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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.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we look back at some of the Sunshine State's biggest stories in 2023, including Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign and other political news; changes in public education; record heat; Hurricane Idalia; and rising home insurance rates.

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.

We recount 2023 in health care — from global progress on COVID-19 to rising syphilis rates, the debate about a suicide hotline and federal leadership in women's health. Then, epidemiologist Jeremy Howick demystifies the power of placebos.

We explore brain health with experts Dr. Natalia Rost and David Evans, emphasizing its importance beyond memory lapses. Then, Nick Howland, a Navy veteran and executive director of Fire Watch, shares the group's work for the First Coast community.

Chris Hand and A.G. Gancarski discuss anticipated developments in Florida's Legislature. After that, Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem sheds light on the controversial removal of Confederate statues in Springfield.

Today, our guests recount the history of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his ties to St. Augustine and Florida. Then, folks from the Alhambra Theatre talk about the music and history of the Million Dollar Quartet, giving a sneak peek into their upcoming show.

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.

Today, we explore the struggles faced by the LGBTQ community during "Florida's first war on woke," led by the Johns Committee during the civil rights era. The Rev. Ruth Jensen-Forbell shares her personal experience. Then, we talk about financial fitness with Hali Hagist from Alive Credit Union, which is striving to empower marginalized and immigrant communities to master economic resources.

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.