>> THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND FOCUS COMING UP SODA CANDY.

EVEN SNACK CAKES MAY BE GONE.

AND THE SNAP FOR SOME FLORIDIANS.

NEW RESTRICTIONS ARE COMING FOR A GOVERNMENT FOOD PROGRAM AND WE'RE FINDING OUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THESE BENEFITS.

IT APPEARS ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS SHOWED UP TO ACTUALLY VOTE IN THE FLORIDA PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THIS SHORTFALL OF BALLOTS COULD INDICATE AS WE HEAD TOWARD THE NOVEMBER MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

AND WITH SOUTH FLORIDA SEEING A RISE IN THE SEA LEVELS DESIGNERS AND LANDSCAPERS ARE TAKING A NATURAL APPROACH THE BUILDING COASTAL BARRIERS.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON MIKE WALTER IN APRIL, RESTRICTIONS WENT INTO PLACE IMPACTING THE 2.2 MILLION FLORIDIANS WHO RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS SCHNAPP SHORT FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, BUY FOOD FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RECIPIENTS ARE NOW PROHIBITED FROM USING THE PROGRAM TO BUY ITEMS DEEMED NON HEALTHY SHOWED UP.

CANDY ENERGY DRINKS ARE INCLUDED.

THE GOAL, ACCORDING TO THE USDA, IS TO PROMOTE A HEALTHIER DIET WHILE REDUCING HEALTH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE FLORIDA POLICY INSTITUTE ARGUE THIS SNAP FOOD RESTRICTIONS DO NOT CREATE HEALTHY INCENTIVES, SAYING THE NEW GUIDELINES DO NOT MAKE NUTRITIOUS FOOD MORE AFFORDABLE.

SCHNAPP HELPS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES PURCHASE THEIR GROCERIES.

BUT THE CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES SAYS THE AVERAGE ASSISTANCE IS ONLY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE $6 PER DAY WGS YEARS.

JENNIFER CRAWFORD GOES IN DEPTH TO FIND OUT WHAT THESE NEW CHANGES MAY MEAN.

>> FOR MORE ON RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE FOR THOSE RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS, FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS IN FLORIDA.

I'M JOINED BY KIM JOHNSON, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF A FLORIDA IMPACT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING U.S.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS THE RECENT CHANGES TO SNAP BENEFITS IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE NUTRITIOUS DIET AND RESTRICT THE BENEFITS FROM BEING USED FOR JUNK FOOD FOR SODA ENERGY DRINKS CANDY AND ULTRA PROCESSED SHELF STABLE, PREPARE DESSERTS LIKE SNACK CAKES, MS JOHNSON, CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON YOUR REACTION TO THESE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE AND HOW THEY COULD IMPACT FAMILIES.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE DEFINITELY KNOW THIS IS A HOT TOPIC FOR US HERE IN FLORIDA AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE MENTIONED, ARE WE ARE A BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATION IN WE REALLY BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING OFF THE FAMILIES.

AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO TALK LESS ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS AND MORE ABOUT EMPOWERING WE DO BELIEVE THIS IS I BELIEVE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE SNAP BENEFITS TO PROVIDE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING.

YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THE STRONGEST APPROACH RIGHT NOW WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS.

AND WE KNOW EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS OF SODA CANDY, I'M AND THE OTHER PROCESSED FOODS BUT WE WANT TO TALK TO LESLIE ABOUT THE RESTRICTION AND WE WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT EMPOWERING OUR FAMILIES.

WE BELIEVE THAT YES, THE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE.

OUR FAMILIES KNOW THAT THEY EXIST.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DEPARTMENTS OR THE FAMILY YESTERDAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT WE WENT OVER ALL THE ABUSE, THE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE APRIL AS HUGHES, YOU SHARE.

BUT THE GOAL NOW IS REALLY WHAT ARE WE DO FOR OUR FAMILIES, FAMILIES WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THE STORES, ALL THEY WERE USED YOU KNOW, BY AND THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTION IN THE STATEMENT.

BUT NOW THEY KNOW THEY'VE ALL BEEN COMMUNICATE WITH MY DEPARTMENT, CHILDREN, FAMILIES.

AND WE WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE.

AND SO NOW IT'S THEIR CHOICE TO DO THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO CREATE, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO BE HEALTHY.

SO ARE OUR REAL FLORIDA IMPACT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO HELP ALL FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS, THE EDUCATION AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.

WE KNOW FAMILIES.

THEY HAVE THE AMAZING, YOU KNOW, JUST OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES.

WE HEALTHY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY WANT THEIR FAMILIES TO BE HEALTHY.

YOU KNOW, WE DID A PROGRAM A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT SPOKE TO JUST FAMILIES TALKED ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY SO THAT THEY COULD BUY HEALTHY FOODS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AND THAT'S REALLY WE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE WHERE THE CONVERSATION I'M SHOULD BE LESS ON THE RESTRICTIONS AND MORE EMPOWERING ALL FAMILIES.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

MY BIGGEST FEAR RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRUCK.

FAMILIES WILL CAN CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER.

YOU KNOW, CHILDREN SHOULD NET BUT NEVER HAVE TO.

GO TO BED HUNGRY ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THAT.

THAT'S OFF THE OFF THE AIR.

IS THAT CHILDREN THAT RUNS SENIORS, GET THOSE MOST VULNERABLE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE HUNGRY.

AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN OUR STATE.

WE HAVE TOO MANY RESOURCES.

>> DO YOU FEEL THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE INCREASING THE STIGMA SURROUNDING SNAP RECIPIENTS.

>> WELL, I WILL SAY THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

YOU KNOW, ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.

YES, WHAT KIM KIM JOHNSON WAS ON SNAP FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO IT HASN'T.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, SO I HAVE MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN I WENT TO A STORE, IF I WENT TO A STORE, SO I HAVE THE CHOICE TO BUY THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO BUY.

I BELIEVE.

BUT THIS IS THE THING I HAD TO MAKE THOSE HARD CHOICES BUYING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

FAMILIES AND DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

SO WE WANT TO INCREASE, YOU KNOW, THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR UP FOR OUR FAMILIES.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.

SO THAT'S REALLY TO THE CONVERSATION.

IT SHOULD BE ABOUT MAKING FOOD AFFORDABLE.

SO ALL FAMILIES CAN EATING HEALTHY REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE, WHETHER THEY'RE IN PARRAMORE, A WEATHER THERE IN WEST SIDE OF TAMPA.

WHAT WEAR THEM?

BUT THEY ARE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO EAT AND HAVE THAT FOOD ACCESSIBLE FOR THEM SO THAT THEY CAN ALL LEAD HEALTHY LIVES SO THAT THEY CAN SHOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN DESERVE TO THRIVE IN LIVE HEALTHY.

>> KYM JOHNSON, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON CHANGES TO SNAP BENEFITS AND FOR THE STORIES THAT ARE IMPACTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, IT'S A CELEBRATION, A BRONZE AND GOLD IN WASHINGTON.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS LOOKING TO LEAVE HIS MARK ON AMERICA.

2.50, BY INSTALLING ARTWORK FEATURING THE FOUNDERS OF THE NATION.

CANDIDATE FOR GO.

WE DO KNOW THE RUNNING MATE OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR BYRON DONALDS ON TUESDAY, DONALDS CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED THAT STATE SENATOR BRYAN AVILA WILL BE ON THE TICKET FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

AVILA REPRESENTS HIALEAH IN THE SENATE.

DONALDS WILL FACE OFF WITH THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR DAVID JOLLY COME NOVEMBER.

NOW DURING THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION.

A REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUND 67% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS.

TWO-THIRDS TOOK PART IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION AHEAD OF LAST WEEK'S PRIMARY ELECTION.

FLORIDA SECRETARY OF STATE CORY BYRD.

IT INDICATED VOTER TURNOUT MAY BE QUITE LOW, POSSIBLY NEAR 20%.

UNOFFICIAL TOTALS TABULATED BY COUNTY OFFICES SHOW A SLIGHTLY HIGHER TURNOUT.

SOMETHING CLOSER TO 25% WGS YEARS.

JENNIFER CRAWFORD HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.

>> WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS JOINS US NOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT VOTER PARTICIPATION TRENDS AMONG REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AS WEAK LOOK TOWARD THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

PRIMARIES BEHIND US.

WE HAD AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 25% VOTER TURNOUT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE THAT SEEMS RATHER LOW, BUT IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT.

>> IT'S JUST A LITTLE OVER.

25% AND IT'S REALLY NOT OUT OF LINE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT RECENT ELECTION CYCLES PAST IN 2024, IN THE PRIMARY VOTER PARTICIPATION RATE OVERALL WAS 22.4% IF YOU GO BACK TO THE ELECTION CYCLE BEFORE THAT IN 2022, IT WAS ACTUALLY 26%.

SO I KNOW 25% SEEMS KIND OF LOW, BUT IN TERMS OF VOTER BEHAVIOR IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, IN PARTICULAR, THIS IS PAR FOR THE COURSE NOW FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS.

VOTER PARTICIPATION, AS YOU WOULD IMAGINE, RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER AND 2024.

WAS 79% AND 2020, IT WAS 77%.

NOW IN 2022, IT ACTUALLY DIPPED DOWN TO 54%.

VOTER PARTICIPATION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THAT SEEMS REALLY LOW.

BUT THERE ARE SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR THAT.

NUMBER ONE, IT WAS A NON-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.

FEWER PEOPLE OVERALL COME OUT WHENEVER THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT ALSO YOU'LL REMEMBER GOVERNOR DESANTIS AND THEN U.S.

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO.

THEY WANT THEIR ELECTIONS HANDILY.

SO THE RACE IS AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT.

THAT YEAR REALLY WEREN'T COMPETITIVE RACES.

AND I THINK THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU DON'T SEE THAT HIGHER PARTICIPATION RATE THEM.

BUT AS I WAS GOING OVER THESE VOTER PARTICIPATION TRENDS BECAUSE THE STATE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE AS READILY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION, GOING BACK TO 1954.

AND THAT IS THE ONLY YEAR WHERE MORE VOTERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION THAN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AND THERE'S AN INTERESTING STORY BEHIND THAT AS WELL AT THE TIME THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR IN FLORIDA LIKE IN THAT PRIMARY RACE, THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED DEMOCRATS WHO CAST A BALLOT WAS 18 AND A HALF TIMES HIGHER.

THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED REPUBLICANS, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY VOTED FOR.

SO THERE WAS ACTUALLY A VERY COMPETITIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR.

NONE OF THE CANDIDATES ACTUALLY WON.

THE 50% NEEDED TO ACTUALLY WIN THE NOMINATION.

SO THAN THAT WENT OFF TO A SECOND PRIMARY, WE'RE EVEN MORE VOTERS PARTICIPATED BUT THEN GOING INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION, THE REASON NOBODY VOTED IS BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DIED 9 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEFORE WE HAVE THE KIND OF ROBOT ASKED EARLY VOTING AND IN PERSON OUR EARLY SORRY, VOTING BY MAIL AND IN-PERSON VOTING SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE NOW.

SO NOBODY WAS REALLY GETTING A CHANCE TO CAST A BALLOT UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

SO YOUR OPTIONS WERE EITHER CHOOSE THE CANDIDATE YOU WANT, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OR THE MAN WHO IS DECEASED AND THAT'S NOT REALLY WORTHWHILE.

INTERESTINGLY, THOUGH, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WHO DIED STILL DIDN'T GET 20% OF THE VOTE AND MEN ALIKE AS KNOWS WHAT'S INTERESTING STORY FOR SURE.

>> WHAT DOES ALL THE VOTER PARTICIPATION DATA TELL US ABOUT HOW PEOPLE PREFERRED TO VOTE, WHICH METHOD THEY CHOSE.

>> SO THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING POOR JUST WHEN YOU FOCUS IN ON IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF THE NEWEST OPTION.

THAT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING THE STATE REALLY INSTITUTED THE WAY WE TODAY UNTIL 2004.

AND INITIALLY THIS WAS KIND OF SEEN AS SORT OF A MARGINAL ALMOST EXPERIMENTAL WAY TO VOTE.

AND THEN SLOWLY IT BECAME A MAINSTREAM OPTION.

AND THEN SOMETIMES, INCLUDING IN THE 2024 ELECTION, IT WAS THE DOMINANT WAY OF VOTING.

NEARLY 49% OF ALL VOTERS IN THE 2024 ELECTION TATE IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING NOW FOR THE PRIMARY THAT WE JUST HAVE THINGS SHIFTED A BIT.

IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING WAS THE LEAST POPULAR METHOD OF CASTING A BALLOT FOR BOTH REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

REPUBLICANS BY AND LARGE VOTED ON ELECTION DAY AND DEMOCRATS, THEIR MOST POPULAR CHOICE WAS MAIL-IN VOTING.

I WISH I HAD SOME INSIGHT ON WHY THAT WAS THE CASE AND WHY THIS TREND CHANGED.

MAYBE THIS WAS JUST AN ANOMALY, BUT I'M SORRY.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THAT INDICATES GOING INTO SUCH A GIRL.

>> I KNOW I'M ONE THAT LIKES TO GO IN PERSON DAY OF AN ELECTION DAY VOTERS.

SO I LIKE VOTING BY-MAIL ONLINE MEETING WITH MY LAPTOP AT THE KITCHEN TABLE IN MY BALLOT RIGHT THERE.

AND I CAN JUST BE.

>> THOUGHTFUL AND SLOW.

NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LINES, BUT TO EACH THEIR OWN EXCEPT ALL THE MATH.

THAT'S WHY I LIKE GOING IN PERSON.

I SWEAR BY IT.

>> AND TELL US ABOUT THE U.S.

SUPREME COURT DECISION YESTERDAY REGARDING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER INVOLVING MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH RIGHT?

SO LET'S JUMP TRUMP ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER EARLIER THIS YEAR CALLING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO DEVELOP STAPLE IS.

>> OF ADULT U.S.

CITIZENS.

AND THEN FOR THE U.S.

POSTAL SERVICE TO OBTAIN LIST OF ELIGIBLE MALE VOTERS FROM STATES.

AND ADDITIONALLY, THE POSTAL SERVICE IS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

ONLY 2 PEOPLE ON THOSE LISTS.

TRUMP SAYS THIS IS ALL ABOUT STOPPING ILLEGAL VOTING AND KEEPING NON U.S.

CITIZENS FROM VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS, EVEN THOUGH RESEARCH OVERWHELMINGLY SHOWS THAT THAT IS AN EXTREMELY RARE THING TO HAPPEN.

AND EVEN THOUGH TRUMP HIMSELF HAS BEEN VOTING BY MAIL FLORIDA.

THE SCOTUS DECISION MONDAY PAUSES A LOWER COURT'S RULING THAT HAD BLOCKED SOME KEY PARTS ABOUT EXECUTIVE ORDER.

BUT THIS LEGAL BATTLE IS STILL FAR FROM OVER.

THERE'S A BROADER INJUNCTION CHALLENGING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT REMAINS IN PLACE.

THERE'S A SEPARATE BUT RELATED LAWSUIT WHERE U.S.

JUDGE IN BOSTON BLOCK THE POSTAL SERVICE FROM FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IN ALL STATES.

AND THERE'S 12 REPUBLICAN LED STATES THAT ARE CHALLENGING THAT.

SO I KNOW THAT SOUNDS VERY CONFUSING.

BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT WE HAVE GOT JUST 10 WEEKS UNTIL THIS ELECTION AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING WHAT'S AND TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER OR NOT.

THE TIME TO KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR STATE AGENCIES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, LOCAL ELECTION SUPERVISORS, OFFICES IS NOW WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THESE PROTRACTED LEGAL BATTLES TO WAY OUT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN ELECTION THAT'S SECURE AND THAT PEOPLE CAN TRUST.

>> AND MUCH MORE TO COME ON THIS.

THANKS, JOHN, FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

>> AND AS WE INCH CLOSER TO THE NOVEMBER MIDTERMS, MAKE SURE YOU'RE UP TO DATE ON ALL THE CANDIDATES AND ITEMS ON THE BALLOT.

YOU CAN DO SO BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG AS PART OF THE FESTIVITIES OF AMERICA.

2.50, THE NATION'S CAPITAL IS BEING INUNDATED WITH STATUES THERE SHOWING THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND OTHER IMPORTANT FIGURES IN OUR HISTORY.

NATHAN ELDRON OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOOKS AT HOW ONE INCLUDES THE RETURN OF SOME PROMINENT FIGURES TO THE WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN.

>> INSTEAD OF ADDING NEW ROSES, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN IS GROWING STATUES AFTER REPLACING THE PLUSH ALONG WITH THE WHITE STONE PATIO.

TRUMP INSTALLED SCULPTURES OF SOME OF AMERICA'S FOUNDERS IN THE GARDEN JUST OFF THE OVAL OFFICE.

THE LATEST ADDITION, A BRONZE DEPICTION OF A SEE THE THOMAS JEFFERSON SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS A GIFT FROM GEORGE LUNDY, A SCULPTURE FROM LOVELAND COLORADO.

IT JOINS STATUES ALREADY DISPLAYED PAIR OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, A 5TH SCULPTURE NAMED FREEDOMS CHARGE IS ALSO ON THE PATIO.

THE MAKEOVER IS PART OF TRUMP'S BROADER EFFORT TO LEAVE A LASTING MARK ON WASHINGTON, D.C., OTHER STATUES ARE SPROUTING UP AROUND TOWN.

A BUST OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS INSTALLED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE EISENHOWER EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING IN MARCH.

MORE RECENTLY, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INSTALLED A DOZEN SCULPTURES OF REVOLUTIONARY ERA SUBJECTS AND THEMES AT A PLAZA NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE AND 2 PAIRS OF EXISTING EQUESTRIAN STATUES NEAR THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL WHERE RE GILDED IN GOLD TRUMP'S MARQUEE STATUE PLAN INVOLVES BUILDING A NATIONAL GARDEN OF AMERICAN HEROES NEAR THE NATIONAL MALL.

IT WOULD FEATURE SCULPTURES OF 250 AMERICANS WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL, POLITICAL AND OTHER HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.S.

BUT SEVERAL PRESERVATION AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SUED TO BLOCK THE PROJECT, ARGUING THAT CONGRESS MUST FIRST AUTHORIZED.

>> A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NON-PARTISAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS OFFERING ITS OWN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

THEY'RE CALLING IT A RALLY FOR HOPE.

FLORIDIANS FOR DEMOCRACY WAS FOUNDED IN 2023.

BY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE GROUP IS NOW EXPANDING ITS OUTREACH EFFORTS TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY FEEL IMPACT ALL AMERICANS WC IS JENNIFER CRAWFORD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INAUGURAL EVENT.

IT'S HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY.

>> I'M NOW JOINED BY FLORIDIANS FOR DEMOCRACY, CO-FOUNDER JIM MASON AND SONIA MCCARTER.

THEY ARE HERE TODAY TO TELL US ABOUT A LANDMARK EVENT AND PREVIEW.

IT IS COMING UP IN FORT MYERS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

CAN YOU FIRST EXPLAIN THE MISSION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION, JEN?

>> IT WAS REALLY TO RALLY TOGETHER.

ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE A PASSION FOR VARIOUS SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN SERVICE SUPPORT.

FOR OUR STATE AND FOR OUR NATION.

WE FELT THAT WE WERE WATCHING SO MANY HARD EARNED.

SOCIAL ISSUES, WHETHER IT BE ENVIRONMENT OF EDUCATION, WOMEN'S RIGHTS THE RACIAL JUSTICE, A VOTING RIGHTS.

WE'RE BEING ERODED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND NATIONALLY AND IN DOING SO.

WE WENT AND APPROACHED A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR OWN PASSION.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY THAT VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU REALIZE THAT IF WE LOSE DEMOCRACY, THOSE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND FIGHTING FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE ALL LOST BECAUSE THEN YOU JUST THE CRADDOCK LEADERSHIP.

TELL YOU WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO THINK AND DO AND HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ACT AND WHEN WE STEPPED OUT, IT WAS REALLY NOT VERY WELL KNOWN TODAY, 3 AND A HALF 4 YEARS LATER, THERE'S A LOT MORE AWARENESS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOU DO NOT ENDORSE CANDIDATES AND YOU ARE NON-PARTISAN.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT WAS INTENTIONAL FROM DAY ONE.

>> WAS THAT THIS WAS ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

>> TO BE A MORE LOVING, CARING, MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND NOT DIVIDING MORE PEOPLE, BUT REALLY, TRULY UNITING PEOPLE.

>> COMING UP, AUGUST 29TH IS THE FIRST HOPE RALLY THAT YOU HAVE ORGANIZED.

CAN YOU TELL US THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS?

>> THEY'RE REALLY OF HOPE WAS DESIGNED TO COMMEMORATE THE 63RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL AS NICK BACKGROUNDS AND AND COLORS AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS MARCHED ARM IN ARM IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TO VOICE THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

AND THAT WASN'T THE ONLY THING.

BUT IT WAS A KEY MARKER THAT DROVE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS IN THE 1960'S AND ARE FEELING HAS BEEN THAT TOO MUCH OF THAT HARD WORK IS ERODING AND WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE 63RD ANNIVERSARY OF 1963 THAT WE STILL HAVE HOPE.

SO OUR OUR PURPOSE IS TO INSPIRE HOPE AND TO GET PEOPLE COMMITTED TO VOTE.

>> SONIA, CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS THAT THAT YOU'VE LINED UP?

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO HERE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING CALLED THE LIVING MUSEUM.

AND IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO LOOK AT THE PAST AND THOSE WHO COME BEFORE US AND SHARE THEIR STORIES IN A DRAMATIC WAY.

SO I WORK WITH ACTORS A LOT.

SO I HAVE SOME LOCAL ACTORS HERE, BUT OUR FAITHFUL, MY HUSBAND IS ONE OF THEM.

AND SO ON THAT EVENING, THEY WILL COME AND THEY WILL PRESENT HISTORIC EXCERPTS FROM THESE HISTORICAL OF THANK YEARS.

THE SPEAKERS WHO WERE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW.

THEY SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GAIN SOME INSPIRATION FROM THOSE WORDS THAT EVENING.

>> WHO ARE THE 4 HISTORICAL SPEAKERS THAT WILL BE REPRESENTED, OK?

SO WE HAVE RABBI PRINCE WHO WAS THERE AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN 63 AS WELL AS DAISY BATES.

AND THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE SPEECHES FROM JESSE JACKSON AND MARTIN LUTHER KING.

THE 3RD.

>> WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE RALLY OF HOPE THAT YOUR ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE GET PEOPLE TO VOTE?

DON'T GIVE UP.

>> TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

THAT REACH ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLES.

THEY REACH ACROSS THE RELIGIOUS THE NOMINATIONS THAT REACH ACROSS AS NIC IN AND OUT BACKGROUNDS THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY THE VILLAGE VIGILANT AND WE HAVE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL SO MARGINALIZED TODAY AND SOME FEARFUL OF HIM GOING OUT OF THEIR HOUSES ARE GOING TO VOTING BOOTHS AND WE NEED TO HELP INSPIRE THEM.

SO THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE PROCESS, BUT MORE OF THE KICKOFF TO THIS FINAL COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION.

AND OUR BELIEF IS THAT WE'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE WHO TO VOTE FOR WHAT TO VOTE FOR, HOW TO VOTE, BUT TO VOTE, TO BE EDUCATED AND TO FIND OTHERS AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE SEEING ASPIRING HOPE.

>> AND COMMITTING TO VOTE WILL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JIM NATHAN, SONIA MCCARTER READINGS FOR DEMOCRACY WARNER TO ME ARE GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE RALLY OF HOPE HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY.

AUGUST 29TH, YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE FLORIDIANS FOR AND AMERICAN ICON AND QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC PASSED AWAY ON TUESDAY.

DOLLY PARTON DIED AT HER HOME IN NASHVILLE.

DOLLY PARTON IS CREDITED WITH WRITING MORE THAN 3,000 SONGS DURING HER PROLIFIC CAREER.

SHE HAD 49 ALBUMS AND THEY BROUGHT HER 11 GRAMMY AWARD WINS AND SHE ROSE FROM HER BEGINNINGS ONE ROOM CABIN IN TENNESSEE TO BECOMING A STAR OF THE STAGE AND ALSO THE MOVIE SCREEN FOR A LONG TIME.

SHE SIGNED HER FIRST RECORD DEAL WAY BACK IN 1965.

SHE'S REMEMBERED NOT ONLY FOR HER VOICE BUT HER HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS AND THE DOLLYWOOD PARK IN TENNESSEE IN THE MOUNTAINS THERE AND THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION IT IS CREDITED FOR RAISING LITERACY RATES AMONG CHILDREN ACROSS THE NATION.

DOLLY PARTON WAS 80 YEARS OLD.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.