Sunrise

The Florida GOP is giddy over reports that Jacksonville could host the Republican National Convention in August.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The state Health Department says there have now been 67,391 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Florida. That an increase of almost 1,400 in one day. It’s now the eighth day in a row where the number was more than 1,000. COVID-19 has now killed at least 2,889 people in the Sunshine State.

— Next week’s meeting of the state Clemency Board has been canceled and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is once again calling out Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying it is just one more way the state is suppressing the vote by refusing to restore the rights of people who have served their time.

— Florida’s broken unemployment system is getting attention in Washington — as an example of how to do it wrong.

— The latest with two Florida men: One is a deputy who was suspended for inviting violent cops to work in Florida. The other is a guy who brought a rifle to a peace march.

Florida’s spike in COVID-19 cases continues — seven days in a row with at least 1,000 new cases.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

Three state Senators are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to help fight the spread of coronavirus by setting up a task force of medical experts who will target outbreaks with TTIS — testing, tracing and supported isolation. Sen. Janet Cruz will explain.

— Friday is the anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando. South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell says this would be a good time for the U.S. Senate to get serious about background checks, but she knows they won’t.

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is asking DeSantis to talk about COVID-19 at the next meeting of the state Cabinet. Last time, he pretty much ignored that request, but this time he took action — by canceling the meeting.

— A panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal hears arguments in a dispute over tobacco company payments to the state. RJ Reynolds claims it’s no longer required to pay the state for the brands it no longer owns.

— Gwen Margolis, who spent 30 years in the state Legislature and was the first woman to serve as Senate President, died of natural causes at the age of 85.

— Checking in with a Florida Man who encouraged a 12-year-old girl to floor it when she drove his Jeep. Also, a Florida Woman danced without pants outside a Waffle House.

Qualifying week is underway for state and local offices. One surprise on opening day was the announcement from state Sen. Tom Lee that he won’t be running for anything and is leaving with two years left on his term. On Sunrise, he’ll tell you why.

— The Governor is dismissing calls for a federal investigation into the repeated failures of Florida’s unemployment compensation program. Gov. Ron DeSantis has already ordered his inspector general to investigate it but says the call for a federal investigation is “partisan politics.”

— The death toll from COVID-19 continues to climb and Florida’s health department reported almost 1,000 new cases Monday … which was an improvement. It’s the first time in almost a week the daily number didn’t exceed 1,000.

— As the state reopens for business, South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is asking the Governor what happened to all that federal money to trace the contacts of COVID-19 victims.

— Protests against police violence continue in the Sunshine State, but this didn’t help. The head of the Fraternal Order of Police in Brevard County is inviting police officers involved in violent confrontations with demonstrators in New York and Georgia to work in Florida … saying “we’ve got your back.”

— Checking in with two Florida Men: One has a problem with children; the other is a problem child.

Florida has now experienced five consecutive days where the number of new COVID-19 cases has exceeded 1,000. Gov. Ron DeSantis says that is because of more testing, but it could also have something to do with the reopening of Florida and all those mitigation measures that are no longer practice.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The number of fatalities continues to rise and should soon surpass 2,800 in Florida. Nationwide, the total is more than 112,000 deaths and more than 2 million confirmed cases.

— Tropical Storm Cristobal slogs ashore in Louisiana, soaking the entire southeast, as well as most of Florida. The rain didn’t stop Black Lives Matter marches in the Sunshine State, but it did cool things down a bit. Health experts are now recommending people who take part in the protests test for coronavirus — just in case.

— The embattled Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence filed suit against two insurance companies that sold them professional liability coverage and are now refusing to pay up since the state is taking the coalition to court over excessive payments to their former director. The insurance companies say their policies don’t cover fraud.

— DeSantis provides a monologue on the state’s efforts to protect seniors from COVID-19. More than half of Florida’s fatalities have been at nursing homes and adult living facilities, but the Governor says we’re a model for the rest of the nation.

— The latest on Florida Man, who didn’t know his racist remarks were being aired live on Facebook.

Most of Florida is entering Phase Two of the COVID-19 recovery. While that might sound encouraging, it is happening right after the Department of Health reported a record number of new cases in a single day.

Also, on today's Sunrise:

— After calling time out for the pandemic, the NBA will be finishing its interrupted season in Orlando beginning at the end of July. It’s a big win for the Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been trying to get sports restarted in the Sunshine State. DeSantis is also hoping he can bring the Republican National Convention to Florida — now that Donald Trump is bailing on North Carolina.

— Another increase in the number of Floridians filing for unemployment as the state closes in on the 2 million mark. That means about one out of every four workers in the state without a job.

— The Florida Supreme Court takes aim at a constitutional amendment to ban assault weapons, blowing it right off the ballot. The massacre in Parkland inspired the Ban Assault Weapons NOW initiative, but the high court says the ballot language is misleading.

— Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing two vape companies doing business in the Sunshine State. She says they're breaking the law by marketing to kids.

— An update on the search for a COVID-19 vaccine. The bottom line: we won’t have one any time soon.

— And the latest from Florida Man, who has gone to the dogs.

Florida’s Department of Health is reporting a spike of COVID-19 cases. Nevertheless, that did not stop Gov. Ron DeSantis from announcing most of Florida is about to enter Phase Two of the recovery.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says there’s been a lull in the violence that arose from protests against police brutality in the state. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— There were 70 more fatalities from COVID-19 in Florida, making it one of the worst days on record. Now, there are 57,447 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Sunshine State — an increase of more than 600 in one day.

— The Florida Education Association releases its plan for the safe reopening of public schools. The teachers want COVID-19 testing for everyone on campus and social distancing, even on school busses. They also want the state to suspend school grades and other accountability procedures during the upcoming school year.

— A deep dive into two cases at the Florida Supreme Court where Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking for another chance to execute former death row inmates spared by the courts in 2017.  But her lawyers ran into a lot of skepticism when they made their case to the high court.

— Today’s Florida Man story includes a somewhat-famous Florida Woman — Carol Baskin. If you have Netflix, you know who she is.

Today, COVID-19 takes a back seat to protests of police violence. Sunrise hears from a Mayor, a minister and two members of Congress, but nothing from the Governor. Gov. Ron DeSantis has said nothing in public about the protests, not even the one held outside the Governor’s mansion. However, on Monday, we finally got a tweet.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise. There have been at least 2,543 fatalities in Florida and the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus is just short of 57,000.

— Democrats on Florida’s Congressional delegation are trying to convince Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to support the latest round of COVID-19 stimulus — the HERO Act. It includes another round of $1,200 checks for individuals, as well as extending additional unemployment benefits through the end of the year.

— Florida’s budget is taking a hit because of the economic slowdown, and DeSantis plans to use his line-item veto power to reduce overall spending. That’s why Florida Developmental Disabilities Council CEO Valerie Breen is pleading with DeSantis not to wipe out the gains they made during the Legislative Session. Sunrise speaks with Breen.

— And we check in with two Florida Men, where one will make you proud.

After a weekend of violence during protests against police brutality, Gov. Ron DeSantis has called out the National Guard: 150 Guardsmen were sent to Miramar, 100 to Tampa, and 150 to Camp Blanding, the Guard’s headquarters.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— There were disturbances across the state: Miami, Tampa, St. Pete, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, and even Tallahassee.

— As more than 200 people marched peacefully through the capital city, the driver of a red pickup truck decided to drive through. The truck hit several marchers, but none appear to have any serious injuries. Police immediately surrounded the truck and whisked the driver off to jail. Tallahassee Mayor John Daily issued a statement that concluded with: “The peaceful protesters have my unwavering support and I unequivocally condemn any violence toward protesters.”

— Welcome to Day One of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. If it seems a bit belated, that’s because there were already two named storms. Also, the state sales tax holiday for disaster supplies is now underway. It lasts until Thursday, so now is the time to stock up for storms.

— Remember a time when they advised everyone in Florida to have a three-day supply of food, water and meds during hurricane season? The new recommendations a weeks’ worth, because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the supply chain.

— Speaking of coronavirus, DeSantis says they’re taking COVID-19 tests to the public. Home Depot and Publix are setting up micro-testing sites in parking lots starting in South Florida. But the focus remains on adult-living facilities which are the most dangerous places to live during the pandemic. Almost half the fatalities in Florida were residents or staffers of long-term care.

— We may learn if Donald Trump is moving the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina because he doesn’t like their social distancing requirements. DeSantis wants the convention in Florida.

— Checking in with Florida Man and Florida Woman: one tried to steal a house with a piece of paper. The other tried to ship cellphones to ISIS for making pressure bomb detonators. It did not end well for either.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried finally gets the chance at a Florida Cabinet meeting to air her grievances about the way the state is responding to COVID-19. She claims Gov. Ron DeSantis is keeping them in the dark; DeSantis’s only response was: “Anyone else?” Fried will talk with Sunrise about the experience.