State News

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – During Tuesday's State Board of Education meeting, members learned of changes in how school districts spend money. Some board members are concerned that the authority granted to local school boards could be abused. Lynn Hatter reports.

By Tom Flanigan

Tallahassee, FL – A new poll suggests Governor Charlie Crist will be unbeatable in his bid for the U.S. Senate...unless his predecessor enters the race. We get more on that story from Tom Flanigan.

By James Call

Tallahassee – The cost of smoking cigarettes in Florida will go up. James Call reports,
Governor Charlie Crist says he will sign into law a dollar a pack tax increase.

By Margie Menzel

Tallahassee, FL – Florida Nursing home weathered a difficult legislative session and now are poised for growth and better care..... Margie Menzel prepared this report.

By James Call

Tallahassee, FL – A coalition of businesses, workers and consumer advocates want Governor Charlie Crist to veto a bill it claims will increase out of pocket fees for medical services. James Call reports they say it will confuse consumers and increase insurance costs.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA for short, has a new leader- Florida's own former State Emergency Management head Craig Fugate. As Lynn Hatter reports, some of FEMA's employees are excited about the appointment.

By James Call

Tallahassee, FL – It all started with Governor Crist announcing last week he's running for the U.S. senate....that opened the flood gates...with democratic Chief Financial Officer Alexi Sink announcing she's going to run for Governor. Today republican Attorney General Bill McCollum is expected to get into the gubernatorial race and Florida's agriculture commissioner has also said he'll decide whether to run for Governor sometime this week...more from James Call.

By Margie Menzel

Tallahassee, FL – Longtime Florida lawmaker and former state Senate president Jim King has pancreatic cancer. Margie Menzel reports.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The announcement that State Senator Jim King has Pancreatic Cancer came over the weekend. And as Lynn Hatter reports, it has repercussions for the State University System.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee – Despite a large budget shortfall this year Florida's higher education system managed to get more money. Lynn Hatter takes a look at how lawmakers managed to increase some of the funds.

By Margie Menzel

Tallahassee, FL – This week is National Nursing Home Week, and Margie Menzel reports, in Florida nursing homes weathered a difficult legislative session and are not poised for growth and better care.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The South Florida Water Management District has approved a plan to purchase land from the U.S. Sugar Company. As Lynn Hatter reports, the move is a scaled-down version of a larger effort to restore the Everglades.

By Margie Menzel

Tallahassee, FL – Governor Charlie Crist signed two bulls Thursday, giving youth in foster care access to their records and an advocate to make educational decisions on their behalf. Margie Menzel reports.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee – A press release out of Congressman Alan Boyd's Office says Leon County Schools will receive 11 million dollars in federal funding under the stimulus bill. But Lynn Hatter reports, that news isn't nearly as stimulating as it sounds.

By Gina Jordan

Tallahassee, FL – Just weeks away from the start of hurricane season, Florida's independent insurance agents and a leading consumer advocate are warning that the state's property insurance market is putting homeowners at serious financial risk. Gina Jordan reports.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Governor Charlie Crist is being urged to veto a bill that its opponents say will promote urban sprawl and endanger Florida's environment. Lynn Hatter reports.

By James Call

Tallahassee, FL – Governor Charlie Crist says he will run for the U.S. Senate instead of reelection next year. James Call reports, Crist instantly becomes the front runner in the Senate race.

By Gina Jordan

Tallahassee, FL – Three months after President Obama signed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, federal dollars are streaming into local agencies to help stimulate the economy and provide services to job seekers and employers. Gina Jordan has more on efforts in the tri-county area to get the best bang for those dollars.

By James Call

Tallahassee, FL – A freshman member of the Florida House predicts next year's budget is going to cause a lot of pain. Tallahassee representative Michelle Rehwinkle Vasilinda says the GOP leadership at the state House needs to open its mind to overhauling Florida tax structure.

By James Call

Tallahassee, FL – In offices,conference rooms and at their desktops people are picking winners and losers in this year's state budget. Smokers will pay more for cigarettes, it will cost more to register a motor vehicle, and school boards will have an extra 15 cents a day for each student. James Call reports, a group of advocates say a bigger loser in this year's Session was tax reform.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida House and Senate have agreed on a bottom line number for community colleges and as Lynn Hatter reports, they are inching closer to agreements on how to spend that money.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Florida's Board of Governor's says its please with the concession being made in the legislature. As Lynn Hatter reports, the state university system Chancellor says all would be great if there was more funding to go around.

By Margie Menzel

Tallahassee, FL – Florida's Chief Financial Officer, Alex Sink, called on the House Thursday to pass a bill removing barriers to enroll in KidCare, the state health insurance program from low-income children. Bu the chambers disagree over its fiscal impact. Margie Menzel reports.