The Rotunda
March 13, 2019
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Thousands of gardens across the state of Florida are playing a part in saving pollinators and the nation's food system. The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge was launched in 2015 as part of a nationwide call to revive collapsing bee colonies and improve the health of birds, bats, butterflies and other pollinators. The challenge was to register a million new gardens through the National Pollinator Garden Network – and through the efforts of schools, garden clubs, and mayors promoting community gardens, the goal was exceeded by 40,000 gardens.
March 4, 2019
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Those who provide comfort and protection for Floridians in crisis say they need more support. March is National Professional Social Work Month, and in Florida, more than 21,000 social workers provide assistance in schools, hospitals, mental health facilities and social service agencies.
Jim Akin, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers in Florida, says social workers often are unrecognized and under-compensated for their work, and that people often are surprised when they realize that social workers are everywhere.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis says he wants to give teachers a bonus of more than $9,000 in the coming year. It's his second big education announcement, after an executive order last week to eliminate Common Core standards from Florida schools.The proposed bonus is welcome news for cash-strapped teachers who sometimes dip into their own pockets to purchase school supplies. However, some have warned that it might be a massive and costly overhaul to remove elements of academic standards known as Common Core from the Florida Standards.
TAMPA, Fla. – A new study shows kids who attend Pre-Kindergarten programs do better in reading, writing and math as they get older than those who weren't enrolled. The Duke University study tracked the progress of students who'd been in North Carolina's pre-school program and showed gains in every group, no matter their household income, through eighth grade.
THE ROTUNDA – Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith explains his decision to jump from journalism to public relations during what he thinks is an unusually slow time in Florida politics. Also, after Secretary of State Mike Ertel resigned after photos of him in blackface was leaked to the press, Gov. Ron DeSantis picks Tampa Bay judge Laurel Moore Lee to fill the vacancy. However former Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho tells Gomes why he thinks the replacement should’ve been another elections supervisor. Gomes also interviews Coral Springs Commissioner Dan Daley about his bid for House District 97.
