State News

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Legislative Education Committees all have budget proposals completed or nearing completion. And most of them preserve direct funding to public schools. But other areas are suffering massive cuts. Lynn Hatter takes a look at one of those areas - Classroom textbooks.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Teachers were at the heart of a debate in the House K-12 Education Appropriations Committee Thursday. How to award bonuses to National Board Certified Teachers and whether or not to extend third year contracts to non-tenured teachers were big issues for Democrats. As Lynn Hatter reports, these arguments come as the committee prepared to approve final language on a conforming bill that would make the budge work.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The House says it has a plan to stave off a 525 million dollar cut to education. As Lynn Hatter reports, the PreK-12 Education Committee is holding education harmless.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Two measures aimed at raising high school graduation requirements got very different reactions Monday. As Lynn Hatter reports, one passed the House Full Education Appropriations Committee unanimously, the other, by a party line vote.

By Trimmel Gomes

Tallahassee, FL – Florida's private power companies would have to generate 20 percent of their power through clean sources by 2020 under a bill that took its first step in the Senate. Trimmel Gomes reports.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The numbers for the education budget are coming in and the news is a mixed bag. As Lynn Hatter reports, higher education may fare better this year, but lawmakers say they can't make any guarantees.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – The House finally has budget numbers and they aren't looking good. As Lynn Hatter reports, The House Pre-K-12 Education Committee is preparing to cut over 500 million dollars out of its budget.

By Trimmel Gomes

Tallahassee, FL – A victory Thursday for a nonpartisan government watchdog group which only last week announced the organization is shutting its Florida operations at the end of the month. Trimmel Gomes reports.

By Tom Flanigan

Tallahassee, FL – Homeless people and their advocates took their case to the Florida Capitol Wednesday. Tom Flanigan reports they do have some legislative support.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Three more women were added to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in a special ceremony earlier this week. They include a lawmaker, a businesswoman and a policymaker. Lynn Hatter brings you the third inductee, Betty Sembler of Treasure Island.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Three more women were added to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in a special ceremony earlier this week. They include a lawmaker, a businesswoman and a policy maker. Lynn Hatter brings you the second inductee Louise Courtelis of Gainesville

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Lawmakers are upping the stakes on education again. As Lynn Hatter reports. A proposal to boost high school graduation requirements is making its way through the legislature.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Three more women were added to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. They include a lawmaker, a philanthropist and a policy maker. Lynn Hatter brings you the first inductee. Former Florida State Senator, Gwen Margolis.

By Tom Flanigan

Tallahassee, FL – As many as one in three Florida jail and prison inmates suffer from mental illness. As Tom Flanigan reports, that's brought the state criticism from a national mental health advocacy group and legislation to divert more money and prison inmates into community mental health programs.

By James Call

Tallahassee, FL – Florida Senator Jeremy Ring says he was surprised by opposition during a committee meeting about an autism spectrum disorder bill he's sponsoring. However, James Call reports, Ring says he intends to work with the industry representative to address their concerns.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – A plan that would freeze school class sizes at current levels cleared a key House Committee Tuesday. Lynn Hatter reports.

By Tom Flanigan

Tallahassee – It's the second year for the so-called "Second Chance" bill for certain juvenile convicts serving life terms. As Tom Flanigan reports, it would allow Florida's Parole Commission to consider release, but only if tough terms are met.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Florida's spending on education has shrunk in the last two years. So much so, that the state doesn't qualify for a portion of the federal education stimulus dollars. The state's funding situation is so dire, that two senator's are now asking for a waiver. Lynn Hatter reports.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Part of the decline in public school funding is related to the decline in enrollment. But as Lynn Hatter reports, one age group of children is going up.

By Trimmel Gomes

Tallahassee, FL – Governor Charlie Crist taps Don Winstead, the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Children and Families to oversee the implementation of the federal stimulus package. Trimmel Gomes reports

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – With the state's prison population over 100 thousand, Florida is looking for ways to cut that number down. And as Lynn Hatter reports, that could start with revising the zero tolerance policy in public schools.

By Trimmel Gomes

Tallahassee, FL – State Representative Peter Nehr wants to make sure Progress Energy customers aren't stuck with the tab to build a new nuclear plant during these tough economic times. Trimmel Gomes reports.

By Lynn Hatter

Tallahassee, FL – Two legislators are proposing an overhaul to the state's abstinence only sex education requirements. Backing up the proposal is a new report by the Healthy Teens Campaign which says abstinence only education doesn't work. Lynn Hatter reports.

By Trimmel Gomes

Tallahassee, FL – U.S. Senator Bill Nelson has filed legislation to provide a federal backstop for Florida's Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Nelson's promoting yet another attempt at creating a federal fund to pool money to cover the costs of a major disaster. Trimmel Gomes reports.

By Tom Flanigan

Tallahassee, FL – The case of a young Broward County man is headed for the Florida Legislature this session. As Tom Flanigan tells us, the matter could impact the relationship between local governments and the insurance companies that sell them liability coverage.