The University of Florida is facing public headwinds amid reports that it has blocked several professors from testifying in lawsuits against the state. Problems for the school first arose when UF said three of its political science professors couldn’t serve as paid expert witnesses in a voting rights case. Lynn Hatter reports while the situation is being viewed as a free speech issue, some scholars and professors say it’s part of a broader issue: academic freedom.
Florida Republicans have started taking climate change more seriously in recent years. Governor Rick Scott once made headlines for discouraging employees from discussing climate change, though he denied those claims. Now Governor Ron DeSantis has allocated funds to tackle the issue. But environmentalists say the new administration’s approach isn’t broad enough. Valerie Crowder reports advocates want more focus on stopping climate change rather than just mitigating its effects...
The 2020 elections in Florida went smoothly overall. But Governor Ron DeSantis says he will ask lawmakers for more election reforms to build on voting changes approved last spring by the Legislature. Gina Jordan has more on the governor’s plans and our partners at the News Service of Florida also continued to this story.
After the governor’s call for more election reforms, Lake County Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays has strong words for people in his own party who are pushing election fraud conspiracies. Hays is a Republican who also served as a lawmaker in the Florida House and the Florida Senate. Hays spoke with WMFE's Joe Byrnes about a rebuttal posted on his website.
Lawmakers are looking into ways to improve access to healthcare by increasing the ability for people to seek care both online and over the phone. Regan McCarthy has more….