Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
The pandemic and social unrest are taking a toll on police departments and sheriff’s offices nationwide.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, 157 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty this year. That’s 10 more than were lost in all of 2019.
It’s a year-over-year increase for the state, too. The total includes nine Florida officers, two of whom were murdered and six of whom died from COVID-19.
Attorney General Ashley Moody cited the grim statistic Monday and urged Floridians to support the law enforcement officers serving on the front lines.
“As Florida’s Attorney General and the wife of a law enforcement officer, the increase in line-of-duty deaths is both heartbreaking and infuriating. We have seen law enforcement officers on the front lines of this pandemic contract COVID-19 and die,” she said.
“We have also seen deliberate, brutal attacks on officers across the country and even right here in Florida. I am urging Floridians to do whatever they can to make the jobs of our law enforcement officers a little safer — even if they have pulled you over for speeding, thank them for what they do, because without them chaos, disorder and harm to the innocent would result.”
Moody said her office is working to curb officer deaths and to support the family members of officers who died from COVID-19.
Moody also highlighted her service on the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. Currently, the Commission is working to identify strategies and innovative solutions to help reduce crime, support officers, improve policing and protect Americans.
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 531,217 FL residents (+4,181 since Sunday)
— 5,744 Non-FL residents (-26 since Sunday)
Origin:
— 4,018 Travel related
— 156,789 Contact with a confirmed case
— 4,120 Both
— 366,290 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 30,785 in FL
Deaths:
— 8,408 in FL
Evening Reads
“How this conservative Florida County became a surprise 2020 battleground” via Asma Khalid of WLRN
“Ray Rodrigues drops half million and counting, outspending Heather Fitzenhagen nearly sixfold” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
“Robotext uses Herald story about blood donation to target Shevrin Jones’ sexuality” via Samantha Gross of the Miami Herald
“Anna Eskamani seeks to oust fellow House Democrats that lack ’basic Democratic values’” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel
“A fierce summer for two Republican front-runners for District 78 who are a lot alike” via Janine Zeitlin of the Ft. Myers News-Press
“Poll: Bob Dallari, Lee Constantine with commanding leads headed to Election Day” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics
“Heads of White candidate for State Attorney and his Black wife chopped off campaign sign outside Broward early voting site” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Pinellas School Board race clouded by questions of qualifications and Black representation” via Margo Snipe of the Tampa Bay Times
“Florida adds 4,155 coronavirus infections, 93 deaths” via Anastasia Dawson of the Tampa Bay Times
“South Florida hospital space begins freeing up as COVID-19 death toll, positivity rates trend downward” via Ryan Nicol of Florida Politics
“Rural Baker County sees explosion of new COVID-19 cases” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics
“Ron DeSantis wants college football back ‘without question’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Amid COVID-19, student-athletes are revolting against the football plantation culture” via Diane Roberts of the Florida Phoenix
“Saharan dust was Florida’s summer hurricane protector. Now it’s going away” via Josh Fiallo of Tampa Bay Times
“Appeals court sides with transgender student in bathroom battle” via Jim Saunders of the News Service of Florida
Quote of the Day
“The effects of this (are) going to loom, I think, over every budget and policy debate, you know, in the next Session.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis, on the coronavirus pandemic’s lasting effect on the state.
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