Capital Report

On tonight’s program: We deconstruct the results of this month’s Florida Primary Election, including some fascinating figures; It may be early days, but some Florida Democrats say the primary results give them hope for big gains in November; U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, Florida’s Republican nominee for governor, this week tapped Miami Senator Bryan Avila as his running mate; Despite a grand jury finding about ten million dollars of misplaced money, the DeSantis administration insists “there’s nothing to see here”; The federal government cancels a school food program, but the country’s top public health official insists the program that replaces it is much better; Sometimes, when it comes to holding off the rising seas, we can learn a lot from the way nature does it; And ironically, falling water levels in the Everglades also pose a threat to coastal areas as the River of Grass provides a natural buffer.

On tonight’s program: Florida’s secretary of state says this Tuesday’s primary election went very well; A proud Democratic/Socialist stuns the political world in Florida and beyond by attacking establishment politicians and their wealthy donors; One of Florida’s sharpest political analysts shares her take on Angie Nixon’s election victory; For many voters in Florida’s largest congressional district, the potential threat of power and water hungry AI data centers is a big issue that helped push one candidate to a primary win; The State of Florida demanded some changes in the science textbooks its students use. But the big question remains, why? Should younger kids be totally blocked from access to social media?That debate continues to rage; And the effective fighting of wildfires requires some mad skills.Lots of Florida organizations are joining forces to make sure skilled firefighters are ready to go.

On tonight’s program: It’s election season! Primary election day in Florida is this Tuesday. We’ll talk about which candidates are leading the pack; We’ll also talk about how Florida’s closed primary system is causing frustration for some NPA voters; A new rule about secondary locks on classroom doors is raising questions; As Florida communities look for ways to be more resilient, many are turning their attention to concerns about flooding—and not just those who live along the coast; And a new law lets high school students earn a PE credit for participating in Marching band.

On tonight’s program: Everybody says they hate, loathe and despise negative political ads. The only problem is, they work!; Since almost forever, the term “socialist” has been a political insult.But suddenly certain groups are embracing the word; For some Florida school districts, the relationship with AI is a complicated thing; a potentially powerful tool that can also cripple the students it’s supposed to help; Police in the capital city have launched an initiative to get officers more autism training; And while picking up the kids’ notebooks and a protractor for the new school year, make sure they’re also scheduled for an eye exam.

On tonight’s program: Although some of Florida’s Republican leaders seem to be backing off their support, a referendum on property taxes will still be on the November ballot; If you’re running for governor in Florida, you have to be a full-time Florida resident. And there’s controversy about one candidate’s residency; Water is Florida’s most precious commodity. We explore how that might be impacted by proposed AI data centers; And if you think it seems there are more sharks around nowadays, you’re not wrong.

On tonight’s program: We visit a rural Florida school district and find that the big issues there aren’t so much different from education debates in the state’s biggest cities; If you choose to take a state voucher to send your child to private school, choosing the school itself might be more difficult than it seems at first; A Florida school board that’s being sued for banning books is deposing students, but not board members; A Florida community group is helping families when ICE comes calling; If Florida were a separate country, it would have the world’s 14th largest economy; And a trip to the beach right now doesn’t involve only sand and shells. It’s shorebird nesting season. And the news isn’t all good.

On tonight’s program: Despite bad poll numbers and unforced errors on the part of the GOP, Florida Democrats are still struggling to find their groove between the center and the progressive left; We hear from the attorney who successfully argued the case for professors fighting Florida’s Stop WOKE Act; A congressional challenger in Florida sued the incumbent in an attempt to get him kicked off the Aug. 18 primary ballot. It didn’t work; Florida tops the nation…..in the number of executions; And after the United States has been immersed in FIFA-style football, will the popularity of soccer really take off in the land of the N-F-L and the S-E-C?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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".

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.

On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers approve a new congressional district map for the state. Not everyone is convinced this is a good thing; And Florida, especially the state’s northern region, remains in the grip of a near historic drought. Even though some rain may be sweeping through the state this weekend, experts in the field warn that far more rainfall will be needed to mitigate the threat of wildfires that are already ravaging parts of the state. We have two pieces. The first describes the current wildfire situation and the second delves into the climactic circumstances that are making the fires more likely.

On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers will be back in Tallahassee for a special session to draw up new congressional districts. Even though the state constitution specifically bans partisan purposes; Governor DeSantis signs more measures that opponents say further restrict the authority of local governments; Florida’s new SAVE Act is the law and is already drawing criticism; People who vote “NPA” or “No Party Affiliation” in Florida are more than a little tough to figure out when it comes to predicting how they’ll vote. It appears money from some foreign sources to U.S. universities are definitely gift horses that should be looked in the mouth; Don’t be in such a hurry to drain the swamp. Evidence keeps mounting that protecting more of the state’s natural wetlands also protects people from catastrophe; And we attend the investiture ceremony of Florida A&M University’s 13th president and hear from some of those who know Marva Johnson best.

On tonight’s program: The Florida Legislature originally planned to be back in Tallahassee around this time to work on a new state budget. But so far, NOTHING seems to be working; There still may be a chance that lawmakers may be back at the Capitol to redraw the state’s congressional districts to favor the GOP; One year after the mass shooting at Florida State University, we check in with a student who was barricaded as the situation unfolded; The campus shooting tragedy also led to state lawmakers trying to increase security without impinging freedom; Memorials to the shooting victims remain on the FSU campus one year later; And during the Civil Rights battles of the 1950s and 60s, Jewish and Black people often found common cause in the oppression historically visited on them. Now an effort is underway to reforge those ties.

On tonight’s program: Advocates worry a new law that lets the state declare groups domestic terrorist organizations unfairly targets minorities; Lawmakers are set to return to Tallahassee later this month to draw new congressional district maps, but not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea; Most of Florida is in a drought, and experts say the earliest it could let up may be this summer; One Florida couple is waiting for a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on birthright citizenship before they decide whether to grow their family; Getting access to medical care is increasingly difficult for kids from low-income families as some pediatricians opt out of accepting government-sponsored health insurance; And, we’ll meet a musician honing her craft in South Florida

On tonight’s program: Governor DeSantis signs the SAVE Act into law, saying it will discourage any kind of chicanery when it comes to the state’s elections; We dive a bit deeper into the SAVE Act legislation and ask the big money question: was it really something that was critically needed?; What happened to the anti-vaccine push in Florida?; It seems the battle against cancer works better when patients have a whole team of doctors fighting in their corner; Florida’s best-dressed teachers are wearing panic buttons.Under force of law; One of the last mostly-male bastions – the construction industry – is finally becoming more inclusive; And after half-a-century, astronauts blast off – from Florida – and head for the moon.

On tonight’s program: Even though Florida lawmakers are out of session, the back and forth over plans to cut property taxes goes on; A new affordable housing project in Southwest Florida gives some prospective homeowners reason for hope; Florida has been an overwhelmingly Republican state for quite a while. But a noted political expert says this week’s special election may have signaled something of a turning point; It seems some Republicans are determined to shoot their own party in the foot; Americans are still having kids. They’re just having fewer of them than they used to and that’s having some wide-ranging impacts; And years after a devastating hurricane, natural recovery is still taking place in a large swath of Mangrove swamp, hopefully before another storm arrives.

Some law enforcers want a path to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants – and the governor responds; It’s no secret many prices keep going up: Especially when it comes to energy; The re-engineering of Florida’s New College prompts a new film documentary: We’ll hear from the producer; An American flotilla is headed to Cuba: But the purpose of that fleet is humanitarian aid, not military invasion; And finally, the growth of private sector space launches at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center has meant only good things for the program, says the astronaut in residence there:

On tonight's program: It’s the last official day of the Florida Legislative Session: But lawmakers will have to return soon to tackle unfinished business: We’ll discuss why: Changes are coming to Florida's primary food insecurity program – known as SNAP: Drones aren’t always a deadly war weapon, as we’re hearing in regards the Iran War: It seems they also have some very useful civilian functions, like finding lost people; And the negative messages some kids receive in traditional schools has helped jump-start the new trend of what are called micro-schools:

On tonight’s program: The House Speaker explains why some priority bills in the Senate won’t be heard in his chamber; The ongoing campaign against DEI continues in the Florida Senate, although some supporters insist that’s not what’s going on at all; Governor DeSantis’ push to regulate AI providers seems to be losing steam; It seems some of the worst misinformation doesn’t only appear on English language talk radio; It’s not only obtaining the product that challenges Florida’s food banks. It’s also keeping the product safe and wholesome once it’s obtained; After years of bad news, there may finally be a bit of positive news about Florida’s iconic citrus products; Special congressional elections may be moving from April to June; And fifth grade may seem awfully early to start teaching kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but those who deal with these issues everyday say, wrong!

On tonight’s program: We delve into the reasons behind changes to degree programs at Florida universities; The push to regulate big AI data centers in Florida gains traction in the state Senate; A newcomer to the Florida Senate is fronting a package of bills aimed at making home ownership easier and more affordable in Florida; E-bikes are showing up everywhere around Florida; And some Florida lawmakers say more regulations are needed for safety; And finally there’s some good news coming out of the bay that’s been the source of Florida’s most famous oysters.

On tonight’s program: The Florida Legislature puts a halt – at least for now – on Governor DeSantis’s using a disaster emergency fund for immigration enforcement; With so many folks now eager to fight for their rights, a legal expert opines there are times and places where that response may not be the best course of action; With a few weeks left in the session, the two chambers are far apart when it comes to spending and communicating; And even though Florida is not yet awash in data centers, it seems that might be changing.

On tonight’s program: Some Florida lawmakers and the governor really want to cut or even do away with the state’s property taxes.But are they shooting in the dark?; With so many critical issues facing state lawmakers, you might think culture war stuff might be taking a back seat this session.And you’d be wrong; The old saying was, “Everybody wants to move to Florida.”But maybe the new saying is, “Fewer people now want to move to Florida.”And experts say that’s not a good thing; A growing number of immigrants who came to Florida are choosing to leave voluntarily; In an emergency, you may call the police, the fire department, an ambulance….you can even call an emergency chaplain; And an effort to make the flamingo the state bird is back, and the discussion this week in the Florida House was rife with puns….

On tonight’s program: Florida has been helping the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown.But it seems compensation for that support has been slow in coming; Environmental lawsuits are stacking up against Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades; A Senate committee has approved the extension of a fund Governor DeSantis has used for hurricane recovery, as well as immigration enforcement; At least for now, a court order has stopped President Trump’s order to protect Haitian immigrants from immediate deportation.Florida driver license exams are no longer multi-lingual.That reverses the former policy of accommodating applicants whose English skills are lacking; After a freezing cold weekend for much of Florida, can we expect more of this kind of weather? ; And here’s one affordable housing option:build a so-called “Granny Flat” on your existing property and rent it out.

In Florida, those who sympathize with certain causes or ideologies may soon be guiltyof the crime of “domestic terrorism.”Political disagreements are becoming really problematic when it comes to relationships.Amidst multi-million dollar outlays, Florida’s school voucher system seems to have a raft of accounting problems; Something that lawmakers are now trying to fix; After all the horror stories about AI, many educators now think it might help more students gain literacy. If they have access to it; And Florida’s Brightline trains are running in the red; maybe because those train trips have been too much of a bargain?

On tonight’s program: Republicans are pushing an annual day to honor the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk; While President Trump is urging states to not regulate AI, Florida is moving forward with some attempt at putting guardrails on the technology; What happens when tax credits run out for folks on the Affordable Care Act marketplace?; Some mainstream religious groups have been trying to persuade Florida lawmakers to back off the state’s support for what they consider federal overreach on immigration; It’s hard to make good decisions if good information isn’t available to guide them. That pretty much sums up the current situation with how many people really need the food provided by SNAP benefits; And despite the best efforts of conservationists and others, the Florida Panther is in worse shape than ever.

On tonight's program: As this year’s Florida lawmaking session begins, Governor DeSantis has just one ask of lawmakers; Despite some tiffs and occasional hard feelings, most Florida lawmakers seem determined to smooth out the lingering rough spots with their colleagues this year; Florida may not be Cuba, but the two lands are now and forever linked as Cubans in Florida struggle to reclaim their homeland; Changes in Florida law as well as federal immigration policy has placed a growing number of immigrant laborers in mortal danger; And your airport chauffeur could soon be a pilot instead of a driver.

On tonight's program: Governor DeSantis faces his final legislative session as governor starting next week. And there could be some serious headwinds for the governor and his agenda; A once greatly-respected advocate against domestic violence pleads no contest to multiple felony charges; Governor DeSantis has some thoughts about state regulation of AI; While AI platforms like ChapGPT can have many positive aspects, there are also dangers; And environmental advocates say there are solid reasons why there are regulations regarding fragile places like Florida’s Everglades.

On tonight’s program: Florida lawmakers hadn’t originally planned for 2026 to be a congressional redistricting year. But then President Donald Trump called; A priority of Florida’s senate president to funnel more state resources into rural counties didn’t make it in 2025.But it’s make a return appearance in 2026; A move to allow younger Floridians to own long guns is attracting some pushback ahead of the lawmaking session; Florida law requires rental property owners to take reasonable steps to protect their tenants from things like gun violence. Although that law was watered down a few years back; If you’re whipsawed by inflation at the grocery store, you might want to consider growing more of that food yourself; And we go back in time a quarter-of-a-century to a political meltdown that was very unlike today when all politics is taken very personally by everybody.

On tonight’s program: We remember the tragic shooting on FSU’s campus and the resilience of the university’s students; As Florida starts dumping public health mandates in favor of personal choice, it seems viruses don’t really respond all that well to political arguments; Florida brings back its controversial black bear hunt, although state officials insist everything will be done “humanely” and “by the book.”; During the year nearly passed, it seemed a growing number of people joined the campaign to persuade more bio-dads to become actual loving, supportive and present fathers; And this year has been one of citizens making their voices heard. We visit one of the No Kings Protests that took place on the Florida Capitol lawn.

On tonight's program: In Florida, the battle lines are being drawn In the upcoming fight over who will pay for all the infrastructure the AI industry needs; We get a look ahead to how Florida property taxes may change, now that Governor DeSantis has weighed in on the matter; The present wave of anti-Semitic violence has Jewish congregations on high alert; An investigative report by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times suggests theDeSantis administration diverted more than $35 million in taxpayer money to fight two ballot initiatives. Money that should have gone somewhere else; It’s the old city vs country debate, but with untold millions of dollars-worth of development hanging in the balance, politics is playing an even bigger role; Florida’s official public health policy is moving away from required vaccinations. But that hasn’t stopped many in the medical community from citing worrisome data; Florida signs on to a multi-state lawsuit against the popular weed killer Roundup; and the old saying about “music having charms to soothe the savage beast” is being amended to say: “music has charms to soothe the saddened soul.”

On tonight’s program: What’s the connection between free speech and violence? There’s some new research on that subject and the results are a bit disturbing; Is Florida’s electorate swinging back in a Democratic direction? The state’s Republican Party leader thinks not; Certified Public Accountants may seem an unassuming lot. But it seems they have some critical superpowers; And it’s been said you can recycle just about anything nowadays. And it seems that includes already used water in Central Florida.