259 and its Senate companion (SB 498) are bad news. The Senate advanced the bill through the Criminal Justice Committee.

— A new analysis of the 2020 election shows there were a lot fewer problems with vote-by-mail than anyone expected; three-quarters of mail ballots flagged for errors were fixed in time to be counted. Yet Republican lawmakers still intend to place all sorts of new restrictions on voting by mail, buying into Donald Trump's “fraud” narrative.

— Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing the White House over its immigration policy, saying changes imposed by Joe Biden’s administration will cost Florida millions of dollars.

And finally, a Florida Man was busted after police asked for his license, and he showed them a bag of cannabis gummies.

A momentous change in vaccination policy is coming; starting next week, the Governor says the age limit will drop from 65 to 60 … which means two million more Floridians will be eligible for shots.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

But Democrats have stepped up their attacks on Gov. Ron DeSantis for his vaccination plan … or the lack thereof.

The Governor is NOT happy with the new COVID-19 rescue bill. Florida will be getting more than $17 billion, but DeSantis says that’s about $2 billion less than it should be.

— DeSantis wants to use $2 billion from the feds to bail out Florida’s unemployment trust fund and protect businesses from a tax increase. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is trying to find some way to stop it.

— Lawmakers will be debating a bill to limit the power of local officials to issue emergency orders ... as so many of them did during the pandemic. They’ll also talk about a bill capping the amount of THC in medical marijuana.

— And finally, a Florida Man was so distraught after his girlfriend dumped him that he burned her possessions. If only he hadn’t been in a hotel at the time.