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Incumbent Walt McNeil and challenger Tommy Mills talk about crime statistics, deputy training, community policing and a host of other law enforcement issues during this first in a series of Political Perspectives in advance of the August 18th Primary Election.

Florida’s unemployment system is slowly getting better, but after finally managing to sign up, too many are finding no gold at the end of the rainbow. An advocate for nursing home residents says families are concerned about the safety of their loved ones in those facilities. Come Monday, more of Florida will be opening to consumers. Summer travel will look different this year. The State Board of Education decides that taking an exam instead of courses is equally effective when it comes to making sure students know how American government works. But not everyone agrees. The coronavirus has thrown a lot of plans out of whack for a lot of people. We take a look into how mothers-to-be are trying to make the best of it.

Many parts of North Florida were already plagued by hunger before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the situation is even worse, although there are many organizations and individuals working to ease the deprivation. Our virtual panel consists of: Carmen Connor, principal of Oak Ridge Elementary School; Oak Ridge Elementary Principal Jasmine Smith; Laurye Messer, a founding organizer of the Full Summer program; and Second Harvest of the Big Bend CEO Monique Ellsworth.

As Florida reopens, visitors are again pouring in, particularly in the state’s Panhandle. It’s not only beaches and restaurants that have started welcoming visitors again. Florida’s workout facilities are open, too despite some daunting challenges. Florida lawmakers are taking notice of COVID-19’s racial disparities. So far the disease is far more deadly for minority populations. As applications soar, problems remain with Florida’s unemployment claims system, Governor Ron DeSantis insists one big problem is user error on the part of applicants. A receiver takes over the assets of the besieged Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. How could Florida’s state and local emergency management people keep people safe from hurricanes this season while also protecting them from the coronavirus?

As case numbers surge, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing back on concerns about coronavirus data as some say the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Also this week, there are some other numbers connected to the surging pandemic, namely the drop in Florida tax revenues, although some lawmakers gripe no one is asking them to help solve the problem. And we’ll also check into the controversy over whether or not Florida will have a statewide mandatory mask order anytime soon and discover that one of the state’s most consistently reliable Republican voting blocs has begun developing some Democratic cracks.

In response to the nationwide debate and protests involving the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color, the City of Tallahassee is moving to create an enhanced citizens advisory board for its police department. To discuss that and other law enforcement concerns are: Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad; Deputy City Manager Cynthia Barber; City Attorney Cassandra Jackson; and Police Chief Lawrence Revell.

Despite budget vetoes, the governor approves a teacher pay boost. Also this week, Florida’s Amendment Four is once again headed for court. We’ll delve into a tragic police shooting that doesn’t exactly fit many preconceptions and also find out why your neighborhood might be a lot noisier than usual this Fourth of July weekend.

Three contenders will appear on the August 18th ballot. All of them discuss such matters as the future of the community's police department, development and income inequality during this Political Perspectives. Incumbent Elaine Bryant is seeking to fend off challenges from: Jack Porter; and William Moore.

Working from home can sure work up an appetite and for too many stay-at-home workers, those regular trips to the kitchen for “inspiration” have resulted in excess poundage. To talk about painless, easy ways to slim down and get back into shape are: well-known physical fitness buff and Leon County Commission Chair Bryan Desloge; Mary Jean Yon, race director for the Gulf Winds Track Club; Gregg Patterson, head of Move Tallahassee; Tonya Little, program developer and communications specialist for Premier Health and Fitness Center; and Premier’s Nutritionist Annie Justmann.

The seat being vacated by Maryanne Lindley has attracted the largest slate of local candidates the county's voters will see on the August 18th Primary ballot. All six talk about their qualifications and take on the issues in the course of this program, which features: Jeff Hendry; Scott Flowers: Danielle Irwin; Kelly Otte; Robin Colson; and Carolyn Cummings.