The Rotunda
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Conservation groups say Florida's newly updated energy-saving goals are still too low and should be raised. The Florida Public Service Commission recently voted to maintain the state's current energy conservation goals through 2025 instead of following power companies' requests to lower or even eliminate those goals.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Youth advocates are planning to hold a press conference and rally in Florida's capitol today to speak out against a parental-consent abortion bill that's on fast-track through the Republican-controlled Legislature. Currently Florida law requires parental notification if a minor is planning an abortion, but under House Bill 265, revived by Republican Rep. Erin Grall of Vero Beach, a parent must provide consent. The bill is scheduled for just one stop in the House Health and Human Services Committee before it gets a full floor vote.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - For the fifth time in 24 years, Florida is changing its education standards - this time away from Common Core. But some educators say a complete overhaul is unnecessary. In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order to ditch Common Core, a set of academic standards in mathematics, arts and literacy that outline what students should know at the end of each grade. Some parents argue the guidelines are too rigid and require too much testing for students.
Episode 167: Resiliency Featured
THE ROTUNDA - Melba Pearson with the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU of Florida) explains their fight to get a judge to block Florida’s law requiring fees be paid before ex-felons can vote. Plus, educators like Brian Dean of Instruction Partners tells Gomes why he’s urging state officials to improve, instead of eliminating Florida’s Common Core educational standards. Gomes also talks with Doug Wheeler, president and CEO of the Florida Ports Council about their new study, which shows Florida’s 15 seaports are leading the nation in resiliency for sea level rise and natural disasters.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Voting- and civil-rights groups held a rally outside a Tallahassee federal court Monday, calling for a temporary injunction to allow former felons to continue to register to vote. In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment allowing some 1.4 million felons to regain their voting privileges. But the state's Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis requiring all fines, restitution and other financial obligations to be settled in order for felons to complete their sentences.
