On tonight’s program: Lawmakers consider a bill that could lead to property taxes being eliminated; Opponents worry proposed changes to Florida’s anti-defamation laws could have some unintended consequences; Differences persist between the Florida House and Senate’s versions of bills to do away with some work restrictions for 16 and 17 year old kids who are still in school; Florida military and law enforcement personnel are headed for the Texas border with Mexico following a direct order from Governor DeSantis; After Florida’s Senate President announced Medicaid expansion is off the table, a group of advocates is pushing the change through a citizens initiative; The debate continues at the Florida Capitol about whether or not law enforcement officers can claim victim protections under Marsy’s Law; The cost is going down for Florida’s Prepaid College savings program; And Florida has lots of forests. So why doesn’t the state have lots of forest wild fires, like – say – California?

On tonight’s program: Let the horse trading begin! The Florida House and Senate have released their respective versions of a state budget for fiscal year 2024/25; Governor DeSantis is sending the newly re-activated Florida State Guard to Texas to help secure the border. The move surprised both the governor’s critics and his supporters; And Florida State University had its big day at the Capitol today, but the mood was tempered by the death on longtime Seminole baseball coach Mike Martin.

On tonight’s program: Let the horse trading begin! The Florida House and Senate have released their respective versions of a state budget for fiscal year 2024/25; Governor DeSantis is sending the newly re-activated Florida State Guard to Texas to help secure the border. The move surprised both the governor’s critics and his supporters; And Florida State University had its big day at the Capitol today, but the mood was tempered by the death on longtime Seminole baseball coach Mike Martin.

On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers approved a measure expanding the state’s affordable housing stock last year, but that historic measure is now getting a few tweaks; The Florida House is working to reverse the major provisions of the gun control measures passed in the wake of the Parkland shooting tragedy, but it seems the state Senate has little inclination to do the same; Gun owners would have to exercise more care when it comes to keeping their rounds from impacting neighboring property under a bill now being debated in the Florida Legislature; And Florida’s ports are seeing big boosts in both cargo and passenger business.

On tonight’s program: Parents would be able to sue in the case of a pregnancy ended through negligence under a bill now being debated in Tallahassee. Opponents fear the measure could be used as a weapon against anyone helping a pregnant woman receive an abortion; The battle continues at the Capitol over loosening Florida’s child labor laws. The Senate’s latest version of the bill differs little from the laws already in place; And raising the voter threshold to pass a Florida constitutional amendment from the present 60% to 66.67% is drawing fire from those who say if further limits the ability of the people to make changes when lawmakers refuse to do so.

On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers are ready to include more teacher pay increases in their state budget plan. But it seems that may not be enough to defuse tensions among teachers who say it’s too little too late; Governor DeSantis and the legislative leader are getting behind four proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution; Governor DeSantis is appealing a recent federal court decision that favored Andrew Warren, the Hillsborough County state attorney the governor suspended last year; Ai generated political messages and some other uses of that technology would require full public disclosure if Florida lawmakers get their way; Proposed restrictions on social media access for young people have Governor DeSantis concerned about possible legal problems with that legislation; And several Florida elected officials were meeting with the families of gun violence victims last week as part of National Gun Violence Survivors Week.

On tonight’s program: Lawmakers are moving toward a ban on citizen police review boards; We talk with an expert on the impacts of unrestricted social media access on kids and younger teens; Pro-Palestinian student groups at two Florida universities continue to draw the ire of state officials who want to see the organizations disbanded; Florida lawmakers are subject to term limits and many of them support the same thing for local elected officials. But not all of those folks are fans of the idea; An inconclusive environmental study ordered by Florida lawmakers leads at least one advocacy group to suspect there may be something going on behind the scenes; And community and government organizations are joining forces to care for newborns whose mothers can’t.

On tonight’s program: Kids under the age of 16 would be banned from social media sites under legislation now picking up speed in the Florida Legislature; State lawmakers are looking at giving the governor the authority to order the Florida State Guard to cross state lines to help with disasters and other serious situations; The practice of “swatting,” or making bogus calls to law enforcement to report serious, violent crimes has now prompted a federal response; It would be a lot easier for storage unit firms to clear out and liquidate abandoned property under a bill now being considered in Florida; And today was Jimmy Buffet Day at the Florida Capitol.

On tonight’s program: Florida’s school voucher program got off to a shaky start as this school year got underway. Now the Florida House is suggesting some improvements; With home insurance rates still soaring, the state’s legislative Democrats are calling on their G.O.P. colleagues and Governor DeSantis to concentrate more on affordable housing; And talking smack to a police officer or other first responding could land you in jail under provisions of a bill now working its way through the Florida Legislature.

On tonight’s program: Democrats are speculating openly while Republicans are whispering privately: what will happen now that Governor DeSantis is back in Tallahassee to stay after his unsuccessful presidential bid?; Crime victims hold a Capitol rally and demand more be done to prevent crime and help its victims; State identification and insurance coverage requirements are the latest measures being considered by Florida lawmakers to impact the state’s transgender residents; No historical monuments – including those celebrating Confederate figures or the Confederate cause – could be removed under a bill moving through the Legislature; And the famed Tuskegee Airman would be honored under a bill that cleared an important committee today.

On tonight’s program: Governor Ron DeSantis suspended his presidential bid over the weekend. The head of Florida’s Democratic Party approves, but is also concerned about what kind of mood the governor may be in when he returns to Tallahassee; Florida abortion access advocates are marking the anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision, even though another U.S. Supreme Court decision a year-and-a-half ago nullified Roe; Florida lawmakers are considering restrictions on local governments’ ability to raise their tax rates; Juveniles caught with illegal firearms could face felony charges if a bill moving through the Florida House becomes law; And bears are having more interactions with people in Florida and the Legislature is considering a bill to allow people to kill bears that stray onto their property.

On tonight's program: Florida lawmakers are looking at more restrictions on local governments and some of those local officials are more than a little concerned; Would more kids make it to school more consistently – and parents be happier – if school was year-round? Florida’s unemployment rate edged up in December; Florida’s ACLU chapter is heading to court to try and counter a number of bills the organization considers counter to the public interest; Just in case Ron DeSantis doesn’t win the presidency this year, might he get another shot in four years? We’ll check in with NBC’s senior political reporter for an answer; Why was Florida colored orange on national weather maps over the weekend while most of the rest of the country was purple? And we look at the fight between Florida State University and the athletic conference it’s trying to escape.

On tonight’s program: Florida’s young people may have some roadblocks to social media sites if a bill under consideration in the House achieves final passage; A bill to encourage more healthcare professionals in Florida is moving ahead in the Senate; Florida has turned down a federal offer of funding to provide more summer meals for kids. The Biden administration is trying to change that decision; We get an update on a bill to restrict all but certain flags to be raised on flagpoles that sit on government property; And Florida’s Arbor Day is Friday, January 19. The state’s 200 garden clubs will be out in force to promote more tree planting.

On tonight’s program: The Florida Senate starts looking at a constitutional amendment proposal that would halt public financing for statewide office campaigns; Flags other than U.S. and state flags would be banned from government building and school flagpoles under a bill being considered in the Florida House; Last week’s tornadoes hit Jackson County hard and one businessman there is still assessing damage to his property; And the move is on to dethrone the mockingbird as Florida’s official state bird.

On tonight’s program: After a razor-thin second place finish in the Iowa causes, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hits the campaign trail for New Hampshire and South Carolina; Pregnancy care inflames partisan passions in the Florida Capitol; Term limits for Florida’s county commissioners is moving ahead in this year’s legislature, but it seems the matter may not be the slam-dunk its proponents imagined; And new safeguards for students on the autism spectrum are under consideration by Florida lawmakers.

On tonight’s program: Governor Ron DeSantis faces a day of decision in Iowa, and the future seems uncertain; A suspected human trafficking ring in Tallahassee is under arrest as the state marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month; We hear about some new bills impacting members of the LGBTQ community in Florida; Some state lawmakers want to impose more limits on what local governments can do when it comes to the firms they hire as contractors; A celebrated author of a new book on Florida wildlife would like to see state lawmakers take a more organized approach to protecting fragile natural eco-systems; And we revisit the stormy start to the legislative season this past Tuesday when tornadoes touched down across the Florida Panhandle.

On tonight’s program: Both the Florida House and Senate would like to give traditional public schools a break from some of the state regulations imposed over the past 20 years. But so far they haven’t agreed on how big a break that should be; Young people would have less unrestricted access to social media under a bill now kicking around the Legislature; Differences between the House and Senate on partial loosening of teen work restrictions are still in the “working out” stage; And LGBTQ+ advocates are upset over what they see as yet more discriminatory legislation coming out of the Florida Capitol.

On tonight’s program: Both legislative chambers are getting closer to working out their differences in bills that would remove some of the current restrictions involving child labor in Florida; A rise in dangerous human-bear interactions in parts of North Florida have some residents and law enforcers calling for increased use of lethal force, but many conservationists argue that’s taking things too far; A prominent state senator is proposing new restrictions on vote-by-mail, but that idea isn’t gaining traction with Senate President Passidomo; And youth programs, such as Ladies Learning to Lead, are hoping lawmakers will meet their funding requests this session.

On tonight’s program: The 2024 Florida Lawmaking Session gets underway with the Capital City and surrounding North Florida counties under a tornado warning; Governor DeSantis’s State of the State speech is mostly a recap of accomplishments from last year; Democratic lawmakers pan the speech during their formal responses to the State of the State address; And the Florida Legislature’s Republican leadership presents a united front as the session begins.

On tonight’s program: How will Governor DeSantis’s presidential aspirations affect his influence over Florida lawmakers during the upcoming session?; Florida doesn’t have enough doctors and this session, the state’s Senate President wants to do something about it; Could fewer regulations and requirements make Florida’s traditional public schools more responsive to students’ specific needs?; Florida lawmakers will soon consider limiting what young people can and can’t access on social media; More Florida teens would be allowed to work under a bill being teed up for the 2024 session; And a growing number of local officials are leaving office because of new financial disclosure requirements.

On tonight’s program: A massive expansion of education vouchers gives Florida kids even more choices when it comes to their education; Florida abortion law doesn’t allow an exception when the life of the pregnant person is in danger for mental health reasons. That’s especially concerning considering that many pregnant people struggle to access mental health care; Florida leaders recommended avoiding the new COVID booster shot approved in September -- against federal guidance; Florida passed a law allowing citizens to carry firearms without advance permitting during 2023. But at least one of the state’s sheriffs had serious reservations; An industrial closing leaves hundreds of people in uncertainly; And a few issues actually found sweeping bipartisan support in 2023. Like making both infant and adult diapers exempt from state sales taxes.

On tonight’s program: With the countdown clock ticking towards Florida’s 2024 lawmaking session, the leaders of the House and Senate are making the rounds pitching their priorities; There’s a big chunk of money Florida could tap to fight childhood hunger. IF state officials hurry up and apply for it; Youthful gun violence is a multi-generational tragedy; A statewide plan to do away with local civilian police oversight boards has begun drawing some pushback; Firefighters across Florida are keeping a close eye on negotiations between the City of Tallahassee and the union representing the city’s firefighters. Among the issues, coverage against the cancer hazards of the profession; Florida’s move over law isn’t just a good idea, it’s also a lifesaver; And Internet cafes are illegal in Florida. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t still around.

On tonight’s program: As Florida sheds many thousands of people from its Medicaid rolls, there are those who suggest the result hasn’t been pretty; We hear how one Florida community is handling the explosion in youthful gun violence; A Central Florida school is using international teachers to handle the state’s shortage of educators; What happens when a politician teaches a political science class? The mocking bird is the state bird of Florida. But it’s also the bird for four other states and not everyone is happy about that; And lessons on how to avoid making outrageous electric bills a part of the holiday festivities.

On tonight’s program: Governor DeSantis rolls out a state budget that’s smaller than this year’s!; Florida’s House Speaker looks ahead to the upcoming lawmaking session; The pressure is building for the wife of Florida’s Republican Party chair to step down from her school board job; Academic freedom is becoming a flashpoint on Florida’s public campuses; It seems a contract dispute between Tallahassee firefighters and the city that employs could have impacts far beyond the Capital City limits; And the spat between Florida State University’s football program and the college football playoff establishment, is bringing some high-powered support from all over the place.

On tonight’s program: Tis’ the season, and there’s some good news for holiday shoppers who are watching their overall spending; Serious misconduct allegations are swirling around Florida’s Republican Party Chair and his wife who sits on the Sarasota County School Board; The controversy over transgender student athletes roils a school in Fort Lauderdale; A Holocaust survivor recalls his family’s narrow escape from what would likely have been their doom; We’ll visit a gallery devoted to Florida’s natural habitats and wildlife; And speaking of wildlife, have you checked out the monkeys in Gainesville?

On tonight’s program: Mobile homes are among the last affordable housing options in Florida. IF you don’t get evicted; It’s no surprise that property insurance rates are going up for many Florida homeowners. But it seems that isn’t the only problem, even for those who have policies with the so-called “insurer of last resort”; New state government restrictions on the collection of teachers’ union dues is having a significant impact on the state’s largest teachers’ union and its membership; Music fans have their “Lollapalooza.” So why shouldn’t the retail ravenous have their own “Shopapalooza?”; Holiday shoppers beware! Not all bargain buys are for real and we have some helpful hints to help you avoid getting scammed; And the State of Florida inducts its latest members of the Veterans Hall of Fame.

On tonight’s program: In the wake of Veterans Day, a proposed bill to provide more care and comfort for vets in nursing home facilities; A plan to expand Florida’s Telehealth program may be just what the doctor ordered for many expectant moms; There’s yet another remarkable twist in a Florida murder case that was already a hot mess to begin with; As frightening as a new novel about Florida’s infamous Dozier School for Boys is, even the author says it can’t come close to how horrible the reality was; And Florida’s first syringe exchange program, widely criticized when it began 7 years ago, seems to be working better than anyone expected.

On tonight's program: A special lawmaking session expands Florida’s school voucher program, although there are still unanswered questions; Vouchers weren’t the only items up for debate during this week’s special session at the Florida Capitol; Lawmakers also extended more help to Hurricane Idalia victims and banned state investment in countries like Iran; A university-level sociology course containing references to sexuality, gender identity, race and ethnicity appears to be on the chopping block in Florida; Republican presidential hopefuls had another debate this week. Although some were wondering why; It seems art and culture is a bigger business in Florida than most people realize; Even though state government keeps pre-empting more and more local authority, communities like Punta Gorda are still trying to regulate such things as short term rental properties; And there’s a move afoot to expand the honors accorded Florida’s military veterans.

On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee next week: on their to-do list: more sanctions for Iran; How do Americans feel about the latest Israel-Hamas war?; A recent survey says, it’s complicated…; And an advocacy group for undocumented young people gets a new leader; It was a record nesting season for one of Florida’s favorite creatures: the sea turtle; But it was a dangerous time for pedestrians in the state; And fighting fetal and infant mortality requires having a better understanding of the communities that are impacted.

On tonight's program: Despite the legislature’s past efforts, property insurance rates in Florida are not dropping. Now lawmakers are planning to give it another go in a special session and maybe beyond; There’s a bit of good news about the state of Northwest Florida’s world-famous oyster beds; The controversy over what books can and can’t be included in public school libraries rages on; Florida approves new public school learning materials from a source that seems to have a very specific religious viewpoint; New state rules also seem to be putting a crimp on what can and can’t be said on public college and university campuses in Florida; And we hear the story of "Surf Skate Science" — and what some see as an educational renaissance in Florida.

On tonight’s program: Some Florida leaders worry the death struggle between Israel and Hamas may boil over into the United States; Data shows efforts to curb Florida’s looming nursing shortage may be working; Charges are dropped against a Florida woman who’d been accused of voter fraud; We take a look at some new developments in the fight to control the spread of harmful algae in Florida’s lakes and streams; And ss cooler weather FINALLY moves into Florida, we’ll take a look back at a VERY steamy summer.

On tonight’s program: The war between Israel and Hamas sends shock waves around the world, including Florida; After years of official foot-dragging, Florida will once again put out information on COVID cases in the Sunshine State; The arrest of an elderly woman on charges of voter fraud has shone a spotlight on the uncertainties contained within the law she’s accused of breaking; What books can and can’t be accessed by students in public school libraries? The ongoing debate may be prompting some Florida school districts to overreact; And five years after the Florida Panhandle was devastated by a hurricane called Michael, recovery efforts continue.

Domestic violence shelters are overflowing forcing some people to stay with their abusers; Inflation and a population boom are leading to a volatile housing market and a rising number of people experiencing homelessness; After growing up without knowing much about his parents a historic cemetery helps one person reconnect with his roots; In Florida hiring has been hot, but in some cases qualified workers can be hard to come by; The spacecoast is on pace for a record number of launches this year—partly due to Starlink Satellites; And Florida high school athletes may soon be able to earn money from their name image or likeness.

On tonight’s program: As a federal government shutdown looms, some local service agencies are readying for the worst; A long list of new laws take effect in Florida Oct. 1; Fans who like to run out onto the field of play at sporting events may want to rethink that behavior as a new Florida law takes effect; The aftermath of Hurricane Ian persists, especially its physical and emotional impact; Of course, the storm also caused terrific devastation to the places where people live; And we pay tribute to a couple of Floridians – one famous and another relatively unknown – whose work impacted politics in the state.

On tonight's program: A new Florida law aims to make more fathers more responsible for their families; The guy who’ll become Florida House Speaker late next year is a firm believer in the small government model; A devastating one-two punch for rural Taylor County in the Florida Panhandle. First a hurricane, and now the paper mill that is the county’s largest single employer is closing; America’s Medicare program can now negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies. And that’s not all; Online sports betting is expected to be a multi-billion dollar business in Florida IF the activity is ultimately approved by policymakers; A new scientific tool will help analysts and forecasters get a better handle on future hurricanes; And we remember the groundbreaking journalist who, for many years covered the Florida Capitol, striking fear into the hearts of those she covered while also winning their unabashed respect.

On tonight’s program: Abortion access advocates and opponents share their thoughts as the state supreme court considers whether Florida’s 15-week ban violates the state constitution; Florida leaders recommend avoiding the new COVID booster shot -- against federal guidance; Call it the “forbidden fruit syndrome.” Ban books and a secret book club will spring up so more people can read them; When the state’s policy on teaching history is more than a bit murky, how are public school teachers responding to the possible pitfalls?; Proposed federal legislation may be great for farmers, but not so great for the low-income families that depend on their produce; As inflation eases, will the Federal Reserve back off on interest rate hikes? A big wig at the fed says, “Don’t get your hopes up.”

On tonight’s program: Dueling demonstrations take place outside the Florida Supreme Court as the justices begin considering the state’s new abortion law; When underage drinking results in a death, is the responsible party the young drinker or the bar that illegally served them?; Governor DeSantis’s visit to Jacksonville this week following a fatal shooting did not exactly go as planned; Florida’s Madison County isn’t considered coastal. But that doesn’t mean it’s immune from hurricane damage. Luckily, a lot of people are helping get things back to normal; Hurricane Idalia recovery continues as the small businesses in Steinhatchee struggle to get back up and running; A potential threat to North Florida’s vast underground springs has some residents pushing for the state to take over more of the land that sits atop those springs; And officials in Key West are considering naming the city’s airport after the late Jimmy Buffett and we explore the historic connection between Buffet and former Florida Governor Bob Graham.

On tonight's program: Recovery is a long way off for places like Perry, that were hit hard by Idaliah, but residents remain hopeful they can get through it—together; For some parts of North Florida like Wakulla County, Idalia was a case of a dodged bullet; For coastal areas like Clearwater Beach, storm surge was Idalia’s calling card, even though the center of the storm was far away; When hurricanes strike, the filing of a property insurance claim often follows shortly thereafter; A historic tree on the grounds of the Florida Governor’s Mansion was a casualty of the hurricane; And how might Governor DeSantis’s response to this week’s hurricane impact his political aspirations?

On tonight’s program: Voting rights advocates say they’re feeling cautiously hopeful after a court hearing on Florida’s congressional district maps. Opponents say the current maps violate the state constitution; Advocates want the state to take a break on removing people from its Medicaid rolls as thousands of recipients are losing health coverage because of confusion, not because they don’t qualify; New rules are now in place for how parents can challenge books in classrooms and school libraries; After lawmakers passed a slate of laws this session that target the LGBTQ+ community, some families are leaving the state; Florida’s new immigration law is putting added stress on students with undocumented family members; Officials say Florida hurricanes are getting wetter and are leading to greater concerns about the impact mold exposure can have on health; And Florida’s controlled burn program helps prevent wildfires like the deadly fire that devastated Hawaii earlier this month.

On tonight’s program: Florida public schools have staff shortages. But what that number is depends on who you ask; Could a lost Florida congressional district make a reappearance before next year’s election?; College life is stressful. So more schools are putting resources in place to help troubled students cope and succeed; How do you tell the world about the outstanding academics at Florida’s colleges and universities?; Florida’s July unemployment rate is up just slightly from June; And inflation isn’t only for consumer goods. The cost of money is going up, too.

On tonight's program: As the kids head back to Florida’s classrooms, it seems there are a lot fewer teachers to welcome them; Some college and university student groups may have to change their names because of Florida’s new rules against diversity, equity and inclusion; Women are struggling to access healthcare during and after pregnancy; Florida has a new requirement that hospitals check the citizenship status of patients. Supporters say it will reduce the burden on taxpayers for treating undocumented persons; A new hi-tech way to carjack is catching on in Florida; Governor DeSantis suspends another state attorney; And conditions are becoming unbearable inside Florida prisons that lack air conditioning.

On tonight’s program: Florida has always been about real estate. Except now, there’s a restriction on property sales to people from one specific country; Pushback against Florida’s new African-American History guidelines is coming from teachers, some state lawmakers and even from the vice president of the United States; Florida’s campaign against environment, social and governance when it comes to consumer products and investing may not be working out as intended by state policy makers; Super-heated sea water is bleaching the coral formations offshore of the Florida Keys; A proposed gas station atop Wakulla County’s delicate underground spring system is drawing fierce opposition; Most folks think of algae blooms as a bad thing. But it appears they may also be very useful in certain situations; And we get a preview of a new book about the Sunshine State.

On tonight's program: You may have heard about a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion access, but there’s also a proposal that would ban abortion in most cases; Pushback regarding Florida’s new African American History standards hits a new crescendo; Faced with dwindling numbers, Florida Democrats are stepping up their efforts to stay politically relevant; It seems not every energy source claiming to be sustainable truly is; New immigration laws in Florida are persuading a growing number of immigrants to leave the state; And three-quarters of a century ago, the United States did away with segregation in the nation’s armed forces and civilian federal workforce.

On tonight’s program: Florida’s new immigration law is being considered in federal court; Anti-discrimination advocates are pushing back against a new state law that bans many Chinese people from buying property in Florida...; A Florida researcher talks about what she found when she looked into the impact of fossil fuel energy companies on Florida utility policy; Soaring temperatures are proving deadly to children left in parked cars; We have an update on how new Florida laws are impacting the state’s convention and meeting trade; A Sarasota attorney is the newly-elected president of the Florida Bar; And we go angling for a fish that hasn’t exactly been the most popular among those who fish for sport.

On tonight’s program: Florida’s property insurance market gets even more turbulent; But there may be a glimmer of light in the darkness of the property insurance tunnel; The regional Federal Reserve president talks interest rates and inflation in Florida; Nearly half a billion dollars for broadband expansion has been awarded across Florida this year, and more federal funding is on its way; More than 100 Floridians recently walked across the stage at Camp Blanding, signifying their completion of the state’s newly revived State Guard boot camp; And maternal mortality is rising—especially for minority groups.

On tonight’s program: Florida’s new LGBTQ+ laws have some people questioning their own existence; Restrictions on public school discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity remains a deeply divisive issue in Florida; Some Florida university faculty say the state’s new restrictions on so-called “wokeness” are causing them to look elsewhere for employment; New Florida laws are convincing some convention and meeting clients to take their business to other states; A growing number of prescription medications are becoming tougher – if not impossible – to obtain; How can caregivers of those with dementia help them make it through disasters like hurricanes?; After one positive test, state wildlife officials say they’re working to understand the spread of chronic wasting disease, an illness that attacks deer; New regulations intended to protect endangered whales may be doing more harm than good; Pit bull owners will have reason to celebrate this fall when a new state law puts an end to all local breed restrictions...

On tonight’s program: Florida educators say new legislation is driving them out of the school system; Florida teachers unions are also under siege as the result of newly-passed legislation; Abortion access advocates say they remain hopeful as they work to gather enough petitions to put the right to abortion on the ballot; As an anti-immigration law goes into effect, opponents march on Florida’s capitol; Wonder of wonders, medical marijuana issues attract bi-partisan support in the Florida Legislature; And we listen in as two kindred spirits discuss gender and identity.

On tonight’s program: Advocates of transgender rights are celebrating a federal court ruling that struck down a state ban on Medicaid coverage of gender affirming care; A year after the Dobbs decision, bitterness still lingers; Civil rights advocates tour the state in an effort to raise awareness of recent policies they say are harmful...; What advocates say are legislative attacks on racial justice and equity have moved an upcoming statewide conference on those topics to Tallahassee; After years of shedding customers, Florida’s insurer of last resort is growing again, much to the distress of those who’ve been trying to get more policyholders back into the commercial insurance market; We visit a center that helps counsel immigrants amidst the new changes in state law; And Florida’s new State Guard is getting a home to call its own.

On tonight's program: DeSantis signed the budget Thursday. He says it includes money to push environmental cleanup projects forward; A recent U-S Supreme Court decision striking down Alabama's racially-gerrymandered congressional map might not directly affect challenges to Florida's map, but it's still considered a win for voting rights advocates; And Duane Owen died for his crimes Thursday night -- nearly four decades after he committed them. One of his victims' sisters says that's unacceptable.

On tonight’s program: After a federal judge blocked Florida’s bans on gender affirming care for kids some are questioning what drove those rules in the first place; A potential conflict of interest muddies the waters on the Florida Supreme Court’s consideration of abortion restriction; As school book restrictions multiply, some schools and teachers in Florida are backing the “freedom to read”; Hate groups are on the rise in Florida; Florida is adopting a more interconnected approach to fighting human trafficking; Florida’s rural counties may be seeing more infrastructure, thanks to state lawmaker; A former Democratic presidential hopeful is launching a third political party with a different kind of focus; Florida’s foster care laws and regulations can be confusing. But help is on the way; And we cut through the confusion when it comes to weather advisories from one of the best in the business.

On tonight's program: Florida’s restrictive new immigration statutes are causing distress, even among some immigrants with full legal status; A push to enshrine abortion rights in Florida’s constitution is underway. But even supporters admit it won’t be easy; Florida’s first openly gay state senator says this year’s Pride Month observance is particularly important; Some members of the LGBTQ+ community are taking self-defense courses in the wake of state laws they fear will make them even more of a target for violence; Florida A&M University is waging a legal battle against what it says is unfair treatment by the State of Florida; The good news, forecasters say there may be fewer hurricanes this year than the recent past. The bad news, it may not matter if even one big storm hits Florida; As another hurricane season gets underway, one part of Florida is still recovering from last year. And residents there are growing weary; And two sea animals rescued after being affected by red tide off Florida's west coast are now back in the Gulf.

On tonight’s program: As Florida heads into Summer several civil rights groups are urging some tourists to beware of the Sunshine State…;Florida Environmentalists are blasting a new law they say will further exacerbate sprawl. But supporters say its meant to curb frivolous lawsuits against local governments; Governor Ron DeSantis hopes to return to Washington D.C…. as president; As the state cracks down on gender-affirming care for minors some adults say they’re now having problems accessing their treatments; Florida’s doubling down on parental rights but what about those who want kids to be free to read what they want?; And the Memorial Day weekend is upon us featuring the nation’s oldest music festival.

On tonight's program: The battle over what can and can’t be taught in Florida’s institutions of higher learning rages on; The argument in favor of many measures targeting the LGBTQ+ community is that they’re intended to protect kids, but, limitations for adults frequently follow close behind; Measures to reduce human trafficking of all kinds in Florida are now officially on the books; New immigration laws in Florida spark objections, but to little avail; An influx of students from other lands is boosting enrollments in Florida’s largest school district; And wonder of wonders! The Florida Legislature passes and the Governor approves a bill that nearly everyone liked.

On tonight’s program: Under fire from Florida’s governor, a North Florida school superintendent is getting support from lots of folks in his district; Conscientious objection to certain treatments or care by health professionals is now enshrined in Florida law; A new military unit under the control of the Florida governor is raising some eyebrows as well as concerns. Although supporters say it’s needed; The head of the Florida Chamber of Commerce isn’t worried about any possible chilling effect on business recruitment because of the governor’s fight with a corporation called Disney. Even when help is available to make housing more affordable, it seems some folks have trouble using it; A famous Florida coastal community struggles to protect itself from the next devastating hurricane; And a longtime assumption that opinions about climate change are political may be changing.

On tonight’s program: The 2023 Florida Lawmaking Session is over. Lawmakers dropped the ceremonial hanky considerable earlier than usual; Florida lawmakers send two bills to the governor targeting Disney; Two of our pre-eminent capital reporters give their take on the session just past; Open government supporters have real concerns following this year’s lawmaking session; The federal trial of Andrew Gillum ends with exoneration on one account and a hung jury on the others; And there were plenty of protests during this session. But perhaps, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

On tonight’s program: The trial of Andrew Gillum and his business associate Sharon Lettman-Hicks is over. At least for now; Lawmakers say “nay” when it comes to gender-affirming care for kids; State government in Florida takes over even more duties from local governments; A measure cracking down on third-party drug prescription oversight firms is signed by the governor; And stricter measures against human trafficking clear the legislature.

On tonight’s program: Florida parents could have even more of a say over what’s in public school libraries as part of a expanded parental rights bill; Higher education programs are also under scrutiny from those who accuse the institutions of systemic “wokeness”; While supporters say a bill that protects conscientious objections for medical services bars discrimination, others warn that will be the result; Lawmakers pass a bill restricting how hemp products can be marketed in Florida; Florida governors would be able to fly – literally under the Sunshine Law radar – because of a bill now flying to the governor’s desk; And opponents fear a bill allowing coastal redevelopment could be a death knell for Miami Beach’s historic art deco district.

On tonight's program: The governor signs a bill targeting what’s known as ESG investments; Some trial defendants would be spared from deposition requirements under a bill heading to Governor DeSantis’s desk; The federal trial of former Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is still in the hands of the jury; A bill is nearing passage that would require state inspectors, rather than Disney employees, to make sure the theme park’s iconic monorail system is safe; And current Florida state employees will likely see a pay hike. State retirees though, probably won’t.