Sunrise

The head of the Florida Health Care Association is trying to figure out how they can convince more people who work in nursing homes to get vaccinated.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— More vaccines are coming to Florida, so Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state has launched a new effort to provide shots to homebound seniors … starting with people who survived the death camps in World War II.

— The Governor made the announcement at a synagogue in Aventura, where rabbis, pastors and ministers came together to encourage their flocks to have faith in vaccines.

— DeSantis is also making plans for additional vaccines provided to Florida by the Joe Biden administration.

— The health department reported 228 new fatalities from COVID-19 Thursday and our death toll has reached 27,698. At the current rate, we’ll pass the 28,000 mark this weekend.

— The pandemic exposed all the flaws in America’s health care system and policymakers in Washington are talking about creating a single-payer system. Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. of Hialeah is proposing a constitutional amendment to make that about impossible in Florida.

— Republican leaders are also taking aim at the state retirement fund. Sen. Ray Rodriguez wants all new hires to be forced into 401(K)s instead of receiving a pension.

— While Republicans fixate on pensions, Democrats are focusing on the Stand Your Ground law. Sen. Shevrin Jones has filed a bill to repeal it.

— And finally, the state Supreme Court disbarred a former Florida Man convicted of using female clients in two county jails to make porn.

Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees is launching an investigation into reports that more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses were damaged last week in Palm Beach County. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to know how it happened.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— DeSantis said that in Pahokee while announcing a new pod to provide vaccinations for people who live far from Palm Beach County's urban centers. But the credit goes to former FSU and NFL player Anquan Bolden … who comes from the Glades.

— And since he had an NFL all-star by his side, the Governor couldn’t resist talking about this weekend’s Super Bowl in Tampa.

— Students and faculty at the University of Florida speak out against the effort to force everyone to return to campus for in-person classes. They say UF leaders are downplaying the threat of COVID-19 and putting lives at risk because they’re afraid of budget cuts from Tallahassee.

— A Senate committee approves a bill that would give the corrections department the authority to release older inmates who face serious medical problems.

— Two Democrats discuss filing bills to kill M-CORES, the multibillion-dollar project to build three new toll roads through some of the last undeveloped areas of the state.

— And finally, a Florida Man (and state lawmaker) says he got his mask in his mouth, so there’s no room for his foot.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is declaring war on the tech giants: Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple. House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson joined in saying the tech companies are run by a bunch of liberal oligarchs.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is calling the Governor’s proposal disingenuous, using the same word DeSantis used to criticize the White House.

— Fried has been hopping along with a brace on one leg. But that didn’t stop Fried from holding a news conference to announce a new partnership with the White House called “Keep Florida and America Growing.”

— The Department of Health is reporting more than 10,000 cases of COVID-19 and 140 additional fatalities. Florida’s death toll is now 27,269.

— The Florida Chamber of Commerce releases its wish list for the upcoming session, including immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits and a sales tax for online purchases.

— The Chamber believes Florida should also invest more money for infrastructure, workforce development and tourism promotion.

— And finally, a Florida Man told officers that’s not heroin — it's a laxative.

Three Tampa Bay-area lawmakers are teaming up on bills calling for changes in the state’s eviction process. As many as one million Floridians face eviction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— January was the worst month on record for the number of COVID-19 fatalities and newly confirmed cases reported in Florida, but the Governor says the trends are looking much better.

Say goodbye to the worst month on record for COVID-19 fatalities in Florida. The Department of Health reported the deaths of 4,806 Floridians in January, breaking the record set in August by 462.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. Ron DeSantis says we need to vaccinate seniors first because they face the greatest risk, but there’s another group that may be just as vulnerable are off the list — persons with physical or intellectual disabilities.

— As lawmakers gear up for next month’s Legislative Session, they’re facing backlash over a bill to crackdown on protesters. During its first committee hearing, House Bill 1 drew dozens of vocal opponents and Republicans not happy with what they heard.

— In the aftermath of the scandal at the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, state lawmakers are looking at other nonprofits that have exclusive deals to act as service providers from the state. State investigators have found more than a dozen organizations doing business for the state that appear to have paid too much to the top brass.

— DeSantis may have to find a new chief of staff. Shane Strum is a finalist for CEO of Broward Health which pays about 5 times as much as he makes working for the Governor.

— And Finally, a Florida Man and Woman squared off in an elevator. Both were topless.

Gov. Ron DeSantis unveils his new budget, adding up to more than $96 billion — an all-time high.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Despite the economic turmoil created by the COVID-19 crisis, DeSantis wants to increase spending for schools and clean water.

— Three Democrats who serve on Florida’s Congressional delegation are blasting the Governor over his management of the vaccination program.

— But the guy in charge of distributing vaccines in Florida says the real problem is a lack of “meds from the feds.”

— Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz briefed state lawmakers while accompanied by Cobra: the COVID-19 sniffing dog.

— Rep. Ted Deutch, the Congressman whose district includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, is calling for the expulsion of Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia … who retweeted claims that the Parkland massacre was staged.

— And finally, a Florida Man who fired almost 100 rounds while targeting his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend during a drive-by shooting.

For about an hour, things actually got exciting in the Legislature as a tornado touched down near the Tallahassee airport. The National Weather Service warned us all to take shelter in the basement — as if there are actual basements in Florida houses.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— After days of sniping back and force between Washington and Tallahassee, Gov. Ron DeSantis says enough of the politics, let's focus on vaccinations.

— Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees made a virtual appearance before a legislative committee to provide a COVID-19 update, but lawmakers who wanted to ask questions were told to zip their lips.

— A Senate committee votes for a bill that could eventually kill off the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.

— A conversation with Boca Raton Sen. Tina Polsky, who wants to make it harder for fraudulent candidates to appear on the ballot.

— And finally, a Florida Man faces federal charges of interfering in the presidential election of 2016 and tricking thousands of people into wasting their votes.

Florida has reached yet another milestone in the COVID-19 crisis: the death toll passed the 26,000 mark with 231 additional fatalities Tuesday.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— After being dissed by the White House over his complaints about vaccine shortages, Gov. Ron DeSantis flip-flops. Instead of getting the greatest number of shots in arms, DeSantis says the state is now withholding COVID-19 vaccines to ensure seniors and health care workers can get a second dose.

— That announcement is a response to President Joe Biden’s press secretary, who said Florida had used only half the vaccines provided by the federal government.

— Two Republican lawmakers, furious that Donald Trump was banished from Twitter, filed bills to punish the tech giants … claiming conservatives are being censored.

— The bill targets Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Alphabet … and China.

— The Senate Criminal Justice Committee votes to close a loophole in the sex offender registry law that allowed a convicted child molester to stay off the list by simply refusing to pay his court fine.

The Senate Judiciary Committee advances a bill that would immunize businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The immunity bill is on the fast track in Tallahassee, much to the dismay of Sen. Perry Thurston. He wonders why business is first in line for help when so many Floridians are unemployed, facing eviction and waiting months for vaccines.

— Florida’s Department of Health announced Monday 156 additional fatalities from COVID-19 and 8,720 newly confirmed cases. Nevertheless, Gov. Ron DeSantis says there are fewer people in the hospital for coronavirus.

— During a news conference in Jacksonville, DeSantis also announced the first round of vaccinations at long-term care facilities are almost done.

— COVID-19 changed the way Florida lawmakers conduct business. Senate President Wilton Simpson seems absolutely delighted that there will be limits to the number of lobbyists in The Capitol.

— Simpson also warned his fellow lawmakers that most people in The Capitol won’t be vaccinated until April, so COVID-19 restrictions will be in place throughout the Legislative Session.

— The Senate Commerce Committee votes to raise revenue by more than $600 million by collecting sales tax on all internet purchases. But the sponsor insists it’s not really a tax increase.

— And finally, a Florida Woman is accused of running a whorehouse at a luxury home in a gated community.

Florida lawmakers are returning to The Capitol for another week of committee hearings. It’s all part of the run-up to the legislative session that begins March 2.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— 155,000 people have now received both of their flu shots in Florida and more than a million are waiting for their second shot. Gov. Ron DeSantis says the only thing that stops them from doing more is a lack of vaccine.

World War II veteran and former state Sen. Henry Sayler celebrated his 100th birthday last week and he capped it off with a flu shot administered live on Fox and Friends. Sayler’s televised vaccination gave the Governor a “made for TV moment” at a time when he’s under fire for his response to the COVID-19 crisis.

— DeSantis is also boasting about 20,000 new jobs in Florida last month — and a drop in the jobless rate. The chief economist at the state unemployment office says it went from 6.3% to 6.1%.

— Hurricane Irma is history, but the damage is still under repair; the state is handing out $100 million worth of grants to help local governments rebuild infrastructure and enhance their resiliency to storms.

— And finally, a naked Florida Man is accused of stealing the cruiser of a Jacksonville deputy.