Robbie Gaffney

The Tallahassee International Airport is experiencing delays after a man stole a FedEx truck and crashed it into navigational equipment. As a result, Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez (D-Miami) couldn’t present his teacher pay plan last Monday.

If an extended family member has gained temporary custody of a child, a legislative proposal could allow courts to create a transition plan for that child to go back to their parents. On January 16, lawmakers approved an amendment to allow fictive kin to take part in the process.

Jason Laursen, Tonja Bryant-Smith, and Maurice Holmes will be Tallahassee’s new deputy chiefs. 

A bill to require parental consent for a minor’s abortion has one more stop to go before heading to the Senate floor. Meanwhile, a similar bill in the House is already teed up for consideration by the full chamber. 

If passed, the Senate bill would penalize physicians for aborting a minor’s pregnancy without consent from their parents or guardians.

Florida’s average teacher salary is among the lowest in the nation. The Florida Education Association says the state suffers from high turn-over rates and teacher shortages. The teachers union wants to change that and Monday, it brought educators from across the state to the Florida Capitol to demand more funding for education.

Emotions can run high when social issues are discussed during session. Whether it's abortion, LGBTQ rights, or banning conversion therapy, getting a hearing on these issues can be important to getting them passed.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Economist says there’s a low chance of a recession this year. However, that doesn’t mean it will be smooth sailing.

Under a new bill, counties and cities could require employers to give workers benefits like sick pay.

The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is hosting a listening tour that will come to Tallahassee on January 16. The top five issues trending statewide include: financial security, healthcare, workplace issues, violence against women, and a lack of women in leadership positions.

January 6th is the anniversary of same-sex marriage becoming legal in Florida. But 5 years after the historic ruling, Florida statute still says marriage is only between a woman and a man. Lawmakers are hoping to change that during this upcoming 2020 legislative session.

The Tally Shorts Film Festival is adding five countries to its lineup. Work from Senegal, Colombia, Costa Rica, Malta, and Cypress will be shown.

Second Harvest of the Big Bend is ramping up donations this holiday season for Hurricane Michael affected areas. Second Harvest is one of the largest food pantries in Florida.

As legislative session looms on the horizon, lawmakers are trying to squeeze in their personal projects into next years’ budget. However, not all of those proposals will make it.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun writing rules for two plans aimed at lowering drug costs for consumers. One would allow states to develop programs to import Canadian drugs. The other guides international manufacturers on how to bring their drugs into the U.S.

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) held a summit Tuesday to discuss its high turn-over rates, heavy workloads, and low recruitment. 

When someone dies without a will, their land goes to family. But it can lead to some sticky situations. A group of Democratic lawmakers is looking into the issue.

Florida senators are pushing forward with a change to family law. The proposal focuses on situations where relatives spend years caring for children left with them by family members. However, the bill has stalled in the House.

Rep. Kristin Jacobs (D-Coconut Creek) is pushing a proposal that would ban Floridians from selling shark fins. It’s part of an effort to crack down on shark finning. The practice involves chopping fins off sharks and throwing them back into the ocean. 

Gun safety advocates say more needs to be done to prevent mass shootings. But some say those proposals could be hard to enforce.  

If you’re wanting to travel this Saturday, expect road closures in Tallahassee. The city’s annual Winter Festival will be taking over.