Sunrise

Casualties from coronavirus continue to grow; now there are 6,741 confirmed cases in the Sunshine State, with 85 fatalities.

Also, on Today’s Sunrise:

— To open the new month, the April Fool’s joke is all the monthly bills are due. It’s no laughing matter if you’re one of the people laid off because of the pandemic. Sen. Marco Rubio says there’s money in the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package for small businesses and nonprofits.

— All that money from the federal stimulus package makes a tempting target for scammers. Attorney General Ashley Moody warns that they are already trying to trick people out of the money, even though it hasn’t even arrived yet.

— The new month also means new worries over evictions. The Florida Supreme Court suspended the legal process for filing eviction papers until the middle of the month, but some Democrats in the legislature say that’s still not enough time. They want the Governor to declare a moratorium on evictions until the pandemic has passed us by.

— Florida State University professor Dawn Carr talks about the mental health impact of isolation on seniors. Carr offers some tips about how you can stay in touch with grandma and grandpa without putting their lives at risk.

— There was a big win for former felons trying to have their voting rights restored. A federal appeals court in Atlanta is refusing to reconsider or overturn a decision that says the state cannot refuse their right to vote if they cannot pay all their ‘legal fines and restitution.’

— The Public Service Commission approves a new area code for Tampa since 813 is almost played out. We don’t know yet what will the new area code be.

— And the latest on Florida Man, who sometimes wears a badge.

Some happy news for a change: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the First Lady have a brand-new baby girl. But the Governor wasn’t in the delivery room because of coronavirus.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The Florida Department of Education has extended school closures through May 1 (at least) due to the coronavirus pandemic. The expected news came during a conference call. Florida has now confirmed 5,704 cases of coronavirus, including 71 fatalities.

— A minister in Hillsborough County is facing criminal charges for holding services where hundreds of people attended in person — violating common sense and health regulations during a pandemic.

— A cruise ship loaded with sick passengers — and four dead bodies — is headed for Broward County; DeSantis wants to stop it.

— The head of Florida’s emergency management agency says the hunt for N95 masks (to protect health care workers) is fraught with fraud and price gouging. He calls it’s a “Ponzi scheme.”

— The head of the Florida branch of the AARP is asking state officials to explain why they won’t release the names of nursing homes and ALFs with confirmed cases of coronavirus.

— DeSantis is still refusing to issue a statewide lockdown because of the virus, but he’s joining the Mayors of four South Florida counties for a new program called “Safer at Home.” It’s like a lockdown, but without the curfews.

— And checking in with Florida Man, who does his best to spread fear and panic amid the pandemic.

President Donald Trump has backed away from earlier statements about wanting people back at work by Easter. He is now saying that the social distancing guidelines issued by the CDC will remain in effect until the end of April.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Law enforcement checkpoints have now been set up on I-95 to catch New Yorkers entering the Sunshine State; another on I-10 in the Panhandle to nab anyone driving here from Louisiana. New York City and New Orleans are two coronavirus hot spots.

— The National Guard is stationed at Florida's largest airports to greet flights from the New York City area and informing travelers they must self-isolate for 14 days if they want to stay here. Gov. Ron DeSantis says that’s already paid off by reducing the flow of coronavirus refugees from up north.

— Florida’s Surgeon General blasted out a text through the state’s public safety alert system advising everyone 65 and older — and anyone with underlying medical issues — to stay at home over the next two weeks.

— In a town hall meeting held by phone, Congressman Ted Deutch is asking the Governor to issue a stay-at-home order for everyone in Florida. And American College of Emergency Physicians President Dr. William Jaquis agrees, saying the next two weeks are critical for the Sunshine State.

— Checking in with Florida Man: One stole hundreds of dollars of women’s lingerie, the other used a forklift to break into a department store and steal a conveyor belt.

The human toll from COVID-19 continues to rise, with Florida’s latest casualty being a 67-year-old doctor from Broward County — which just issued orders for residents to stay at home —  as well as two poll workers who dealt with voters during the state’s primary testing positive for coronavirus.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— If you haven’t paid your property taxes yet, you’ve got a little more time. Thanks to the coronavirus, the deadline is extended to April 15.

— DeSantis was on the phone with the White House again and has more to say about the President’s wish for us to get back to work by Easter. The Governor thinks some misinterpreted his remarks. But there’s no misinterpreting what author Stephen King thinks about DeSantis. The horror writer extraordinaire describes the governor as “not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.”

— With so many people now working at home, scammers have a whole new way to try to steal your information. Attorney General Ashley Moody offers tips to secure your system while you work remotely.

— There’s still a lot of business left to be done from the Legislative Session, not least of which a signature on the new state budget. But DeSantis says everything else is on the back burner because they’re locked on coronavirus 24/7.

— Some good news for TECO customers; rates will be likely going down this summer thanks to a drop in the price of natural gas.

— Resident pollster and pundit Steve Vancore will stop by the studio, so he’ll be wearing a surgical mask the entire time. That should sound interesting.

— Checking in with the latest Florida Man stories: One left a humongous tip, while the other came up with a phony masturbation convention in Orlando.

Special Guest: Steve Vancore.

Florida is now amid a major disaster after the President has made it official with a formal declaration. As of Wednesday night, there have been 1682 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida and 22 fatalities.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Despite the growing number of confirmed cases and fatalities from coronavirus, Gov. Ron DeSantis is still refusing to impose a statewide lockdown or stay-at-home order. Instead, he’s throwing shade on the states that have already done that, saying they made the situation worse. He’s also imposing additional restrictions on anyone who travels to Florida from the New York City area — including Floridians who visited the Big Apple.

— The state unemployment office is staffing up to deal with a flood of claims from people laid off because of the coronavirus. Sen. José Javier Rodriguez has been prodding the DeSantis administration to cut the red tape and make it easier for workers to file.

— Some can credit U.S. Sen. Rick Scott as the person who made Florida a state with the stingiest unemployment system in the country. Now, Scott is threatening to tank a federal coronavirus bailout bill, saying the unemployment benefits are too generous.

— The University of Central Florida has a new president — former University of Missouri Chancellor Alexander Cartwright. The Board of Governors of the state university system approved the UCF trustees' decision to hire him.

— And the latest with Florida Man, featuring two cases of indecent exposure from Jupiter (the city, not the planet).

Gov. DeSantis is pondering the President’s latest pronouncement — he wants America back to work by Easter.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— DeSantis is also doubling down on his refusal to order any sort of statewide lockdown. He says people in New York and California have already demonstrated that it doesn’t work that well. In fact, the National Guard is now greeting people who arrive in Florida after taking flights from the New York City-area to inform them they have to self-isolate for at least 14 days after arrival.

— State officials are also worried about a cruise ship called Zaandam. The Holland-America liner has at least 42 infected people on board, and they are hoping to dock next week in Broward County, which happens to be the epicenter of Florida’s coronavirus epidemic.

— Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried talks about getting calls on coronavirus scams. Fried offers a few hints on how to protect yourself from fraudsters. She was also the first official in Florida to call for a statewide lockdown, so she gives her reaction to the Governor’s rejection of that advice.

And two Florida women prove that the title “Florida Man” knows no gender.

Gov. DeSantis is once again refusing to issue any sort of statewide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus — despite the number of confirmed fatalities rising to 18.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— DeSantis is under attack for his failure to act on coronavirus. Democrats are lining up to unload on the Governor: Donna Shalala, Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

— If you were among the thousands of Floridians who tried to file for unemployment online, chances are you received an error message. Calling the helpline, you got a recording. The Department of Economic Opportunity is trying.

— Florida’s award-winning state park system is closed for the duration. They tried to limit crowds, but that didn’t work. So, a shutdown is now in effect.

— Sen. Scott says forget the corporate bailouts: what people need is a moratorium on rent, mortgage payments, and utility bills. A group called the Florida Housing Justice Alliance loves the idea, and they’re asking the Governor to run with it

— The latest from Florida man, which has one story with absolutely nothing at all to do with the virus — think of it as a psychic palate cleanser.

Florida’s unemployment office is facing an unprecedented surge. Hundreds of thousands of people already lost their jobs in the hotel and restaurant industries and Florida has the stingiest unemployment benefits in the country.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. DeSantis travels to South Florida to open a new coronavirus testing facility at Hard Rock Stadium.

— Moskowitz, head of Florida’s emergency management agency, has some harsh words for people who insist on partying in large groups during a pandemic.

— Two state Senators — Janet Cruz and Lori Berman — ask why it took so long for the state to begin its response to the coronavirus. They’re also expressing some doubts about the performance of Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, who runs the state health department.

— Today’s the day the Governor had planned to appoint two new justices to the Florida Supreme Court — but that’s not going to happen quite yet.

— And the stories of two Florida Men who produced very different (and very illegal) ways to deal with coronavirus.

Florida’s 2020 Legislative Session has officially ended, but there are some rumbles about it having to return to The Capitol later this year to respond to the impact of coronavirus.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— In a rare display of bipartisanship, the Florida House and Senate vote unanimously to approve their new budget … all $93 billion. But first, lawmakers had to pass a health screen to enter the House Chamber. Several lawmakers watched from home because they didn’t want to risk coronavirus infection. The legislative meeting itself was a violation of recommendations by the CDC for both social distancing and crowd size.

— The Gov., Senate President and House Speaker are each taking victory lap at the end of the Session, despite a looming economic fallout from COVID-19.

— Seniors face the greatest threat from the virus, so nursing homes and long-term care facilities are off-limits to visitors. Nevertheless, Agency for Health Care Administration Mary Mayhew says residents at more than 19 facilities have already tested positive or are presumed positive

— And the latest with Florida Man, who has the power to infect Congress.

Florida lawmakers are back in town to approve the budget and finally put an end to the 2020 Session — and not everyone is pleased. They’re worried that all those people coming in from every corner of the state could spread the coronavirus.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Florida takes a big jump, nearly 100 in a single day, including another fatality.

— Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran is getting pushback on his plan for dealing with coronavirus. Some critics call it an illegal power grab.

— Officials in South Florida predict a tsunami of unemployment claims resulting from businesses that are shutting down for coronavirus. Florida has the worst jobless benefits in the country, but the Governor can change that with an executive order.

— The state’s “event industry” has taken a huge hit from the virus and want to be a part of any upcoming bailout.

— In 2020, there were winners and losers — here are some of the high-profile bills that went down in flames during Session.

— And the latest in Florida Man, who felt the best way to deal with an auto crash was to get naked.