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Despite the national designation of Emancipation Day as June 19th, Florida’s historic Emancipation Day remains May 20. A three-day conference focused on a deeper understanding of that day’s historic and contemporary impact on Florida and all its people happens in Tallahassee Dec. 5-7. To provide a preview are: Althemese Barnes, founder and director emeritus of the Capital City’s Riley House Museum; Florida A&M English Professor Natalie King-Pedroso; Punta Gorda City Councilman Jaha Cummings; and Sandra Rooks, African-American historian in Pinellas County.

On tonight’s program: For almost a quarter of a century, Florida’s school board elections have been non-partisan affairs. But that could change. Not everyone thinks that’s a positive move; Florida businesses may get new powers to sue local governments over lost revenue; Cruise ships return to Key West amid the city’s battle with state lawmakers; During the year’s final pre-session committee week, Florida lawmakers take aim on the algal blooms that have spoiled the state’s waters in recent years. Still, there were also calls for caution; Florida's H-I-V epidemic was at the forefront of the discussion at Leon County's World AIDS Day event, where state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made an appearance this week; And Florida managed to dodge multiple bullets during the hurricane season that ended this week. Although some other parts of the country weren’t as lucky.

On tonight’s program: We bring you a follow-up story about the new Florida law signed last week against COVID vaccine mandates. A move that supporters insist is based on good, solid science; Florida’s Medicaid enrollment continues to climb, in part because nobody is getting removed from the state’s rolls; The threat of COVID is prompting more Florida seniors to avoid extended care facilities and opt instead to age at home; Seniors aren’t the only folks suffering increased mental and emotional anguish from the pandemic. It’s hitting African-Americans hard as well; And nearly a thousand Florida manatees have died so far this year and conservation advocates are pushing for Congress to pass a bill that would reverse a decision in 2017 that down-listed the manatee to threatened instead of endangered.

Linda Hall is a visual artist. Ms. Hall is a storyteller at heart, a calling that can oftentimes be difficult while living with Attention Deficit Disorder. She discovered that she can effectively communicate through art. Hall’s community inspires her and her art.

It began with a manuscript written by a mother who documents her family’s trials and tribulations under the two regimes of Stalin and Hitler. Her daughter then created hauntingly beautiful memory paintings from that era. The decaying art and manuscript were discovered decades ago under a rustic house outside of Greenville, FL. These works are being restored to form the heart of an impactful, educational initiative for Florida schools. TTo talk about the Project are: Mimi Shaw, discoverer and co-owner of the collection; Kelly Bowen, co-owner and collection’s curator; Eric Clark the Executive Director of the Foundation for Leon County Schools; Dr. David Gussak, FSU Art Therapy professor and author; and documentary filmmaker Doug Darlington of Winding Road Films, whose historically based factual film for schools forms the core of the educational outreach program which is free to schools worldwide.

On tonight’s program: Florida's congressional and state legislative district maps for the coming decade are expected to draw legal challenges. Voting rights advocates are counting on the state's Fair Districts Amendments to ensure the final maps aren't politically gerrymandered....; Florida ended additional jobless checks from the federal government in late June…so, where are the workers?; Medical professionals say they support a person’s right to choose, but they hope they’ll choose to get vaccinated; School board meetings used to be among the most boring local government gatherings. Today, that has changed dramatically; Florida’s iconic marine mammal, the manatee, faces a mortal threat; And an academic research project suggests many state government decisions aren’t exactly based on the best available impartial information.

Dr. Russell Lebovitz, brain disease research scientist, discusses LBD Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive, incurative and fatal condition that diminishes a person’s ability to think, remember, and move.

For more than two decades, Leon County voters have approved charging themselves a bit more sales tax in order to fund public infrastructure and beautification projects under the Blueprint label. Currently, 31 active projects totaling more than $515 million are underway. To talk about it: Blueprint Director Autumn Calder; Design and Construction Manager Dan Scheer; and History and Culture Trail Project Manager Tatiana Daguillard.

Diners are packing restaurants again and travelers are booking hotel rooms. Businesses are largely back open, but many don’t have enough employees to move their products or serve their customers.

On tonight’s program: The State of Florida’s on-again, off-again ban on public school mask mandates is off. Again. That follows the ruling of a circuit judge who lifted the stay the previous day; A former Tallahassee elected official and a business partner are headed for federal prison in connection with a years-long corruption probe; Florida ended additional jobless checks from the federal government in late June. So where are all the workers?; As the pandemic drags on, more adults are reporting feelings of anxiety. Healthcare professionals say that’s normal; There’s a medical marijuana operation in Florida that has no difficulty finding patients for its produce; And on this eve of the 9/11 anniversary, a story about a very unique band of brothers.