Sunrise

Just in time for Veterans Day, VISIT FLORIDA launches a new military-friendly web site to assist service members, veterans and their families on where to go in Florida.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A Senate committee will consider a controversial bill requiring minors not only to notify their parents before they get an abortion but also get their consent.

— A former Senate President is involved in a crash in central Florida that kills a pedestrian.

— Should America ditch the electoral college system and start using the popular vote? Sunrise talks with a special guest who believes it’s the way to go and is making the same pitch to lawmakers.

— More Florida Men madness: A bongo burglar in the buff and a Disney princess groper.

Happy Veterans Day!

Good news for Northwest Florida. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture doesn’t offer crop insurance on trees, they’ve agreed to nearly $400 million to help growers who suffered huge losses from Hurricane Michael.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— The Florida Legislature may have a reputation for being gun-friendly. But Lake County Commissioners make Tallahassee lawmakers look downright amateurish in comparison.

— Speaking of veterans; State Sen. Janet Cruz and Rep. Adam Hattersley are filing legislation to allow veterans with service-related disabilities to obtain or renew their medical marijuana cards at no cost. Usually, the cost to obtain a card is between $200-$400.

— As lawmakers in Washington talk about “saving Medicare,” some seniors in Florida call that double-speak for gutting the program that provides healthcare for older Americans. And they’re vowing to fight back.

— The latest update on Florida Man; someone who never seems to take a day off.

Sunrise takes a deep dive into Florida’s Guardian program, as lawmakers try to figure out how to respond when people take advantage of the wards they are supposed to protect. It’s a response to the death of a 75-year-old man after his professional guardian entered a “do not resuscitate” order against his wishes.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A committee in the state House approves a bill creating Elder Abuse Fatality Review Teams in each of the state’s judicial circuits. Its job will be identifying gaps in services and support for seniors and recommending systemic improvements to prevent elder abuse.

— Joe Clements, the founder of Strategic Digital Services, says Twitter’s decision to ban political ads is not a promising idea. In fact, Clements thinks it’s worse than Facebook’s decision to allow politicians to lie in their advertising.

— More Florida Man madness: Police charged a Pasco County man with aggravated assault; the man thought another driver was trying to kill him. He admitted shooting at the wrong vehicle.

Florida’s Supreme Court is taking up an issue with huge political implications — do former felons have to pay all their fines and make restitution before having their voting rights restored?

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Two Central Florida lawmakers are filing bills to protect roofers, farmworkers, landscapers and others who work outdoors from heat-related illnesses. The bills include providing cool water, shade and regular breaks.

— State Rep. Dane Eagle has become the first Republican to officially announce he’s running Florida’s 19th Congressional District, currently held by Frances Rooney, who plans to retire from Congress. Part of the reason, Eagle says, is to defend Donald Trump.

— Speaking of Trump, a new poll from Florida Atlantic University shows the President is in trouble with Hispanic voters in the Sunshine State. Sunrise’s in-house polling expert Steve Vancore stops by to parse the numbers.

— And the continuing adventures of Florida Man — or men, as the case may be — who stole Bigfoot.

Special Guest: Steve Vancore.

Two Central Florida lawmakers are making another run at their election protection bills — and two South Florida lawmakers are trying to get a hearing for their bills banning conversion therapy on children.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A bill to revive the state’s tourism marketing agency clears a friendly Senate committee, but it’s going to be a battle during the 2020 Session.

— If ghosts are in your town, the Florida Department of State archivist Isabella Folmar would love to hear from you. They’re assembling an oral history archive of all the ghoulish and creepy stories throughout the Sunshine State.

— And today’s Florida Man is a woman, and police have the X-rays and CT scan to prove it.

Five years after voters approved the Florida Water and Land Legacy Amendment, conservation groups are urging the Legislature to finally obey that amendment and spend more to preserve environmentally sensitive lands.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— It’s election day in Saint Petersburg, where nonpartisan City Council races have become about as partisan as it gets.

— Although she leads in the polls in the polls, state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto of Fort Myers said she will not be running for the Congressional seat being given up by U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney.

— Florida Politics is adding veteran reporter AG Gankarski to the Tallahassee team. Gancarski stops by the studio to talk about the upcoming Legislative Session.

— More from Florida Man with a couple of stories featuring a Chihuahua and more than a thousand pythons.

It’s committee week at the Florida Capitol as lawmakers kick into high gear to prepare for the Legislative Session beginning in January. Florida Politics’ Jim Rosica stops by the studio with a preview of what’s in store.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— A new campaign to get former felons to the polls in Florida, which includes a statewide bus tour by a group called the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. They’ll be on the road for the rest of the month.

— Florida is No. 1 in America for fraud; all three members of the state Cabinet are vowing to crack down on fraud, and each has a unique role to play on the issue.

— After a scathing investigation and a new audit, the state Department of Education is calling for a complete reboot of the Florida Virtual School.

— More Florida Men hijinks: An 18-year-old Pasco County resident is accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill a faculty member at his high school north of Tampa. Also, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies are accusing a registered sex offender of using a Bible app to secretly connect with underage girls at a church youth group.

Another day, another gun bill. This time, it’s a proposal to prohibit domestic abusers from possessing firearms. Domestic violence is responsible for more than half the mass shootings in America.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Bill Galvano’s M-CORE law mandating the construction of three new toll roads through the heart of Florida is getting bad reviews out in the real world. But in the Capitol, Galvano’s already working on the follow-up — M-CORE 2.0.

— Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister is counting on Boys II Men and some Super Bowl trophies to raise coin for his reelection.

— After more than 30 years on the scene at the Capitol, Jeb Bush’s former communications director is starting her own PR firm. Alia Faraj-Johnson visits Sunrise to talk about crisis management in the modern media landscape.

— Florida Man update: A 31-year-old Leon County resident opened fire on his own brother after they got into a fight over the Bible.

Sunrise gives an update on election security in Florida. The Russians hacked into two county databases during the 2016 election, and the Secretary of State’s office is spending millions of dollars to try to prevent a recurrence in 2020. However, details of what exactly is being done are not forthcoming.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— Gov. Ron DeSantis says the upcoming Legislative Session could be better known as the Year of the Teacher. Teachers Hope it’s true — but after the way they’ve been treated in Tallahassee in the past couple of decades, they remain cautiously doubtful.

— Mega-attorney John Morgan’s $15 minimum wage constitutional amendment has cleared a major hurdle. They have enough signatures to make the ballot. But there’s still a way to go.

— It’s Halloween! While kids fill bags with candy, the real treat goes to retailers. The holiday for ghosts and ghouls is a major economic driver in the Sunshine State.

— More Florida Men madness: A Vero Beach man in a MAGA cap says the hat was slapped off his head by another man who proceeded to spit on him, saying: “You should go back to Russia, you f**ing communist.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis plucks victory from the jaws of defeat after his Republican Party of Florida announced they were postponing a big fundraising dinner. It’s back on.

Also, on today’s Sunrise:

— DeSantis is asking lawmakers to pass a bill requiring private employers in Florida to use the federal E-Verify system to screen all new hires and make sure they’re in this country legally. But some of the biggest industries in Florida or looking to stop it.

— The NCAA saw the writing on the wall after the Governor said he supports a new bill that would allow college athletes to make money on their own images and likenesses.

— Attorney General Ashley Moody wants the legislature to crack down on vaping, saying it is now showing up in elementary schools.

— Adventures with Florida Girl: Deputies in Collier County say a 14-year-old girl walked up to a man dressed as Donald Trump and punched him in the jaw — while her friends recorded it.