[New York, NY] Last night, MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell spent the bulk of his The Last Word show talking about the Trayvon Martin case. Among his guests, were U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-3/Jacksonville-Orlando) who updated listeners on her meeting with the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) and state and local authorities.

O’Donnell made it abundantly clear that he felt that the Sanford Police Department failed to fulfill their duty to properly investigate the shooting of Trayvon Martin last month. In fact, most of the show featured criticisms of the handling of the case and the motives of the trigger man, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

A hot topic of discussion was that it is believed that Zimmerman used a racial slur – “f-ing coons” – while on the phone with 911 operators. ABC News has reported that the Sanford Police now admit that they mistakenly overlooked that portion of the recorded conversation.

While this particular show is basically a pep rally for galvanizing support of trying Mr. Zimmerman for the shooting, it is worth watching nonetheless for its take on a local Florida police department, Rep. Brown’s comments and a video statement from a teen witness captured by the Orlando Sentinel.

It is all part of the build up to what is sure to be yet another “Trial of the Century,” courtesy of the State of Florida.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Related reading:

Rights leaders to keep up pressure in Florida shooting  (Delaware County Daily Times) At a town hall meeting Tuesday evening in Sanford, Fla., where the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin took place last month, officials from the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Nation of Islam urged residents to remain calm …

Tallahassee students demand justice for Trayvon Martin (Fight Back! Newspaper) 70 students from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Florida State University (FSU) gathered at FAMU campus to hold a rally and demand justice for Trayvon Martin on March 19.

Trayvon Martin case: Police chief becomes target for growing fury (Chicago Tribune) Trayvon Martin’s death won’t be “swept under the rug” by law enforcement. The slain 17-year-old’s family, friends, elected leaders and an outraged nation are making sure of that. The NAACP is calling for the ouster of Sanford, Fla., Police Chief Bill …

Trayvon Martin

[Tallahassee, FL] With the fall-out from Florida’s finalized decision to hold its primary election on Jan. 31 still, well, falling out, it is to be noted that two major debates will happen here as a result. Make that two more major debates.

Hot off the heels of the September CNN/Tea Party Express debate in Tampa and the Presidency 5 (P5) debate in Orlando comes a pair of pre-primary dust-ups that are sure to shake the political earth.

Sometime between Jan. 22 and Jan. 31, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will co-host a debate with CNN in Jacksonville.

“With the Florida Republican primary now scheduled for Jan. 31, that state’s central role in helping Republicans choose a nominee is now secure,” said Sam Feist, CNN Washington bureau chief and senior vice president. “CNN is proud to present voters in Florida an opportunity to hear from the candidates one final time before they head to the polls.”

The RPOF, who hosted the P5 debate, was just as enthusiastic.

“The Republican Party of Florida is excited to be working with CNN for a debate linked to the state’s primary date,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry. “The opportunity to host it in my home city, Jacksonville, helps shine the spotlight on another Florida city that our eventual nominee must win.”

Around the same time it was also announced and reported by The Tampa Tribune that MSNBC, St. Petersburg Times, the National Journal and the Florida Council of 100 will be hosting an event on Jan. 30, better known as Primary’s Eve.

Gov. Rick Scott felt compelled to weigh-in on all of this activity, saying that it, “demonstrates the crucial role Florida will play, not only in the Republican Presidential Primary, but in the general election next November.”

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Resources: CNN release, The Tampa Tribune

[Tallahassee, FL] It seemed it was only a matter of time. On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott announced the resignation of embattled Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Edwin Buss. Buss has been at odds with Scott in recent weeks, with two high-profile public dust-ups in the last few weeks alone.

Buss will be replaced by Ken “AC” Tucker, the current (and now former) Deputy Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

It was Buss who arranged for MSNBC’s Lockup reality show to shoot inside of the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution before Scott pulled the plug after shooting had begun. Most recently, Scott cancelled a 10-month contract with Elizabeth Gondles who was hired to helm the state’s privatization of prisoners’ health care.

For Buss, the writing was on the wall.

“Differences in philosophy and management styles arose which made the separation in the best interests of the state,” said Scott of Buss’ resignation, wishing him well in his new endeavors as he gave him the boot.

New Secretary Tucker is a 34-year law enforcement veteran bringing “experience and leadership to the position.” He began his law enforcement career with the Daytona Beach Police Department in 1977 after completing three years of military service.

“AC” Tucker is also a graduate of the University of Central Florida, a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a past President of the Northeast Florida Law Enforcement Executives Association.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Related links:

Senate budget chief JD Alexander on prison boss ouster, mental health and more Before leaving the Capitol, Alexander shared some thoughts about Scott’s ouster of corrections secretary Ed Buss, the $700 million cut to water management districts’ spending and issues coming up in the next legislative session. Alexander said Buss’s …

[Santa Rosa, FL] Last week, Gov. Rick Scott pulled the plug on a film crew documenting the goings-on at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, which houses some of Florida’s toughest customers. The footage was to be part of MSNBC’s popular Lockup reality-series program.

It was to be the first time in Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) history that a TV production crew would have had such lengthy access to participating inmates and staff, according to a DOC release. The shoot was to last eight weeks and was arranged by Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ed Buss.

Lockup: Extended Stay: Tampa airs starting Sept. 3 on the network.

“I have no qualms about them coming into our prisons,” said Buss in a press release before they got the production got the boot. “I’m proud of our staff and how well our facilities are run, and I hope this will help Floridians understand the challenges we face with our inmate population, as well as the benefits prisons provide to their communities through our programs and re-entry efforts.”

Now, none of that will happen. They actually had shot 25% of the show already (about two weeks) when word came down to pack up and get out of the facility. No word on if the state will still get part of the $110,000 fee it would have received for allowing the crew to film at the prison.

Even the warden was looking forward to the Hollywood treatment.

“I am honored that Santa Rosa CI has been chosen for this opportunity,” said Warden Randy Tifft. “Our staff is looking forward to working with the film crew to showcase our inmate programs and what we do each day to protect the public.”

Showcase no more. Speculation as to why Scott cancelled the contract runs the gamut. One of the most obvious is the fact that the show would air on MSNBC which features shows by many news commentators critical of the governor such as Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz.

“We’ve stopped the production and we’re looking at it,” said Buss, as quoted by the Bradenton Herald. “There are some legal issues being reviewed.

There is no word yet from the governor’s office as to why Lockup has been locked out.

The other possibility is that Scott is having a huge falling out with Buss. This is the second publicly embarrassing dressing down of Buss by Scott in a week’s time. More recently, Scott cancelled Buss’ 10-month contract with Elizabeth Gondles who was hired to helm the state’s privatization of prisoners’ health care.

“Her work has been completed,” DOC spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger was quoted as saying in The Palm Beach Post. There were also conflict-of-interest issues with Gondles as her husband is the executive director of the American Correctional Association (ACA).

The ACA accredits state prison medical services and would have been involved with the contracts Gondles was working on for Buss.

None of this reflects positively on Scott who seems to be playing catch-up in some areas of his administration. He is also far too willing to cancel legally-binding contracts which could damage the state’s credibility with those looking to do business with Florida.