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June 10, 2022

The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a challenge to a 2011 state law surrounding guns. A preemption law passed in 1987 says municipalities cannot have gun regulations stricter than those passed by the state. The 2011 law boosted penalties for such occurrences -- and that’s what has local governments upset. Gina Jordan has more about the ongoing legal challenge.

Current Florida law requires anyone who wants a concealed weapons permit must make that application through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The person in charge of the Department, Nikki Fried, has her own thought concerning the local gun regulation pre-emption case now before the state’s high court. She shared those thought’s with WGCU’s Cary Barbour.

Following the recent rash of mass shootings across the country, Florida Democrats pushed for a special session on gun reform measures. A special session is generally called by the governor, but lawmakers can call their own meeting of the legislature if at least 60 percent of the legislators in both chambers agree. Regan McCarthy reports lawmakers has until 3 p.m. Friday (today) to respond to a poll on the matter. As of this writing it was near certain there would not be enough support for a special session to move forward. (editor’s note: the poll of lawmakers ultimately came up short.)

A Sarasota County teacher has published a book on pre-and-post pandemic reading proficiencies among third-graders. As WUSF's Cathy Carter reports, the release comes as new data reveals just 53 percent of Florida's third graders passed the state’s reading test.

On the last day of school in Palm Beach County, teachers received a memo saying they had to review all the books in their classroom libraries for references to racism, sexism, and oppression. It’s part of the district’s effort to comply with new state laws. WLRN education reporter Kate Payne tells us: Some educators worry this new guidance flies in the face of state laws that have been on the books for years … ensuring students learn about some of the darkest parts of history.

Nearly ten percent of kids in the U-S are diagnosed with ADHD. The vast majority of them are prescribed some form of medication. Researchers at Florida International University discovered that while medication helps kids behave better and focus on their tasks … it doesn’t necessarily boost their academic performance. The researchers evaluated a group of children with ADHD and found that there was no difference in how well they learned…whether they were taking medication or a placebo. WLRN’s Wilkine Brutus spoke with Dr. William E. Pelham Junior. He is the senior author of the study and director at the Center for Children and Families.

At a press conference on Fort Myers Beach today/Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis touted historic spending on Everglades restoration and water resource protection efforts in the state’s coming fiscal year budget. He also announced the veto of a bill environmental advocates say would have added unnecessary hurdles to Everglades restoration projects. WGCU’s John Davis was there and has this report.