Governor Rick Scott is keeping up his criticism of the federal government as the state braces for all or a partial loss of a 2-billion dollar healthcare program. Lynn Hatter reports while Scott has bashed the federal government over the low-income pool, he’s also taken aim at hospitals—and is moving ahead with a workgroup to study their finances.
Before the regular lawmaking session went down in flames, it appeared Florida lawmakers might be on the verge of passing some serious prison system reforms. When that didn’t happen, Governor Scott stepped in with an Executive Order putting some of those reforms in place. Now, as Sascha Cordner reports, lawmakers are weighing in on the order and suggest more legislative work needs to be done next year.
At the end of this year, Florida’s enterprise zone program is set to expire. Nick Evans reports the tax incentives are meant to encourage local business investment.
Gambling didn’t move far in the legislature this year, but Regan McCarthy reports now one small North Florida town is hoping the court system will pick up where lawmakers left off.
Lots of things damage the Indian River Lagoon, water releases from Lake Okeechobee, fertilizer run-off from lawns and leakage from septic systems. But as Jill Roberts reports in St. Lucie County volunteers gather on a monthly basis to help restore the river.
On Saturday, people who support clean energy and ocean lovers will join hands at nearly 20 beaches throughout Florida. Hands Across the Sand has become an annual series of rallies against offshore fossil fuel drilling since the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. For a preview of what to expect, Sean Kinane from member station WMNF in Tampa interviewed Thomas Paterek, chair of the Suncoast Surfrider Foundation.