Florida Republicans want voters to reverse a 1998 constitutional amendment that created non-partisan school board races. School boards have been under fire, most recently, over backlash to school closures, mask wearing and teachings on history racism and sexual identity. We get more on that story from Lynn Hatter.
Florida municipalities may face lawsuits from businesses that lose revenue because of local ordinances. Gina Jordan reports a bill that would enable businesses to sue cities or counties over lost profits passed the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.
Cruise ships recently returned to Key West. Before the pandemic, the big ships brought almost a million people a year to the island. Whether that's a GOOD thing for Key West is an ongoing debate between the locals and state legislators. WLRN's Nancy Klingener [KLING-en-er] has more on Key West's battle with the state as part of the Tallahassee Takeover podcast.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection would be required to get technology capable of removing harmful algae, toxins and nutrients from water bodies under a bill that passed its first committee stop this week. Robbie Gaffney has more.
Florida had the most new H-I-V cases in the nation in 2019. That’s according to the latest federal data. Now, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s office trying to bring that number down. During a recent visit to the Leon County health department for World AIDS day Ladapo promised to would increase access to testing, treatment and prevention methods statewide. Valerie Crowder has more.
Hurricane season came to a close Tuesday. It was another active season in the Atlantic basin, and the sixth year in a row with above normal activity. However, Florida Public Radio Meteorologists Jeff Huffman and Megan Borowski can make the case that for the second straight year, Florida was largely spared. Besides the end of this year’s hurricane season, this report also turns out to be the last from Jeff Huffman, the founder and chief meteorologist for the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network. Jeff is leaving the organization to follow a new career course, but his legacy will continue as FPREN remains to provide the latest critical information during times of stormy weather to Florida’s public radio stations. Our thanks and best wishes to Jeff Huffman, along with congratulations and good luck to Megan Borowski who has been named the new head of FPREN.