>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS UP IN TALLAHASSEE.

WE'LL DISCUSS SOME OF THE KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN A BUSY LAST WEEK FOR LAWMAKERS.

RACIAL JUSTICE AND POLICING IN FLORIDA ARE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS SLOPES AS PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS URGE HESITANT FLORIDIANS TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M NANCY ALVAREZ.

AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US AND WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK, TWO OF OUR FAVORITES, DEANNA ALLBRITTIN OF WFTV CHANNEL NINE AND GREG ANGEL OF SPECTRUM NEWS 13, MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT IN THE STUDIO WITH ME AGAIN THIS WEEK.

SO FIRST TONIGHT, WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESS CONGRESS THIS WEEK AFTER 100 DAYS IN OFFICE, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE BUSY WRAPPING UP A CONTENTIOUS SESSION.

ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL DEBATES IN TALLAHASSEE THIS YEAR CHANGES TO STATE ELECTION LAWS.

THE SHAKEUP INCLUDES LIMITING THE USE OF BALLOT DROPBOXES AND ADDING NEW ID RULES, PLUS A REQUIREMENT THAT VOTERS REQUEST A MAIL-IN BALLOT EVERY GENERAL ELECTION.

SO, LETS HEAR NOW FROM TWO LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS, SENATOR DENNIS BAXLEY, WHO SPONSORED THIS LEGISLATION AND REPRESENTATIVE ANNA ESKAMANI WHO OPPOSED IT, >>IT WAS GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS AND HIS OTHER REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO CELEBRATED FLORIDA'S ELECTIONS AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT AND ETHICAL AND SECURE ELECTIONS CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTRY.

WE KNEW OUR ELECTIONS RESULTS WAY BEFORE OTHER STATES DO, BECAUSE OF VOTE BY MAIL POLICIES WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE BOOKS.

SO NOW, DESPITE THOSE SUCCESSES, DESPITE THE RECORDED SUCCESSES THAT REPUBLICANS ENJOYED, THEY ARE UNDER THIS NEW MISSION TO COMPLETELY REVAMP THE PROCESS AND MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY HARDER TO VOTE BY MAIL.

>>WHAT I'M WORKING ON IS CONFIDENCE IN THE RESULT, COMPETENCE AND CREDIBILITY.

THE LOTTERY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE WHERE THEY EXPEND TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO REASSURE EVERYBODY OF THE CREDIBILITY BY HOW THEY DO THINGS.

AND NOT BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHEN YOU LOSE THAT CREDIBILITY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CHAOS.

AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WE WANT THESE SELECTIONS TO BE ORDERLY, THAT THEY'RE NOT PRECONCEIVED.

THEY'RE NOT ALL BEING DONE FOR THESE CHANGES ARE NOT ALL ABOUT PROTECTING SOMEBODY OR SOME PARTY, OR EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME ACCESS.

EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME RULES AND OURS IS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THINGS TO REASSURE THEM THAT THAT WAS ALL CARRIED OUT VERY ACCURATELY.

>>THE ONLY FRAUD WE HAD RECORDED THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS IS THE FAKE CANDIDATES.

AND WHEN REPUBLICAN COLLEGE WERE PRESENTED WITH AN AMENDMENT TO ACTUALLY REDUCE THE LIKELINESS OF FAKE SHAM CANDIDATES, THAT AMENDMENT WAS ALSO REJECTED.

SO AGAIN, YOU SEE AN IDEOLOGY OF CONVENIENCE.

>>WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AGAIN, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S YOUR OBJECTIVE IS TO CONTROL WHO ELSE GETS IN THE RACE.

THAT'S KIND OF AN ERRONEOUS PURSUIT.

SO I, YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO SAYING WHO CAN RUN AND WHO CAN'T.

AND THAT, THAT MAKES ME A BIT NERVOUS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

A LOT TO UNRAVEL HERE, GREG MAIL-IN VOTING REALLY IS JUST PART OF THE PACKAGE OF CHANGES, WHICH INCLUDE WHERE PEOPLE CAN EVEN GIVE WATER TO VOTERS STANDING IN LINE.

WATER IS NICE IN FLORIDA WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO VOTE.

SO WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THIS, GREG?

>>WELL, YOU TALK ABOUT THE WATER AND THE FOOD THERE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE HEARING A LOT ABOUT IN GEORGIA.

IN FLORIDA'S VERSION OF THIS BILL, IT WOULD RESTRICT ANYONE EXCEPT FOR ACTUAL ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM HANDING ANYTHING OUT, INCLUDING FOOD AND WATER WITHIN 150 FEET OF A POLLING LOCATION OR A DROPBOX GO INTO THE DROPBOX.

WELL, GET RID OF THE IDEA THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND 24/7 AS IT HAD BEEN.

A LOT OF SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS HAD CAMERAS ON LOCK BOXES, HAD THEM LOCKED UP THAT WAY PEOPLE AT ANY TIME CONVENIENT COULD DROP OFF THEIR BALLOT.

WELL, NOW UNDER THIS NEW LAW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEE OR SECURITY SOMEBODY'S WATCHING THE BOX AND THAT BOX CAN ONLY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE DROP BALLOTS DURING THE REGULAR HOURS OF EARLY VOTING.

THE OTHER ISSUE HERE IS THAT RIGHT NOW YOU CAN REQUEST A MAIL BALLOT AND IT BASICALLY IS SET FOR YOU FOR TWO YEARS.

NOW, UNDER THIS LAW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERY ELECTION CYCLE AND REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL.

WHAT'S INTERESTING FROM THE LAWMAKERS THAT WASN'T TOUCHED ON, THAT SOME OF THE CRITICS HAVE BEEN ASKING, WAIT A MINUTE, IF THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT FLORIDA HAD THE BEST ELECTION OPERATION IN THE NATION, THEN WHY EVEN ADDRESS THIS?

LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL DATA.

TRADITIONALLY FOR YEARS, FLORIDA REPUBLICANS VOTED BY MAIL MORE THAN FLORIDA DEMOCRATS.

FLORIDA DEMOCRATS INITIALLY VOTED IN PERSON EARLY MORE THAN REPUBLICANS.

THAT ALL CHANGED IN 2020 FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IN MANY, MANY YEARS, FLORIDA REPUBLICANS VOTED IN PERSON EARLY MORE THAN DEMOCRATS.

DEMOCRATS VOTED BY MAIL MORE THAN REPUBLICANS, SO THAT WAS A MAJOR SHIFT.

AND SOME CRITICS SAY THAT IS THE REAL REASON WHY THE LEGISLATURE, AT LEAST IN FLORIDA IS EVEN PURSUING THESE CHANGES.

>>VERY INTERESTING AND THOSE TRENDS, DEANNA, LET'S SWITCH OVER TO YOU NOW TO TALK ABOUT BIG TECH.

THERE WAS SOME BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT FOR DATA PRIVACY CHANGES TO GIVE FLORIDA ONE OF AMERICA'S STRICTEST PRIVACY LAWS, BUT IT WAS THE DE PLATFORMING ISSUE THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

>>SO DE PLATFORMING IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE PLATFORMS LIKE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER WHEN HE WAS CONTRIBUTING OR PUTTING OUT MISINFORMATION RELATED TO THE ELECTION AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION AFTER NOVEMBER 6TH.

SO THOSE PLATFORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TOOK THEM OFF.

THIS FLORIDA BILL IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

HOWEVER, THE CATCH IS WHAT AUTHORITY WOULD FLORIDA OFFICIALS HAVE OVER COMPANIES THAT ARE HEADQUARTERED IN CALIFORNIA?

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID, OKAY, THIS IS JUST POLITICAL THEATER.

IF YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY ENFORCE IT, WHY EVEN PUT THIS OUT THERE.

THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A BIG TALKING POINT FOR CONSERVATIVES THOUGH, SINCE THIS HAPPENED WITH TRUMP, BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS A FREE SPEECH ISSUE.

BUT THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, SOME PEOPLE SAY THESE ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY HOW, AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THEIR TERMS OF SERVICE.

AND IF YOU PREVENT THEM FROM DOING THAT IN THE WAY THAT THEY'VE DEEMED NECESSARY, THEN REALLY THAT YOU'RE CENSORING THEIR FREE SPEECH IN A WAY.

>>I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONSERVATIVES THIS SESSION.

LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT LOOKED LIKE AN ATTEMPT TO RESTRICT TRANSGENDER SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ATHLETES FROM COMPETING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS WAS DEAD.

WELL, IT WAS RESURRECTED AT THE LAST MOMENT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT PASSING BOTH CHAMBERS, GREG, WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>>WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT FURTHER GOES TO SHOW THAT NOTHING IS CERTAIN IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE UNTIL SINE DIE UNTIL THE END OF SESSION, WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THIS WAS A BIG SURPRISE, ESPECIALLY TO DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS LIKE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH OF ORLANDO AND HIS SPEECH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR SAID IN, IN REBUTTING, THESE REPUBLICAN EFFORTS THAT HE HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO WHAT HAD HAPPENED HERE IS THAT THE ISSUE WAS PRESENTED AS AN AMENDMENT ON A CHARTER SCHOOL BILL, A BIT UNRELATED, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL HOURS OF DEBATE.

AND THE COMPROMISE FROM REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE SAID THAT THEY NEED TO CREATE AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD HERE IS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH SAID THE COMPROMISE IS THE FACT THAT WE WILL NO LONGER CHECK THE GENTLE DULLS OF KIDS, BUT INSTEAD LOOK AT THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND WHATEVER THE GENDER IS PRESCRIBED ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE IS, IS WHAT THEY WILL GO WITH AND DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY CAN PLAY IN ATHLETICS.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, PASSED THE HOUSE, WENT TO THE SENATE WHERE THEY MOVED IT FAVORABLY.

AND NOW IT IS ON THE DESK OF GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO SIGN IT INTO LAW.

AND THERE ARE NOW THESE LAST MINUTE EFFORTS TRYING TO APPLY PRESSURE, BUT WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL.

THIS VERY ISSUE HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW IN RECENT WEEKS AND MONTHS BY OTHER GOVERNORS IT'S BEEN PROPOSED IN DOZENS OF STATES.

SO DOZENS OF LEGISLATURES HAVE TAKEN ON THIS ISSUE.

WELL, CRITICS SAY, SHOW US THE EXAMPLES AND THE REASONS FOR THIS WITH FEW EXAMPLES, REALLY BEING PROVIDED.

>>YEAH, I THINK WEST VIRGINIA AND OTHER THOSE STATES THIS WEEK, GETTING ON BOARD WITH THAT.

DEANNA, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

IT WAS A ONE POINT $101.5 BILLION BUDGET, INCLUDING BILLIONS IN FEDERAL COVID AID.

THERE WERE SOME CUTS TO PROGRAMS SUCH AS BRIGHT FUTURES, BUT MORE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS LIKE VISIT FLORIDA.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU IN THIS BUDGET?

>>OKAY.

SO LET'S LOOK AT BRIGHT FUTURES.

THIS IS ENABLING A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD SOME OF THE THINGS NECESSARY TO GET SOME OF THOSE HIGHER DEGREES.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON THE MARGIN, SOME STUDENTS FOR WHOM, THINGS LIKE THOSE FEES FOR FOSTER CARE YOUTH WHO HAVE AGED OUT.

BOOKS, THE TEXTBOOKS ARE MAKE OR BREAK.

THAT IS THE REASON THAT THEY MAY END UP LEAVING SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY SO ON THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF, WHEN THEY GO OFF TO SCHOOL.

VISIT FLORIDA IS, ACCORDING TO THE STUDY THAT WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR, IS BRINGING IN MORE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

>>SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE DID FLORIDA GET EVEN MORE MONEY, ESPECIALLY AS WE TRY TO REVITALIZE OUR TOURISM ECONOMY.

BUT REVITALIZING OUR TOURISM ECONOMY, SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING AT THE EXPENSE OF SOME THINGS THAT MAY HELP PEOPLE GET HIGHER YIELD, A HIGHER WAGE JOB IS AN ISSUE THERE.

IT'S KIND OF A, A QUESTION OF WHY CAN'T BOTH OF THESE THINGS EXIST.

WHY ARE WE CHOOSING ONE OVER THE OTHER?

ESPECIALLY AS WE TRIED TO INCREASE THINGS LIKE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, THINGS THAT ARE AROUND SIMULATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU NEED SOME PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD COLLEGE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE JOBS.

>>AND BEFORE WE WRAP UP THIS SEGMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN GREG ANGEL IS HERE, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

WE JUST HAVE TO, GREG, YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS A PUSH TO INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT FAILED.

WE GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

SO WHAT DID LAWMAKERS GET DONE ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND ALL THE ISSUES DURING THE SESSION?

>>WELL, COMING INTO SESSION, THERE WERE REALLY TWO DIFFERENT FOCAL POINTS ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

WE EVEN HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS HERE ABOUT HOW TROUBLED THE SYSTEM IS PLAGUED WITH THE PROBLEMS.

AND THAT WAS ONE ASPECT.

THE IT, THE STAFFING, TRYING TO MAKE A SYSTEM WHERE CLAIMS CAN ACTUALLY BE PROCESSED TO ROOT OUT THE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S MAKING PROGRESS.

>>THE OTHER ISSUE, IS IT RELATES TO UNEMPLOYMENT $275 PER WEEK AT 12 WEEKS, FLORIDA HAS SOME OF THE STINGIEST AND LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN A PUSH BY DEMOCRATS.

THEY WANTED A LARGER PACKAGE, BUT IN THE HOUSE, THEY WERE AT LEAST PUSHING FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS, MORE, $375 PER WEEK.

A REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JASON BRODER OF SEMINOLE COUNTY HAD BEEN PUSHING THAT IN THE SENATE.

THE HOUSE JUST A FEW DAYS AGO HAD BASICALLY KILLED THAT BILL, BUT THE CIVET TOOK IT UP AND ACTUALLY PASSED IT, HOPING TO DRAG IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BY FURTHER USING THE LAST FEW DAYS OF SESSION TO GET THE HOUSE BACK ON BOARD.

BUT EVEN SENATE PRESIDENT WILL SIMPSON SAYS, AS HE SEES IT, EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS BASICALLY DEAD IN THE WATER.

SO UNLESS THERE'S SOME MAJOR DEAL-MAKING HERE IN THE LAST FEW HOURS, REALLY THAT WE HAVE, REALLY DON'T FORESEE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BEING EXTENDED.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT IS SOMETHING, UNEMPLOYMENT IS SUCH A COMPLEX ISSUE.

AS WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE RETURNING TO JOBS AND, AND BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO HIRE PEOPLE.

THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION IT'S COMPLEX AND THERE'S NO BROAD BRUSH THAT CAN BE USED TO TRULY GET AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

>>YEAH, CERTAINLY A REALLY COMPLEX ISSUE FOR SURE.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, THE ONGOING DEBATE OVER RACIAL JUSTICE AND POLICING IN FLORIDA AS CONGRESS DEBATES REFORMS THIS WEEK, LAWMAKERS IN TALLAHASSEE ALSO DISCUSS LEGISLATION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES.

FOLLOWING RENEWED ATTENTION ON POLICING AMID SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE CASES IN RECENT WEEKS, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS, FAST TRACK LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES AMONG OTHER THINGS.

APPLICANTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT JOBS TO DISCLOSE PENDING INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST THEM.

ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS FOR OFFICER TRAINING AND CHOKE HOLDS DEESCALATION TACTICS AND USE OF FORCE POLICIES.

A DUTY TO INTERVENE WHEN ANOTHER OFFICER USES EXCESSIVE FORCE, AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO USE OF FORCE CASES WITH A REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND COLLECTION OF DATA ON EXCESSIVE FORCE CASES.

IT ALSO BARS THE ARREST OF A CHILD YOUNGER THAN SEVEN, EXCEPT IN FORCIBLE FELONY CASES, A MEASURE PUSHED BY ORLANDO STATE, SENATOR RANDOLPH BRACY.

LAST WEEK, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY BENJAMIN CRUMP SAID, HE'D FILE A LAWSUIT OVER THE DEATHS OF BLACK TEENAGERS, SINCERE PEARSON AND ANGELO CROOMS IN A POLICE SHOOTING IN BREVARD COUNTY.

THE STATE ATTORNEYS DECLINED TO SEEK CHARGES IN THE CASE, RULING THE SHOOTING REASONABLE AND JUSTIFIABLE.

>>MY SON'S LIFE MATTERED.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE KIDS.

>>WELL, WE SHOULD NOTE, WE'RE TAPING THIS ON THURSDAY AS THIS BILL WORKS ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE SO THINGS MAY CHANGE BY AIR TIME.

BEFORE WE DISCUSS THIS, LET ME PLAY YOU PART OF AN INTERVIEW I DID THIS WEEK, LARRY WALKER.

HE'S A UCF PROFESSOR WHO RESEARCHES SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

I HAVE ASKED HIM WHETHER HE VIEWS THE RECENT GUILTY VERDICT IN THE DERRICK SHOVAN TRIAL AS A MOMENT CIVIL RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS.

>>HOPEFULLY THIS VERDICT IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S JUST, IT'S AN INFLECTION POINT, A CULMINATION OF MANY YEARS OF FIGHTING BY ACTIVISTS.

BUT I SEE IT MORE AS AN OUTLIER, RIGHT?

SO I'M NOT, I THINK THAT WE NEED, THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR ME TO SUGGEST THAT THERE'S BEEN SYSTEMIC CHANGE.

>>WE MENTIONED THE CASE IN BREVARD IN OUR STORY, DOES THE BLACK COMMUNITY LOOK AT CASES LIKE THAT AS A REASON TO KEEP PUSHING FOR CHANGE?

>>SO WE'RE TALK ABOUT ESSENTIALLY GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HAPPENING FOR GENERATIONS.

AND I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT STEVE, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE VERDICT CAME OUT AND I HAVE, I'VE TRIED NOT TO WATCH THE TRIAL BECAUSE IT'S TRAUMATIZING.

BUT WHEN, WHEN I DID WATCH THE VERDICT AND I CRIED, I CRIED BECAUSE I WAS ANGRY AND I CRY BECAUSE THIS IS THESE KINDS OF CASES IN TERMS OF THAT TRIAL AND VERDICT HAS TAKEN FAR TOO LONG.

AND IT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND IT'S WORRYING BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHOSE LIVES COULD BE AT RISK WHEN THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T SEE THEIR HUMANITY.

>>SO DEANNA YOU'VE BEEN COVERING THE STATE LEGISLATION ON POLICE CONDUCT.

IT DOESN'T END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY OR STANDARDIZED POLICE BODY CAMERA POLICIES AS SOME HAVE CALLED FOR.

SO WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION?

>>WELL, FRANKLY, THAT WAS TO BE EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE LIKE FLORIDA.

QUALIFIED IMMUNITY WAS REALLY, TRULY NEVER ON THE TABLE BECAUSE THERE WERE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR IT.

SO THE OTHER ISSUE OF POLICE BODY CAMERAS, WHILE THERE ARE SOME MANY AGENCIES THAT DO EMPLOY UNIVERSAL BODY CAMERAS, THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALLER AGENCIES AND AGENCIES AND MORE RURAL AREAS WHO SAY THAT THE COSTS OF BODY CAMERAS, THE COST OF MAINTAINING A DATA SERVER IS TOO GREAT FOR THEIR BUDGETS.

AND SO FORCING SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE HAVING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN ORDER FOR SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES TO, TO DO THAT.

NOW THAT IS POSSIBLE.

THERE ARE STATES AND JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE ADDED THAT FUNDING, BUT THAT WAS REALLY A NO GO IN FLORIDA.

THE REACTION HAS NOT BEEN GOOD FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE PROGRESSIVE.

THEY JUST FEEL LIKE THIS DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

BUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT THIS IS THE MOST REFORM THAT FLORIDA HAS SEEN.

SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T REALLY CALL IT REFORM, BUT THIS IS THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE REFORM THAT WE'VE SEEN ON THIS ISSUE.

AND SO IT'S A QUESTION OF COULD ANY BETTER HAVE BEEN DONE BY ANYONE?

ONE THING THAT THE PROGRESSIVES MENTIONED, AND SOME OF THE ACTIVISTS THAT WERE AT A SENATOR BRACES PRESS CONFERENCE WAS THAT THEY FELT LIKE HE DIDN'T PROPERLY UTILIZE THE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT THAT WAS HERE.

THEY OFFERED TO BE UP IN TALLAHASSEE PROTESTING, BUT I THINK IT'S A BIT NAIVE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT COULD HAVE MOVED THE NEEDLE.

AND THAT IS WHAT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVISTS IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME SAID.

THE OPTICS OF BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS BEING OUTSIDE OF TALLAHASSEE WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE CALCULUS POTENTIALLY FOR SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, BECAUSE THEN IT WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN US AGAINST BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTIVISTS WHERE SENATOR BRACY WAS MAYBE BE ABLE TO BETTER SELL THIS AS COMMON SENSE OF REFORM THAT AT LEAST WAS ABLE TO GET SOME UNION OR SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION SUPPORT.

BUT I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE FOR DAYS JUST TO GET THE AGE OF THE PROHIBITION OF KIDS UNDER 7, AN ARREST FOR KIDS UNDER 7, WHEN IT TAKES DAYS TO NEGOTIATE THAT INSTEAD OF KIDS THAT ARE 10 OR KIDS UNDER 12, I MEAN, THAT'S THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

>>YEAH.

AND GREG, LET'S TALK AGAIN ABOUT THE TEENAGERS IN BREVARD COUNTY WHO WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY A DEPUTY LET'S REVISIT THAT CASE.

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ALLEGING?

>>WELL, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, BEN CRUMP FILED THE LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY.

SO THE TWO TEENS SHOT AND KILLED IN BREVARD COUNTY, ALL THIS KIND OF STEMMING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP.

AND AS STEVE POINTED OUT, THE STATE ATTORNEY IN BREVARD COUNTY RECENTLY CLEARING THE DEPUTY OF ANY WRONGDOING AND ADDING THAT CHARGES WOULD NOT BE FILED.

SO IN THIS TRAFFIC STOP, WHAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS SAYING IS THAT THE DEPUTY'S LIFE WAS IN DANGER.

IT WAS JUSTIFIED USE OF FORCE BECAUSE THE TWO TEENS WERE IN THE CAR AND TRYING TO USE THE VEHICLE DRIVING TOWARDS THE DEPUTY.

>>NOW THE INVESTIGATION APPARENTLY REVEALS THAT THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 12 MILES PER HOUR.

AND SO THE FAMILY IS ARGUING THAT THE USE OF FORCE WAS NOT JUST, IT WAS NOT LAWFUL AND THAT IT WENT BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES.

THE QUESTION HERE CRIMINALLY, IT APPEARS THAT THE CASE IS CLOSED.

NOW, THE QUESTION IS CIVILLY.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS POINT?

WHERE DOES HIS CIVIL CASE GO?

AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALSO CALLS FROM BEN CRUMP AND THE FAMILIES THEY, LIKE OTHER LOCATIONS, THEY WANT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO COME INTO BREVARD COUNTY TO INVESTIGATE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND WHAT THEY SAY ARE, ARE LONG ROOTED PRACTICES OF THE SHERIFF AND HIS TEAM THERE.

>>YEAH, CERTAINLY NOT THE END OF THIS, FOR SURE.

GREG, THE ORANGE COUNTY, SHERIFF JOHN MINA THIS WEEK SENT A TWEET OUT IN WHICH HE WROTE SIX TIMES "FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT".

HE RECEIVED A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THIS, INCLUDING FROM REPRESENTATIVE ESKAMANI, WHO CALLED IT TONE DEAF.

MINA HAS RESPONDED POINTING TO AN INTERVIEW HE DID WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE ASHER WILDMAN RECENTLY.

WHAT IS THE SHERIFF'S EXPLANATION FOR THIS TWEET?

>>YEAH.

ASHER WILDMAN TALKING WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF, JOHN MINA IS PART OF A LARGER STORY, WHICH I'LL TELL YOU.

ASHER HAS HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING A LOT OF SHERIFFS AND CHIEFS ON THE RECORD TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE FRANK CONVERSATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO HAVE.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE SHERIFF HAD TWEETED, SEE WHAT YOU JUST SHARED AND NOT REALLY GIVING MUCH CONTEXT TO IT UNTIL SOME OF THE FEEDBACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOLKS WERE CHIMING IN AND THE SHERIFF KIND OF CLARIFYING THAT HE WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THINKING OUT LOUD, IF YOU WILL, AND WAS REFERRING TO THIS STORY THAT ASHER WILDMAN HAD WITH THE SHERIFF AND ASHER TO ASK THE SHERIFF POINT BLANK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, HARASSMENT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ARGUING, LOOK, BLACK GUYS WALKING DOWN THE STREET, AND NOW HE'S JUST BEING HARASSED AND BEING STOPPED.

AND THE SHERIFF HAD GIVEN A LITTLE BIT OF A LINKEDIN RESPONSE BASICALLY BY SAYING, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN ASK, AM I BEING DETAINED?

THE DEPUTY SAYS, NO, WELL YOU'RE FREE TO WALK AWAY, BUT YOU KNOW, HE'S SAYING SO MANY OF THESE NATIONAL CASES WE'RE SEEING HAD PEOPLED JUST FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY PERHAPS WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY, BUT I THINK IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE VALUE OF CONVERSATION AND THE NEED FOR CONVERSATION FROM ALL SIDES INVOLVED THAT MAYBE SOCIAL MEDIA ISN'T, ISN'T THE BEST VACUUM FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT CERTAINLY CONVERSATIONS CRITICALLY NEEDED.

>>FOR ANY, REALLY, CONVERSATION IF YOU ASKED ME, ALL RIGHT, WELL FINALLY TONIGHT TACKLING VACCINE HESITANCY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

DEMAND FOR SHOTS HAS BEEN LOW THIS WEEK AS USE OF THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE RESUMED AFTER BEING SUSPENDED FOR 11 DAYS OVER SAFETY CONCERNS.

A MORNING CONSULT SURVEY THIS WEEK SHOWED ONE IN FIVE FLORIDIANS, SAY THEY WILL NOT GET A SHOT.

ANOTHER 16% ARE STILL UNSURE ABOUT IT.

WELL THIS WEEK ORANGE COUNTY LEADERS AND ADVENT HEALTH HELD A PANEL DISCUSSION AIMED AT EDUCATING COMMUNITIES WHERE VACCINE HESITANCY IS AN ISSUE.

NOW AT THAT GATHERING, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RAUL PINO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OVER RARE BLOOD CLOTS IN PATIENTS WHO'VE RECEIVED THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE.

>>THE RISK IS A LOT HIGHER.

IF YOU ARE TAKING CONTRACEPTIVE MEDICATION THAN IT IS TAKING THE VACCINE, THE RISK IS A LOT HIGHER.

IF YOU ARE A SMOKER, THAN TAKING THE VACCINE, THE RISK IS A LOT HIGHER FOR DYING IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAN IS BY HAVING THE VACCINE, BUT WE HAVEN'T STOPPED DRIVING CAR.

REALLY.

YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE CAR.

THE SPEED LIMIT IS NOT 25 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE WE ASSUME A LEVEL OF RISK IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN LIFE.

EVEN WHEN YOU GET ON A PLANE, YOU ARE ASSUMING A LEVEL OF RISK.

NOW, ANY MEDICAL PROCEDURE HAVING INHERIT RISK.

SO OUR MINORS, SO OUR, DEPENDING ON THE PROCEDURE, BUT THE VACCINE HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE AND VERY SAFE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO THE CDC ISSUED NEW GUIDANCE THIS WEEK TELLING FULLY VACCINATED AMERICANS THEY DO NOT NEED TO WEAR MASKS OUTDOORS.

IN MOST CASES, MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS HAD ADJUSTED HIS FACIAL COVERINGS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO INTRODUCING A PHASED APPROACH.

SO DEANNA, LET'S UNRAVEL THIS, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE MOMS AND THE PICKUP LINE AT SCHOOL WHO ARE TOTALLY CONFUSED.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WEARING OUR MASK OR NOT.

SO THERE'S A LOT TO UNRAVEL.

>>SO YES, NANCY, THE BIG ISSUE IS THAT IT IS CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG CRITIQUES OF THE CDC GUIDANCE IS THAT IT FORCES PEOPLE TO HAVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY IS CROWDED AND WHAT QUALIFIES AS OUTDOORS OR INDOORS.

AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT "I'M NOT QUITE SURE IS THIS GROUP BIG ENOUGH?

IS THIS GROUP SMALL ENOUGH TO NOT BE WEARING A MASK?"

AND THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO IS UNVACCINATED.

SO REALLY, AS YOU'RE WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE, SOMEONE COULD MAKE THE DECISION THEMSELVES THAT I DON'T REALLY LIKE WEARING A MASK AND NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO KNOW WHETHER I'M VACCINATED OR NOT.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO WEAR ONE.

BUT WHAT MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS IS TRYING TO DO IS ONE UPDATE, ORANGE COUNTY'S ORDER TO REFLECT THAT CDC GUIDANCE, BUT THEN DO THIS A SLOW PHASED APPROACH SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE CERTAIN PERCENTAGES OF VACCINATED PEOPLE, WHETHER THAT'S 50% OR 70% THAT WE CAN MOVE TO PHASES WHERE EVERYONE, WHETHER THEY'RE VACCINATED OR UNVACCINATED CAN WEAR A MASK.

AND WHETHER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SMALL SETTINGS CAN BE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TOGETHER.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX FEET TO THREE FEET IS ALREADY HAPPENING, BUT WE CAN SEE THAT HAPPEN AMONG ALL POPULATIONS, INDOORS OR OUTDOORS.

AS WE WORK THROUGH THE PHASES.

FRANKLY, THE MAYOR'S DOING ANOTHER PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY.

AND THERE ARE LIKELY GOING TO BE A NEED TO BE MANY PRESS CONFERENCES, NOT JUST IN ORANGE COUNTY, BUT ALL OF OUR COUNTIES IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A LOT OF CLARITY ON THIS.

AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO THE SAME STORIES OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS.

>>NO DOUBT.

WE'LL ALL BE COVERING THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF ALL OF IT FOR OURSELVES AND OUR VIEWERS.

WE COULD TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE TACKLED TODAY, BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO GREG ANGEL FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND DEANNA ALLBRITTIN FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

AND BEFORE WE GO, WE DO WANT TO MENTION THIS IS DEANNA'S LAST APPEARANCE ON OUR SHOW.

SHE'S LEAVING ORLANDO AND WFTV FOR A NEW OPPORTUNITY.

WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, DEANNA, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A STAR.

YOU ALREADY ARE.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT.

IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.

>>WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 RIGHT HERE ON WUCF FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND.