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Capital Report

Capital Report: August 23, 2024

Published August 23, 2024 at 5:45 PM EDT

An Okaloosa County deputy sheriff has been relieved of duty and is formally charged in connection with the shooting death of a North Florida airman back in May.

Democrats across Florida are showing their support for Vice President Kamala Harris. She accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday, becoming the first woman of color to ever do so. Adrian Andrews sat in a Democratic watch party to grab Democrats reaction to the historic moment.

Several political watchers and opinion writers have been panning Governor Ron DeSantis’ political performance during Tuesday’s primary election. Tristan Wood spoke with one of DeSantis’ critics.
(ANCHOR TAG) That was Tristan Wood, speaking with USA Today Network Columnist Nate Monroe.

Voter turnout in Florida for the primary election was the lowest it’s been in at least a decade. Any interest in the presidential race did not translate into more voters casting ballots in local and state elections this week. WLRN’s Tom Hudson and Christine DiMattei take a look at the numbers.

Getting an abortion can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars -- especially if the patient has to travel to get the procedure. There are groups that can help pay for one. But demand for their assistance has soared since Florida's six-week abortion ban started in May.Advocates tell WUSF's Stephanie Colombini they need more money. She spent the day with one of them to learn more.

The Olympics were by many accounts a hit, but the 2024 Paris games aren’t over yet. The Paralympics start next week (Wed. Aug 28) and former Florida State University swimmer Christie Raleigh Crossley will be among the competitors. Regan McCarthy spoke with the athlete who says her business card reads CRC—world champion.
(ANCHOR TAG) That was Paralympian Christie Raleigh Crosley speaking with reporter Regan McCarthy. You can hear more of their interview on WFSU’s new show Speaking Of!

Capital Report

Capital Report: September 13, 2024

On tonight's program: Supporters of Amendment 4, which would enshrine access to abortion in the FloridaConstitution, charge the DeSantis administration of trying to muddy the electoral waters; Governor DeSantis claims some of the petitions that put Amendment 4 on the Florida ballot were fraudulent. The governor’s opponents are calling that a “voter suppression” tactic; With abortions nearly unavailable in Florida, it seems more people are opting for pregnancy prevention strategies; Unregistered voters can’t vote. So that’s sparking a big voter registration push in advance of the November election; Florida’s high court mulls over the way state officials redrew a number of congressional district lines; Voting for appellate judges and supreme court justices is unique in Florida; and Florida has a condo crisis. The state is moving to ramp up inspections for older buildings and impose more regulations on new construction. But some believe it’s all happening too fast.
Capital Report: September 6, 2024

On tonight’s program: Outright lies in political advertising? Who could imagine such a thing?; How do you match a political message to its intended audience? It’s a combination of art and science; For a growing number of people who have mental health issues, a stay in a Florida jail or prison is essentially a death sentence; A Florida program to help kids with disabilities get ready for great careers is looking to grow the number of students it serves; And Florida is also ramping up the number of student nurses in the pipeline in response to a rapidly growing need.
Capital Report: August 30, 2024

On tonight’s program: An execution in Florida revives the ongoing conflict between supporters and opponents; A plan to add golf courses and pickleball courts to some of Florida’s state parks raises a royal ruckus; Advocates are looking to an Alabama gender affirming care case for clues on what might be next for Florida; Low-income Florida school kids missed out on a summer meals program this year. But what about next year?; We revisit an area that’s still recovering from last year’s Hurricane Idalia; Last week’s low voter turnout in Florida doesn’t seem to be alarming too many people.
Capital Report: August 16, 2024

On tonight’s program: It seems the former president of the University of Florida wasn’t exactly thrifty when it came to his office spending; A big administrative shakeup is underway at Florida A&M University as an interim president takes over. Among those who’ve packed their bags….; A Florida ban on what’s known as “cultivated meat” is being challenged in court; The battle for Florida State Senate District Three has become more than a little bit interesting; Florida’s stricter abortion restrictions have prompted a growing degree of out-of-state travel by those seeking that procedure; While more homeowners are being forced into Citizens Insurance, that ultimately means higher prices, even for those who aren’t policyholders; And there’s often a reason why college and university students have to wait awhile until landlords repair the property damage from the previous student renters.
Capital Report: August 9, 2024

On tonight's program: Governor Ron DeSantis has some definite thoughts about a fellow-governor who’s the Democratic pick for vice president; With so much fake news abounding, at least one media organization says it can help voters separate fact from fiction; The season’s first hurricane to strike Florida comes ashore in the state’s Big Bend region, although its impacts were felt much further afield; Amidst a cornucopia of challenges, Florida A&M University begins the search for a new, permanent leader; And if you think YOUR job is hot this summer, try working in a food truck.
Capital Report: August 2, 2024

On tonight's program: As this year’s election nears, the debate continues over whether Florida’s voting laws are too strict or not strict enough; We listen in on an extended conversation with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush; A proposed constitutional amendment legalizing recreation pot in Florida remains a contentious issue heading into the election. It’s a proposal that’s still getting a lot of pushback from Governor DeSantis; A statewide ban on local rules mandating water breaks for outside workers have both workers and some local governments doing a slow burn; And with a shortage of traditional space, some non-traditional schools are winding up in some unlikely locations.
Capital Report: July 26, 2024

On tonight’s program: As a new presidential candidate rises to the fore, Florida Democrats seem to be getting behind her; A Florida lawmaker insists state school vouchers shouldn’t apply to all religious institutions of learning; Florida used to be a top filming location for TV shows and movies. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore; For many students and their parents, the dubious joys of filling out financial disclosure paperwork for student loans is now underway; And top-tier high school athletes in Florida will now be able to profit from their fame.
Capital Report: July 19, 2024

On tonight’s program: We take a uniquely Florida look at the Republican National Convention that wrapped up last night; Why did the G.O.P. presidential nominee pick a relative unknown for his running mate and what does that mean for some prominent Florida politicians?; Hunting and fishing rights will be on the ballot in November; Arts organizations all over Florida are scrambling to stay afloat after a wholesale veto of state grant funding; And a changing of the guard is coming to Florida A&M University as President Larry Robinson prepares to step down.
Capital Report: July 12, 2024

On tonight's program: Water breaks for outside workers, if ordered by local governments, are now banned in Florida Could federal action restore those heat protections? With the words “climate change” banned from state government in Florida, it seems some local jurisdictions are picking up the slack; With the incidence of hostile hacks on the rise, we’ll take a look at what can be done to foil the cybercrooks; Governor DeSantis’s statewide veto of arts and culture funding is drawing opposition; Youthful advocates make the difference as Florida lawmakers finally extend the services available for former foster kids; And who’s to blame for all the political conflicts nowadays? A seasoned and savvy lawmaker suggests there’s lots of blame to spread around.
Capital Report: July 5, 2024

On tonight’s program: Could President Biden’s less-than-stellar performance on the debate stage last week tarnish the electoral chances of Florida Democrats?; A new law allowing religious chaplains to be school counselors could have some unintended consequences; Some state education officials aren’t exactly thrilled about the academic achievement at two publicly funded universities; The Union of Concerned Scientists is especially concerned about the state of Florida; The question rages on in Tallahassee: how much will a proposed constitutional amendment actually cost if it passes?; The Florida Highway Patrol is urging special caution on the highways during the long and deadly Fourth of July weekend; And a new state law will force local Florida cities that use red light cameras for traffic law enforcement to be more forthcoming about where the money goes.

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