>>THIS WEEK ON NEWS NIGHT, PROPOSALS FOR MIYA'S LAW.

A NEW BILL WOULD REQUIRE EXPANSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL STAFF AT FLORIDA APARTMENT COMPLEXES FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MIYA MARCANO.

AND LAWMAKERS MEET TO DISCUSS DRAFT MAPS FOR FLORIDA'S STATE SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

AS THE REDISTRICTING EFFORT MOVES FORWARD, WHAT DO THE PROPOSED NEW BOUNDARIES LOOK LIKE AND HOW WILL THEY AFFECT CENTRAL FLORIDA?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

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

AND WE DO THIS EVERY WEEK BY BRINGING YOU A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK IN THE STUDIO, NADEEN YANES FROM WKMG CHANNEL SIX, AND MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE, ALEXA LORENZO.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

TWO PEOPLE IN THE STUDIO WITH ME THIS WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF.

IT'S SO EXCITING.

ALL RIGHT, FIRST TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO START BY TALKING WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA STATE SENATOR LINDA STEWART.

SHE SITS ON THE FLORIDA SENATE COMMITTEE THAT IS TASKED WITH DRAFTING THE NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT NEED TO BE AGREED TO BY THE LEGISLATURE IN TIME FOR THE MIDTERMS NEXT YEAR.

SO THEY'RE ON DEADLINE HERE.

SENATOR STEWART IS ALSO ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF A BILL DUBBED MIYA'S LAW, WHICH AIMS TO TIGHTEN UP BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR APARTMENT COMPLEX EMPLOYEES FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF VALENCIA COLLEGE STUDENT MIYA MARCANO.

MY COLLEAGUE STEVE MORT SPOKE WITH THE SENATOR THIS WEEK AND STARTED BY ASKING HER WHY SHE THINKS THAT LEGISLATION IS NECESSARY.

>>WE GOT THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, WE GOT MIYA'S FAMILY, MIYA'S ATTORNEY.

WE GOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAD ALL OF US TOGETHER WRITING THIS LEGISLATION, AND WE ALL AGREED ON EVERY ASPECT OF IT BECAUSE WHAT WE REALIZED THERE WAS NOT A SUFFICIENT BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ANYBODY THAT WERE HAVING ACCESS TO MASTER KEYS IN APARTMENTS.

SO COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE APARTMENT DWELLERS, AND IN THIS CASE COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>>NOW YOUR BILL WOULD TIGHTEN UP BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES, BUT MANY APARTMENT OWNERS ALREADY DO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

HOW IS THIS ANY BETTER?

>>WHAT IT DOES, IT INCREASES THE BACKGROUND CHECK SO THAT IT'S A NATIONAL REGISTRY.

IT'S NOT JUST FLORIDA.

SO THEY GO ALL 50 STATES.

THEY LOOK AT THE EMPLOYEES, THEIR BACKGROUND FOR SEXUAL PREDITING, FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOR ANY FELONY THAT THEY MAY HAVE IN THAT REGARD.

SO THEY'LL HAVE A MUCH DEEPER REVIEW.

AND WE INITIALLY STARTED WITH JUST WHO HAD ACCESS TO MASTER KEYS, AND WE THOUGHT IT'D JUST BE BETTER TO JUST HAVE EVERY EMPLOYEE OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX TO GET THIS NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECK.

SO EVERYBODY'S SIGNED OFF ON IT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE AND HAVE EVERY EMPLOYEE HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK TO A HIGHER LEVEL.

AND THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES HAS OF NOW AGREED TOO THAT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS PUT KEY ACCESS POLICIES TOGETHER AND THEY WILL MAINTAIN A LOG OF EVERYBODY THAT HAS A BACKGROUND CHECK AND EVERYONE THAT WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY KEYS.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET ME SWITCH TO THE FLORIDA SENATE COMMITTEES ON CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE SENATE REDISTRICTING, WHICH MET THIS WEEK.

YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THE SENATE REDISTRICTING EFFORT, SO LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE DRAFT MAPS RELEASED BY SENATE STAFF RECENTLY, WHICH SHOW VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE STATE, WITH DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY LIKELY TO NET A DISTRICT, BOTH IN CONGRESS AND THE FLORIDA SENATE.

ARE YOU HAPPY THAT THEY'RE NOT AS GERRYMANDERED AS HAVE BEEN PREDICTED?

>>I THINK THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB WITH THE CRITERIA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS LAID DOWN THAT THEY HAVE TO BE CONTIGUOUS, THEY HAVE TO COME WITHIN 1% OF ERROR, THEY HAVE TO TRY NOT TO SPLIT UP THE CITIES AND COUNTIES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THEY HAVE TO GO BY WATER BODIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I THINK THERE'S FOUR MAPS OUT THERE, THEY'RE ALL SOMEWHAT SIMILAR, AND I THINK THAT THEY CERTAINLY ARE RISING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DECLARATIONS OF WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN A MAP.

NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

THEY ALL THINK THAT, PARTICULARLY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THEY ALL THINK THAT THEY HAVE DONE WHAT THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT WOULDN'T BE DONE.

BUT IT, I THINK, IS NOW LOOKING AS THOUGH EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH THESE MAPS AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN DRAWN OUT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK PARTISAN AT ALL.

>>IS EVERYONE GOING TO BE HAPPY THOUGH?

IS THIS GOING TO STAND THE SCRUTINY OF REPUBLICANS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GATHERS IN JANUARY TO FINALIZE ALL THIS?

>>THE LINES ITSELF ARE VERY FAIR.

WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL MEETINGS TO GO BECAUSE WE MAY HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT SOMETHING WE DIDN'T REALIZE WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETING TODAY.

SO WE'RE OPEN TO HEARING IF SOMEONE HAS A REAL HEARTBURN ABOUT A LINE OR TWO, AND WE CAN ADJUST THAT, WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO ADJUST IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.

>>ALL RIGHT, SENATOR LINDA STEWART THERE.

SO WE'LL START THERE WITH MIYA'S LAW THAT SHE IS SPONSORING IN THE SENATE.

ALEXA, YOU RECENTLY INTERVIEWED MIYA'S PARENTS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING THE LEGISLATION.

SO LET'S TAKE A MOMENT AND LISTEN TO WHAT MIYA'S MOM SAID WHEN ALEXA ASKED HER WHAT JUSTICE WOULD BE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER.

>>WE CAN HOLD ARDEN VILLAS ACCOUNTABLE, ORANGE COUNTY ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WHO REALLY PAYS BESIDES US?

WHO'S PAYING FOR THAT?

THE ONE PERSON THAT WE COULD HAVE GOT JUSTICE FROM, TOOK THE EASY WAY OUT.

BUT JUSTICE FOR ME WILL BE- >>MIYA'S LAW.

>>MIYA'S LAW, FOR CHANGE IN THE WAY THEY HAVE THIS WHOLE SETUP WITH THE KEY FOB AND ALL OF THAT.

NO PARENT, NO FAMILY, NO ANY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO FEEL THE WAY WE FEEL, BECAUSE THIS FEELING IS JUST GOING TO BE OUR FEELINGS FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

AND IT WAS SENSELESS AND DID NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

DID NOT.

>>ALL RIGHT, ALEXA, WE'VE BEEN TALKING JUST HERE AMONG US ABOUT HOW INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN TO SIT ACROSS FROM THAT FAMILY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT INTERVIEW A LITTLE BIT MORE, MIYA'S PARENTS INPUT WAS TAKEN WHEN DRAWING UP THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION, SB 898.

SO WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM THIS LAW?

>>THEY FIRST OFF BELIEVE THIS LAW WILL BE HER LEGACY.

THEY SAY SHE WILL ENACT CHANGE NO MATTER WHAT.

SO THEY WANT A NATIONAL SCREENING OF CRIMINAL RECORDS.

THEY WANT IT TO GO BEYOND FLORIDA.

THEY WANT TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND SEE WHAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR, ACCUSED OF, WHEN HIRING SOMEONE TO WORK AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

THEY ALSO WANT TO EXPAND NOTICE FROM 12 HOURS TO 24 HOURS SO THAT IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO GO WORK IN AN APARTMENT, CHECK OUT THE AIR CONDITIONING, THEY HAVE ADVANCED NOTICE, THAT TENANT HAS THAT ADVANCED NOTICE.

AND THEY ALSO WANT TO IMPLEMENT A MASTER KEY FOB POLICY.

THEY WANT TO LIMIT WHO HAS ACCESS TO THAT UNIVERSAL KEY AND ALSO CREATE SOME SORT OF A TRACKING AND RECORDING SYSTEM TO KNOW WHEN THAT KEY WAS USED AND WHO USED IT AT WHAT TIME AND WHEN.

>>ALL RIGHT, IT'S A LOT.

>>YEAH.

>>IT'S A LOT TO COVER, BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON ANYBODY WHO RENTS IN THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES IF THIS IS PASSED.

AND NADEEN, WE HEARD FROM LINDA STEWART ABOUT THE BACKGROUND CHECK PART OF THIS BILL.

ARDEN VILLA SAYS IT DID BACKGROUND CHECKS ON ARMANDO CABALLERO.

HOW WOULD THE BACKGROUND CHECKS VISIONED IN THIS BILL BE DIFFERENT, THOUGH?

THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT OF IT.

>>YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO ARMANDO CABALLERO HAD A 2013 CHARGE FOR DISCHARGING A WEAPON.

AND THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY THING.

AND ARDEN VILLAS SAYS IT NEVER POPPED UP ON THEIR BACKGROUND CHECKS, WHICH INTERESTING IS LINDA STEWART HAD SAID, WELL, THE PROCESS THEY USED WAS SOMEWHAT ELEMENTARY.

SO THIS BILL DOES EXACTLY WHAT MIYA'S FAMILY WANTS.

IT DOES THAT NATIONAL REGISTRY, NATIONAL CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS CHECK, NOT ONLY THAT, SEXUAL REGISTRY, SEXUAL PREDATORS, ANYTHING THAT COULD INDICATE ANY KIND OF VIOLENCE.

AND IT WOULD COMPLETELY DISQUALIFY THAT EMPLOYEE FROM WORKING AT THAT APARTMENT COMPLEX.

>>YEAH.

AND THEN DIGGING A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THIS BILL.

IT DOES MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES BEYOND THE BACKGROUND CHECKS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

ALEXA, YOU LISTED OFF A FEW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MORE ABOUT WHAT APARTMENT COMPLEXES WOULD HAVE TO DO.

WHAT STOOD OUT FOR YOU WHEN LOOKING OVER IT?

>>I MEAN THE BIGGEST THING WAS ACCESS.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT'S ALMOST COMMON SENSE.

YOU SHOULDN'T JUST HAVE A 24 HOUR ACCESS INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

AND SO THIS BILL WILL ACTUALLY GIVE THAT, INSTEAD OF 12 HOUR NOTICE, 24 HOUR NOTICE THAT ALEXA HAD MENTIONED, BUT ALSO HAVE A LOG THAT YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT A KEY AND YOU HAVE TO BE AUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO USE THAT KEY TO ENTER SOMEONE'S UNIT, WHICH YOU HAD MENTIONED SEEMS LIKE COMMON SENSE.

>>IT'S ALMOST SHOCKING THAT THAT'S NOT ALREADY IN PLACE.

IT REALLY IS.

>>YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THIS BILL WOULD GO THAT STEP FURTHER.

YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE A LOG TO CHECK IT OUT, TO GO INTO SOMEONE'S APARTMENT.

CABALLERO HAD A KEY WITH HIM 24/7, ALL THE TIME.

>>WOW.

OKAY.

ALEXA, LET'S CIRCLE BACK NOW AND TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR INTERVIEW WITH THE FAMILY.

AGAIN, THAT JUST HAD TO BE SO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

YOU HAD A WIDE RANGING CONVERSATION WITH MIYA'S PARENTS, INCLUDING WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE SUSPECT, ARMANDO CABALLERO, IN THIS CASE.

AND FROM EARLY ON IN THIS INVESTIGATION, WE SAW THAT THIS GUY, THE FAMILY KNEW ABOUT HIM.

SO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY TOLD YOU.

>>SO THE PARENTS SAY THEY KNEW THERE WAS A GUY.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW A NAME.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY.

THEY KNEW THERE WAS A GUY THAT WAS BOTHERING HER.

AND MIYA'S MOM SAID SOMETHING THAT STUCK WITH ME BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ARE.

SHE SAID, "HER DAUGHTER IS A LOVING PERSON AND THINKS THE BEST OF EVERYONE.

SO SHE NEVER FELT THREATENED, SHE NEVER FELT HARASSED BY THIS PERSON."

HER OTHER COUSINS, HER AUNTS, OTHER SIDE OF THE FAMILY, KNEW A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE PARENTS DID.

THEY KNEW OF HIM AND THEY APPROACHED HIM AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, BUT THE FAMILY SAYS MIYA WAS BEING HARASSED BY THIS MAN, BUT SHE NEVER FELT INTIMIDATED OR THREATENED AND NEVER THOUGHT VIOLENCE WAS EVER IN THE CARDS.

>>WHO WOULD IMAGINE?

>>YEAH.

>>I MEAN, I THINK AS WOMEN AND SHE'S YOUNG AND LIVING ALONE, GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS, I MEAN, YOU NEVER JUST IMAGINE THAT IT'S GOING TO ESCALATE TO THE LEVEL, THE HORRIFIC LEVEL, THAT IT DID.

>>AND IT WAS A COWORKER.

>>RIGHT.

>>SOMEONE SHE WORKED WITH.

>>A COWORKER, RIGHT.

YEAH, EXACTLY.

NOT SOMEONE SHE KNEW SOCIALLY OR ANYTHING.

JUST SOMEONE SHE PROBABLY SAW ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS.

AND YEAH.

I DON'T WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS STORY OR THIS WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT MIYA'S FOUNDATION BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO HER FAMILY.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO.

>>SO THEY HAVE RAISED MONEY.

THEY HAVE HELD FUNDRAISING EVENTS.

SO THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IF SOMEONE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE ATROCITY THAT THEY WENT THROUGH, THEY'LL HAVE THE FINANCIAL BACKING FROM THE MIYA MARCANO FOUNDATION TO HELP THEM THROUGH >>AMAZING THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT.

I THINK WHEN THESE TRAGEDIES HAPPEN, FAMILIES HAVE A CHOICE, AND I THINK EVERYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THEY JUST LAID LOW AND DEALT WITH THEIR GRIEF.

AND THE ACTION THAT THEY'RE TAKING IS GOING TO HAVE A GREAT IMPACT.

YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE TEXT OF MIYA'S LAW, SENATE BILL 898 ON TENANT SAFETY ON OUR WEBSITE.

JUST GO TO WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THE FLORIDA SENATE'S REDISTRICTING COMMITTEES MET THIS WEEK TO THRASH OUT PLANS TO REDRAW THE STATE'S ELECTORAL MAPS IN TIME FOR THE 2022 MIDTERMS.

CAN'T WAIT.

RECENTLY, SENATE STAFFERS RELEASED SEVERAL MAPS THAT BROADLY LEAVE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN FLORIDA UNCHANGED, TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY POLITICAL PUNDITS.

>>THE LEGISLATURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAWING UP MAPS FOR FLORIDA HOUSE AND SENATE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

LAWMAKERS ARE SET TO TACKLE REDISTRICTING IN THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINNING IN JANUARY.

THE SENATE RECENTLY RELEASED EIGHT DRAFT MAPS, FOUR SHOWING REDRAWN FLORIDA SENATE DISTRICTS, FOUR SHOWING REDRAWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

ON ALL MAPS THE STATE GAINS A 28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THANKS TO THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 CENSUS.

THAT DISTRICT SITS MAINLY TO THE WEST OF OSCEOLA COUNTY AND INCLUDES PARTS OF THE CURRENT DISTRICT NINE HELD BY DEMOCRAT DARREN SOTO.

ALMOST UNCHANGED IS DISTRICT SEVEN, HELD BY DEMOCRAT STEPHANIE MURPHY WHO FACES A CHALLENGE FROM REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY SABATINI.

THE PRINCETON GERRYMANDERING PROJECT FINDS THE DRAFT CONGRESSIONAL MAPS FOR FLORIDA WOULD LIKELY NET THE DEMOCRATS ONE SEAT.

PRINCETON ALSO FINDS THE PROPOSED FLORIDA SENATE MAPS WOULD LIKELY GIVE THE DEMOCRATS ONE EXTRA SEAT IN THE CHAMBER AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S DIG INTO THIS DEEPER HERE.

NADEEN, DOES THE FACT THAT FLORIDA'S NEW 28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS IN OUR REGION SPEAK TO THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN RECENT YEARS?

OF COURSE IT DOES.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, WE HAD 27 DISTRICTS, WE ADDED A NEW ONE.

WE GET A NEW REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE 2.7 MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED TO FLORIDA OVER THE LAST DECADE.

AND YOU HAD MENTIONED IT RIGHT THERE IN YOUR PIECE.

OSCEOLA COUNTY IS SEEING THE FASTEST GROWTH IN THE NATION.

THAT DISTRICT THAT OSCEOLA COUNTY IS IN, IT'S OVERPOPULATED BY 24%.

SO WE KNEW WE WERE GETTING A NEW DISTRICT.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT'S COMING HERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVING HERE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THAT FROM OSCEOLA COUNTY INTO POLK COUNTY, THAT AREA BETWEEN TAMPA AND ORLANDO HAS REALLY BEEN BLOSSOMING.

SO WE KNEW IT WAS COMING HERE AND IT'S RIGHT THERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

>>ALWAYS MAKES ME THINK OF WHEN I WAS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN PUERTO RICO, RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE MARIA, AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHERE I WAS, AND THIS WOMAN SAW ME WITH A CHANNEL NINE MICROPHONE AND SHE YELLS FROM ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, "I'LL SEE YOU IN KISSIMMEE, I'M MOVING NEXT WEEK."

AND I WAS LIKE, "OKAY."

>>I'LL SEE YOU THERE.

>>I'LL SEE YOU THERE.

>>YEAH.

YEAH.

>>THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

ALL RIGHT, ALEXA, THESE MAPS FROM THE SENATE SEEMED TO GIVE DEMOCRATS A BOOST WHILE CONTINUING TO FAVOR REPUBLICANS OVERALL.

SO WAS THIS A SURPRISE?

>>NOT REALLY.

THE MAPS DO APPEAR TO SHORE UP REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS WITHOUT GIVING A SIGNIFICANT WEIGHTY CHANGE TO DEMOCRATS.

SURE, THEY HAVE A BOOST, BUT IT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIAL ONE.

AND THIS REALLY RETAINS THAT REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE.

SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

EVERYONE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE FATE OF THIS REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL.

>>NADEEN, DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE IS LOOKING TO TRY TO AVOID THE LEGAL CHALLENGES AND SUPREME COURT INVENTION WE SAW DURING THE PREVIOUS ROUND OF REDISTRICTING THAT WAS MESSY.

>>YEAH.

I DOUBT THEY WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.

>>RIGHT, NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.

>>BUT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF IT DOES.

I MEAN, THESE MAPS SEEM TO BE FAIR, SO FAR.

WE HEARD FROM DEMOCRAT SENATOR LINDA STEWART.

SO SHE FEELS LIKE THESE ARE FAIR AT THIS POINT, BUT WE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

>>YEAH.

>>THE FACT THAT STEPHANIE MURPHY'S SEAT WASN'T DRAMATICALLY CHANGED, THEY COULD HAVE EASILY BROUGHT IN REPUBLICANS FROM LAKE COUNTY AND VOLUSIA COUNTY AND FLIPPED THAT SEAT.

SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE, NO, THEY DON'T WANT TO FACE A LAWSUIT.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN 2012, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SUED THE STATE FOR GERRYMANDERING AND WON.

AND SO THE STATE USED MAPS DRAWN UP BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN 2015.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS MAP DRAWING PROCESS IS DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY CHECK THEIR WORK IS BY FILING A LAWSUIT.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS COULD BE IN THE COURTS.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW IT ALL PLAYS OUT.

>>YEAH.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

ALEXA, FROM THE ANALYSIS YOU'VE SEEN DO THESE MAPS DO MUCH TO REFLECT GROWTH IN THE STATE'S MINORITY POPULATION?

SO THAT'S A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, OF COURSE.

>>SO GOING TO WHAT NADEEN SAID ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY ADDRESSED THE SENATE COMMITTEE IN ONE OF ITS MOST RECENT MEETINGS AND ASKED, "WHY AREN'T YOU ALL EVALUATING THESE DRAFT MAPS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE PROPOSED MAPS REALLY MAXIMIZE," AND THAT'S THE KEY WORD, "MAXIMIZE THE ABILITY FOR MINORITIES TO ELECT THE PEOPLE THEY WANT."

AND THESE MAPS RIGHT NOW, THE PROPOSED MAPS, THEY PRESERVE THE NUMBER OF BLACK AND HISPANIC MAJORITY VOTING DISTRICTS.

BUT HER QUESTION IS ARE THEY REALLY MAXIMIZING THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST DECADE?

SO THIS IS ALL BEING DISCUSSED.

AND AS YOU SAID, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS COMING TO THE TABLE ONCE AGAIN THIS TIME AROUND.

>>DOES IT REFLECT THE GROWTH?

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

AND NADEEN, LAWMAKERS HAVE TO APPROVE THE FINAL MAPS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, STARTING IN JANUARY.

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THINGS COULD CHANGE?

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE END?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>OF COURSE.

>>I MEAN, WE'VE ONLY SEEN REALLY FOUR SENATE MAPS WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY HOUSE MAPS YET.

AND WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

AS I MENTIONED, THE FAIR DISTRICTS ACT, YOU HAVE TO CHECK THEIR WORK, BUT THE PROCESS IS KIND OF DONE BEHIND CLOSED DOOR.

YES, THEY DO STREAM MEETINGS SO WE CAN SEE KIND OF HOW IT GOES BUT WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY DRAWING THE MAPS, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT CRITERIA THEY'RE REALLY FOLLOWING OR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO CHECK THAT WORK IS THROUGH LAWSUITS, AS I MENTIONED.

AND THIS CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP TO ELECTION DAY NEXT YEAR.

IT COULD GO BEYOND THAT.

AS MENTIONED THE LAST TIME THIS WAS IN COURT, IT WAS SUED IN 2012 AND IT WASN'T ENDED UNTIL 2015.

>>YEAH.

AND WE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT JUST TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, WE TALKED ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS SEVEN AND NINE, WHICH ARE BOTH HELD BY DEMOCRATS.

SO DO THESE MAPS SEEM TO KEEP THOSE INCUMBENTS SAFE?

>>YEAH, THEY DEFINITELY DO.

WE TALK ABOUT DISTRICT NINE, THE WAY IT GREW.

IT GREW FASTER THAN ANY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE NATION.

SO IN THAT CHAIR IS DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DARREN SOTO, AND WHAT THEY DID WITH THE REDISTRICTING HERE IS THAT THEY DIVIDED ORLANDO INTO THREE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, BUT STRETCHED NINE ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF OSCEOLA COUNTY.

SO THAT'S A WIN FOR HIM.

AS FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, HELD BY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE MURPHY, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT.

>>WE MENTIONED THAT.

>>THEY COULD HAVE DONE A LOT TO GIVE THAT TO REPUBLICANS.

AND PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THAT WITH HAWK EYES BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY VASTLY CHANGE.

AND SHE'S STILL HOLDING THAT FIRM.

>>OH, FLORIDA.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT, RIGHT?

IT'S SO EXCITING.

YOU CAN JOIN THIS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE ARE @WUFCTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW US.

>>WELL, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE MET THIS WEEK IN A SPECIAL SESSION PASSING A SERIES OF LAWS.

THE MEASURES SET THE GROUNDWORK FOR FLORIDA TO WITHDRAW FROM OSHA OVERSIGHT, STRIPPED THE STATE'S SURGEON GENERAL OF THE POWER TO MANDATE VACCINES IN EMERGENCIES, AND TARGET PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT MANDATE WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

>>I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD NOT VACCINATE PEOPLE, BECAUSE I'M A STRONG PROPONENT OF VACCINES.

NOT SO MUCH IN YOUNGER CHILDREN AS YET, BUT I'M A STRONG PROPONENT OF HAVING AN INDIVIDUAL BE VACCINATED, FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT.

BUT I'M ALSO A STRONG PROPONENT THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS ALWAYS BALANCED INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS WITH THE WELFARE OF THE SOCIETY.

AND IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE AS AMERICA, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THOSE THINGS, AND HAVE THAT BALANCE FIT.

>>I'VE HEARD A LOT DURING THIS MEETING TODAY ABOUT FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND CHOICE, AND THAT THAT IS WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT IS WHAT IS WHAT I'M TOLD, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.

YOU CAN'T YELL FIRE IN A CROWDED THEATER BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD BE TRAMPLED.

PEOPLE COULD BE KILLED.

SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT THIS IS ABOUT FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND CHOICE, WE DON'T HAVE AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO THAT.

>>THE SPECIAL SESSION COMES AS COVID CASES RISE AGAIN IN THE US AS A WHOLE, BUT EASE OFF AT LEAST FOR NOW IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

THAT'S ME KNOCKING ON WOOD.

THIS WEEK ORANGE COUNTY RELAXED ITS MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE CDC DOWNGRADED ITS TRANSMISSION RISK IN THE AREA FROM SUBSTANTIAL TO MODERATE.

MEANWHILE, PARENTS ARE CONTINUING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN AGES FIVE TO 11 VACCINATED, AS CENTRAL FLORIDIANS PREPARE FOR WHAT THEY HOPE IS A MORE NORMAL HOLIDAY PERIOD.

>>WE NEED TO BE UNRELENTING IN THAT REGARD.

WE CANNOT FORGET THE LESSONS OF A FEW MONTHS AGO, TOM, WHEN THE POSITIVITY RATES WENT VERY LOW AS THEY ARE NOW, AND WE BECAME COMPLACENT AND WE LET DOWN OUR GUARDS.

THERE'S 28 MILLION CHILDREN IN THIS AGE GROUP OF FIVE TO 11 AND NONE OF THEM, NONE OF THEM, TOM, SHOULD DIE FROM A VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASE.

WE CAN BEAT COVID.

THESE KIDDIES NEED TO BE VACCINATED.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S DIG IN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO TO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.

THIS WEEK OSHA SUSPENDED IMPLEMENTING ITS MANDATE PENDING LITIGATION.

PRESUMABLY THIS MEANS FLORIDA'S RULES WILL BE THE PRIMARY GUIDE FOR BUSINESSES IN THE ABSENCE OF FEDERAL RULES.

SO THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE.

>>YEAH, RIGHT NOW, OSHA IS ABIDING BY A COURT ORDER.

AND THE COURT SAID, "YOU CAN'T ISSUE ANY FINES.

YOU CAN'T ISSUE ANY SORT OF PUNISHMENT FOR A COMPANY THAT REQUIRES THE VACCINE OR DOES NOT REQUIRE THE VACCINE, RATHER."

SO AT THIS POINT, OSHA CANNOT TAKE ANY FURTHER STEPS UNTIL A FURTHER COURT ORDER COMES OUT.

BUT OSHA CONTINUES SAY, "HEY, WE REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE IN OUR WELL AUTHORITY TO DO THIS."

BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WITH THAT KIND OF HANGING IN THE BALANCE, YOU WILL BE FOLLOWING THOSE STATE LAWS THAT WE JUST HAD THAT SPECIAL SESSION FOR.

>>IT HAS TO BE SO CONFUSING FOR BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW.

>>OH, YEAH.

AND EMPLOYEES.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.

NADEEN, WAS THIS THE PARTISAN BATTLE WE EXPECTED THIS WEEK IN TALLAHASSEE?

HOW DID THIS ALL PLAY OUT?

AND WERE DEMOCRATS ABLE TO SUBSTANTIALLY MODIFY ANY OF THE SPECIAL SESSION BILLS HERE?

>>NO.

THE ANSWER IS NO.

I ACTUALLY GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH A COUPLE OF ORLANDO DEMOCRATS, REPRESENTATIVE ON ANNA ESKAMANI AND REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS SMITH.

BOTH OF THEM SAID, NO, THEY GOT NOTHING OUT OF THIS.

THIS WAS AS PARTISAN AS IT GOT.

YOU HAD REPUBLICANS CALLING PRESIDENT BIDEN TYRANT.

YOU HAD DEMOCRATS SAYING, "WHY ARE WE EVEN HERE?

THIS IS A POLITICAL PLOY FOR GOVERNOR DESANTIS, " AS THERE'S RUMORS HE WANTS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

SO THIS WAS AS PARTISAN AS IT GOT THIS WEEK.

AND DEMOCRATS HAD ONE CHANCE OUT OF THE FOUR BILLS, THE LAST ONE.

THEY HAD TO GET THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO PASS THE BILL AND THIS WAS LEAVING CORPORATIONS TO BE EXEMPT.

SO IF THEY'RE BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE STATE, THEN THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC RECORDS.

SO WE WOULDN'T KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF DISNEY WOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

AND THE DEMOCRATS WANTED TO HOLD THIS LINE AND SAY, "NO, IT SHOULD BE PUBLIC RECORD."

BUT SOME DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY FLIPPED ON THE SIDE OF REPUBLICANS.

SO REALLY DEMOCRATS DIDN'T WIN AT ALL ON ANY OF THE FOUR BILLS.

>>ALEXA, THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID FRONTLINE WORKERS JOBS SHOULD BE PROTECTED.

WE'VE HEARD HIM SAY THAT SO MANY TIMES.

YOU'VE DONE SOME REPORTING ON HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS ARE HANDLING VACCINATION FOR THEIR STAFF.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE REPORTS.

>>THE MAJORITY, THE VAST MAJORITY, 99.9% OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN FLORIDA ARE ENCOURAGING GETTING THE VACCINE FOR THEIR POLICE OFFICERS, THEIR DEPUTIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRING IT.

WE SAW SHERIFF JOHN MINA OF ORANGE COUNTY POST A VERY POWERFUL, PASSIONATE VIDEO, URGING HIS DEPUTIES TO GET VACCINATED, TALKING ABOUT DEATHS THEY'VE HAD IN THE DEPARTMENT FROM COVID-19.

THE CITY OF ORLANDO IS DOING SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

"HEY, GET VACCINATED, YOU GET AN EXTRA DAY OF PTO.

HEY, GET VACCINATED, HERE'S A $100 GIFT CARD."

BUT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRING IT.

THE ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT I'VE SEEN REQUIRE IT IS THE PLANTATION POLICE DEPARTMENT DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

AND THEY'RE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR VIOLATING THE VACCINE PASSPORT LAW.

>>WOW.

NADEEN, CHANNEL SIX HAS SOME REPORTING OUT THIS WEEK ON VACCINE MANDATES, FINDING ADVENT HEALTH HAS ACTUALLY SET A DEADLINE NOW FOR EMPLOYEES TO GET VACCINATED OR RISK SUSPENSION.

SO TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT REPORTING AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DIG UP ABOUT THAT.

>>YEAH.

WE ACTUALLY OBTAINED A LETTER FROM AN EMPLOYEE AT ADVENT HEALTH, AND AS ALEXA MENTIONED ALL OF THIS IS KIND OF UP IN THE AIR.

SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE BUSINESSES ARE GOING.

NOW, ADVENT HEALTH HAS SAID, "LOOK, WE NEED TO FOLLOW THIS FEDERAL MANDATE BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE RECIPIENTS OF MEDICAID AND MEDICARE.

SO WE ARE REQUIRING ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE VACCINATED BY DECEMBER 6TH."

SO THAT'S LESS THAN THREE WEEKS FOR THE FIRST SHOT, AND THEN BY THAT JANUARY 4TH FEDERAL DEADLINE FOR THEIR SECOND SHOT.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 74% OF ADVENT HEALTH EMPLOYEES ARE VACCINATED.

THOSE THAT AREN'T COULD FACE SUSPENSION, BUT IT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE KIND OF WHAT PLAYS OUT WITH OSHA AND THE STATE PASSING THESE BILLS AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNING THESE NEW BILLS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND, ALEXA, SEVERAL STATES ARE SUING OVER VACCINE MANDATES, AS WE KNOW, FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

WHAT ARE THOSE STATES ARGUING?

AND COULD THAT CHANGE THE GAME FOR PROVIDERS THAT ARE REQUIRING IT?

>>YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE SAYING IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT VIOLATES FEDERAL LAW.

LIKE NADEEN SAID, IT COMES DOWN FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE.

SO THEY AS AN AGENCY HAVE AUTHORITY, BUT THEY ARE ARGUING THAT IT BREACHES THAT AUTHORITY AND IT GOES TOO FAR.

SO AS NADEEN SAID WITH ADVENT HEALTH, THEY SAID, "WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE ARE MONITORING ALL THESE LEGAL CHALLENGES BECAUSE THIS MANDATE COULD GO AWAY LIKE THAT."

>>YEAH, AND WE'LL BE COVERING EVERYTHING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO NADEEN YANES FROM WKMG CHANNEL SIX AND ALEXA LORENZO FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

THANKS YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

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

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND.