Qualifying

Published: June 9, 2020, 4:15 a.m.

Qualifying week is underway for state and local offices. One surprise on opening day was the announcement from state Sen. Tom Lee that he won’t be running for anything and is leaving with two years left on his term. On Sunrise, he’ll tell you why.
Also, on today's Sunrise:

— The Governor is dismissing calls for a federal investigation into the repeated failures of Florida’s unemployment compensation program. Gov. Ron DeSantis has already ordered his inspector general to investigate it but says the call for a federal investigation is “partisan politics.”

— The death toll from COVID-19 continues to climb and Florida’s health department reported almost 1,000 new cases Monday … which was an improvement. It’s the first time in almost a week the daily number didn’t exceed 1,000.

— As the state reopens for business, South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is asking the Governor what happened to all that federal money to trace the contacts of COVID-19 victims.

— Protests against police violence continue in the Sunshine State, but this didn’t help. The head of the Fraternal Order of Police in Brevard County is inviting police officers involved in violent confrontations with demonstrators in New York and Georgia to work in Florida … saying “we’ve got your back.”

— Checking in with two Florida Men: One has a problem with children; the other is a problem child.