Sunrise

Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis relaxed about all the regulations designed to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— This relaxation of the rules includes Miami-Dade … one of Florida’s coronavirus hot spots. The county’s School Board doesn’t want to reopen all classrooms until mid-October, but Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran says he is having serious concerns about that. He wants in-person instruction to start two weeks sooner.

— The Governor has also banned mandatory mask rules imposed by cities and counties and has pardoned all the inconsiderate asshats who got a ticket for refusing to wear one.

— There’s a meme circulating on Reddit that sums it all up: Florida as “God’s Waiting Room — now with shorter wait times.” But DeSantis says the state can get back to business as usual because Florida is prepared for a second wave.

— Michael Carlson, of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, discusses how your homeowner rates are going up because of all the intermediaries.

— And finally, a Florida Woman raised $12,000 dollars to help pay the final expenses of three murder victims — but spent it all on herself instead.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’s going to start overriding restrictions imposed by local governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The Governor made that announcement after hosting a Zoom conference with three academics who — by the most amazing coincidence — all agree with him.

— Donald Trump brings his reelection campaign to Florida with a rally in Jacksonville.

— And finally, a Florida Man is suing McDonald's for more than a million dollars, claiming he broke a tooth after biting a bone in a Chicken McNugget.

Florida is preparing for the arrival of President Donald Trump. He’s holding a rally at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville — much to the dismay of some Florida veterans.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Anyone attending the president’s rally will have to sign a liability waiver that takes away their right to sue if the contract COVID-19.

— Speaking of coronavirus, the Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran says the reopening of public schools has been a model for the rest of the country.

— As for those 18,000 students and teachers now in quarantine because of COVID-19, Corcoran says the health department is being too strict. He said that as the Department of Health reported 203 more fatalities from COVID 19 … and almost 2,600 new cases of coronavirus.

— A deep dive into the clemency hearing for Desmond Meade, a former felon who is executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. He asked for a pardon and it didn’t happen.

— And finally, a Florida Man who stole blood from a clinic … a veterinary clinic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is doubling down on his bill targeting Black Lives Matter protesters. The Governor says he would like the Legislature to approve it during a Special Session after the November election.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— He may have Republican support, but Democrats in the legislature say Florida’s protests have been peaceful and the Governor is trying to create a crisis to distract from everything else going wrong on his watch.

— And the protesters targeted by the governor accuse him to trying to score political points with a proposal that he … as a lawyer ... knows is unconstitutional.

— The protesters say they wish DeSantis cared as much about COVID-19 victims as he does about their demonstrations.

— There have now been more than 200,000 COVID-19 fatalities nationwide, with Florida helping to break that barrier. The Department of Health reported 99 more deaths Tuesday; Florida’s toll is now 13,579.

— And finally, a Florida Man who was nearly done in by a gator, because of a crock.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is circling the political wagons around the thin blue line. He is proposing a new law to crack down on protesters looking to “Defund the Police” and stand with the men in blue. It would also provide new legal protections for Confederate statues.

Students at Florida State University who made a mockery of social distancing when they return for the fall semester, are now finding out their football coach has COVID-19. Party on, Seminoles …

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The state health department reports 2,500 new cases of coronavirus … that’s a total of almost 684,000 infections in Florida since the start of the pandemic. The state also reported nine more fatalities from COVID –… raising the death toll to 13,459.

The Governor rarely mentions COVID casualties; he’d rather talk about non-human metrics like positivity rates or emergency department admissions. And Ron DeSantis says there’s been no surge or spike in cases since the reopening of schools.

— It’s been a week since bars were allowed to reopen; DeSantis says there’s no sign of trouble there.

— COVID-19 crippled the state economy, creating the largest job loss in Florida history. But the market is rebounding. The jobless rate in August was 7.4 rate … four points lower than July.

— Residents of Northwest Florida continue the clean-up from Hurricane Sally. Damage estimates are starting to roll in ... including losses in the agriculture industry.

— The Governor travels to Weeki Wachee to talk about restoring Florida’s springs. And since he brought the kids, he had to schedule a side trip.

— Finally, checking-in with two Florida Men: One is promising to kick people out of his bar if they wear a facemask. The other is accused of assaulting a 13-year-old girl with a flagpole holding a Trump banner.

Florida’s begun adding up the cost of Hurricane Sally. Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Pensacola to check out the damage.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is keeping an eye on the floods created by Hurricane Sally.

Florida is seeing another spike in COVID-19 fatalities. The Department of Health reported 150 additional fatalities Tuesday, raising the state’s death toll to 12,946.

With Hurricane Sally approaching, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.