Blaise Gainey
Lead Government Reporter/ProducerBlaise Gainey is a Multimedia Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.
Follow Blaise Gainey on Twitter: @BlaiseGainey
Email Blaise Gainey at blgainey@fsu.edu
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Florida legalized medical marijuana in 2016. Since then, state lawmakers have tried to make changes. This year is no different. Proposals for full legalization and one providing employee protections for medical marijuana users are on the table. -
Colleges and Universities across the state are receiving $186 million as part of the stimulus package passed by Congress last month.
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While medical marijuana is legal in Florida, it can still cause a public employee to lose their job. South Florida Democrats Senator Tina Polsky and Representative Nicholas Duran, are trying to change that.
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Democrats in several states have used the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor to highlight the need for police reform. In Florida, lawmakers are working on legislation to do just that. One proposal would create a public database that tracks complaints against officers the other would end qualified immunity.
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Florida lawmakers have divided the question of COVID-19 liability protections into several different proposals, and the first bills protecting against fraud and the other for businesses, recently rolled out. A third dealing with healthcare is expected soon. At issue is an effort to give business, and providers some comfort with operating in a pandemic, while balancing consumer rights.
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The Florida Legislature wants to stop scammers from taking advantage of people seeking vaccine doses. Fraudsters created fake internet pages designed to look like Pasco and Pinellas County Health Departments and charged money for fake vaccination appointments. And they aren’t the only ones.
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Florida expects to receive another 250-thousand vaccines in a week. That’s according to Surgeon General Scott Rivkees. The state is prioritizing vaccinations for people 65 and older, and the federal government recently revised its guidelines to do the same. In Florida, about 4.5 million people fit that category.
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A House bill created to protect businesses from frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits started moving Wednesday, clearing its first committee stop on a party-line vote. It’s a priority for business groups and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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Florida’s Insurance Commissioner says claims solicitation is raising the cost of Florida’s property insurance industry for both consumer and provider. David Altmier told a Senate panel Tuesday that rates for property owners will continue to rise unless something is done.
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Governor Ron DeSantis is pointing to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as a reason for harsher penalties for protesters who damage property or harm others. The event reignited discussions surrounding the legislation that DeSantis first floated during Black Lives Matter protests this summer. But Sen. Perry Thurston (D-Ft. Lauderdale) maintains the legislature has more important priorities to address.
