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Parkland Survivors Push Youth Vote After Tallahassee Mass Shooting

November 5th, 2018 by Jake Stofan
The Parkland March For Out Lives students are at the state Capitol today in the shadow of Friday’s deadly mass shooting that took two lives and injured five others.
The Parkland shooting is credited with energizing young voters and Democrats.
Student activists who gained a national platform are urging the voters to cast ballots as if it were their last election.
“When you walk up to vote tomorrow, remember all of our faces. Remember thousands of students who live in fear everyday because of gun violence,” said FAMU Student Zion Kelly, who lost a brother to gun violence.
The survivors’ presence comes just three days after Scott Beierle opened fire on a Tallahassee yoga studio, killing an FSU student and faculty member.
A vigil held on campus Sunday night, words from FSU President John Thrasher mirrored those of the March For Our Lives students.
“People have a right to feel safe in their schools, in their places of worship,” said Thrasher.
Just eight months ago, the capitol was the epicenter for the gun reform movement.
“Sixty-plus state laws have been passed to combat gun violence around the country… and if they’d been passed before… these heroes would still be here,” said Parkland Suvivor Emma Gonzalez.
Like the Parkland shooter, the gunman who opened fire on the Yoga studio Friday had a history of posting violent material online.
The Tallahassee shooting wasn’t directly mentioned by the Parkland students, until we asked.
“There are too many happening in this country for us to talk about each and every one. Here in Tallahassee is very close to our hearts. Some of our co workers and some of our friends had experienced trauma, they were in that studio, they experienced pain,” said Parkland Survivor Matt Deitsch.
Gonzalez just voted for the first time.
“It was pretty cool. I listened to Kendrick Lamar while I was doing my absentee ballot,” said Gonzalez.
She says it doesn’t matter who wins so long as people turnout to vote.
In another effort to get the youth out to vote, Democratic Candidate Andrew Gillum will be joined by Rapper P-Diddy and DJ Khalid down the street from the Capitol, Monday night for a rally on FAMU’s campus.

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Democrats Seize Early Ballot Lead

November 3rd, 2018 by Mike Vasilinda
Democrats took a slight lead in votes cast early and by mail Monday morning, GOP strategists say their path to victory is older voters who traditionally cast their ballots on Election Day.
Pam Buchanan voted for the first time in her 54 years back in 2016.
She voted for Donald Trump.
Voters like Pam are the key to a GOP win in Florida,
She told us she doesn’t plan to vote this year, because Trump isn’t on the ballot.
That’s not good for the GOP.
The party is counting on older voters like Pam to carry them to victory.
Monday began with more than 5 million votes already cast.
Democrats took a 25,000 vote lead in mail and early voting.
Across the state, canvassing boards were meeting to go over disputed mail and early ballots.
Statewide there are 15,000 ballots where the signature doesn’t match or is missing.
“My guess is that tomorrow, this enthusiasm to vote in this election is going to carry on, and I think we’re gonna probably raw numbers, we’re gonna have a record turnout, without a doubt, in the midterm,” said Keon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley.
Democrats are buoyed by higher than usual young voter turnout.
Parkland student Emma Gonzalez came to the Capitol to urge young voters to continue turning out.
“Gun violence is on the ballot. Our lives are in the hands of the people we elect. Vote in every election like it’s your last, because it very well could be,” said Parkland Survivor Emma Gonzalez.
The 25,000 ballot advantage for Democrats is in sharp contrast to a 97,000 deficit this time four years ago.
As of Monday morning, more than one million mail ballots remain outstanding.
It’s too late to mail them, but voters can return them in person to their Supervisor or Elections before polls close at 7 pm Tuesday.

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FSU Student Arrested After Politically Charged Outburst

November 2nd, 2018 by Jake Stofan
An FSU student has been arrested and charged with battery following an outburst at a campus Republican display.
The profanity laden outburst was captured on camera.
The video, viewed nearly 30,000 times, shows 19-year-old FSU student Shelby Shoup throwing chocolate milk, hitting students and kicking campaign signs at a Campus Republican booth.
“You are supporting Nazis,” Shoup tells the student activists.
She went on to invoke the Pittsburgh shooting saying, “Nazis are *$&% shooting my people!”
Another student shouted back, “You’re throwing milk at people!”
“She doesn’t even know what fascism and Nazis are,” said Hunter Pollack.
Hunter, a member of the FSU Campus Republicans and brother of Meadow Pollack who was killed in the Parkland shooting, shared the video on Twitter.
“No one in College Republicans would be able to get the story out the way I would,” said Pollack. “So I figured I would share it and I’m going to stick up for my fellow members of my club.”
Pollack, Jewish himself says the outburst was inexcusable.
“I want to spread love,” said Pollack. “We can’t be throwing chocolate at each other on campus. That’s unacceptable.”
Shoup was arrested and charged with battery by campus police two days after the incident.
We showed Tallahassee Rabbi Jack Romberg the video.
He said while he and other jews are angry about the shootings, it’s no excuse for Shoup’s behavior.
“You should not be condemning that other person as being completely indecent, because if you take the time to listen to their narrative you will start to understand why they believe what they believe,” said Romberg.
Pollack says the fact Shoup was arrested, means justice was served.
FSU responded to the incident Friday, in a tweet saying, “FSU is a diverse community that values and respects each person. FSU expects each member of the community to embrace the values of civility and ethical conduct and obey the law.”

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Marsy’s Law Supporters Defend Amendment 6

November 1st, 2018 by Jake Stofan
Faith leaders with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference expressed their support a constitutional amendment they claim protects victims rights, but defense attorneys and others are asking tough questions about what Amendment 6 would actually accomplish.
Amendment six, named for a murdered California woman, Marsy’s law, would expand crime victim’s rights in the state constitution.
It’s supported by both Gubernatorial candidates, Florida law enforcement, some prosecutors and now faith leaders.
“Crime victims have civil rights also that must be protected,” said Reverend R.B. Holmes of Tallahassee’s Bethel Baptist Church Thursday.
Defense attorney’s and the ACLU oppose Marsy’s Law.
They say it would limit the rights of the accused.
“It’s going to let the victims run the show,” said  Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers Association President Richard Greenberg. “They’re going to be able to tell the prosecutors, judges and law enforcement how to handle the case.”
Victims like Ann Rowe, who was raped at gun point in 2015, disagree.
“I have every right for the judicial system to call me, to tell me what is happening in my case,” said Rowe.
Marsy’s law is the best funded amendment on the ballot with more than $30 million spent so far.
Pro-Amendment 6 ads have been accused of spreading misinformation by suggesting Florida currently has no protections for victims.
Tim Cerio the sponsor of Marsy’s law says while there are protections in the constitution and statute, enforcement is missing.
“There are often times, even though Florida statutes allow participation by victims at particular times, we found out on the road and a lot of prosecutors have confirmed that doesn’t always happen,” said Cerio.
Six states have adopted some form of Marsy’s Law.
South Dakota amended its version two years after it passed.
Montana’s Supreme Court over turned it because it violated the state’s single subject rule.
Amendment six also makes a change in how state agency rules are treated in court and it raises the retirement age of judges.
Voters must decide if the bundling is warranted.

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How Will the Next Governor Get Around Without a State Plane?

November 1st, 2018 by Mike Vasilinda
For the last 8 years, Governor Rick Scott has been traveling the state on his own jet, which is creating a dilemma for whoever is elected November sixth.
Neither Ron DeSantis or Andrew Gillum are millionaires.
Neither owns a plane, but whomever is elected will have to live at least temporarily with a promise Rick Scott made campaigning eight years ago.
“I’ll-put an end to pet spending projects, sell the air state plane,” Scott said in a campaign ad.
Scott lived up to the promise two days after taking office.
“Its a promise I made and I’ll live up to them,” aid Scott in 2011.
He’s been flying in his own jet ever since.
So what’s the new Governor to do?
Key lawmakers say they’re looking for a way for him to travel that’s a good value for taxpayers.
One option is using turbo prop planes still owned by some agencies.
They fly about half as fast as the jet the state sold.
Back in 2011,  we asked Rick Scott how other state officials would travel.
“They can drive or fly,” Scott said.
But former Governor Bob Martinez says that’s not practical.
“My guess would be is that without a plane, I wouldn’t take speaking engagements more than 50-100 miles from Tallahassee,” said Martinez.
Even conservative Florida Taxwatch thinks a jet is imperative.
“You know, ultimately we think it’s an important tool  for the Governor, given the fact we are a very very large peninsular state,” said TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro. “You know. out of sight, out of mind.
The likely scenario is that the state leases a plane short term, while it sorts out how the Governor will travel.
Since taking office Rick Scott bought at least one new plane.
He was recently criticized for the purchase in campaign ads.

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State Official Accused of Using Employees for Personal Debris Removal

November 1st, 2018 by Mike Vasilinda
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is investigating whether one of its division directors, Kelley Scott, no relation to the Governor, used three state employees to remove hurricane debris from her south Georgia home.
The state and the Miami Herald received an anonymous complaint.
Scott currently makes $130,000 a year overseeing the department’s administrative services.
Nearby homes are still littered from Hurricane Michael debris.
The DMV refused to provide any documents, citing the ongoing investigation.
We’ll keep on top of this story and bring you more as it develops.

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