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Florida’s criminal justice system might see some major changes this Legislative session.

Some top Florida officials have expressed support for some reforms that have been shot down in years past.

State Senator Jeff Brandes says the time for criminal justice reform in Florida is now.

“As bad as the criminal justice system and the prison system was last year, it’s worse this year as far as funding, budget and personnel,” said Brandes.

Part of Brandes and other criminal justice reformers’ approach to reducing the strain on the system, is is to reduce sentences for certain low level crimes and find alternatives to prison for some offenders.

“Are people better served in community supervision, are people better served in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs,” said Chelsea Murphy with Right on Crime.

Many bills sponsored by Brandes in years past have failed to cross the finish line.

One example, raising the felony theft threshold from $300 to $1,500, but that proposal now has support from Governor Ron DeSantis.

“I don’t want some 15-year-old kid to do something stupid, but doesn’t mean he’s a bad kid and then end up with a felony because he stole a bicycle or something that cost $305,” said DeSantis.

Florida’s Attorney General Ashely Moody also says the state needs to improve its criminal justice system.

Her focus is primarily on mental health.

That’s the direction some other criminal justice groups say the state should really focus on.

“I think that’s where the reformers are missing it. They’re trying to play around on the sentencing stuff,” said Barney Bishop with Florida Smart Justice Alliance. “Don’t do that. The core problem is two issues. Substance abuse and mental health.”

Some of Brandes’ other proposed reforms include, giving judges discretion in mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, allowing courts the option to set no bail for low flight risk offenders who can’t afford to pay and allowing prisoners who enroll in educational programs to have up to 60 days removed from their sentence.

With the passage of Amendment 11 in November, lawmakers will now have the option of applying sentencing changes retroactively.

Which means new laws could immediately impact those behind bars, not just future convictions.

The bodies of five teens and two adults were returned to their graves in a cemetery known as Boot Hill at the former Dozier School for Boys in Marianna Wednesday.

They died in a fire more than a hundred years ago.

Survivors of the boys school, known for its abusive past, said their final farewell to their brethren.

The eight coffins were unloaded one by one, each brought in their own hearse.

Two contain former staff members at the dozier school for boys, five hold boys who attended the school and the eighth mixed remains.

All lost their lives in a fire at the school in 1914.

At the funeral, were men who attended the school years later.

Mark Engelsen, who attended Dozier from 1973 to 1974 drove all the way from Texas.

“A lot of things happened to a lot of people at this place and I’m one of them,” said Engelsen.

The remains were recovered as part of an investigation into the abuse at the school.

In total, the remains of more than 50 boys were unearthed.

The reason the seven are being buried on former school grounds is because they were originally laid to rest there.

Also nature of their death was not related to the abuse that plagued Dozier for more than 100 years.

The Florida Legislature formally apologized for the atrocities at dozier in 2018.

Charles Fudge who spent 1960 and 1961 at Dozier says the abuse both haunts and unites those who experienced it.

“We need love and kindness,” said Fudge. “Not torture.”

However, this ceremony was part of the healing process says James “Harley” DeNyke, who attended the school from 1964 to 1966.

“It helps the healing for a lot of us guys that are up there in our years now and brings peace,” said DeNyke.

More than 40 boys who’s bodies were also recovered in 2015 will be buried far away from the school grounds in a Tallahassee cemetery starting this weekend.

Governor Ron DeSantis flew Wednesday afternoon on the state law enforcement plane that had to make an emergency landing just three days after he took office.

Now, we’re hearing first hand what it was like for those on the plane and why lawmakers are ready to buy a new plane.

DeSantis has been flying on a rebuilt King Air, seized by federal authorities in a drug bust.

Three days after he took the oath of office, the plane made an emergency landing with the Governor, Attorney General and four staffers on board.

“Air things dropped from the ceiling,” said DeSantis.

“It was a pretty harrowing time,” said attorney General Ashley Moody. “We had to descend rather quickly.”

“But I’ve never had to do that before in my years of flying,” said DeSantis.

“We were just happy to get on the ground,” said Moody.

The state used to have a jet and a King Air, but they became a campaign issue for Rick Scott in 2010.

Scott sold the planes for $4 million and flew his own jet while in office.

After the emergency, legislative leaders say it is time for a new plane.

“I think absolutely necessary that the Governor have a way to get around the state,” said House Speaker Jose Oliva.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says if there is a new plane, she and other Cabinet members should have access to it.

“It is not easy for people to get up here to Tallahassee, and making sure we are available to them has got to be a top priority,” said Fried.

Diverting the plane for personal uses by Cabinet members prior to 2010 is what led to the planes being sold.

A used jet could cost the state around $8 million, and a new jet goes for upwards of $20 million.

If there is a new plane in the offing, it’ll likely be for the Governor only.

As for the plane the Governor is still using?

“Now the FDLE says they have fixed that,” said DeSantis.

We can only hope.

It appears lawmakers will expand the program to arm and train willing teachers in the coming legislative session.

Support for arming teachers was included in the final report of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglass Commission, even thought many of its members originally opposed the idea.

Senate President Bill Galvano says he will push for expanding the program.

“The Coach Feis guardian program is something that I support,” said Galvano. “I believe the commission, that had a very diverse makeup and had some preconceived notions, especially about that provision, especially after deliberating, have come to a conclusion that typeof program does have value in the system, and I support that recommendation, obviously with the safeguards and training.”

Governor Ron DeSantis also supports allowing teachers who are qualified to carry as the last line of defense against future school shootings.

One of the lawsuits still floating around after the 2018 election seeks to have mail ballots counted up to 10 days after an election if they were mailed before polls closed, but speaking to reporters Wednesday, Governor Ron Desantis says an election needs to be final on election day.

The Governor says he opposes allowing late ballots to count.

“When you know that and we know the finite number of votes its very difficult to say that someone is manipulating the results because it’s there,” said DeSantis. “It’s only when we don’t know how many votes are out there that people can say Oh, someone just brought a truckload of votes in, so I want to avoid that.”

Under current law, ballots mailed from overseas by active military can be counted if they are received within 10 days of the election.

Cutting the cost of health care is the top priority of House Speaker Jose Oliva.

He says too many procedures are being done in hospitals, driving up the cost of health care for everyone.

His goal is to streamline procedures and make sure only the most urgent procedures are done in hospitals.

“We have to bring in some real market forces into it, so that people have to compete for that business. We have to find out if everything being done in the hospital setting, should it be done in the hospital? That raises the price,” said Oliva.

Attorney General Ashley Moody says Florida is now losing 17 people a day to opioid deaths, up from 14 a day last year.

Moody is convening a statewide task force to push for solutions.

Her plan is to take what is working in parts of the state and replicate success stories statewide.

“We have successes in Palm Beach County. They just announced they saw a forty-one percent reduction in overdose deaths. We are going to use those successes and build them and use economy of scale to duplicate those across the state. That’s the purpose of the task force,” said Moody.

The Attorney General is also continuing to push a lawsuit filed in June by her predecessor that seeks damages from drug makers over what is being called over zealous marketing of opioids.

House Speaker Jose Oliva says lawmakers will try and meet the Governor’s March 15th deadline to allow smoking of medical marijuana, but he says there are still more questions about how lifting the ban would apply to children, especially when it comes to dosage.

“Is one to believe that an eight year old child should be smoking marijuana, inhaling smoke into their lungs. I’ve been in the smoke business my entire life and I’ve never heard anyone say its good for you. So we that’s a legitimate concern. I think we have to fund a comprehensive study,” said Oliva. “That fact that is it an illegal drug federally, has given some pause to our major universities to study it in a way that it needs to be studied.”

Oliva also says many in favor of smokable medical marijuana are using the issue to push for recreational marijuana.

Air BNN became the first American company on the state’s scrutinized companies list Tuesday.

Airbnb got on the list for its de-listing of Jewish owned homes in the West Bank.

The Israeli Deputy General Consulate Guy Gilady, told the Governor and Cabinet the company’s policy is discriminatory.

“And my government will be taking action in protest of Airbnb’s discriminatory policies,” said Gilady.

Governor Ron Desantis offered a history lesson.

“They fought a war, coming right off World War II and the holocaust,” said DeSantis.

DeSantis argued even though Air BNB argues it is not part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), their actions automatically triggered Florida’s statute.

The company has 90 days to change its policy or face potential sanctions.

“What they have done is tied themselves in knots and you end up with a policy which really only negatively impacts one group of people in the world,” said DeSantis.

The statute prohibits the state’s massive pension fund from investing in Air BNB, but that’s of little consequence, since the company is privately held.

The bigger hammer is the Governor’s bully pulpit.

“It was a dumb policy,” said DeSantis. “I think they made a mistake, and sometimes you’ve got to look in the mirror, admit you made a mistake and move on.”

Airbnb had a representative at the meeting, but she did not speak.

In a statement relased later in the day the company said, “We unequivocally reject and oppose the BDS movement and are disappointed by today’s vote. There are over 20,000 Airbnb hosts in Israel who open their doors and showcase the best of Israeli hospitality to guests from around the world, which boosts local families, businesses and communities. Our community of hosts in Israel has already welcomed more than 1 million guests and we will continue to invest in Israel.”

The vacation home rental giant is the 65th company worldwide to be added to the state’s list of scrutinized companies.

Legislation that would create employment protections for LGBTQ individuals is causing controversy between some Florida Republicans.

The fight for equal employment protections for LGBTQ workers has been building since the Pulse Night Club Shooting.

Florida GOP Chair and State Senator Joe Gruters is coming under fire from some Republicans for sponsoring legislation with an openly gay Democrat, Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, that would add employment protections for gender identity and sexual orientation.

John Stemberger, President of the Florida Family Policy Council, has called on Gruters to resign as GOP Chair, saying the bill would punish Christians.

The controversy comes just a few weeks after Governor Ron DeSantis was criticized by Democrats for leaving similar protections out of an executive order renewing the state’s nondiscrimination policy.

John Harris Maurer with Equality Florida expressed his disappointment during a pres conference the day after DeSantis took office.
Equality Florida

“We intend to reach out to the Governor’s Office to understand why our community was omitted from these protections,” said Maurer.

When asked why he didn’t include LGBTQ protections, the Governor shifted the blame to the previous administration.

“All we did was continue what had been in place before me, but I can tell you my workplace policy is really just one sentence,” said DeSantis. “You will be hired based on merit.”

Former Governor Rick Scott repeatedly ignored calls from LGBTQ groups following the Pulse Night Club Shooting to add the protections for state employees.

Breaking with previous leaders, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, a Democrat, adopted protections for LGBTQ individuals working for the Department of Agriculture.

When asked about the GOP controversy she hesitated to weigh in.

“Well I’m certainly not going to get involved in GOP Politics, but obviously my stance and my support for the LGBTQ community is steadfast,” said Fried.

Although some Republicans have come to Gruters defense, including Congressman Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz Tweeted, “He [Stemberger] has been out of touch for at least a decade.” And, “The key difference between God and John Stemberger is that God doesn’t think he’s John Stemberger.”

Twenty one states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico all have adopted laws that protect gender identity and sexual orientation in both the private and public sector.

Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried toured one of the cities hardest hit by Hurricane Michael, Monday.

Despite more than three months passing since the storm made landfall the city of Marianna still looks like a war zone.

Tarp covered roofs dot the landscape, debris litters the ground and some structures are in total ruin.

“It’s our jobs to come here, see and bare witness to what’s happening here,” said Fried.

Fried joined panhandle lawmakers to hear from state and local officials after spending the morning surveying damage.

Fried says hurricane recovery is a top priority.

“They need our help every day for the recovery efforts and I’m committed to seeing this through,” said Fried.

Fried’s main focus will be on the agricultural industry, helping farmers get back to work and restoring the local economy.

“Cost sharing for efficient new irrigation systems and sales tax exemptions for equipment and materials to rebuild these farms,” said Fried.

Fried also wants to secure state funds to back low cost grant programs to offset the cost of lost crops for farmers in the panhandle.

Recent figures show public donations to help Hurricane Michael victims are shockingly less than other recent storms.

State Senator George Gainer says the lack of attention is disheartening.

“We’ve got a lot of help from Tallahassee, but we need a lot more,” said Gainer.

The clock is ticking for recovery to speed up.

Florida Forestry Service Director Jim Karels says there’s between 10 and 20 times more debris on the ground now than normal.

All that debris is fuel for wildfires and with the dry season rapidly approaching it could set the area up for another disaster.

“The threat’s up significantly if it stops raining. Smoke will be a huge issue,” said Karels.

Commissioner Fried says she’s working with lawmakers on a Legislative package for disaster relief, but is also considering the option of opening up emergency funds through the Governor and Cabinet.

The Florida Commission on ethics has found probable cause former democratic candidate Andrew Gillum accepted gifts from an undercover FBI agent and lobbyists on a trip to New York City and Costa Rica.

It’s the first official action supporting allegations Governor Ron DeSantis used against Gillum during the campaign.

In a closed hearing the Florida communications on ethics heard allegations brought against former Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum.

When the doors opened less than an hour later, Gillum’s attorney Berry Richard was blunt.

“They found probable cause,” said Richard.

The commission found probable cause on five of six allegations.

They all center around two trips Gillum took to Costa Rica and New York City with lobbyists and an undercover FBI Agent, where Gillum allegedly accepted gifts from in the form of travel expenses, a boat ride and the now infamous tickets to the hit broadway show Hamilton.

Erwin Jackson filed the complaint more than a year ago.

“They clearly stated in there, the facts are he didn’t pay for a dime,” said Jackson.

The only allegation the commission threw out was a complaint over the hotel Gillum shared with his brother in New York City, because the cost didn’t break the $100 threshold for a gift to break state ethics codes.

While the commission agreed there was probable cost to suggest Gillum excepted the gifts, it noted there was not enough evidence to show Gillum promised or did anything in return.

Gillum’s attorney says he’s confident the former mayor will have his name cleared.

“Based upon my belief in the fact that the system of justice that we have almost always works out right,” said Richard.

Jackson, says he hopes the findings act as a warning to all politicians.

“Hopefully the word is getting out that we expect our elected officials to act ethically and honestly and represent the public instead of continuing to represent themselves,” said Jackson,

The next step in the case will be in evidentiary hearing before an administrative law judge.

That’s likely at least a month away.

If found guilty, Gillum will likely face a fine of a few thousand dollars, but the damage to his reputation would likely haunt his future political career.

Today, January 24th, marks the 30th anniversary of the execution of one of the nations most prolific and intriguing serial killers.

Mike Vasilinda had a front row seat to the Ted Bundy saga from the beginning, and now an exclusive interview with the man who put Bundy on death row.

Ted Bundy’s path to execution began here, at this Sorority house early on the morning of Super-Bowl Sunday, 1978.

“Well over two hundred calls a day are coming into the co-ed murder command center,” Vasilinda said in a news report in 1978.

Two were dead, three injured, the viciousness shocked a sleepy little city.

“I’ve got new locks on every door on the house,” said one resident at the time.

Three weeks later the fear level skyrocketed.

12-year-old Kimberly Leach disappeared from her middle school 90 miles away in Lake City.

Bundy fled the area, was stopped and arrested in Pensacola.

Found in the stolen VW, murder indictments followed.

“I plead not guilty right now,” Bundy said to the court.

Bundy negotiated a plea deal that would have saved his life, then dropped it.

During a rare visit to death row from the Sheriff who put him there, Bundy came close to a confessing to the Tallahassee murders.

“He said that when you find the person wanted for these murders, that person will be wanted for the murders of three girls in the three digits in six states,” said former Leon County Sheriff Ken Katsaris. “Now, we know about 36 in four states.

The Sorority house was remodeled shortly after the murders, and to this day sisters there aren’t allowed to speak about Ted Bundy.

The field across from the prison resembled a circus as dawn, January 24th 1989 broke.

Bundy’s knees buckled as he was escorted into the execution chamber.

Afterwards a celebration with the crowd singing, ”Hey hey hay, goodbye.”

So ended the life of one of the nations most prolific serial killers, but not the story that continues to fascinate.

A new movie about Ted Bundy premiers this weekend at the Sundance File Festival in Park City Utah. It title: Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

The State Department of Environmental Protection celebrated Florida Recycles day in the state’s capitol this morning.

Companies and innovators set up booths in the capitol building educating visitor and lawmakers on recycling innovations and initiatives.

“The great thing you see behind us is individual companies who are committing to recycling here in Florida and coming up with new innovative ways each year to make our waist stream sustainable,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenmstien. “And so you also see celebrations of programs to educate, again both families, businesses and communities in Florida about how to recycle efficiently.”

Florida’s recycling rate was at 54% in 2015, but DEP expects that number to reach to 75% by 2020.