>> IT SAYS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A SHOWDOWN ON THE FUTURE OF ELECTIONS IS BREWING IN TALLAHASSEE.

WE LOOK AT THE DISCUSSIONS HAPPENING AFTER A PROPOSAL OF REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAPS HAS SOME POLITICIANS SEEING RED A GROWING CONCERN REGARDING TARIFFS.

OTHER REIMBURSEMENT OF THESE TAXES COULD HELP BUSINESS OWNERS.

BUT CONSUMERS MAY NOT SEE A DIME.

AND PROVIDING OUTREACH FOR THOSE WHO SERVED.

WE LOOK AT THE LOCAL EFFORTS BEING MADE TO PROVIDE AWARENESS FOR VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

FLORIDA LAWMAKERS BEGAN THE FIRST OF WHAT COULD BE MULTIPLE SPECIAL SESSIONS THIS YEAR ON MONDAY.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS CAPTURED NATIONAL ATTENTION AFTER RELEASING A PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, U.S.

HOUSE SEATS THAT COULD FLIP FOR FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FROM DEMOCRATIC TO REPUBLICAN CONTROL.

THIS IS ALL PART OF A BROADER EFFORT TAKING PLACE IN SEVERAL STATES TO REDRAW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

WE ARE JOINED BY WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

FOR A CLOSER LOOK.

AND JOHN, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAP?

THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS UNVEILED YESTERDAY PRIOR TO EVEN TELLING LAWMAKERS, CORRECT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

HE UNVEILED THEIR SONG.

FOX NEWS BEFORE EVEN SENDING IT TO THE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER AND VOTE ON IT.

SO.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING.

BUT THE MAP ITSELF IF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS GO THE WAY THAT DESANTIS WANTS.

WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO WOULD BE TO FLIP 4 OF THE 8 U.S.

HOUSE SEATS BUT ARE CURRENTLY HELD BY DEMOCRATS TO REPUBLICANS.

SO IT WOULD ELIMINATE ABOUT HALF OF THE EXISTING DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AND FLORIDA THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS DETAILED MAP.

SO WE KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT'S HE'S TARGETING OUR DEMOCRAT KATHY CASTOR AND THE TAMPA BAY REGION ALSO IN CENTRAL FLORIDA DISTRICT 9, WHICH HAS BEEN HELD BY DEMOCRAT DARREN SOTO FOR ABOUT THE PAST 9 YEARS.

ALSO, 2 CONGRESSIONAL SOUTH, FLORIDA.

AGAIN, IF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS CODE, THE WAY DESANTIS THINKS THEY WILL, THEY WOULD FLIP FROM BLUE TO RED AND THOSE OF THE DISTRICT HELD BY LOIS FRANKEL AND DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME SAFE DEMOCRATIC SEATS, THE BROWARD COUNTY DISTRICT OF JARED MOSKOWITZ LIKELY WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED ACCORDING TO SOME ANALYSYS I'VE SEEN.

ALSO FREDERICA WILSON'S MIAMI DISTRICT SEAT WOULD ALSO BE FAIR ARE PRETTY SAFE.

AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SEAT IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY HAVE BEEN HELD BY SHEILA CHERFILUS MCCORMICK.

IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD ALSO REMAIN.

>> A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT AND REPUBLICANS IN FAVOR OF THIS REDISTRICTING MAP.

THEY ARE CONTENDING THAT IT IS NOT PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

BUT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THAT SAY THIS IS 100% POLITICAL AND IT IS GERRYMANDERING.

THESE DISTRICTS.

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS ON ON EITHER SIDE >> THIS IS WHERE IT GETS REALLY INTERESTING.

I MEAN, I THINK EVEN, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO RELEASING THE MAPS MONDAY MORNING ON FOX NEWS INSTEAD OF FIRST GIVING THEM TO LAWMAKERS IS KIND OF AN INDICATION OF SOME PARTISANSHIP, AT LEAST IN SPIRIT.

BUT JUST BEYOND THAT, THE WAY THE MAPS WERE PRESENTED AS THOUGH THE DISTRICTS THAT HE WANTED TO REMAIN REPUBLICAN OR FLIP TO REPUBLICAN WERE COLORED IN RED AND THEN THE 4 REMAINING DEMOCRATIC SEAT.

AGAIN, IF YOU GET SWEATY WANT WE'RE IN BLUE.

SO WHY WOULD YOU SHOW US A MAP THAT ALREADY HAS THE ATTENDED IMPACTS OF HOW YOU WANT THEM TO VOTE AND MOST THAT WASN'T THE INTENT THE ENTIRE TIME.

AND THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN POINTING OUT.

I WAS ALSO JUST LOOKING UP THIS MORNING, THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE STATE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS.

SO IS THE FLORIDA HOUSE ABOUT 5.5 MILLION REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND A LITTLE OVER 4 MILLION REGISTERED DEMOCRATS THAT AS OF MARCH 31ST SO 24 TO 4, THAT DOESN'T REALLY BREAK DOWN WHEN THERE'S JUST ONE AND A HALF MILLION FEWER DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN THE STATE THAN THERE ARE REPUBLICANS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS LIKE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER FENTRICE DRISKELL HAVE BEEN HARPING ON SHE'S SAYING THE SPECIAL SESSION DOESN'T EVEN NEED TO HAPPEN.

IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

SHE CALLED THIS QUOTE THE THIS IS THE CYNICAL SWAMP LIKE BEHAVIOR THAT PEOPLE HATE ABOUT POLITICS AND SHE CALLS THE CLAIMS FROM DESANTIS IS CAMP THAT THESE MAPS FAIRLY REFLECT FLORIDA, COMPLETELY BOGUS AND AGAIN, WITH THE REGISTRATION NUMBERS I JUST PROVIDED.

I MEAN, THAT'S AN PARABLE EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT REFLECTING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE PROPOSED MAPS WOULD ANY ACCOUNTING FOR RACE AND THIS RELATES TO THIS U.S.

SUPREME COURT'S DECISION THAT ACTUALLY HASN'T BEEN HANDED DOWN YET.

THIS CONCERNS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT CASE IN LOUISIANA WHERE THEY'RE CHALLENGING THE CONCEPT OF MINORITY MAJORITY DISTRICTS.

AND DESANTIS HAS NOT BEEN A FAN OF OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS HIS CHIEF COUNSEL ON MONDAY ALSO ISSUED A LETTER TO STATE LAWMAKERS KIND OF ATTACKING THE 2010 FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS THAT FLORIDA VOTERS APPROVED THAT REALLY BAR THESE KIND OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES FROM BEING DRAWN TO FAVOR A POLITICAL PARENT, CANDIDATE OR PARTY AND AGAIN, HIS WHOLE BASIS ON THIS IS HOW HE THINKS THE SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO RULE AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RULING AT THE TYPICALLY NO USUALLY ISSUE THESE RULINGS BY THE END OF JUNE EARLY JULY.

BUT THAT STILL.

HOW YOU CAN INTERPRET A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN ISSUED TO SORT OF BE ON ME.

AND BEYOND THAT, THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT HAS SORT OF WEIGHED IN ON THIS A LITTLE OF THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS IN FLORIDA WERE REFERENCED IN A 2018 RULING, BUT IN A FAVORABLE WAY.

BUT AS FAR AS THE FAIR DISTRICT AMENDMENTS THEMSELVES, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN CHALLENGED IN COURT THAT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN FOUND, EVEN PARTIALLY TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY WILD CLAIM TO MAKE.

LAWMAKERS ARE FOCUSING ON THIS REDISTRICTING EFFORT RIGHT NOW.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE.

>> 2 OTHER MEASURES AI REGULATION AND VACCINE MANDATES FOR CHILDREN.

RIGHT?

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THOSE?

>> SO >> YOU GET WHAT WE SAW DURING THE REGULAR SESSION WAS THAT BOTH OF THE AI REGULATIONS, BILL AND THE INCREASING VACCINE EXEMPTION MANDATES FOR KIDS.

THE SENATE PASSED THEM.

THE HOUSE DID NOT PICK THEM UP WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINES ISSUE, THOUGH, THIS IS CALLED THE MEDICAL FREEDOM ACT AND WOULD BASICALLY GIVE PARENTS THE OPTION TOO.

WAIVE MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA VACCINES REQUIRED TO ATTEND A K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC SCHOOL BASED ON A CONSCIENTIOUS OR PHILOSOPHICAL REASON.

CURRENTLY PARENTS CAN EXEMPT THEIR KIDS IF THEY CLAIM A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

SO THIS WOULD JUST EXPAND THE REASONS THAT YOU COULD EXEMPT YOUR CHILD.

NOW, THE ART WOULD ALSO REQUIRE HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO PROVIDE A RISK AND BENEFIT INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC VACCINES TO PARENTS BEFORE ADMINISTERING THEM TO A CHILD THIS YEAR.

THAT IS WHAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT DIDN'T PASS DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

THE BILL BEING CONSIDERED NOW DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION IS ALMOST IDENTICAL, BUT IT REQUIRES HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO PROVIDE THAT RISK AND BENEFIT INFORMATION TO ALL PARENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY DECIDE TO EXEMPT THEIR KID FROM THE VACCINE.

AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BILL OF RIGHTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING SO THEY I, BILL OF RIGHTS.

YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD REQUIRE THE DISCLOSURE WHEN PEOPLE INTERACT WITH BUTTS AND SOME SITUATIONS THAT WOULD CREATE PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN USING COMPANION CHATBOTS.

IT WOULD RESTRICT CERTAIN USE OF AI GENERATED DEEPFAKE CENTRE ACEPTAR POLITICAL CONTENT AND IT WOULD CREATE CONSUMER RIGHTS AROUND AI DECISION-MAKING IN AREAS LIKE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT.

THE MEASURE THEY'RE CONSIDERING IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IS INTENDED TO BE IDENTICAL OR NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE ONE THAT DIDN'T PASS IN THE HOUSE DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

SO AGAIN, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT LAST FRIDAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THINKING IS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT THIS IS GOING TO PASS THIS TIME AROUND WHEN JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE HOUSE REJECTED A NEARLY IDENTICAL BILL.

BUT HOUSE SPEAKER DANIEL PEREZ STILL CONTENDS AS DOES PRESIDENT TRUMP.

OUR REGULATION IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE FEASIBLE FOR BIG TECH COMPANIES TO OPERATE A MAN, A PATCHWORK OF REGULATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM STATE TO STATE.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, OUR STATE STILL DOES NOT HAVE A BUDGET THAT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE WE SPOKE LAST.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE'S AN 18 DAY SESSION SCHEDULED TO START ON MAY 12 JUST TO HAMMER OUT THE BUDGET AND YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T DO IT WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR STARTS ON JULY.

FIRST, WE WILL BE ENTERING A STATE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THEN ALSO DESANTIS CONTINUES TO INSIST EVEN LAST NIGHT ON FOX NEWS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO STILL TACKLE PROPERTY TAXES, ALTHOUGH THERE'S NOTHING SCHEDULED AS FAR AS THE SPECIAL SESSION ON THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE, I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN.

FIRST.

BUT FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, I THINK ALL EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON THIS CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING MAP BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN STATES ACROSS THE NATION AND REALLY JUST A CHANGE OF 3 TO 5 SEATS COULD ULTIMATELY REMAKE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN WASHINGTON WOULD HAVE HUGE RAMIFICATIONS THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

>> FOR MORE ON OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF FLORIDA POLITICS, INCLUDING THE TALKS HAPPENING AT THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL SESSION.

POLICE HEAD TO OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, REIMBURSEMENTS ARE COMING FOR AMERICAN IMPORTERS IMPACTED BY TARIFFS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONSUMERS WHO SAW AN UPTICK IN PRICES FOR COMMON?

GOOD.

THERE IS A FLURRY OF ECONOMIC MOVES THAT COULD IMPACT YOUR LIFE FROM LAYOFFS IN THE TECH SECTOR TO ROLLER COASTER OIL PRICES.

NOW YOU CAN ADD THE REIMBURSEMENT OF TARIFFS IMPOSED BY THE WHITE HOUSE TO THAT LIST.

I HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE FORMER U.S.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE TO FIND OUT WHO IS GOING TO GAIN FROM THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN THE FUTURE.

WE ARE JOINED NOW BY A LAW 100 CASTILLO.

SHE HAS SERVED AS THE LEADER OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> TO PLAN TO BE WITH YOU.

>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS STARTED THE PROCESS OF REFUNDING MORE THAN 160 BILLION DOLLARS IN TARIFFS THAT THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR.

CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW THIS DECISION CAME TO BE AND ALSO HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS FOR THOSE TRYING TO SEE OUR REFUNDS.

>> SO LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK.

AND, YOU MENTION DID BACK IN APRIL OF 2025.

WE HEARD THE PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION TALK ABOUT LIBERATION DAY.

HE CALLED IT THE RECIPROCAL TARIFFS AND BASICALLY HE INVOKED A LAW THAT DATES BACK TO 19 TO 27, WHICH IS CALLED THE INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY ECONOMIC POWERS ACT.

YOU KNOW, IN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE A MOUTHFUL.

NO, NO.

SO AS I THOUGHT SO WHEN I MENTIONED, I I'M WITH BOEING TO THIS PARTICULAR LAW AND WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID WAS THAT THEY RAISE TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD.

ENTRE THIS SKIES OF AN EMERGENCY.

BUT WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID IS THAT A RULE THAT SAYS THAT THE POWER TO TAX?

AND TARIFFS ARE ACTUALLY A TAX REALLY BELONGS WITH CONGRESS.

SO UP BASED ON THAT RULING THE PRESIDENT NOW HAVE TO WE FUND WITH INTEREST.

THE OVER 160 BILLION DOLLARS THAT WERE CAPTURED AND ARE THE TARIFFS WHICH I WILL SAY IT IMPACTED.

330 AMERICAN IMPORTERS ACROSS 50 20 MILLION SHIPMENTS.

SO THIS IS A WEEK BEING AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND AS YOU WELL POINTED OUT THIS PAST MONDAY, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL OPENED A REFUND PORTAL AND WHAT IS REQUIRED IS AMERICAN IMPORTERS NOW HAVE TO FILE FOR CLAIM THEY HAVE TO SHOW WHAT THAT WHAT THE AMOUNTS ARE AND THEY WILL WAIT.

ANOTHER THAT HONEST PROCESS.

>> NOW, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, BUSINESSES CAN GET THE CHANCE TO RECOUP SOME OF THE MONEY.

BUT THE CONSUMER MAY NOT EVER SEE A DIME.

HOW DOES THAT WORK AND WHY?

>> IT IS.

AND THAT IS THAT APART THAT AS SOMEBODY WHO MONITORS ITS WHO STUDIES IT IS IS IT'S ALMOST PAINFUL TO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ITS TRIAL.

THE PORTERS ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE STANDING.

ASHELY REQUESTS.

THESE WE FOUGHT.

NOW.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S LEFT FOR CONSUMERS AND THE QUESTION OF THE HOMES IS WHETHER THESE EMPLOYERS ON THESE BUSINESSES.

SO LONG, THOSE REFUNDS BACK TO.

WELL, THEY DO THAT WILL BEAT THAT ARE QUESTION MARKS.

IT STILL NOT BEEN ANSWERED.

>> SOME OTHER MORE IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC NEWS DEALS WITH LAYOFFS THAT WE SEE COMING FROM LARGE TECH COMPANIES LIKE META ALPHABET.

MICROSOFT, AND EVEN AMAZON.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT YOU ARE ANTICIPATING SEEING AT THIS TIME?

>> HERE'S WHAT I'LL SAY.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRISIS EASE ECONOMIC CRISIS TEAMS THAT WE ARE CONFRONTING THE FIRST ONE WE ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT WHERE THESE THESE TARIFFS WERE IT TO SCORE, BUT THEY THEY WERE PLACED ON COME ON.

IMPORTERS, DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

AND AND WE WERE ALL THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT STORIES WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE HIGHER PRICE.

SECOND ONE COMES WITH IMMIGRATION AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

TRUMP SAYS THE LABOR MARKET, I PARTLY IN A NORTHWEST, INDIANA AND I SEE HOW WHAT POACHER AND RANCHERS AND SO MANY INDUSTRIES THAT ARE RELIANT ON ON LEON, ON A BLUE COLLAR WORKERS ARE BEING IMPACTED.

>> AND TURNING AGAIN TO IMMIGRATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THE MASS DEPORTATIONS HAVE IMPACTED THE ECONOMY BOTH ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE KNOW THAT.

>> NOT ONLY HAS IT HAS THE IMMIGRATION ACTIONS IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE A A LEGAL CITY OF A LEGAL STATUS HERE.

BUT IT HAS ALSO IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE A LEGAL STATUS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SWEEPING AND IT'S BEEN DONE IN A IN A WAY.

AND THESE ARE MY WORDS THAT HAVE BUILT REALLY BEEN NOT HAVE SHOWN THE BEST OF AMERICANS AND IN WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY INHUMANE.

WE'RE SEEING THAT CHILLING EFFECT.

ALSO SEE, AGAIN, I HAVE TO GO BACK THESE OTHER 4 CRISES THAT I MENTIONED AT THE ONSET OR SO OR SITTING OUT THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IS BEING IMPACTED.

ALL OF WHICH IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IT'S IT IS A BIG INDUSTRY.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING HOW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO OUR UNIVERSITIES, WHICH THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS MANY HAS ALSO HAD A CHILLING EFFECT.

THIS IS AN IMMIGRATION APPROACH THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP US IN THE LONG RUN IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMY.

>> AND ALSO MANY OF US ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY ISSUES AND INFLATION.

DO YOU SEE INFLATION RISING THROUGH THE END OF 2026?

AND WHY?

>> WELL, OUR WHERE ARE SEEING INFLATION CONTINUE TO RISE EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A PROMISE TO ADDRESS INFLATION FROM DAY ONE AND IN LARGE PART BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING THE CERTAINTY OF WHATS HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY, WHETHER IT'S A TEST FOR U.S.

IMMIGRATION RAIDS, AI AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS THIS WAR IN A AND THE ROT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ITSELF THAT A GASOLINE PRICES MAY CONTINUE BE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE NOW IN 2020.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL HAVE TO SAY I I DO ANTICIPATE THAT INFLATION WILL CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IS NOT JUST IN TERMS OF THE COST OF OURS OF THE PRODUCTS THAT WE BUY, THE SUPERMARKET.

IT'S ALSO OUR HOUSING, THE COST OF INSURANCE PROPERTY TAX, A CONFLUENCE OF SO MANY DIFFERENT DYNAMICS THAT ARE IMPACTING FLORIDIANS AND ARE CONTINUING TO RAISE THE COST LIVING IN THE STATE.

>> GIVE ANY ADVICE FOR THE JUST AVERAGE WORKING PERSON OUT THERE.

THAT'S LISTENING.

YOU KNOW IT.

IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY CHALLENGING TIMES ECONOMICALLY.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH THEM ON?

I'M REALLY HAD TO MAKE THROUGH EACH DAY AND EACH WEEK.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I SHARE THE SAME ADVICE.

I GIVE MY FAMILY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

LOWER YOUR DEBT, BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU'RE PURCHASING PERHAPS YOU LARGE PURCHASES.

YOU MAY WANT TO HOLD OFF AND UNTIL WE CAN, WHETHER THROUGH AT LEAST WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE WITH THE MIDDLE EAST IN TERMS OF THAT, THE COSTS OF PRODUCTS THAT WE BUY AND THE SHIPMENTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH.

BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT CONCERNS ME IS MAKING SURE THAT AS AMERICANS WE CAN LOWER OUR DEBT AND MANAGE IT BECAUSE WE MAY SEE CONTINUE.

WE WILL SEE CONTINUE RISING COSTS AND AND EVEN POTENTIALLY EVEN RISING INTEREST RATES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT TODAY AND AND YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE HEALTH NOTION THAT YOU SHOULD DRINK 8, 8, OUNCE GLASSES OF WATER EVERY DAY.

BUT AS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WATER YOU DRINK, BUT WHEN YOU SHOULD BE REACHING FOR THAT FIRST GLASS OF H 2, 0, >> WHEN YOU FIRST WAKE UP, YOU GO RIGHT FOR A CUP OF COFFEE.

YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER A GLASS OF WATER INSTEAD.

>> PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF G I WATER LOSS IT OUT.

AND WHAT WE CALL A SENSE OF A LOSS IS SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIT LATE HOUR SLEEP WITH THOSE ABOUT 300 TO 400 CCS OF WATER.

I SLEEP AND THAT'S 3.

YOU'RE BREATHING.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR SKIN YOU SWEAT QUITE A BIT OVERNIGHT.

SO I TELL PATIENTS DRANK AT LEAST A COUPLE WATER WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

WE'RE ALL GUILTY OF NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER.

>> DR.

ADRIANNA JERICK IS A GASTROENTEROLOGIST AT CLEVELAND CLINIC.

SHE SAYS DRINKING WATER RIGHT AFTER YOU WAKE UP CAN ALSO HELP BOOST METABOLISM.

IMPROVE DIGESTION AND PREVENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS.

SO DOES THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER MATTER.

DR.

DEREK SAYS NOT REALLY.

WHAT MATTERS MORE IS THAT YOU'RE STAYING HYDRATED.

HOWEVER, IF YOU AREN'T A FAN OF PLAIN WATER, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD A SLICE OF LEMON OR ANOTHER FRUIT TO GIVE IT SOME FLAVOR.

OTHER OPTIONS INCLUDE CARBONATED OR SPARKLING WATER.

>> IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE WATER CAN BE SOME SORT OF LIQUID, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETHING HEAVILY CAFFEINATED KATHY HAS KIND OF ALLOW WHAT WE CALL A DIRECT EFFECT IN THE 2.

YOU'RE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE SAT THERE LIKE REACHING FOR MY 16 OUNCE OF POT OF COFFEE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOUR COPY OF THE TRIPLE DOUBLE.

YOU KNOW, SOME NOT YET IN A TO T, FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN SOME JUICE IS FINE.

OKAY.

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR.

>> DR DEREK SAYS WHILE DRINKING WATER IS IMPORTANT, THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAY A ROLE WITH DIGESTION.

SHE RECOMMENDS EATING SMALLER MEALS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE GETTING REGULAR EXERCISE.

WGCU NEWS IM TEDDY BYRNE.

>> YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE WIDE VARIETY OF HEALTH RELATED STORIES, INCLUDING MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS AND HELPFUL TIPS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, PROVIDING SUPPORT AND SHELTER TO THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

HOW LEE COUNTY IS MAKING STRIDES TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS.

FLORIDA HAS THE SECOND LARGEST VETERAN POPULATION IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS.

THERE ALSO IS A LARGE NUMBER OF VETERANS FACING HOMELESSNESS WITH SOME ESTIMATES OF AROUND 4500 VETS WHO ARE UNHOUSED BUT WHERE CAN VETERANS GO WHEN THEY NEED HELP?

WGCUS BRYANT MONTEILH SHARES LEE COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO HELP THOSE WHO SERVED.

>> FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE MOST VETERAN FRIENDLY STATE AND THE NATION.

BUT THE SUNSHINE STATE ALSO HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HOMELESS VETERAN POPULATIONS IN THE U.S.

COMPRISING 7% OF THE NATION'S TOTAL HOMELESS POPULATION.

AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A GROWING VETERAN POPULATION REMAIN.

THE MAIN CHALLENGES FOR VETERANS IN FLORIDA AND LEE COUNTY.

THERE ARE OVER 54,000 VETERANS AS OF 2024 LEE COUNTY'S HUMAN AND VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WORKS TO HELP VETERANS IN SEVERAL WAYS.

RODNEY VAN NESS IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR VETERAN SERVICES FOR LEE COUNTY.

>> THE BIGGEST THING I WOULD SAY THAT COMPELS SOMETIMES THE VAST OR THE WIDE VARIETY OF BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO VETERANS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AS WE CAN HELP THEM NAVIGATE THAT SYSTEM.

SO THAT WEATHER THERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE BENEFITS OF THAT BURNED ARE ENTITLED TO.

>> VARIOUS OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO FIND VETERANS WHO MAY BE HOMELESS.

ONE IS POINT IN TIME COUNT, WHICH HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR TO DETERMINE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS IN OUR AREA.

HALA TOLL IS A HOMELESS IMPACT MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

>> EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE DO SOMETHING CALLED A POINT IN TIME.

COUNT.

IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE JANUARY WHERE WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, ON THE STREETS IN THE WOODS AT KNOWN.

HOT SPOTS AND WE ARE SERVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT HAPPENS NATIONWIDE.

AND IT'S BASICALLY A CENSUS COUNT.

>> THE RESULTS FROM THE POINT IN TIME COUNT HELP THE COUNTY BEST ASSESS THE NEED WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE VETERANS WHO DESPERATELY NEED HELP WITH HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES.

VAN NESS EXPLAINS WHY SOME VETERANS MUST BE PUSHED AND ENCOURAGED TO RECEIVE THE HELP AVAILABLE WHITE.

A VIETNAM VETERAN IN MY OFFICE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> THAT HAS NEVER USED THE AM.

HIS FRIENDS.

HIS BROTHER KEPT CONVINCING THEM TO COME TO THE BE IR TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS BENEFITS AND THEY FINALLY MADE THAT EFFORT WITH THE HELP OF HIS WIFE TO MAKE THAT STEP TO COME IN TO SEE US.

AND HELPING FALL FOR HIS DISABILITY HELPING WE'LL GET ENROLLED IN THE VA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>> TOW SHARES HOW EVERY VETERAN IS DIFFERENT AND HOW VETERANS SERVICES WORKS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST.

>> I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGE THERE IS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED CARE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WE'RE INTERACTING WITH.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT.

MEETING SOMEONE WHERE THEY'RE AT AND IT'S HARD TO APPLY A SINGLE STANDARD OR APPROACH TO THE WHOLE SUBPOPULATION WHEN WE REALLY IT'S IT'S LIKE ABOUT LEARNING AND LISTENING AND FIGURING OUT EACH VETERAN OR INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS AND HELPING THEM GET THERE.

>> THE MISSION IS TO EDUCATE THE VETERANS ON WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM OF THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION.

WE SAT DOWN WITH THE BETTER AND WE EDUCATE THEM ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> WE'LL GO THROUGH SPARS, BE A HEALTH CARE IF THEY HAD INJURIES WHILE THEY WERE ON ACTIVE DUTY, WE'VE FALLEN DISABILITY CLAIM.

IF THERE ARE COMBAT VETERANS OR VIETNAM VETERANS.

>> THE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS OUTREACH LOCATIONS TO HELP VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

A KENNEDY CENTER IN CAPE CORAL ON THE 3RD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

THE BEACON OF HOPE ON PINE ISLAND ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH.

AND THESE LEA COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY ON THE SECOND FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH FOR WGCU NEWS IM BRYANT MONTEILH.

>> COMING UP ON THE NEXT PROGRAM ONCE AGAIN, FLORIDA TEACHERS RANK NEAR THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING PAID.

WE LEARNED HOW THIS IMPACTS THE CLASSROOM AND THE RECRUITMENT OF PROFESSIONALS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG OR YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.