THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, IT'S A RACE TO TALLAHASSEE TO SEE WHO WILL BE THE STATE'S NEXT GOVERNOR.

WE GET AN UPDATE ON BOTH CANDIDATES IN THE RUNNING FOR FLORIDA'S HIGHEST OFFICE WITH ELECTIONS JUST ONE WEEK AWAY.

>> OUR TEAMS, THEY ARE DUBBED THE INTEREST GENERATION.

AS JONATHAN HEIGHTS BOOK THE INTEREST GENERATION, THEY ARE DEALING WITH ANXIETY AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY DEAL WITH IT.

>> TURNING HEARTBREAK INTO A MISSION.

WE TALK WITH A STATE LAWMAKER ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK THAT AIMS TO EDUCATE PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE DANGERS OF SEXTORTION.

AND WE TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME TO ANCIENT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A PREVIEW OF THE LATEST WGCU DOCUMENTARY THAT DETAILS THE FORMER CAPITAL OF THE AREA'S ORIGINAL INHABITANTS.

THE CALUSA.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE RACE TO BE FLORIDA'S NEXT GOVERNOR APPEARS TO BE NECK AND NECK.

HAS THE GAP BETWEEN THE 2 LEADING CANDIDATES NARROWS WITH JUST ONE WEEK UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

A RECENT POLL FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA SHOWS REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS HOLDING A SLIM LEAD OVER DEMOCRAT DAVID JOLLY.

49 TO 47% WITH 4% ON DECIDED.

NOW LAST MONTH THE 2 CANDIDATES TOOK PART IN THE SUNSHINE ECONOMY SUMMIT AND SPOKE WITH WL AHRENS TOM HUDSON AS THEY PREPARE TO ENTER THE FINAL STRETCH OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

>> JOURNALIST TOM HUDSON WITH WL ARE IN PUBLIC MEDIA IN MIAMI JOINS US NOW.

>> TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO TALK TO ME TODAY.

>> OF COURSE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> NOW, NEITHER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS OR DEMOCRAT DAVID JOLLY AGREED TO A DEBATE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO HOLD BACK-TO-BACK DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH CANDIDATES.

WHAT WAS THAT FORMAT AND HOW DID YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS?

>> WELL, WE JUST INVITED THEM.

WE ASKED AND WE WERE CLEAR WITH BOTH CAMPAIGNS FOR WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE PRIMARY AND THEN AFTER THE PRIMARY WHEN BOTH CANDIDATES SECURED THEIR PARTY NOMINATIONS FOR GOVERNOR, THAT WE WERE GOING TO FOCUS THE CONVERSATION ON WHAT FLORIDIANS SAY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES WHICH ARE ECONOMIC ISSUES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOME INSURANCE.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT INFLATION.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PRICES.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TAXES.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

AND THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR CAMPAIGNS WERE EAGER TO ENGAGE ON ECONOMIC ISSUES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FOR PARTICULARLY NON COMMITTED VOTERS TO HEAR ABOUT ECONOMIC POLICIES.

>> WHEN I WAITED TABLES AND HAD TO PUT IN MY TIP, SURE, IT DIDN'T MATTER, FALLS AWAY AND TABLES IN TALLAHASSEE.

THEY STILL WITHHELD THAT FROM MY FROM MY RAGE ON THE FEDERAL WHEN I WAS WORKING HOURLY WAGES AND I WAS MOVING FURNITURE AND ON THE WEEKEND OF SANIBEL ISLAND TO MAKE ENDS MEET FICA STILL CAME FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH I WAS LIVING IN FLORIDA.

SO THE COMMENT ABOUT HOW THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE AN INCOME TAX.

I THINK THAT'S FINE.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR, ACCURATE.

WILL NEVER HAVE AN INCOME TAX.

BUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOES SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES KEEP MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS KEEP MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKET IS A GOOD THING.

AND THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON CAPITOL HILL.

>> WE HAVE A BROAD ECONOMIC PACKAGE FOCUSED ON HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION.

SOME OF THESE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE TO A BALLOT INITIATIVE.

RIGHT ESTATE CATASTROPHIC FUND FOR INSURANCE.

I'VE COMMITTED TO A 10 YEAR RENAISSANCE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT SCALING UP WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS, THERE'S 2 BILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW SITTING IN A FUND THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED.

BUT DESANTIS DOESN'T EVEN HAVE AN AGENCY HEAD RIGHT NOW TO DO IT.

AND BUT THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS TAKES OVER IMMEDIATELY.

>> NOW IN TERMS OF GETTING THE 2 CANDIDATES TOGETHER, BACK-TO-BACK IN THE SAME ROOM BACK IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

I THINK IT WAS A COMBINATION OF PREPARATION, SKILL, TIMING AND LUCK.

BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT THE CAMPAIGNS AND THE CANDIDATES WERE EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH US.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM AND WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FLORIDA VOTERS TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES IN A IN A FASHION THAT WE THINK CAN HELP PERHAPS ALLOW THE VOTERS TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

>> NOW, THE RACE IS EXTREMELY TIGHT AT THIS POINT.

ANY INSIGHT ON WHY THEY WILL NOT DEBATE EACH OTHER ON A PUBLIC STATE?

>> WELL, WE PUT THAT TO DAVID JOLLY AT THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION.

AND HE WAS CLEAR HE SHUT IT DOWN RIGHT AWAY TO SAY THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ANY DEBATE.

THERE WERE THERE WAS NO CRACK OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DEBATES BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

HE SAID HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ENGAGING WITH HIS COUNTERPART IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

REPRESENTATIVE DONALDS.

I'M NOT GOING TO DEBATE AND THAT'S MY FINAL DECISION.

AND HERE'S WHY.

>> I THINK THERE IS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF BAD FAITH AND DISHONESTY IN OUR POLITICS TODAY.

WRIT GIVE DOG BYRON GRAYSON NOT LAY THIS AT HIS FEET.

THE AMOUNT OF BAD FAITH AND VITRIOL, ISRAEL, OUR POLITICS ARE BROKEN.

WE'RE MORE DIVIDED THAN EVER BEFORE.

ARE POLITICIANS WHO SEEM TO TELL US EVERY DAY IF WE HATE EACH OTHER ENOUGH.

>> REPRESENTATIVE DONALDS FOR HIS PART WAS EAGER TO ENGAGE, IN FACT, SAID THAT IF A JOLLY HAD BEEN INTERESTED, WE COULD HAVE PULLED UP A 3RD CHAIR RIGHT THERE AND HAD A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE 2 OF THEM SUPPORT FOR >> KENNEDY TO BE THERE AND GET TAKE THAT IN COMING FROM ALL VOTERS ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO THE DEBATES.

HE SHOULD STOP RUNNING.

WE CAN DO IT ANY TIME.

ANY PLACE ANYWHERE.

I'VE AGREED TO 3.

LET'S DO IT.

>> IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT VIEWERS AND LISTENERS AND FLORIDIANS WILL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE 2 CANDIDATES ENGAGE TOGETHER SIMULTANEOUSLY.

BUT I THINK THAT THESE CANDIDATES ALSO HAVE PROVIDED SOME OPPORTUNITY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE ECONOMIC ISSUES FOR VOTERS TO LEARN.

THEY'RE VERY DISTINCT PERSONALITIES AND THEIR DISTINCT POLICY PRIORITIES.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE AS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE CANDIDATES SPECIFIC PRIORITIES AND HOW THEY WOULD GOVERN FROM TALLAHASSEE?

>> WELL, FOR REPRESENTATIVE DONNELL'S, I THINK IT'S LIKELY TO BE A CONTINUATION OF MANY DESANTIS ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT WE'VE SEEN AS WELL AS WHAT THE CANDIDATE HAD UP UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER PLEDGED ON HIS WEB SITE, WHICH WAS TO ENACT THE TRUMP.

NOW HE REMOVED MANY OF THE REFERENCES TO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT FROM HIS CAMPAIGN WEBSITE AND HAS REALLY DIFFERED TALKING DIRECTLY ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ENDORSEMENT WHICH HELPED PROPEL HIM TO THE GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

BUT WE SPOKE ABOUT TARIFFS NOW.

CLEARLY THAT'S A FEDERAL POLICY.

BUT HE SUPPORTED THE TRUMP TARIFFS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY, WHICH HE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND OF COURSE, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOME INSURANCE, WHICH IS A KEY DIFFERENTIATOR BETWEEN THESE 2 CAMPAIGNS IN THESE 2 CANDIDATES.

>> RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE WILMA.

BUT 20 YEARS AGO, THIS LEGISLATURE PUT IN A 24% SURCHARGE ON TOP OF THE PREMIUMS THAT ARE PAID INTO FLORIDA'S CAT FUND.

WE PUT IN PLACE DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE THE CAT FUND WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND TALLAHASSEE MOVE QUICKLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CAT FUND WERE SHORED UP TODAY GETTING PAST WEEK.

ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS HURRICANE SEASON AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT 6 WEEKS OR SO, EVERYBODY KNOCK ON WOOD, EVERYBODY, PLEASE.

BUT WE GET THROUGH THIS HURRICANE SEASON.

THE CAT FUND IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 13 13 AND A HALF BILLION SO WHY DO WE HAVE A 25% KICKER ON TOP TO KEEP FILLING THE CAT FUND WHO STATUTORY LIMIT OF 17 BILLION DOLLARS.

>> BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE COVERING TRADITIONAL PERILS TREE FALLING BROKEN PIPE SLIP AND FALL.

THINK ABOUT WHO'S NOT IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE NOT IN THE MARKET BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AN ACTUAL EARLY SOUND WAY TO COVER NATURAL DISASTERS IN STORES.

IF THE MARKET BECAME A STABLE MARKET WHERE YOU'RE COVERING TRADITIONAL PERILS, ALL THE SUDDEN YOU OPEN UP THE MARKET, THE CARRIERS THAT WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE CONSIDER BEING IN FLORIDA.

>> SO VERY DISTINCT DIFFERENCES AND THEN ALSO GOVERNING STYLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT RIGHT?

REPRESENTATIVE DONNELL'S AS A REPUBLICAN WILL LIKELY INHERIT A SUPER MAJORITY IN TALLAHASSEE IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE IN THE FLORIDA SENATE WHEREAS DAVID JOLLY AS A DEMOCRAT, IF HE'S ELECTED WE'LL HAVE MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND HE PLEDGED TO REALLY GOVERN FROM A STRONG EXECUTIVE STANDPOINT USING EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN HIS ROLE.

SHOULD HE BE ELECTED GOVERNOR?

>> WHAT WERE THE DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON AMENDMENT 3?

>> A WILDLY DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

YOU HAD DAVID JOLLY SAYING THAT HE WAS VERY MUCH AGAINST AMENDMENT 3, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS AND THUS LEAD TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL OF THE KINDS OF SERVICES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE.

REPRESENTATIVE DONNELL'S, IT WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORT AND ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CONTINUING TO LOOK AT PROPERTY TAXES AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS ON BEHALF OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

IT ALSO SEEMED CLEAR THE REPRESENTATIVE DONALDS WAS PRETTY INTERESTED IN A VERY STRONG ROLE FOR STATE GOVERNMENT IN DEALING WITH THE FINAL DECISION.

SHOULD FLORIDA VOTERS APPROVE THIS INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND HOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY GOING TO BE VIEWED AND LOOKED AT AS A A DECIDING FACTOR ABOUT HOW THE TAX POLICY IT'S IMPLEMENTED GOING FORWARD AND WHAT OPTIONS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TO REPLACE SOME OF THAT MISSING PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, TOM HUDSON.

>> FOR THOSE LEISURE, EXCELLENT INSIGHT.

THANKS.

A LOT.

>> AND COMING UP NEXT, WE'LL SOME VOTERS ARE HOLDING OFF UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

OTHERS HAVE MORE THAN 3 MILLION FLORIDIANS HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST UPDATE ON THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE.

NOW, THOSE NUMBERS INCLUDE EARLY VOTING BALLOTS AND VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS FROM ALL 67 COUNTIES IN FLORIDA.

SO FAR IN LEE COUNTY, A NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO GET EVERYONE OUT TO VOTE IS HOPING THIS BODES WELL FOR A STRONG MIDTERM ELECTION TURNOUT OVERALL.

SANDI FRANK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN LEE COUNTY JOINS ME NOW.

SANDY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO TALK WITH ME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

LET'S DO IT.

>> LEE COUNTY, VOTER TURNOUT SO FAR IS PUSHING ABOUT 30% THAT COMBINES THE EARLY IN PERSON VOTING.

ALSO THE VOTE BY MAIL NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED.

WE'RE A WEEK OUT.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS KIND OF A VOTER TURNOUT SO FAR?

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE VOTER TURNOUT SO FAR.

WE ENCOURAGE ALL VOTERS TO PARTICIPATE.

SO THEY STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE EARLY THIS WEEK.

THEY CAN STILL VOTE AT 12 SITES AROUND THE COUNTY.

THEY CAN GO TO ANY OF THOSE SITES BETWEEN 2010 6 AND THEY CAN RETURN THEIR VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.

NOW WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO DROP THEM OFF AT ELECTION CENTERS BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE LATE TO GET INTO THE MAIL TO BE CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BE RECEIVED BY ELECTION DAY.

VOTE BY MAIL.

BALLOTS NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY ELECTION DAY.

IF PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO VOTE EARLY AND DON'T HAVE DON'T WANT TO VOTE BY MAIL, THEY CAN VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER.

3RD AND THEY NEED TO GO TO THEIR POLLING PLACE AND THEY NEED TO CHECK WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT PLACE IS.

WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT THEY GET TO THE RIGHT PLACE AND ARE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE 100% TURNOUT.

OF COURSE.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK WHAT KIND OF VOTER PARTICIPATION ARE YOU EXPECTING VERSUS HOPING FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR AND ABOUT.

AND I ENCOURAGE ALL VOTERS TO BE INFORMED AND TO VOTE INFORMED.

AND ELECTIONS AFFECT ALL OF US.

THE ELECTED OFFICIALS DECISIONS AFFECT ALL OF US AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE A PART OF THAT PROCESS OF DECIDING WHO THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE.

>> IF WE GOT 100% TURNOUT, THAT MEANS YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB BECAUSE AS THE GOAL IS THAT YOUR ENTIRE GROUP, >> ALL OF US, ALL OF US NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND THE VOTERS NEED TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I APPRECIATE YOU'RE SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH THEM SO THEY CAN GET OUT AND VOTE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S ANDY, WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE IF ANY, ABOUT THE SECURITY OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS OR EVEN IN PERSON VOTING?

>> I REALLY THINK THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS IS VERY SAFE AND SECURE AND THE MACHINES HAVE BEEN TESTED.

THE SYSTEM IS TESTED.

THIS SYSTEM IS OPEN TO OBSERVATION AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL CONCERNS.

WE JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PARTICIPATE TRACK THEIR OWN BALLOTS, MAKE SURE THEY GET TO THE BALLOT PLACE AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE SYSTEM WILL WORK TO COUNT.

WELL, IT VOTE SECURELY.

>> NOW MOST FOLKS HAVE NOT YET CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

WE ARE STILL A WEEK AWAY IF THEY WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S ON THEIR BALLOT, WHAT RESOURCES WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

>> AND YES, WE WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO BE INFORMED.

TUVO CONFIDENTLY.

AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL REPRESENT THEIR VALUES AND REPRESENT THEIR CONCERNS AND WE HAVE AN ONLINE VOTER GUIDE.

VOTE FOR 1, 1 DOT ORG.

IT HAS INFORMATION ON THE CANDIDATES AS WELL AS ON THE BALLOT MEASURES AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS NON-PARTISAN.

WE HAVE THE ELECT.

THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS IN THEIR OWN WORDS.

WE DO NOT EDIT THAT.

THE INFORMATION ON THE BALLOT MEASURES THIS ALL PROS AND CONS WITH THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE AND HELPS PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE, THAT THEY WILL BE VOTING FOR.

SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO USE THOSE RESOURCES AS WELL AS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE SAYING AND TO CHECK UP, CHECK IT OUT.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

WHAT ARE THE VALUE OF THE ELECTED?

THE CANDIDATES VALUES SO THAT THEY CAN FIND PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THEM EFFECTIVELY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

SANDY FRANK.

AND THANK YOU, JENNIFER.

>> WE ARE ONE WEEK OUT FROM THE POLLS CLOSING ACROSS FLORIDA.

SO >> STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL THE RESULTS AND UPDATES BY FOLLOWING OUR WEB SITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN REPORTS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SEXTORTION CASES COMMONLY TARGETING BOYS.

SOUTH CAROLINA FATHER AND LAWMAKER BRANDON GUFFEY LOST HIS SON TO A SEXTORTION RELATED SUICIDE IN 2022.

MR.

DUFFY IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK TOMORROW NEED TO WHERE HE SHARES THE PAIN OF THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF HIS 17 YEAR-OLD SON, GAVIN AND THE BOOK ALSO HELPS PARENTS LEARN ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ONLINE PREDATORS THAT ARE TARGETING OUR KIDS.

SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKER BRANDON GUFFEY SAYS HE HAS MADE IT HIS MISSION TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ONLINE PREDATORS AND ALSO HELP EDUCATE PARENTS MR.

DUFFY JOINS US NOW TO SHARE GAVIN STORY, WHICH IS PART OF HIS NEW BOOK CALLED TOMORROW.

NEED TO YOU, MR.

DUFFY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> THIS IS SUCH A VERY DIFFICULT TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT.

MANY PARENTS DO NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT SEXTORTION IS OR HOW THEIR CHILD COULD ACTUALLY BECOME INVOLVED WITH THESE PREDATORS.

CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT SEXTORTION NEMES?

>> WELL, ITS EXTORTION ESSENTIALLY AS SOMEONE PRETENDS TO BE ANOTHER PERSON GAINES YOUR CHILD'S MOST IMPORTANT THING ISN'T COMING.

YOUR BEDROOM, YOUR CHILD'S BEDROOM AT NIGHT BY YOUR SLEEP AND AND THEY BEGAN TO EXCHANGE IMAGES OFTENTIMES INTIMATE IMAGES AND THEN THEY START DEMANDING MONEY FROM THEM OR DEMANDING ANYTHING OF.

THE VALUE.

SHOULD I SAY?

>> HOW CAN A CHILD FALL VICTIM TO THIS?

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY'RE OFTEN RIGHT IN THE HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS UNDER THE SAME ROOF AND PARENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS.

>> YES, NOT UNCOMMON FOR OUR TEENS NOW TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT BE THROUGH VIDEO GAMES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU KNOW, JULY OF 22, I NEVER HEARD OF THE TERM SEXTORTION.

HOWEVER, BY THE END OF 2024, THE STATS WERE ONE IN 17 TEENS HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF IT.

THIS EVERY CLASSROOM, PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEN BY OCTOBER OF 2025, THOSE STATS WENT TO ONE IN 4.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TEENS ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHATEVER YOUR PARENTS TOLD YOU DON'T DREAM, DON'T SMOKE CHANGE ARE STILL GOING TO FALL PREY.

AND ESPECIALLY WHENEVER SO SOMEONE IS SHOWING THEM ATTENTION.

AND THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEIR AND OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO EXTORT MONEY FROM ARE TEENAGERS.

>> CAN YOU TOUCH ON SOME OF THE KEY SIGNS THAT PARENTS NEED TO WATCH FOR?

>> IF THE NUMBER ONE THING IS YOUR CHILD BE AN ONLINE IN THEIR BEDROOM.

IN GAVIN'S CASE, IT ONLY TOOK AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES FROM THE TIME HE WAS CONTACTED TO THE TIME OF HIS DEATH AND IN MANY OF THESE CASES THAT ENDS UP BEING THE FOI.

SO TRYING TO CATCH THOSE SIGNS IS NOT A EASY THING TO DO.

HOWEVER, KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA KNOW WHO THEIR FRIENDS ARE, MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING FRIEND REQUESTS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE KNOWS SOMEONE ELSE WITHIN THEIR FRIEND GROUP.

MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THEM PERSONALLY.

BUT I OFTEN TELL HIM THE BEST THING TO DO IS KEEP THE VICES IN YEAR.

LIVING SPACES AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THEM IN YOUR BEDROOM IN YOUR BATHROOM BECAUSE THESE MESSAGES THAT THEY THEY CAN START AT ANY TIME.

NIC MIC PUT OUT A VIDEO THAT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, WHERE A CHILD IS EATING DINNER WITH HIS FAMILY AND HE JUST GETS A TEXT AND THAT'S HOW THE CONVERSATION STARTS.

>> HOW DOES YOUR NEW BOOK CALLED TOMORROW NEEDS YOU AND TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THESE KINDS OF PREDATORS.

>> WELL, I IN MY OPINION, I HAD TO DO A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING MYSELF WHENEVER WE LOST OUR SON.

AND I REMEMBER JUST GOOGLE AND, YOU KNOW, MY SON JUST TOOK HIS LIFE.

WHAT DO I DO?

AND THERE WAS NOTHING OUT THERE THAT REALLY DOCUMENTED THAT ENTIRE JOURNEY.

BUT WHENEVER IT COMES TO SEXTORTION AND TRYING TO PROTECT TEENS, MINE NUMBER ONE MESSAGE TO TEENS IS WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GRACE IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE TOO BUSY TRYING TO KICK EACH OTHER WHENEVER WE FALL INSTEAD OF LIFTING EACH OTHER UP AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, NONE OF US ARE PERFECT.

WE'RE ALL GONNA MAKE MISTAKES.

BUT THOSE MISTAKES WILL NOT DEFINE YOU HELP YOU BECOME THE PERSON YOU'RE MEANT TO BE.

>> PRIOR TO YOU WORKING ON THIS BOOK AND THEN RELEASING IT.

YOU HAD WORKED ON PASSING GAVIN'S LAW IN YOUR HOME STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

WHAT IS THIS LAW AND HOW DO YOU HOPE IT HAS BROADER IMPLICATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND EVEN HERE IN FLORIDA?

>> WELL, GAVIN, AS LONG AS NOW NATIONAL MODEL POLICY AND IT CRIMINALIZED DIGITAL SEXTORTION ONLINE WHICH WE HAVE FEDERAL LAWS THAT CAN KIND OF SUPER SEE THERE.

HOWEVER, THIS GAVE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THE ABILITY TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GO AFTER THESE PREDATORS, WHATEVER THEY ARE IN OUR STATES ARE IN OUR.

IN OUR CURRENT AREA AND UNFORTUNATELY, OFTENTIMES THESE PREDATORS ARE OVERSEAS.

SO THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT TO GAVIN'S WAS ACTUALLY THE EDUCATION OF WHAT SEXTORTION IS.

AND NOW EVERY K THROUGH 12 STUDENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA, I BELIEVE IT'S 14 OTHER STATES.

IT HAS MANDATED THAT ITS TALL WHAT SEXTORTION IS.

SO THESE KIDS DON'T FEEL ALONE.

I TRULY FEEL THAT IF MY SON WAS AWARE AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S 50 PLUS TEENAGERS THAT HAVE TAKEN THEIR LIVES DUE SEXTORTION ASHES ON THE PUBLIC SIDE OF THINGS.

IF THEY WERE AWARE THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE AND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THIS AND IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY AND TO GO TO YOUR PARENTS AND TO GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SEEK HELP.

THEN I THINK THAT WILL SAVE LIVES.

THAT'S THAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

MY MY LIFE'S MISSION IS TO SAVE THE NEXT CABINET.

>> AND OF PARENTS WANT TO LEARN MORE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT THIS.

WHAT KIND OF WEBSITE SHOULD THEY LOOK FOR?

>> YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE WHICH IS LESS THAN 3 S C DOT ORG.

THAT'S THE NUMBER 3 OR DOES IT.

NIC MIC, THE NATIONAL CENTER OF MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN.

THERE ARE TONS OF RESOURCES OUT THERE.

BUT THE NIC MIC HAS A HELPLINE THAT YOU CAN DO.

THE CYBER TIP REPORTING, BUT THERE IS ALSO A VIDEO.

ONE MORE WEBSITE WOULD BE NO ESCAPE ROOM DOT ORG THAT NIC MIC PUT TOGETHER.

AND IT'S A 7 MINUTE INTERACTIVE VIDEO.

I TELL PARENTS ALL THE TIME USED THAT TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN AND TO EDUCATE YOURSELF.

YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN SIT DOWN AND WATCH THIS TOGETHER.

AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT SHOWS YOU HOW EASY IT IS TO FALL VICTIM IN FOR THE PARENTS THAT DON'T THINK THAT THEY NEED TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THIS JUST YET.

IF YOU ARE TOO SCARED TO SPEAK TO THEM.

IMAGINE HOW SCARED THEY WILL BE IF THEY BECOME A VICTIM OF THIS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING SUCH SUPER IMPORTANT INFORMATION, LIFE-SAVING INFORMATION.

BRENDAN DUFFY, THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SEXTORTION AND HOW TO GET HELP.

>> PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN.

IT'S CALLED MISSING.

KIDS DOT ORG.

AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, A SPECIAL PREVIEW OF THE LATEST WGCU DOCUMENTARY THAT BRINGS YOU BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO DISCOVER THE ROLE SOUTHWEST WGCU IS RELEASING ITS SECOND DOCUMENTARY SHORT IN ITS D COATING INC AND FLORIDA SERIES.

THE CALUSA PEOPLE LIVED ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S COAST FOR ALMOST 2000 YEARS.

THE LATEST SHORT EXPLORES BOUND KEY IN ESTERO BAY, A SITE THAT SERVE AS THE CAPITAL FOR THE CALUSA.

>> THE POWER OF THE CALUSA PEOPLE STRETCHED FROM SARASOTA TO MIAMI TO THE FLORIDA KEYS, BUT THEIR CAPITAL WAS RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> MOUND KEY WHO WAS A GLEAMING WEIGHT?

I AM AND OF IMMENSE PROPORTION.

THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT.

WE HIKE WHAT REMAINS OF THIS ENGINEERED CITY ON THE GULF COAST.

>> WHERE THE CALUSA FOUGHT OFF COLONIAL THREATS TO THEIR HOMELAND.

I WANTED TO GO BACK IN TIME.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COLLUSIVE WITH THE SPANIARD, TOO.

>> RIGHT NOW TO KATE IN ESTERO BAY IS RICH WITH HISTORY.

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MYSTERY.

HOW DID THE CALUSA MANIPULATE THEIR ENVIRONMENT TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE BUT THRIVE?

WHAT STORIES ARE EMBEDDED ON THIS ISLAND.

>> DECODING ANCIENT FLORIDA MOUND KEY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON WGCU PLUS DOT ORG.

BEGINNING OCTOBER 20TH.

AND COMING UPON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN FOCUS A LITTLE SWEET TREAT NEVER HURTS, BUT TOO MUCH SUGAR CAN PLAY A TRICK ON OUR BODIES.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW GOBBLING DOWN BUNCHES OF HALLOWEEN CANDY CAN AFFECT OUR HEALTH.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.