Sunrise

Sunrise

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Sunrise episodes

  • Court order

    The Florida Supreme Court is ordering Gov. Ron DeSantis to withdraw his nomination of Renatha Francis for membership on the high court and pick someone else from the list of nominees who actually meets the minimum qualifications for the job.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — The Governor has until noon to pick a new justice. Rep. Geraldine Thompson, who filed the lawsuit that stopped him, discusses the order.

    — They’re still the hot spot in Florida’s coronavirus map, but today’s the day Miami-Dade and Broward Counties are entering Phase 2 of the COVID-19 recovery.

    — The move to Phase 2 means both counties are gearing up for the return of students to the classroom. They’re all virtual right now.

    — We all hear the stories about thousands of kids exposed to COVID-19 and forced into quarantine after going back to the classroom, but DeSantis claims it's not as bad as it sounds.

    — The latest polling shows Donald Trump and Joe Biden in a statistical tie in the Sunshine State.  New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he’ll try to push Florida into the blue column by spending $100 million here between now and Election Day.

    — Speaking of elections, there’s a new mini-documentary making the rounds that explains exactly how to vote by mail in Florida starring Rob Reiner. You may know him as the Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer and director of movies like “The Princess Bride,” “The American President,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “Misery,” but for another generation, he’ll always be Meathead from “All in the Family.”

    — And checking-in with a Florida Man who threatened to blow up a state building if they didn’t stop calling him about his child support payments.

    23 min
  • Race card

    Florida’s Department of Health is reporting another 213 fatalities from COVID-19. It’s the second consecutive day the death toll exceeded 200 and the number of coronavirus fatalities in Florida has reached at least 12,482. Gov. Ron DeSantis never mentioned those fatalities during his COVID-19 conference Thursday — he wanted to talk about reopening bars and restaurants.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — The state also reported almost 2,600 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, which sounds like an improvement ... until you look at the data and realize they’re testing a lot fewer Floridians these days. Fewer tests mean fewer confirmed cases.

    — DeSantis' effort to play the race card against a Black lawmaker has failed. Rep. Geraldine Thompson says there’s no way she’ll drop her lawsuit over the Governor’s latest appointment to the Florida Supreme Court.

    — Remember the Tally 14, who were arrested Saturday during a protest of police brutality? Make that 16. If the goal of Tallahassee police were to infuriate the social justice crowd, they certainly succeeded.

    — Finally, checking-in with a Florida Man who took the wind out of a gator.

    17 min
  • Trending down

    Florida’s Department of Health is reporting an uptick in the number of COVID-19 fatalities. The daily death reports had been trending down over the past week, but the state reported 202 more fatalities.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Broward Wednesday, one of the counties hardest hit by the virus. But he never mentioned COVID-19. DeSantis was there to try to whip up support for his Supreme Court nominee who doesn’t meet the technical requirements to hold the job.

    — Sunrise takes a deep dive into the legal and public relations battle between the Governor and Rep. Geraldine Thompson.

    — More backlash for the President in the aftermath of a scathing report in The Atlantic that says he referred to soldiers who died in action as “losers and suckers.” Some Florida veterans say Donald Trump is unfit to be commander in chief because he doesn’t understand the concepts of empathy or sacrifice.

    — A new book from Bob Woodward could solve one of the mysteries of the 2016 election: which Florida counties Russians hacked. We already knew about Washington County; Woodward says the other was Saint Lucie.

    — And checking-in with a nearly naked Florida Man accused of stealing from a neighbor’s mailbox.

    18 min
  • Offshore

    Donald Trump is under fire for holding a news conference in Florida to brag about his environmental record. But the President didn’t simply come to Florida simply to brag about his environmental record. He also signed an executive order to keep oil platforms off the coast of Florida for ten more years.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — The number of COVID casualties is declining, but not yet going away. The state just reported 44 more fatalities and the number of confirmed cases is now more than 650,000.

    — The Florida Legislative Black Caucus is asking you to just say no to Amendment 3, which seeks to end Florida’s closed primary system.

    — Sunrise takes a deep dive into the Tally 14 — peaceful protesters arrested over the weekend after being met by an army of blue as they demonstrated against a grand jury’s decision not to prosecute three cops who killed black civilians.

    — And checking-in with Florida Man, who pooped a bag of pot in jail.

    26 min
  • Staycation

    Gov. Ron DeSantis wants people to start vacationing in Florida again. Sunrise examines a new campaign encouraging Floridians to jump-start the tourism business by taking a staycation in their own state.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — Florida’s department of health is reporting 22 more fatalities and almost 2,000 new coronavirus infections on Labor Day, as DeSantis says the numbers are looking better. There is, as usual, a caveat.

    — One side of society that has the Governor’s attention — alcohol. Specifically, the bars and brew houses shut down after they were accused of spreading COVID-19 when restrictions were relaxed in May. DeSantis would like to find a way to get them back in business.

    — President Donald Trump visits Jupiter to talk about the environment. He wants to spend a quarter-billion dollars in next year’s budget on infrastructure projects for the Everglades. Democrats say that would be good if he hadn't gutted the federal agencies that are supposed to be preventing pollution.

    — Condolences today to Christopher Benjamin of Miami Gardens, elected to the Florida House when he won the primary for HD 107 last month. His wife died over the holiday weekend.

    — The Florida Supreme Court takes on a case that could impact your homeowner’s insurance. Citizens Property Insurance is being sued over claims from Hurricane Francis in 2004.

    — Checking in with two Florida Men who had a really bad weekend — only one survived.

     

    21 min
  • Hopeful?

    Florida’s death toll from COVID-19 passes another milestone — 139 new fatalities reported Thursday, pushing the statewide death toll to 11,011.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — The state also reported almost 3,300 new cases of coronavirus, with the total so far at 612,000. But the Governor is positively hopeful.

    — DeSantis is predicting he’ll win the legal fight over the forced reopening schools. He lost Round 1, but if he strings the appeal out long enough, Ron DeSantis claims he’ll win by default.

    — The Governor likes to say schools are safe for kids and they’re not as vulnerable as adults. But sometimes, they are.

    — A Miami Congresswoman says schools need more help to reopen safely, so she’s filed the SCHOOLS Act: “Safe Considerations of the Health of our Learning Students.”

    — Voting rights activists are calling out Elections Supervisor of Duval County Mike Hogan. They say he’s doing next to nothing to help his constituents in Jacksonville to vote by mail.

    — Jacksonville attorney Eddie Farah is warning about lawmakers who want to inoculate corporations and give them immunity from lawsuits over COVID-19.

    — Checking-in with a White Florida Woman who is facing criminal charges for slapping an 11-year-old Black child across the face after the kid rear-ended her in a go-cart at Boomer’s Game Center in Boca Raton. Foul language was involved.

    25 min
  • Tourist trap

    Florida politicians (on both sides of the aisle) are trying to figure out how to lure tourists back to the Sunshine State. With that in mind, Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a roundtable discussion in Orlando about the theme parks of central Florida. The Governor says it’s safe to visit Disney, Universal or SeaWorld because of their emphasis on safety.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — DeSantis is also teasing a new PR campaign, teaming up with airlines to get more people to fly to Florida. He insists air travel is safe.

    — Officials in South Florida are also grappling with the collapse of their tourism market, and unlike the Governor, they believe mandatory masking is a big part of the solution.

    — The winter tourist season in South Florida usually starts in October, but many are worried 2020 could be a lost cause.

    — Happy belated birthday to the 19th Amendment. Wednesday was Women’s Equality Day, but members of the Florida chapter of the National Organization for Women say the work is not done.

    — A conversation with Mike Czin at the Congressional Integrity Project about their report on the finances of Florida’s junior Sen. Rick Scott, who refused to put his assets in a blind trust and increased his net worth by $55 million during his first year in Congress.

    — Checking-in with the Florida Man in a Mohawk who stole a $6,000 Pomapoo, but left his ID at the pet store.

    25 min
  • Appeals

    Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran is appealing the ruling of a circuit judge who says his emergency order forcing schools to reopen classrooms or lose money violates the state Constitution. The President of the teacher’s union says they expected nothing less from a political appointee with no actual experience running a school.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — The union is calling on Corcoran to drop the appeal and work with them to make schools safe before they reopen. But anyone who has followed the former House Speaker’s political career knows that’s highly unlikely. Corcoran thrives on confrontation.

    — As Republicans hold their virtual convention, Democrats hold virtual news conferences to denounce the President and his allies — starting with the COVID-19 crisis and Florida’s failed unemployment system.

    — The woman who heads the agency that regulates health care facilities in Florida says the COVID-19 crisis is subsiding at nursing homes and long-term elderly care facilities.

    — Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks at the Republican National Convention. He’s best known as a die-hard supporter of Donald Trump who delights in his role as a provocateur and media troll — in other words, he’s a Florida Man. While few would confess to being Florida Man, Gaetz is no ordinary individual.

    — Speaking of Florida Man, a Florida Woman is accused of attacking her man because he was looking at porn.

    21 min
  • Gut punch

    A Leon County Circuit Judge delivered a swift gut punch to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran by blowing up their emergency order forcing Florida schools to reopen classrooms by the end of the month or lose money. It was a huge win for the Florida Education Association.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — Meanwhile, in Miami, DeSantis sounds like he’s warming up for a victory lap in the fight against COVID-19.

    — Before the judge issued his ruling on school reopening, DeSantis said the Department of Health reported 2,258 new cases of coronavirus Monday, with 72 more fatalities. The statewide death toll is 10,534 and the total number of infections is just short of 603,000.

    — The Republican National Convention is underway. Florida Republicans are getting screen time while Florida Democrats trash the President from the sidelines.

    — Sunrise takes a deep dive into the huddle as the Miami Dolphins announce the reopening of Hard Rock Stadium for football fans next month. Seating is limited, masks are mandatory.

    — Checking-in with a Trump-supporting Florida Man who is facing criminal charges after deputies say he punched a neighbor in a dispute over their yard signs.

    28 min
  • Improvement

    Florida’s Department of Health reports 51 new fatalities and almost 3,000 new cases of COVID-19. It’s certainly not good numbers, but it is an improvement. More than 600,000 Floridians have been infected and the death toll is at least 10,462.

    Also, on today’s Sunrise:

    — Florida’s economic recovery stumbled in July. A new report from the Labor Department shows unemployment increased in July after a couple of months of gradual improvement.

    — Officials at the Department of Economic Opportunity say they don’t know yet if the July rate was an aberration or if we’re entering the second wave of unemployment. Either way, Democrats say the Governor and the Republicans who control the state Legislature have screwed the pooch on COVID-19.

    — A deep dive into the politics of unemployment during the COVID-19 crisis.

    — More schools are opening their doors for in-person instruction … and universities are reopening for the first time since March. Sen. Janet Cruz says stand by for a new wave of infections — and fatalities.

    — The teacher’s union has already filed suit over the forced reopening of schools; we’re still waiting on a ruling from a judge who heard the case last week.

    — Democrats in the Legislature are also renewing their call for a Special Session to deal with unemployment, elections and myriad issues affected by the pandemic. They say the response from the Governor and legislative leaders is a violation of the state constitution.

    — The latest with Florida Man, who lost his job as a city manager after being accused of battering a Councilwoman who voted against renewing his contract.

    20 min

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