Session 2013

Does The Governor Deserve Credit For The Economy?

Elaine Chen — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

On The Florida Roundup, we take a special look at the economy.

Employment, tourism and real estate numbers suggest a recovery. We’ll examine whether Gov. Rick Scott’s “it’s working” motto is actually working -- for him.

The 7 Things To Know About Florida's Legislative Session

Elaine Chen — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:38:27 +0000

So many issues made the headlines during the state's 60-day legislative session. But if you haven't been following the ins-and-outs of Tallahassee, we have you covered. Here are the 7 main events from Florida’s recently concluded legislative session.

Winners And Losers From Florida's Legislative Session

Elaine Chen — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Join us for The Florida Roundup today at noon for a special look back at the 2013 state legislative session and a follow-up with participants from our WLRN-Miami Herald Town Hall in February.

Enjoy Florida's Wetlands Before They Disappear

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:03:00 +0000

The recently-wrapped 2013 Florida Legislative session was an active one for those who track environmental issues in the Sunshine State.

List Of Florida Legislation That Passed, Failed In 2013

News Service of Florida — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:41:47 +0000

Lawmakers have gone home. The following is a partial list of bills that were passed or failed to pass during the 2013 Florida Legislative session. (Please note: This is NOT a comprehensive list.)

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out an interactive bill tracker of this year's session from the Miami Herald.

Join The Florida Roundup Live Chat At Noon On WLRN

Elaine Chen — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

The Week's Top Florida News: Dolphins And Diplomas

Elaine Chen — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Join us Friday at noon on 91.3 FM WLRN for an hour's discussion on the week's headlines, including:

Legislation on health care, ethics, elections and education dominate the final days of the current session in Tallahassee.

Are You A Dirty Politican? Play Our Ethics Game

Elaine Chen — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:00:42 +0000

Everyone loves to complain about political corruption. But would you do any better? Play our interactive game, Tallanasty, and find out if you would be a cleaner Florida politician.

Florida Roundup: Gun Control, Medicaid, Venezuela

Elaine Chen — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Join us for an hour of conversation about the week's news on The Florida Roundup, live at noon on WLRN:

Top News This Week In South Florida: Dolphins Referendum, Venezuelan Election And Medicaid

Elaine Chen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Join us for an hour of conversation about the week's news on The Florida Roundup, live at noon on WLRN. Here's what we're watching:

Lawmaker Warns Parent Trigger Bill Confuses Empowerment With Involvement

Gina Jordan — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:50:27 +0000

'Medical Marijuana' Contradicts A Physician's Do-No-Harm Mantra, Doctor Says

Dr. David A. Gross — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:32:00 +0000

A patient, we’ll call him John, called my office several years ago, frantic over the behavior of his son Aaron. “My son thinks there are helicopters circling our home, following his movements,” he said.

At my office the next day, dad was frantic. Aaron, who appeared disheveled and preoccupied, presented his experiences in a matter-of-fact style. He was certain some authority had singled him out to be placed under surveillance. He had no insight into the psychotic nature of his thinking.

Hey, Everybody! Florida Is Looking At A Budget Surplus Next Year

Gina Jordan — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Florida lawmakers are doing something they haven't done in years: adding money to state programs.

The recession sent the state into multi-billion-dollar budget shortfalls that led to big cuts in education and state government payrolls.

Unlike Most States, Florida Forbids Nurse Practitioners From Prescribing Some Drugs

Valerie Kolbert — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:01:00 +0000

Once upon a time, nurses were not allowed to take blood pressure – only the doctor could do that. Times change.

But they haven’t changed enough. For 19 years, nurse practitioners in Florida have tried to get the right to practice to the full extent of our education and capability, which includes prescribing scheduled substances. So far, our efforts have been fruitless.

What's Snuffing Out Medical Weed In Florida?

Rick Stone — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

A medical marijuana bill sponsored by two South Florida Democrats has reached the end of the line in Tallahassee.

Feral Cats Bill Pits Animal Welfare Advocates Against Conservationalists

Tricia Woolfenden — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Animal welfare advocates are at odds with wildlife conservationalists as the Florida Senate prepares this week to look at a controversial feral cat bill.

Why Hasn't Florida Banned Texting And Driving?

Arianna Prothero — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:11:00 +0000

Steve Augello lives in Spring Hill Florida, just outside of Tampa. Like a lot of dads, he always made his 17-year-old daughter, Alessandra, check-in with him when she was out. Augello also had a rule.

“You weren’t allowed to have that cell phone out while you’re driving,” Augello remembers telling Alessandra. “I even tested her a few times I called her when she was driving and it always went right through to the recorder.”

South Florida Seniors To Lawmakers: Hands Off Our Arcades

Christine DiMattei — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:20:43 +0000

Playing cards -- even though you hate it.

Going shopping -- although you already have a closetful of clothes.

Staying home and watching television? Yawn.

Golf? Not on your life.

Many of the senior citizens who gathered Tuesday in solidarity at Boynton Beach’s Cleopatra Arcade paint a grim picture of a future without their beloved senior arcades.

With Majority Of Floridians In Favor, Lawmakers Debate Medicinal Marijuana

Karen Goldstein — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:00:22 +0000

My dedication to legalizing medical marijuana results from personal experience. My daughter has epilepsy, and although she was always compliant with her medication, she continued to have occasional seizures. When she moved to California for her job, and had yet another seizure, she met with a neurologist, who recommended that she join a medical marijuana dispensary. That was in 2000. She has not had another seizure since.

Referendum Would Give Miami Dade College A Half-Cent Tax

Theo Karantsalis — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:01:29 +0000

Lonnie Robinson fell on hard times in the early 80s with drugs and alcohol. Addiction kept him out of college for decades, and he found himself living under a bridge. During the day, Robinson found solace at a Miami Dade College library in Liberty City, where a reading program changed the future course of his life. He graduated from the college in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Floridians Would Get Right To Speak Before Public Boards Under Proposed Legislation

Theo Karantsalis — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:02:50 +0000

Citizens do not have the right to speak before a public board or commission takes official action, according to Florida’s Constitution. Though Florida citizens have a right to access public records and meetings, they do not have a right to be heard before governmental bodies take official action any given proposal. This means that city council members, county commissioners and other officials could vote on issues without letting citizens have their say.

Florida Republican Leaders Under Fire For Rejecting Medicaid Expansion Plan

Allison Goodman — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

When they voted on Medicaid expansion in Florida this month, Florida legislative leaders mostly organized along party lines. Now, the Republicans are getting heat from their Democratic counterparts in the House.

According to the News Service of Florida,

The Best App To Keep Tabs On Your State Legislators

Elaine Chen — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

It would be nice to know more about state politics. But who can keep track of all those committees and subcommittees, you say. And all the House and Senate bills with long names and random numbers – and who is my legislator anyway?

You could go to the official state websites to find your legislators and proposed laws.

A New Pope And Allied Veterans: What You Should Know From This Week's News

Elaine Chen — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

On the week's The Florida Roundup:

Internet Cafe Gambling Scandal Overshadow Florida Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll's Resignation

Rick Stone — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Carroll's days as lieutenant governor and presumed running mate for Gov. Rick Scott's reelection campaign may already have been numbered when she resigned this week because of her connection to an Internet gambling scandal.

Meanwhile, the investigation of a purported charity called Allied Veterans of the World promises to overshadow the political shakeup in Tallahassee and lead to a big change in Florida's gambling landscape.

Technically, There's Nothing Stopping You From Texting And Driving In Florida – Yet

Allison Goodman — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

After several failed bills and a decade’s worth of debate, texting and driving remains legal in Florida – and the most recently proposed bill wouldn’t change that. But drivers could be charged with vehicular homicide in the case of an accident.

According to the News Service of Florida,

Florida Lieutenant Governor Resigns, After Investigation Of Non-Profit

Eyder Peralta — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Florida's lieutenant governor abruptly stepped down on Wednesday, two days after Florida law enforcement officials questioned her involvement with a non-profit under investigation.

According to The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, Jennifer Carroll sent a resignation letter to Gov. Rick Scott that did not give a motive for her resignation.

Florida Hospital Association Won't Accept That Medicaid Will Not Be Expanded

Rick Stone — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Burdened with the expense of medical care for more than a million uninsured Floridians, the Florida Hospital Association isn't ready to accept that Medicaid won't be expanded in Florida under Obamacare.

Scarcely a day after a Florida Senate Select Committee voted down the Medicaid plan, the association had mobilized healthcare providers and patients under the banner "The Florida Remedy" to make their case public.

How Florida's Senate President Would Change Teacher Evaluations

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:41:47 +0000

Florida’s Senate President says the state’s teacher evaluation system is confusing and should be reworked so teacher ratings more closely match those of the schools they work in.

Senate President Don Gaetz, a former school board member and elected superintendent, says schools should no longer evaluate some teachers based on test scores of students they haven’t taught.

Listen: Youth Activists Go To Tally To Talk Immigration Reform, Voting Rights, Juvenile Justice

Gina Jordan — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

College students from Miami and elsewhere around the state are trying to keep the dream alive.

They came by bus to Tallahassee during the opening week of the legislative session. The group is known as the Dream Defenders.

Phillip Agnew, Executive Director of Dream Defenders, led a news conference inside the Capitol then spoke with us about the group’s legislative agenda.