In the last week before the state’s primary elections, Florida’s gubernatorial candidates put rubber to the road in a final push to woo voters. Ryan Dailey has the latest on neck-and-neck races in both parties.
For the last nineteen years, Republicans have been the dominant political party in the Florida Legislature. Throughout virtually all of that time, the state has also had a Republican in the Governor’s Mansion. But heading into these midterm elections, there’s been plenty of speculation that Democrats could regain at least some legislative power by flipping just five seats in the Florida Senate. Democrats are hoping that YOUNG voters will help make that happen. They’re pointing to efforts like the “Road To Change Tour,” which is made up of student survivors of the Parkland school shooting. They were travelling across the country this summer to get young people registered and motivated to vote. Political action groups like NextGen – backed by outspoken progressive Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer – are doing the same. From member station WLRN in Miami, Christine DiMattei (Dee-mah-TAY) talked about youth voting trends with Jim Saunders, executive editor for the News Service of Florida.
The ACLU is declaring victory after a federal court ruled in favor of an inmate initially seeking hormone therapy while incarcerated. As Sascha Cordner reports, prison overseers are now also allowing the transgender woman to wear the clothes that conform to her gender identity.
Cybersecurity and a growing economy are among the issues the Florida Bankers’ Associations’ new chair will be tackling during the next year, as we hear from Tom Flanigan.
While some say shark fishing is long-standing part of Florida culture, others worry it poses a threat to the species as well as swimmers nearby. Regan McCarthy reports state wildlife officials are working to balance those two concerns.
Tom Flanigan looks back at the legacy of former Florida lawmaker and Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon.