Governor Ron DeSantis reconfigured the state's congressional map this year. That move eliminated North Florida's only congressional district where African American voters can elect their preferred candidate. As Valerie Crowder reports, many voters in that district will choose between two incumbents: a longtime Black Democratic lawmaker and a white Republican congressman.
The fourth-largest school district in the nation won't be teaching students about safe sex or STI prevention for at least several months. That's after a small minority of parents successfully challenged comprehensive health textbooks for middle and high schoolers. Former Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho says he hopes the school board fast-tracks a plan to adopt new books — especially since state law requires health classes to cover teen pregnancy and teen dating violence. Carvalho now leads the public school district in Los Angeles. He spoke with WLRN's Jessica Bakeman during a national conference of education journalists in Orlando over the weekend.
Florida's new state law banning most abortions after 15 weeks leaves health care providers with fewer options when treating pregnant patients. South Florida physicians say they're frustrated that state legislators are making abortion laws without medical expertise.
People of Hispanic descent across the country are feeling less optimistic about the state of the economy in the second quarter of 2022. That’s due to many factors, including rising inflation and a possible recession, according to an economics poll by Florida Atlantic University. WLRN’s Wilkine Brutus learned more from Monica Escaleras [Skah-LET-ahs]. She’s Chair of the economics department at FAU and director of a new polling initiative.
The Department of Energy reports sales of electric vehicles grew nationwide by 85 percent from 2020 to 2021. The Biden Administration is pushing for more EV’s– and wants to build out a national charging network. WLRN’s Yvonne zum Tobel [ZOOM-toe-bull] tells us what Florida’s doing to expand EV infrastructure.