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Capital Report

Capital Report: July 17, 2026

Published July 17, 2026 at 5:37 PM EDT

State Democratic leaders in Florida are hoping for a reversal of fortune in this year’s midterm elections. Yet, some in the minority party say electoral realities and potential party factions could make any statewide path to victory challenging. Tristan Wood has more.

Now that part of Florida’s Stop WOKE Act has been blocked by an appeals court, professors are no longer under certain restrictions when it comes to classroom discussions about race and gender. WFSU's Gina Jordan spoke with ACLU senior staff attorney Leah Watson, who argued the case for the plaintiffs.

A Leon County Judge today dismissed a lawsuit that aimed to kick Republican Congressman Cory Mills off the August 18^th primary election.

One year after Florida set a dubious modern state record for capital punishment, the state is once again leading the nation when it comes to executions. 74-year old Dennis Sochor was executed this week at Florida State Prison, becoming the oldest prisoner in Florida to be put to death. And for the first time in 60 years, Governor Ron Desantis has scheduled two executions on the same day. WGCU's "Southwest Florida In Focus" Host Jennifer Crawford sits down with Reporter John Davis to discuss why execution numbers are accelerating, and why it includes the elderly.

After millions of fans came to North America to celebrate the game of soccer, setting record attendance and television ratings, what does it mean for the future of the sport in America?WGCU's "Southwest Florida In Focus" Host Teddy Byrne talks with Sports Journalist Karthik Krishnaiyer about this Sunday's finale, and if hosting another World Cup could be on America's horizon.

Capital Report

Capital Report: July 10, 2026

On tonight's program: Florida’s leading GOP gubernatorial candidate visits the state’s panhandle and finds a responsive audience for his message; The line item vetoes fly as Governor DeSantis works his way through the new state budget; It seems not all of Florida’s local enforcement agencies are following their agreement with the feds to help out with immigration enforcement; Not all of those connected with Florida’s higher education system are excited about the prospect of the state’s institutions adopting a new accrediting body; As more and more people opt for fun on the water, the incidence of accidental drowning is also on the rise. Children are often the victims, so grownups need to be watchful; Florida’s latest citrus crop is more abundant than last year’s: And a beach isn’t really a beach without sand. So the push is on to replenish those Florida beaches that are lacking in that department.
Capital Report: July 3, 2026

On tonight’s program: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the budget for the new fiscal year that started this week he also exercised his line-item veto power; More than 100 new laws went into effect at the start of July, including one to protect residents from footing the bill for AI data centers’ energy needs; Candidates, elected officials and activists are gearing up for the August Primary elections. They met this past weekend at the Sunshine Showdown; A new transportation law could change how people buy cars in Florida; And smelly brown seaweed called sargassum is washing up on shores. Forecasters are tracking where it will go next.
Capital Report: June 26, 2026

On tonight’s program: Florida’s much-maligned Alligator Alcatraz is shutting down. Now what?; A Republican candidate for Florida governor announces his pick for lieutenant governor pick. And faces immediate pushback over what some say is that pick’s anti-Black bias; Florida has always had a special relationship with its Caribbean neighbors. As that region suffers natural and man-made problems, that relationship now seems more important than ever; Are you worried about your kids losing academic ground during the summer break? You may have less to worry about than you think; If you own a home in Florida, it probably needs some long-deferred maintenance. We have some helpful hints on how to do that; There’s a powerful new resource to help those who are caring for folks who have cognitive issues like dementia; And can you spell “democracy?” Or at least describe what it is? You’ll soon get your chance.
Capital Report: June 19, 2026

On tonight’s program: Florida Republicans are at odds this year over whether to hold a debate for the governors race; Several Florida Counties are pausing, or even blocking, plans for AI data centers, but some worry that won’t stop the effects; A former legislator says a proposed property tax break could mean the end of home rule; Officials say one way the proposed property tax cut could really bite—is more mosquitoes; And this weekend, across Florida, communities are celebrating Juneteenth.
Capital Report: June 12, 2026

On tonight's program: Election season is underway and the race for Florida’s governor is filling up, leading to questions about who has whose endorsement: We remember the tragic shooting that took place 10 years ago at Pulse Nightclub: A new law is bringing cursive writing back to the classroom and some experts say it’s needed; And we hear about efforts to bring a gangly pink bird back from what was once the brink of extinction.
Capital Report: June 5, 2026

On tonight’s program: Lawmakers are sending a proposal to drastically reduce property taxes to the ballot in November. Opponents are worried about what it means for local services; Despite forecasts for a slightly less active hurricane season, experts say it’s important not to get complacent; Immigrants who were held in Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz are part of a lawsuit after many say they didn’t receive proper medical care while detained; Florida is leading the country when it comes to the number of executions carried out. That’s raising concerns for some; And for teen mothers, finding a way forward can sometimes feel impossible. A Florida program aims to help to chart a path to the future
Capital Report: May 29, 2026

On tonight’s program: At long last, eleven weeks after the regular lawmaking session ended, Florida lawmakers have passed a state budget! Among the items that did not make it into the new spending plan, Florida Forever funding; Lawmakers will be back in Tallahassee next week for a special session to reduce property taxes. Although some worry the impact on rural, poorer communities may be severe; Congressional Candidates are weighing in as a potential data center project could be heading to North Florida’s Jackson County; Florida public school educators are feeling a bit under attack nowadays; Those adversely impacted by Alligator Alcatraz are patiently waiting for the facility to breathe its last; And some young reporters are jumping in to fill the news gap left in places no longer served by professional journalists.
Capital Report: May 22, 2026

On tonight’s program: The special session to pass a Florida budget goes on. And on. And on; The matter of Florida’s new congressional maps, passed by lawmakers and signed by Governor DeSantis, is by no means a fully done deal; There’s no official word yet, but there are many signs that Florida’s notorious Alligator Alcatraz detention facility may be on the verge of closure; And we see what it takes to bring a critical coastal area back to a cleaner and more natural state.
Capital Report: May 15, 2026

As lawmakers iron out the state budget, wrinkles are deepening among Florida’s top government leaders; Florida has announced a criminal investigation into a major AI company for alleged involvement in violent crimes; A recent article from the New York Times says Florida’s immigrant detention center in the Everglades could close earlier than expected; Gas Prices are becoming a significant pocketbook issue for many Floridiana—especially those in rural communities who face longer commutes; Florida’s public-school students don’t need to go hungry during the school year; They can access free lunch in the school cafeteria; But in the summer, keeping kids fed who otherwise may go hungry becomes the job of nonprofits and volunteers; And America is preparing for a massive wave of adults nearing or entering retirement; On "Southwest Florida In Focus".
Capital Report: May 8, 2026

On tonight’s program: The first of what could be several special sessions of the Florida Legislature is over. This one focused on redistricting. Another, to pass a state budget, is next; A powerful member of the Florida Senate reacts to the speed with which the congressional redistricting took place; Governor DeSantis signs two education bills, although many teachers wish he hadn’t; Despite some state ordered pay increases for starting teachers, the bulk of Florida’s public school educators continue to lag behind most other states; Despite all of our connective technology, more people are now feeling more disconnected than ever. How do we get back to feeling like communities again? And as a drought continues in much of Florida, lakes and rivers are starting to dry up. Fixing that will require some heavy rainfall.

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