>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, OFFICIALS WARN OF AN INCREASE IN FENTANYL OVERDOSES, A LOOK AT EFFORTS TO TACKLE THE CRISIS IN OUR REGION.

PLUS, HOW WILL MAIL IN VOTING WORK IN NEXT MONTH'S PRIMARIES, FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF RECENT FLORIDA ELECTION LAWS?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, TWO INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER.

CURTIS MCCLOUD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, CURTIS.

AND KARLA RAY FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, KARLA.

APPRECIATE IT, GUYS.

WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, THE ONGOING SCOURGE OF OPIOID ADDICTION IN FLORIDA.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS RECENTLY SIGNED A LAW TO RAMP UP PENALTIES FOR OPIOID DEALERS.

THE US DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION THIS MONTH WARNED OF AN ALARMING INCREASE IN SUSPECTED FENTANYL RELATED OVERDOSES IN THE STATE, FOLLOWING SEVERAL MASS OVERDOSE CASES.

THIS YEAR.

>>FENTANYL OVERDOSE NOW IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES FOR 18 TO 45 YEAR OLDS.

>>FLORIDA'S FIRST LADY CASEY DESANTIS THIS MONTH LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE DANGERS OF FENTANYL, A POWERFUL SYNTHETIC OPIOID.

>>BACK IN 2021, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE FENTANYL THAT WAS SEIZED AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER, WAS 11,201 POUNDS.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO KILL EVERY AMERICAN IN THE UNITED STATES SIX TIMES OVER.

>>WHILE SEIZURES OF FENTANYL AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER HAVE SKYROCKETED, FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHLEY MOODY RECENTLY CALLED ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DECLARE THE DRUG A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

IN A LETTER SHE WROTE, "YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS DANGEROUSLY FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE TIES BETWEEN CRIMINAL DRUG CARTELS IN BOTH THE SURGE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE FLOOD OF FENTANYL INTO THIS COUNTRY."

FIGURES FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOW OPIOID CAUSED DEATHS CLIMBED TO 3,235 IN THE FIRST HALF OF LAST YEAR, A 4% INCREASE OVER THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER, THE MAJORITY OF CASES INVOLVING FENTANYL.

SEVERAL STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA ARE NOW DISTRIBUTING THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG NALOXONE, BOLSTERED BY MONEY FROM A FIRST IN THE NATION SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE AND MAJOR PHARMACY CHAINS.

>>WELL, BEFORE WE DISCUSS THIS ISSUE, I WANTED TO PLAY YOU PART OF A PIECE CURTIS PUT TOGETHER FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 13 ON EFFORTS TO TACKLE OPIOID OVERDOSES IN VOLUSIA COUNTY.

>>HERE, LET'S GET THIS IN THE BAG.

>>THIS IS THE SOUND OF DETERMINATION.

>>COME ON IN.

>>STEPHANIE SMITH, DOING WHAT SHE'S DONE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW, GOING INTO THE HEART OF VOLUSIA COUNTY COMMUNITIES LIKE DELTONA TO HAND OUT FREE BOXES OF THE OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG NARCAN.

SPRAY IT UP IN A NOSTRIL.

>>HER MISSION IS TO SAVE LIVES, ULTIMATELY REDUCING THE RISING NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, WHICH THE SHERIFF TELLS US IS UP 20%.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY DESERVES THAT SECOND CHANCE.

>>STEPHANIE KNOWS THIS REALITY.

SHE STRUGGLED WITH DRUGS IN THE PAST, OVERDOSING ON HEROIN.

>>IT IMPACTED ME GREATLY.

I SOBERED UP AFTER THAT.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

>>THAT WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO.

SHE'S BEEN FIGHTING EVER SINCE.

>>CAN I PRAY?

>>TODAY, HER FOCUS GETTING NARCAN.

>>SO WILL YOU TAKE ONE?

>>INTO AS MANY HANDS AS POSSIBLE.

>>THANK YOU.

YOU WANT ONE TOO?

GOOD DEED DONE TODAY.

WE WENT AND SAVED SOME LIVES.

>>IT'S A MOTHER'S LOVE FUELING THAT PASSION.

YOU SEE STEPHANIE SHARES SHE COULDN'T SAVE HER 24 YEAR OLD SON, TYLER.

>>MARCH 31ST, 2019 MY SON DIED OF A FENTANYL OVERDOSE.

HE WAS TAKEN FROM ME.

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE NARCAN TO SAVE HIM.

>>I CAN TELL THAT THIS WOUND IS STILL FRESH FOR YOU.

>>OH GOD, THREE YEARS, STILL VERY, VERY FRESH.

IT'S LIKE A KNIFE TEARING YOUR SOUL OUT.

>>A MOTHER'S GRIEF AND PAIN GIVING WAY TO HOPE AND HELP FOR OTHERS.

>>I FEEL THAT IF I HAND THOSE BOXES OF NARCAN, THAT HE DIDN'T DIE IN VAIN, THAT HIS DEATH WASN'T FOR NOTHING, THAT I'M SAVING A LIFE FOR HIM.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE TO THE SPECTRUM NEWS 13 PAGE WITH CURTIS'S FULL REPORT.

IT'S AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

CURTIS, YOU ALSO REPORTED ON EFFORTS IN THE VOLUSIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH GOT $10 MILLION AS PART OF THAT SETTLEMENT WITH THE PHARMACY CHAINS.

HOW IS THE AGENCY SPENDING THAT MONEY?

>>WELL, SEE, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CAN ALL DECIDE WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OUT IN VOLUSIA COUNTY AND A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, AND IT'LL BE BROKEN DOWN INTO HOW IT'S GOING TO BE USED.

THE SHERIFF, OF COURSE, MIKE CHITWOOD TELLING ME HIMSELF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE USED TO HELP THEM WITH SOME OF THOSE OPERATIONS, THOSE OPERATIONS TO KIND OF GET THESE DRUG PUSHERS, THESE DRUG DEALERS OFF THE STREETS, SOME OF THEM COVERT OPERATIONS, SOME OF THEM JUST KIND OF GOING UP AND DOING WARRANT ROUNDUPS.

THEY ALSO WANT SOME OF THAT MONEY TO GO INTO A SPECIAL CENTER THAT THEY'RE OPENING IN VOLUSIA COUNTY TO HELP YOUTH THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH DRUG ADDICTION OR EVEN TO HELP PREVENT DRUG ADDICTION.

>>KARLA, I MEAN, YOU'VE REPORTED ON THIS ISSUE ON FENTANYL DEATHS PRE-COVID, BUT THE DATA SHOW THIS SORT OF SEEMS TO HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, DOES THIS GO HAND-IN-HAND, DO YOU THINK, WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT WITH THE PANDEMIC?

>>I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY SOCIETAL ISSUE THAT WE REPORT ON GOES BACK TO MENTAL HEALTH IN SOME WAY.

AND WE KNOW OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH, THE ISOLATION, THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH, THE LOSS OF LIFE, SEEING THAT WITH COVID THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND, OF COURSE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE FACED WITH THOSE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, IT CAN LEAD TO THESE THINGS TICKING UP UNFORTUNATELY.

>>IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE TALKING TO THOSE PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES, IT SEEMED TO BE THAT WE WERE MAKING PROGRESS BEFORE 2019.

>>YEAH.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF THAT WAS JUST RIPPED OUT UNDER THE RUG AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE ISOLATION AND THE SADNESS AND THE SORROW AND HELPLESSNESS THAT I THINK PEOPLE FELT OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

>>I DID ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR REPORTING ON DRUG DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAT YOU'VE DONE TO SORT OF KEEP PEOPLE THAT WERE FOUND WITH ILLICIT OPIOIDS OUT OF JAIL OR PRISON.

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE THINKING BEHIND THOSE PROGRAMS AND WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THEM?

DO THEY KEEP A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM?

>>I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT THESE DIVERSION PROGRAMS DO THAT ARE REALLY GOOD IN THEORY.

IT'S KEEPING RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO GO AFTER THE HIGHER LEVEL DRUG OFFENSES.

THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE NOT GOING TO BE FOR TRAFFICKERS, PEOPLE SELLING A LOT OF DRUGS.

THIS IS FOR MAYBE A FIRST TIME USER, A FIRST TIME OFFENDER, WHO GOT CAUGHT UP IN ADDICTION AND REALLY JUST NEEDS HELP THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN THE JAIL SYSTEM.

THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH A TREATMENT PROGRAM INSTEAD.

AND IT HAS WORKED.

THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE 9TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY DID IT, ABOUT 65% OF THEIR TOTAL DRUG CASES WENT THROUGH DIVERSION INSTEAD OF GOING THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT AS EFFECTIVE.

BUT IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL WHEN THEY ADDED FENTANYL INTO THOSE OFFENSES.

>>YEAH, CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE DEALERS.

IN FACT, WE JUST SAW THE GOVERNOR SIGN THAT NEW LAW.

CURTIS, I MEAN, FLORIDA WAS THE EPICENTER OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC UP UNTIL ABOUT SORT OF ABOUT 2011 WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CRACKED DOWN ON THOSE PILL MILLS.

THAT DID REDUCE PRESCRIPTION OPIOID ABUSE, BUT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE FENTANYL THAT'S UNDONE A LOT OF THAT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR REPORTING?

>>ABSOLUTELY, STEVE.

I KNOW THAT FENTANYL NOW BEING, AT LEAST FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ALONE, IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, OVERDOSE DEATHS, RATHER, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF.

AND ESPECIALLY CAN BE FOUND IN A NUMBER OF THINGS.

A LOT OF DRUGS WHICH ONE WOULD CONSIDER NOT A LOT OF OVERDOSE NOWADAYS, MARIJUANA OR COCAINE, CAN BE LACED WITH FENTANYL AND DOES CAUSE OVERDOSE.

THAT WOMAN IN THE STORY THERE, HER SON DIED DUE TO A COCAINE LACED WITH FENTANYL OVERDOSE AND THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENED.

SO WE ARE SEEING THAT FENTANYL HAS BEEN ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT'S JUST BEEN PERSISTENT.

IT'S LIKE THE STATE WE'RE TAKING TWO STEPS FORWARD.

NOW WITH THIS THING, TAKING TWO MORE BACK.

>>AND OF COURSE IT'S SO POWERFUL AND POTENT, AND SO MANY THINGS CAN BE LACED WITH IT THAT.

>>ABSOLUTELY >>THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.

>>IT HELPS THE DEALERS STRETCH THEIR PRODUCT TOO, WHICH IS WHY IT'S BEING PUT IN THINGS AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.

>>LIKE SO MANY THINGS, KARLA I MEAN, THIS HAS SORT OF BECOME POLITICAL.

AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW WE SAW THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION BLAMES A LOT OF THIS ON CHINA AND DRUGS FLOWING ACROSS THE BOARD FROM MEXICO.

IT ALSO SORT OF SAYS THERE'S A FAILURE BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO SORT OF STOP THIS TRAFFICKING.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THOUGH, DOES SAY IT IS WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM, PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY.

>>YEAH.

THEY'RE AWARE OF THIS, OBVIOUSLY.

ASHLEY MOODY'S OFFICE EVEN CALLED IT TO BE A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION, ASKING THE PRESIDENT TO DECLARE IT THAT.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION JUST ANNOUNCED A MULTI-LEVEL APPROACH RECENTLY TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING SOME REALLY SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET INCREASE REQUEST, $300 MILLION FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND ANOTHER $300 MILLION FOR DEA OPERATIONS TO HOPEFULLY WRAP ARMS AROUND THIS PROBLEM AT THE BORDER.

>>YEAH.

WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET HERE IN FLORIDA.

THE CDC ESTIMATES OPIOIDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

YOU CAN FIND DRUG OVERDOSE DATA FROM THE CDC AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

OKAY, NEXT TONIGHT, THE DEADLINE FOR FLORIDIANS TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN NEXT MONTH'S PRIMARY ELECTION PASSED THIS WEEK.

VOTERS ARE FACING AN AUGUST 13TH DEADLINE TO REQUEST MAIL-IN BALLOTS TO BE SENT TO THEIR HOMES FOR THE ELECTION, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST 23RD.

IT FOLLOWS A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO FLORIDA'S VOTING LAWS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 2020'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, INCLUDING THE NEED TO RENEW REQUESTS FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS EVERY TWO YEARS, INSTEAD OF EVERY FOUR.

WELL, NEWSNIGHT SPOKE WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR POLK COUNTY, LORI EDWARDS.

>>NOW WHEN YOU REQUEST A MAIL BALLOT, THAT REQUEST WILL STAY ON FILE THROUGH THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS EVERYBODY IN THE STATE'S VOTE BY MAIL REQUESTS WILL END THE END OF THIS YEAR, IN THE END OF 2022.

>>THE OTHER ISSUE RELATED TO VOTE BY MAIL THAT IS NEW AS A RESULT OF THESE NEW FLORIDA LAWS IS WHEN YOU GO TO REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT, THE ELECTION OFFICE IS GOING TO BE ASKING FOR EITHER YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER OR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

ANOTHER THING THAT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THE IMPACT IS NEARLY AS BIG AS WHAT WAS MAYBE SUGGESTED, IS THEY HAVE TIGHTENED UP IN REQUIRING MUCH MORE SECURITY ON BALLOT DROP BOXES.

NOW, REMEMBER IF YOU REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT, YOU CAN RETURN THAT IN PERSON, OR YOU CAN RETURN IT BY MAIL.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE A DROP BOX AT THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY, OR MOST PEOPLE DO.

HOWEVER, IF FOR SOME REASON YOU DON'T WANT TO RETURN BY MAIL OR YOU DON'T WANT TO RETURN IT BY IN PERSON, THERE ARE LOCATIONS WHERE YOU CAN PUT IT IN A DROP BOX.

NOW THE NEW LAW, IT RESTRICTS WHERE THOSE DROP BOXES CAN BE.

THEY CAN BE AT EARLY VOTING SITES AND THEY CAN BE AT ELECTION OFFICES.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THOSE BOXES MUST BE STAFFED BY HUMAN BEINGS ANYTIME THAT THEY'RE OPEN.

ANOTHER MEASURE IS, AND THIS ALSO GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND THAT IS I CALL THEM THE ELECTION COPS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE NOW HAS A NEW POLICE FORCE FOR ELECTION FRAUD.

THEY BASICALLY HAVE THE SAME DUTIES THAT HAVE EXISTED ALL ALONG AND THAT IS TO INVESTIGATE AND THEN TURN OVER FOR PROSECUTION IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S EVIDENCE OF ELECTION FRAUD.

THEY ALSO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO START INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS.

I WOULD SAY THE JURIES OUT ON THEM.

AS I SAID, ALL THE PIECES WERE IN PLACE TO GO AFTER ELECTION FRAUD ALL ALONG, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, ALL OVER FLORIDA THAT WAS HAPPENING.

SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS WILL BE, WHETHER IT'LL BE NEGATIVE, POSITIVE, OR NEUTRAL.

>>LORI EDWARDS THERE.

CURTIS, YOU ALSO COVER A LITTLE BIT OF POLITICS AS WELL, AND THERE'S A LOT OF POLITICS INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE.

THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR TEST OF THESE NEW VOTING LAWS SINCE THEY WERE PASSED.

THIS TIME ID NEEDS TO BE ON FILE WITH COUNTY ELECTION SUPERVISORS, FOR ANYONE REQUESTING A MAIL IN BALLOT.

WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW?

>>THEY BASICALLY NEED TO KNOW, STEVE, RIGHT NOW, AUGUST 13TH, THAT'S THE KEY DATE, THE LAST DATE TO KIND OF REQUEST THEM BEFORE THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

AND I KNOW THAT WE DID SOME STORIES LAST YEAR, BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES LAST YEAR, WE KIND OF WENT AROUND AND WE DID A TEST OF MAIL IN BALLOTS.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS HERE IS GOING TO BE REQUESTING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED FOR THOSE MAIL IN BALLOTS, AND ALSO GETTING THEM BACK ON TIME AND GETTING THEM PUT IN THE MAIL ON TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY HERE BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T ARRIVE BY, I BELIEVE, THE DATE IS ON ELECTION DAY, BY 7:00 PM ON ELECTION DAY, THEN WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.

>>THAT'S THE DROP DEAD TIME, ISN'T IT?

>>THAT'S THE DROP DEAD TIMELINE RIGHT THERE.

>>YEAH, I MEAN KARLA, ELECTION SUPERVISORS, THERE ARE VARIOUS THINGS THAT FLORIDA'S NEW LAWS DO, ELECTION SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED TO GIVE MORE ACCESS TO THESE BALLOTS TO OUTSIDE OBSERVERS, OFTEN PARTISAN OBSERVERS.

I MEAN, THIS PRESUMABLY COULD MEAN A LOT MORE SCRUTINY OF THINGS LIKE SIGNATURES, FOR EXAMPLE.

I MEAN WHAT SHOULD VOTERS BE AWARE OF?

>>YOU WANT TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SIGNATURE MATCHING YOUR ID, OBVIOUSLY.

I'VE EVEN BEEN CALLED ON THAT IN PAST ELECTIONS BECAUSE MY EVERYDAY SIGNATURE CERTAINLY IS NOT THE ONE THAT I USE ON MY DRIVER'S LICENSE WHERE YOU'RE TAKING A LOT MORE TIME.

SO THINGS LIKE THAT CAN SLOW YOU DOWN AT THE POLLS.

AND ALSO TO BE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS JUST MORE HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OVER NEEDING TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE WHEN YOU GO TO CAST YOUR VOTE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SIGNATURE, ESPECIALLY ON A MAIL-IN BALLOT, YOU HAVE UNTIL TWO DAYS AFTER ELECTION DAY TO CURE IT WITH THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE AND THEY'LL CONTACT YOU IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM >>THEY'LL BE IN TOUCH, FOR SURE.

I MEAN, CURTIS, DROP BOXES IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT.

>>OH, YEAH.

>>SINCE 2020.

AND PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT AT THE TIME.

THOSE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE REDUCED HOURS HERE IN FLORIDA.

THEY'VE GOT TO BE MONITORED BY A PERSON AT ALL TIMES.

THIS WAS CONTROVERSIAL, RIGHT?

VERY CONTROVERSIAL STEP, BECAUSE DROP BOXES HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR IN FLORIDA.

>>VERY POPULAR, IN FACT, BECAUSE THIS IS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE HERE, STEVE.

IT GIVES PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE LEG ROOM IF THEY'RE ON THE GO TO JUST GO IN, DROP EVERYTHING THEY NEED THERE, AND THEN KEEP MOVING HERE.

WITH THESE TIMES HERE, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONTINGENT POINTS ON PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE DIFFERENT WORKING SCHEDULES.

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO MAKE IT BY THEIR END TIME?

AND THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS ALSO IN REGARDS TO THOSE DROP BOXES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE BEING MONITOR, THERE'S MONITORING QUESTIONS AS WELL WITH THOSE DROP BOXES AND WHO'S THERE OR ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE TO MONITOR WHO'S PUTTING WHICH BALLOTS IN THERE?

QUESTIONS AND ALLEGATIONS MADE DURING THE LAST ELECTIONS, OF COURSE, WE KNOW ABOUT.

>>YEAH.

>>SO THIS IS A POINT OF CONTENTION HERE THAT HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED GOING INTO THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

>>A KEY THING TO KNOW IS THEY'VE GOT TO BE MONITORED BY A PERSON NOW.

AND THE LAKE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION SAID THAT HE HAD THREE SECURITY CAMERAS ON THE DROP BOX OUTSIDE THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.

THAT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT.

>>RIGHT.

AND I KNOW THAT I WAS SPECIFICALLY DURING THE ONE OF THE LAST ELECTIONS OUT IN LAKE COUNTY AND I SPOKE WITH HIM DIRECTLY ABOUT THAT.

THEY REALLY DID HAVE SECURITY.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, PEOPLE WATCHING THOSE DROP BOXES THERE.

AND THEY ARE BEING MONITORED, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY NOT ENOUGH.

>>YEAH, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH SKEPTICISM.

>>YEAH.

>>SURROUNDING OUR ELECTIONS.

>>ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY BY REPUBLICANS, WAS BALLOT HARVESTING.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE BALLOT HARVESTING, RIGHT?

I MEAN, PEOPLE NOW ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DROP OFF MORE THAN TWO MAIL IN BALLOTS FOR NON-FAMILY MEMBERS.

I MEAN, I THINK IT WAS ILLEGAL IN FLORIDA TO GET PAID TO COLLECT BALLOTS BEFORE, BUT YOU COULD COLLECT UNLIMITED ONES.

>>RIGHT.

>>I MEAN, WHAT'S THE REASONING FOR THAT AND WHY ARE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT IT?

>>WELL, THERE WAS A REALLY HIGH PROFILE CASE IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT I THINK MANY OF THE VIEWERS WILL RECOGNIZE WHERE THERE WAS A POLITICAL OPERATIVE WHO WAS COLLECTING THESE BALLOTS AND MAYBE NOT TURNING ALL OF THEM IN OR ALTERING THEM IN SOME WAY AND IT ACTUALLY OVERTURNED AN ELECTION THERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO IT'S AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BALLOTS ARE BEING CAST IN THE WAY THAT THEY WERE INTENDED BY THE VOTER.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS THAT PEOPLE WILL ARGUE IT FURTHER DISENFRANCHISES VOTERS WHO CAN'T GET TO THE POLLS THEMSELVES, WHO RELY ON SORT OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH ASPECT OF THIS.

>>PARTICULARLY SENIORS AND PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOMETHING ELSE WE SHOULD MENTION IS REDISTRICTING, SINCE THE LAST ELECTION.

MANY PRECINCTS HAVE CHANGED.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE GETTING VOTER INFORMATION CARDS FROM THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.

BUT IF THEY HAVEN'T, WHERE CAN PEOPLE CHECK WHERE THEIR PRECINCT IS AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE VOTING?

>>YEAH.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE MAIL OUTS LOOK LIKE JUNK MAIL.

>>YES.

>>AND SO THEY GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

>>YES.

>>IT'S EASY.

YOU JUST GO TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN LOOK ALL THAT INFORMATION UP RIGHT THERE.

OR YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION'S OFFICE.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHERE TO GO.

>>CURTIS, AS WE MENTIONED THESE RULES WERE SORT OF DRAWN UP IN 2020 AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FALSE CLAIMS OF A RIGGED ELECTION, BUT THERE'S STILL THE SUBJECT OF A COURT FIGHT, RIGHT?

>>RIGHT.

>>IN 11TH CIRCUIT.

I MEAN, REMIND US WHERE THAT STANDS AND SO WHAT COMES NEXT?

>>WELL, RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, THAT COURT CASE ARGUMENTS TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER.

>>YEAH.

>>AND RIGHT NOW IT'S STILL A FIGHT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WAS AN APPEAL PUT IN PLACE BACK IN, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS BACK IN MAY WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

SO THOSE RULES WILL STAY IN EFFECT GOING INTO THIS ELECTION.

>>INTO THIS ELECTION, YEAH.

>>INTO THIS ELECTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT AND SAID THAT THIS WAS KIND OF A DISENFRANCHISEMENT OR AT LEAST A PEG AGAINST AFRICAN AMERICAN OR MINORITY VOTERS, I SHOULD SAY.

THE NAACP, AS WELL AS THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ALSO COMING TOGETHER ON THAT LEGAL FIGHT HERE.

SO IN SEPTEMBER WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THOSE ARGUMENTS COME TOGETHER.

>>AND MINORITY VOTING, OF COURSE, IS A BIG FOCUS IN THE REDISTRICTING DEBATES WITH TWO OF THOSE MINORITY ACCESS DISTRICTS ELIMINATED IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>AND THAT MAP IS IN PLACE FOR THIS ELECTION.

YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

OKAY, FINALLY TONIGHT WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF KARLA'S RECENT REPORTING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH FALLOUT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BOTH ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

HER MOST RECENT PIECE LOOKED AT THE DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING KIDS AMID ISOLATION AND OTHER MITIGATION MEASURES.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THIS, I WANT TO PLAY YOU A CLIP OF THE OSCEOLA COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DEBRA PACE FROM AN INTERVIEW WE DID LAST YEAR ON COVID LEARNING LOSS.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>THE LEARNING LOSS KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT.

I'M NOT GOING TO LIE.

WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN A STRONGER IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE LEARNING LOSS FOR OUR MINORITY STUDENTS AND FOR OUR ELL AND ESC STUDENTS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO COME FROM LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC FAMILIES.

THE COVID LOSS IS VERY REAL.

BUT WHAT WORRIES ME MOST IS THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIAL ISOLATION ON OUR CHILDREN AND THE IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

WE KNOW.

WE'VE SEEN IT.

WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF THE DEPRESSION, OF THE STRUGGLES THAT OUR KIDS ARE FACING MENTALLY AND SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AT HOME.

AND WE KNOW THAT THEY NEED THAT INTERACTION WITH PEERS IN ORDER TO GROW AND DEVELOP AS YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S REALLY, I THINK, WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST IS THE IMPACT LONG TERM ON THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THEN OBVIOUSLY THE LEARNING LOSS AND HOW AND WHEN WE CAN REALLY ATTACK THAT AND MOVE IT FORWARD.

>>DR.

DEBRA PACE THERE FROM OSCEOLA COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT, KARLA, LET'S DIG INTO THIS.

I MEAN, YOUR RECENT REPORT TALKS ABOUT A COVID GENERATION.

WHAT KIND OF ISSUES DO SORT OF EXPERTS TELL YOU THAT YOUNGER KIDS ARE FACING NOW?

>>YEAH.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE SPAN OF COVID IN RELATION TO A CHILD'S LIFE, IT'S A HUGE FRACTION OF THEIR LIFE AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNGER GRADES, TALKING KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE AND YOUNGER.

THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF THE SOCIAL ASPECTS THAT SCHOOL BRINGS TO THEM, DOING VIRTUAL SCHOOL.

AN EXPERT TOLD ME THERE'S A BIT OF CODE SWITCHING THAT EVEN ADULTS GO THROUGH WHEN WORKING FROM HOME, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE ATTENDING A MEETING WEARING SWEATPANTS.

>>YEAH.

>>AND SO FOR LITTLE KIDS, WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR SCHOOLWORK BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR TOYS RIGHT HERE OR THEY CAN GO TO THEIR ROOM IF THEY WANT TO, IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO DIFFERENTIATE, "AM I AT HOME?

OR AM I IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?"

AND TALKING TO THE LEADER OF SOCIAL BRIDGES, WHICH IS A GROUP HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY THAT WORKS TO SOCIALIZE YOUNG KIDS WHO ARE HAVING MAYBE DELAYS IN THAT AREA OF DEVELOPMENT, THEY SAID AT FIRST, WHEN KIDS WENT FROM IN PERSON TO VIRTUAL SCHOOL, AT FIRST, THEY JUST SAID, "OH, WE'RE BORED, WE'RE BORED."

AND THEN IT TURNED TO, "I'M LONELY."

>>YEAH.

>>SO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ISOLATION OF THOSE YOUNG KIDS.

>>FAIRLY RAPIDLY, RIGHT?

>>YES.

>>BECAUSE THEY JUST NEED THAT SOCIAL INTERACTION.

I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK, CURTIS?

>>NO, I MEAN, AND I SEE IT FIRSTHAND.

>>RIGHT?

>>EVEN WITH MY OWN SON, WHO'S FIVE.

AND THEY WANT AND NEED ATTENTION.

>>THAT'S HALF HIS LIFE.

>>RIGHT.

>>HAS BEEN COVID.

>>RIGHT, COVID.

AND THEN, SO ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING WHERE EVERYONE WAS WEARING A MASK AND WE WORRIED FOR A LITTLE BIT, WILL THERE BE SOCIAL ISSUES, WILL THERE BE SOME CONCERN WITH THAT?

BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE AND TALK TO THEM.

SO YOU DO SEE THAT.

>>AND THE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT.

>>EXACTLY.

>>WELL, THAT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE PART OF WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS SORT OF LANGUAGE DELAYS, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, MOTOR SKILLS, EVEN.

>>RIGHT.

AND EVEN FOR THE VERY YOUNG KIDS, WHERE MAYBE THEY'RE NOT PICKING UP LANGUAGE, BUT SO MUCH IS THE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

I'VE GOT A NINE MONTH OLD.

I'M CONSTANTLY EXAGGERATING MY FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

BUT IF THEY'RE ENCOUNTERING MOST ADULTS IN THEIR LIFE WITH MASKS ON, THEY'RE LOSING OUT ON THAT.

SO THEY'RE NOT LEARNING, ARE YOU HAPPY?

ARE YOU MAD?

ARE YOU SAD?

THOSE THINGS THAT COME FROM FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND LANGUAGE.

>>WHAT ABOUT THE PARENTS AS WELL?

THIS WAS ANOTHER SORT OF PART OF YOUR REPORTING.

YOU FOUND A THIRD OF ALL NEW MOMS FACED DEPRESSION DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, DO WE KNOW WHY THOSE NUMBERS ARE SO MUCH HIGHER THAN IN REGULAR YEARS?

>>YEAH.

POTENTIALLY TRIPLING PRE-COVID NUMBERS BASED ON SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

THIS WAS A TOPIC I LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH POSTPARTUM ANXIETY AFTER GIVING BIRTH LAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT ALL COMES BACK TO ISOLATION.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE VILLAGE THAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT OF RAISING A CHILD.

WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR EITHER UNBORN OR NEW CHILD FROM GETTING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY VIRUS.

>>YEAH.

>>YOU'RE NOT INVITING PEOPLE OVER TO YOUR HOUSE TO CELEBRATE.

>>SURE.

>>YOU'RE NOT HAVING THAT SOCIAL ASPECT.

AND SO IT'S VERY ISOLATING AND EVEN GOING TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.

THERE WERE MANY APPOINTMENTS THAT MY HUSBAND COULDN'T ATTEND BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS.

THERE WERE WOMEN WHO GAVE BIRTH WITH MASKS ON IN THE HOSPITAL.

SO IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT THING THAT OTHER NEW PARENTS HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH.

>>BUT THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN, WHAT DO THEY DO?

>>RIGHT.

SO YOU CAN GO TO THE SAMHSA HOTLINE, WHICH IS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE.

AND I THINK JUST HAVING THE CONVERSATION CAN ALLEVIATE A LOT OF THE STRESS THAT COMES WITH THIS.

>>CURTIS, I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT COVID IS NOT OVER.

WE SEE THE BA.5 VARIANT DRIVING CASES EVEN HIGHER.

PARENTS STILL FACE A LOT OF STRESS NOW WITH SCHOOLS HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN BACK FOR A LONG TIME, PARTICULARLY HERE IN FLORIDA.

THEY NOW FACE THIS ADDITIONAL STRESS OF WHETHER OR NOT TO GET THEIR KIDS VACCINATED, FOR EXAMPLE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU FIRST HAND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR CHILDREN VACCINATED, THE OTHER ONE'S NOT RIGHT NOW.

HE'S A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER, TWO YEARS OLD.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PARENTS GO THROUGH BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HEAR FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE, EVEN THE GOVERNOR SAYING THAT HE'S NOT NECESSARILY IN SUPPORT OF IT, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO STOP OTHERS WHO CHOOSE TO DO SO TO DO IT.

SO IT'S A LOT THAT PARENTS HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON TOP OF THE OTHER NUANCES WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL AND GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL.

SO IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS.

AND ALSO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S IN STOCK AT YOUR PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE.

SO THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PLAY INTO ALL OF THIS.

>>AND ON TOP OF THAT, A FORMULA SHORTAGE, SO.

>>THERE YOU GO.

THERE'S THAT TOO.

>>YES, NO KIDDING.

>>NEW PARENTS HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>A LOT TO THINK ABOUT, AS YOU SAID THERE, CURTIS.

WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO KARLA'S EXCELLENT REPORTING ON THE FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO CURTIS MCCLOUD FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13, KARLA RAY FROM WFTV.

THANKS FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.