Phil Ammann
Florida’s growing heroin opioid epidemic is the debut topic of “In Focus with Allison Walker-Torres” a new 30-minute public affairs program from Bay News 9.
In Focus will be a weekly roundtable beginning Sunday, May 14, at 11:30 a.m. on Florida’s Spectrum Networks Bay News 9 in Tampa and News 13 in Orlando.
On her first show, Walker-Torres will discuss the opioid epidemic which led Gov. Rick Scott to recently declare a statewide public health emergency. She will be joined by Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Assistant State Attorney Dan Faggard to discuss what is being done and will need to happen to make progress on the crisis.
Part of the program will also feature a mother’s firsthand account of the effects of drug addiction on families; she had lost both her son and grandson to the epidemic.
During the show, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will also air a special message.
In Focus will tackle one topical issue per week, and feature a weekly roundtable of newsmakers to provide a range of perspectives, including local officials and expert analysts. In Focus will re-air Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on Channels 9, 1009 and Channel 1209 in Tampa.
Walker-Torres is a three-time Emmy-award winning reporter/anchor, who has been with Bay News 9 since 2007. After serving as weekend anchor desk at Bay News 9, she has become a full-time reporter/field anchor for Bay News 9, and a contributor to News 13 in Orlando.
