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Meet Bobbi. She’s a four year old yellow law rescue dog, who through a program that has already helped seven thousand vets, also helped rescue veteran Becca Stephens. 

The program has a waiting list through 2026. K9’s for Warriors is seeking two point five million to quadruple its efforts to pair rescue animals with vets in need. Stephens tells us Bobbi saved her life.

“I was suffering with PTSD and opiate addiction, and she’s completely changed the way I feel about the world and about myself. I’m nearly four years sober now because of her and K9’s for warriors, and the support that has been given for K9’s for warriors.So, without there’sBobbi, there’s no doubt that I would not be here right now.”

All of the dogs paired with vets are rescue animals adopted from a shelter.

The next president of the University of Florida could be chosen partially out of the sunshine. Legislation removing presidential searches from public scrutiny got approval from its second Senate committee today. It came after the FSU faculty president Matthew Lata told lawmakers the current process works well.

“So this bill is another in a series of solutions looking for problems. Searches for president are too important to be done in secret.  We don’;t want to be presented with a candidate selected quietly by a highly paid search firm, or political faction and essentially approved behind the scenes.”

Sponsor Jeff Brandes says the openness likely resulted in an unqualified candidate being named to head USF in Tampa two years ago.

“The goal here is to let search committees get the broadest pool of applicants. Uninhibited, that they can possibly look at. And yes, Florida State and UF have had great presidents in the last two years.  But IU was you know who hasn’t? USF, who’s president turned over in two years. Because why? Potentially because they didn’t’;t get the broadest pool of applicants looking at them.” 

The legislation does delay any final selection for 21 days after the finalists are announced.

Kratom is in the coffee family and is an herbal supplement grown mostly in southeast Asia. Some states have banned it after the Federal government raised questions about its safety, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the problem came not from the supplement, but from what unscrupulous vendors laced it with…which Florida lawmakers took the first step today to prevent from happening again.

Kratom is legal but unregulated in Florida. It is a big seller at the Natural Life chain of stores. Gabe Suarez is the owner.

“And everyday, we get testimonials from people how this plant has changed their life for the better. And we hear it multiple times a day, everyday” says Suarez. 

Suarez tells us he requires what he sells to have been tested by a third party to insure its pure and safe. “You name it, we’re searching for it.”

But there’s no requirement to do that in law, yet. Mac Haddow is the Senior Fellow at the American Kratom Association. “It is used as a popular product in the United States today by eleven to fifteen million people” Haddow told lawmakers.

Kratom has gotten a bad rap in the past. Sarasota County banned it in 2014 after reports it could be dangerous. Haddow says nothing is further from the truth.

“It is perfectly safe. It is not dangerously addictive. Unless its been adulterated with very dangerous substances including fentanyl, morphine and heroin.” 

And because of that, the American Kratom Association supports regulation and testing.

“About a third of the Kratom population used it like a cup of coffee in the morning for an energy boost and increased focus. Another third use it to reduce anxiety, and then the final  third are people that are finding that it can help you wean off very dangerous opioids” says Haddow.

Sarasota is the only county that has banned Kratom. This legislation would undo that ban.

Under the legislation, distributors would be required to test and certify the supplement before shipping it to retailers says sponsor Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota). 

“I think people should have access and have the availability. You just want to eliminate the bad actor and those people who are turning the product into something that it is not.”

The legislation cleared its first committee unanimously.

Florida lawmakers open their annual session with the presentment of the colors and the signing of the national anthem. Now some want to guarantee that every sports team in the state that gets state or local money perform the Star Spangled banner before every game or face the loss of government funding. Sen. Joe Gruters believes the song is a symbol of freedom.

“It’s all about making sure that with everything thats happening in our country that people who enjoy and love freedom, Florida is the freest state in the world and our governor is leading the way. Its to make sure we have the love for America and the playing of our star spangled banner at all the professional events where taxpayers are footing the bill” Gruters told us after the bill passed.

The bill cleared its first committee seven to one. Since 1987, more than three hundred and seventy million in state sales taxes have gone to sports teams in the state. Under law, teams who qualify get two million a year for thirty years.

Few Florida school districts test for lead in their schools drinking water. Some because they fear funds won’t be available to fix problems, but now Democrats in the state legislature say there is no need to test schools. They want to use 95 million the state has already received from the American Rescue Plan to equip every school with filters on drinking water, including adding bottle filling station. Sen. Gary Farmer calls the bill a no-brainer.

“Under this bill we would also include cafeteria drinking water sources, which must have a filter as well. They’ll have to maintain these filters to make sure lead concentration levels remain below one part per billion. The filters would have to be replaced  no less frequently than provided for in the manufacturers instructions” Farmer says.

David Cullen from the Sierra club told reporters there can be no tolerance for any levels of lead in a child’s drinking water.

“Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavioral and learning problems., lower IQ, and hyperactivity. Slowed growth. Hearing problems” says Cullen.

The legislation has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Democrats are calling on parents to push for the legislation.

Florida’s foster care system is in crisis. Low pay coupled with an already stressful work environment has people leaving at record levels. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, agencies are seeking an increase of forty million dollars this year to make case loads more manageable.

Going into someone’s home to check on their kids welfare can be not only stressful but dangerous. Covid has made a child protections workers already tough job tougher. 

“This is in a crisis level right now.” Says Kurt Kelly, the CEO of the Florida Coalition for Children. The agency works with the states 18 child services providers and more than seventy other organizations that provide care or work with adoptions.

“In some some areas we’re having as much as fifty and sixty percent turnover” Kelly told us.

Because of the turnover, case loads for protection workers is hitting as high a forty kids. National recommendations call for a case load of 12.

“There’s been increase anxiety” says Dr. Christine Cauffield, who is the CEO of LSF Health systems. It serves 23 counties in Northeast and North Central Florida, where cases have exploded.

“Domestic violence instances have increased. Child abuse cases have increased as  a result of people’s inability to modulate their mental health” says Cauffield.

A Batchelor’s degree is required for case workers. Salaries are not competitive says Kelly.

“And they are getting paid less than someone who says “would you like to supersize that sir?”

Lawmakers are being asked to put another forty million dollars into the system for salaries. We’re being told that will bring the case loads down from as many as forty, to fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen.

And while no one is saying it out loud, caseloads more than three times the national standard means at risk children are seeing fewer services. The result has been a large increase in children Baker Acted for their own safety in 2020.   

Providers tell us it will take at least six months to stabilize their workforces once the money has been provided…which wouldn’t be before July first. That means high case loads will be the norm for the rest of the year.

2022 is not likely the year recreational marijauana will be legalized in Florida. Two constitutional amendments were found wanting by the state Supreme Court, and efforts in the legislature are a long shot, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, that’s not stopping some from trying.

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/666855566

State Representative Spencer Roach tried to limit THC in medical marijuana last year.

“I think it’s accurate to describe that bill as prohibitionist in nature” said Roach.

This year Roach has teamed with Democrat Andrew Learned, who last year co-sponsored a legalization bill. 

“I want to try to be the guy who’s effective and gets things done” said the Tampa Democrat. 

Now, The two would make medical marijuana more consumer friendly by testing it, requiring more training for recommending doctors, and lengthening the time a patients card is valid. But when it comes to legalization Learned told us:

“I am practical in the sense I know that bill isn’t going anywhere.” 

But that isn’t stopping House and Senate members from pushing recreational marijuana.

Rep. Yvonne Hinson (D-Gainesville) is the sponsor of a leagalization bill,

“Is arresting people for this largely victimless activity helping anybody” she asked during a news conference.

The 157 page bill would also expunge marijuana convictions and grant clemency to low level offenders. Rep. Ann Eskamani (D-Orlando) said the legislation could also do a lot of good going forward.

“Lets also see this as a source of revenue to cover so many of the expenses we have in our state where every person benefits” said the Democrat.

Legalizing marijuana is almost certain to be an issue in the Governor’s race. Ron DeSantis has told us twice he’s opposed to it, but all three Democrats running against him are for it.

We asked Representative Hinson how she would deal with the Governor’s opposition.

“I’m going to pray about that one” she told us.

And the earliest voters could take the matter into their own hands is 2024, and if successful, it would likely take two to three more years before the first bud was sold.

Sponsors of the legislation told reporters more than forty-two thousand people were arrested for misdemeanor marijauana possession in 2018. 

Florida Democrats today unveiled a plan to put more accountability behind the four bill the state sends to nursing homes each year. The legislation would require that 75 percent of the cash would be required to do to direct patient care. Zayne Smith of AARP praised the effort.

“This legislation would guarantee that seventy-five percent of Medicaid funding would go to direct patient care.  It’s a win for the residents. Its a win for the most vulnerable residents in Florida, It’s a win for the workforce, and frankly, its a win for the nursing homes to do the right thing, and place the emphasis on care.”

The legislation also seeks to stop nursing homes from using inflated staff leasing companies that are often owned by the parent companies of the homes. 

Legislation providing expanded mental health services to not just school students but their families as well cleared a House sub-committee after near tearful testimony from the father of Gina Montalto, who died in the massacre. Afterwards her father Tony Montalto, said he and other families will continue trying to make schools and society safer.

“We believe that Gina would have gone out there and changed the world, so we need to make sure that she still does. She was a very helpful kid and this is her way of helping others.  Myself and all the spouses involved with parkland try every Day to honor the loss of our loved ones by making sure no other family has to suffer again.“

Sponsor Christine Hunschofsky (D-Broward County) made clear the legislation is also for families.

“And this bill is not just for the mental health of the students and the care they’re receiving, but for the care the people in their household are receiving, and making sure its available to them” said Rep. Hunschofsky.

The legislation has three more committee stops before heading to the full House.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is recruiting businesses to train their employees on recognizing the signs of human trafficking. Her goal is to train a hundred thousand people by the end of the year. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida is among the top states when it comes to calls to a  national hotline to report trafficking.

On Tuesday, police conducted random stops, looking for human trafficking victims at the state line between Florida and Alabama.

Florida ranks third in the nation in calls to to the national Human Trafficking hotline. Only  Texas and California have more. Now, Attorney General Ashley Moody is asking businesses to get involved.

“We need partners in the community” says Moody.

Moody is calling on businesses to train their employees to help spot the signs…and take action.

“We know first hand accounts where a trucker at a rest stop, knew the signs. was trained on the signs of human trafficking and rescued a victim, so we know this will work” says the Attorney General.  

Jeff Jackson is the CEO of PGT Industries, the states largest maker of windows and doors. He’s the first business to step up and train 100 percent of his employees.

“It’s an incredible blight on society, and in the US we actually have human trafficking slavery in this economy and environment” says Jackson.

The Attorney General’s goal: Train a hundred thousand people in Florida to recognize  human trafficking this year.

Jackson says once companies education themselves, it will be a no brainer.

“We drove over four point three million miles last year alone. So think about the mileage we cover and the locations we see with just that” the CEO told us.

The Attorney General says human trafficking is the number two illegal activity in the state behind drug trafficking.

If you want to know more or take a one hour training course, you can reach out to the Florida Coalition to End Human Trafficking at www.FloridaAllianceEndHT.com.

About two dozen people representing the Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice took to the steps of the old Capitol this afternoon to protest the filing of a bill that would shorten the time a woman could legally obtain an abortion from twenty-four to fifteen weeks. Bills were filed Tuesday, the last day for legislators to file bills. Democrat Representative Felicia Robinson pointed out the legislation does not make an exception for rape or incest.

“Imagine being a rape victim and finding out you are pregnant with the attackers child. You do not want to carry the pregnancy to term, but you have no options.So you are forced to have a child conceived through violence and violation” says Robinson.

If the bills are approved, organizers of today’s event say the closest place someone get get an abortion after fifteen weeks would be North Carolina, where there is a 72 hour waiting period before an abortion can be preformed.

Governor Ron DeSantis declared Flordia to be the freest state in America during his annual state of the state address to open the 2022 legislative session. The Governor vowed to continue on the path to more freedom, with more policies to attract and support business and jobs., As Mike Vasilinda tells us, outnumber Florida Democrats vowed to put up a fierce fight, especially when it comes to a woman’s right to choose. 

Governor Ron DeSantis used the word freedom more than a half dozen times, comparing Florida to other states during his state of the state address.

“While so many around the country have consigned the peoples rights to the graveyard, Florida has stood a freedom’s vanguard” the Governor told lawmakers.

That freedom has produced record revenue for the state

“I’m proposing a one billion dollar gas tax holiday,” a plan he has previously released.

The Governor also vowed never to embrace a soft on crime agenda.

“We will not allow law enforcement to be defunded, bail to be eliminated, criminals to prematurely released from prison, or prosecutors to ignore the law’ says the Governor.

DeSantis is pushing for up to a twenty five percent raise for police, asked for money to deport illegal immigrants, He wants election laws tightened.

“Ballot harvesting  has no place in the state of Florida”

Republicans, including Rep. Sam garrison of Fleming Island in Northeast Florida were joyful afterward. 

“I think the Governor hit a home run. You know where he stands on everything” Garrison told us. 

But Democrat Nikki Fried, who is running for Governor, said Ron DeSantis had failed.

“This governor couldn’t lead Florida out of a paper bag” said the Democratic hopeful.

Afterwards, the Governor told reporters there is no reason for lawmakers  to wait for an abortion decision from the US Supreme Court.

The comment came just hours after Sen. Kelli Stargel introduced a bill limiting abortions to the first 15 weeks.

“I think the decision should be made early in your pregnancy, not later” Stargel told us.

Senate Democrat leader Lauren Book said out numbered Democrats will over come their lack of numbers.

“We are a fierce, fierce bunch of people who want to fight for every day Floridians.”

Democrats are down three members as the session began. One Senator and two House members were required to resign when they decided to run in a special congressional election. 

The session runs through March eleventh. 

When lawmakers begin their annual session tomorrow, the 124th since statehood, they are required to do just two things..redraw the states legislative and congressional districts and pass a balanced budget. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the GOP majority has a long list of election year priorities.

The Governor has laid out a long list of requests that include bonuses for teachers and first responders, giving parents the right to sue school boards that violate state laws.

He hit hit some of the high points on national TV over the weekend on Fox News.

“We’re going after critical race theory. We’re fighting back against Biden’s

mandates. We’re fighting back against illegal immigration” he told host Mark Levin.

Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes believes it will be a slam dunk for the Governor.

“I think Governor will get most of what he wants. The strategy around here right now is to kind of  draft behind the Governor. He’s doing a lot of good things in a lot of areas” says the term limited Senator.

And for now anyway, the legislative session is going to be completely open to the public, with no covid restrictions what so ever.

Lobbyists were already walking the halls Monday. 74 year old Charles Fudge was sent to a state reform school when he was 12. He and hundreds of other wards of the school are seeking compensation for the beatings and abuse.

“Had I never gone there, I probably would have been a very good football player. I’m sure I would have served our country in the military.” Futch says more White House Boys will be at the Capitol Tuesday for opening day.

During a morning virtual event, Democrats, including Representative Fentrice Driskell of Tampa,  criticized much of the Governor’s agenda.

“What we can expect from this Governor is consistency in terms of doubling down on his failed approach to the pandemic” says Driskell.

Brandes calls it the wrong approach.

“I think its the wrong message for them. That’s not the right message at all. He’s getting kids back in school, he’s keeping the state open.” 

And in his first three sessions Ron DeSantis has gotten virtually everything he asked from lawmakers and more. 2022 isn’t likely to break his streak.

Two pressing problems not high on lawmakers agenda is a crumbling prison system and property insurance bills increasing by as much as thirty percent or more a year.

Public employee unions in Florida will be facing scrutiny from lawmakers when they return to the Capitol next week for their annual session. For at least the last three years, lawmakers have been trying to take the state out of the business of collecting union dues. But the ban on collecting dues would not apply to every public employer union.

Under the proposed legislation, the state would no longer collect dues for a long list of public employee unions. Sponsor Dennis Baxley argues the state shouldn’t be in the middle of a relationship between the employee and employer.

“Rather than having the school system collecting those dues and going through the legwork of working for the unions and making their collections for them, it would be much more appropriate if that were a direct relationship” Baxley told us while traveling.

The legislation also requires employees to sign a membership authorization form that must include language telling the employee that Florida is a right to work state and joining a union is voluntary. 

Teacher Union President Andrew Sparr calls the legislation a distraction.

“So everything this legislature should focus on right now is what are we doing to recruit people and keep people in the profession, working in our public schools so that every child gets the education they deserve,” says Sparr.

Rich Templin of the AFL-CIO says passage would be a disruption for the staff who worked thru the pandemic.

“This bill makes it difficult for them to remain in their union” says Templin, because they may lose benefits if they forget to mail a timely check.

But he legislation doesn’t apply to every public sector union. Police officers, firefighters, and correctional employees could still have heir dues deducted from their state check.

Rich Templin says that is just one of the bills inconsistencies.

“Some university personnel, for example, they have a paycheck deduction for their football tickets. That will still be allowed” says Templin.

Under the legislation, unions would also face decertification if their membership fell below at least 50 percent of those eligible to join.

In previous years, law enforcement were included in drafts of the legislation, but after complaining loudly, they were removed from the bill.

The Presidency was won in 2000 by 537 votes cast in Florida, and a recent Special Election for Congress here was won by just five votes. State law sets standards for recounts, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, new technology could make recounts in 2022 and beyond quicker and more accurate.

Voters in Florida sometimes select two candidates in the same race, or color outside the lines on their ballot, making it difficult for their choice to be known.

Mark Earley is the President Elect of the Florida Supervisors of Elections Association..

“Sometime, people circle the name and that’s not a fill in oval, so voting machines sometimes miss that” says Earley.

The state is now in the process of drafting rules for new technology that will make the recount process more accurate, faster, and more transparent.

“And then we can go to this vote visualization and we immediately see those ballots where voter intent was missed” said Earley as he demonstrated how the system works.

They systems already capture images of every ballot scanned. Allowing the scans to be used to review over and under votes instead having to re-feed every ballot through the system again will save time and manpower the next time a recount is ordered.

Earley says it makes sense to not trust the same machines that did the original count.

“If you are really trying to prove the results of an election, it makes sense not to use the same equipment you used the first time. You use a competitors piece of equipment. So that’s what we’re doing and I think its very transparent.”

The systems are already used to audit whether voting machines counted accurately.  A 2020 law allows them to be used for recounts.

When this legislation passed, it went all the way from committee to the Governors desk without a single no vote. So we asked the Supervisor “Any doubt in your mind there will be a recount in the next election?”

After he finished laughing, he joked: “Where’s the wood I need to knock on?”

Adopting the new system is voluntary for the states 67 elections supervisors, but at least 22 are already on board to use the systems for the upcoming 2022 election.

The technology was developed in Leon County, where it has been in use since 2009, but only for audits, not recounts.