Welcome to

Are you registered to vote? If not, today was the day to do it. As Matt Galka tells us, National Voter Registration Day hit Florida, as registration efforts heat up before a presidential election year.

Dozens of students signed up to be newly registered voters or changed their address on Tallahassee Community College’s campus Tuesday.

Similar events were held statewide and across the country to mark National Voter Registration day. Voter outreach assistant Susie Caplowe says it’s important especially before a presidential election primary.

“There’s a point when you get interested, for some people the signs are going up in the yards and you’re on the road and they say “oh, there’s an election happening?” It’s just good to try and make sure that everyone who can, can vote, and has the opportunity to vote,” she said.

19 year old Cheyenne Hernandez registered and will be voting for the first time.

“I think it’s important, I think if you have the opportunity to and you’re old enough, then you should. The president, obviously, effects everybody,” said Hernandez.

TCC Civic Engagement coordinator Ryan Rogers says melting pots like college campuses are always good opportunities to register people.

“It’s the biggest thing we always try to advocate for students, whether it’s SGA, it’s just making sure students have a voice and they have a say so in what’s going on around them,” said Rogers.

Pen and paper registration could be a thing of the past as Florida moves to an online voter registration system in 2017.

The next statewide election is the Presidential Preference Primary in March.  The Republican Party of Florida is currently in the middle of creating a new rule that would require presidential candidates who want to be on that ballot to attend the party’s “Sunshine Summit” in November.

The Secretary of State launched a voter education campaign to coincide with the day. Get Ready, Get Set, Vote! Launched online as a way to encourage people to register. You can visit YOUR-VOTE-FLORIDA DOT COM for more info.

A new study by the prestigious Association of American Universities found that more than half of all serious sexual assaults on or near campus go unreported. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, 55 rapes have been reported in the Capitol city since June, but rape counselors are seeing record numbers of women seeking counseling.

One in four students is reporting unwanted sexual contact during their four years in college. Florida State was quick to point out it was not part of the study, but we had no trouble finding FSU students, including Alexia Braxton, who know someone who has been sexually assaulted.

“I think she feels as if her college career is ruined. She’s not going to have any more in college because that happened to her” says Braxton.

The study found that fewer than half of the students reporting penetration report the crime. Half who were violated say they were incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.

One of the things this study points out is that a freshman is more likely to be assaulted than a senior.

Meg Baldwin of Refuge House says nationally, the beginning of the fall semester is referred to as the red zone by police and rape counselors.

“Historically we see the highest rates of victims coming forward for forensic exams in September, October, and November. And that increase is attributable nearly entirely to young women coming onto campus for the first time.

Jennifer Dritt of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence says the study confirms what is already known.

“People are really reluctant to say this is a serious problem, because everything in us wants to say we’re not living in this kind of world, but we are.”

The report also says students are knowledgeable about what and where to report unwanted sexual activity…but they just don’t do it.

Students survey who did not report assaults say it was out of  fear, shame, or a lack of confidence their report will be acted upon.

For the third year in a row, the association that regulates high school athletics is under fire from state lawmakers, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, they may be using a smaller hammer this time around.

A year ago, the Florida High School Athletic Association faced extinction. Lawmakers were angry with a the FHSAA over player ineligibility policies, ticket pricing, and even restrictive recruiting rules.

Juhan Mixon, FHSAA Lobbyist told lawmakers earlier this year “I believe we are all on the same team. We’re all trying to go to the same place.”

The Association was accused of being slow to react to changing times.

Stuart Weiss is the principal in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference. He testified this past March, telling lawmakers  “And I’m going to say what a lot of athletic directors and coaches are afraid to say because they don’t want to get on FHSAA’s bad side. There is need for change.”

The House approved sweeping legislation requiring the Commissioner of Education to name a new sports governing body by 2017.

The legislation never got a hearing in the Senate.

One of the complaints about the Florida High School Athletic Association is that it requires schools to compete in every sport. So a school that could field a basketball team was also required to be in Football. That could soon be changing.”

Fast Forward a year. Legislation has been filed that would allow schools to field teams in some but not every sport. Rep. Ross Spano is the Sponsor.

“Unfortunately, the way the FHSAA rules are written right now, if you are going to be a member of the FHSAA, you have to compete on the same level in every sport. That”s just not practical. I don’t think anybody could make an argument that’s practical says Spano”

“But practicality is something that the entire legislature will decide early next year.

The new legislation is a far cry from the extensive changes passed by the House last year…and given last year’s failure..it may have a chance of becoming law.

It wasn’t too long ago when Florida had the unfortunate distinction as the pill mill capital of the country before federal and state crackdowns. But as Matt Galka tells us, some residents find themselves on the wrong side of trying to get their legitimate prescriptions filled, and now state rules on how pharmacists dispense pain meds are getting a review.

Out of control prescription pain killer abuse gave Florida a bad reputation just five years ago.  Rampant narcotic use caused thousands of overdose deaths and Florida was the pill mill capital of the country. Federal and state regulations changed all of that, but now there are problems on the other side.

Floridians with legitimate ailments are finding it hard to get pharmacies to fill their prescriptions for painkillers.  The state’s pharmacy board met Monday to discuss how to increase access for those in need.

“The DEA and the state government has set in place laws to limit abuse and diversion, but the pendulum has swung too far the other way and people with real need are not getting medicines,” said the Florida Medical Association’s Jesse Lipnick, M.D.

Pharmacy stakeholders say they’re hopeful there is a middle ground between providing patients with the medication they need and opening the state back up to pill mills.

Florida Pharmacy Association CEO Michael Jackson admits pharmacists are nervous about violations and fines in the wake of the painkiller crackdown.  He thinks getting more use out of the state’s prescription drug database, where doctors could log their patients drug information and pharmacists could consult it for validation, is a good first step.

“It would be a good standard of care for both pharmacies and pharmacists, there’s data showing that we are going into that database on a regular basis, and encourage our physician college to query that database as well, too, because we can’t fill a prescription that was never written,” said Jackson

The state’s board of pharmacy has a list of red flags for pharmacists that can prevent or delay a patient from getting medicine. The board says they’re open to revising some of those in order to help improve patient access.

Changing pharmacy rules to make them more patient friendly is still only under consideration, and the department of Health says there are still several more steps that need to be taken before anything is changed.

A report on the new Florida Standard Assessments exams found serious issue with the tests rollout, but as Matt Galka tells us, the test was still deemed valid, and Florida’s Education Commissioner faced state House members for the first time since the report was released.

What a difference a day makes. Less than 24 hours after being grilled by State Senators, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart received praise from the House Education Committee.

On Thursday, questions arose over a review of the state’s new Florida Standards Assessment tests and how independent it actually was. The Department of Education was given at least two drafts before the final review was released deeming the test valid.

“We had factual information that was important for Alpine to have. So the work was done with staff,” said Stewart.

House members didn’t bring it up. But they did ask about other concerns after the rocky rollout of the test. It was marred by errors and a cyber security breach.

“I know there is apprehension from all the teachers as to how this new test is going to impact their evaluations,” asked Rep. Janet Adkins (R-Fernandina Beach).

“I would point out that that’s the biggest misnomer is that if the sky falls and performance plummets, that teacher evaluations are going to plummet as a result,” replied Stewart.

Despite the criticisms, the House Education chair said she’s satisfied with the test and the review.

“Is every parent going to be happy? Possibly not. Am I satisfied is what the question was. Yes, I am. I believe they’ve worked very hard to make changes,” said Rep. Marlene O’Toole, the House Education Committee Chairwoman.

School grades are still scheduled to be released in December.  Stewart said it was too early to speculate about potential outcomes and drop-offs.

Thousands of rape kits containing DNA remain untested in police evidence lockers across the state. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, newly filed legislation at the State Capitol would require all kits be tested.

The legislation requires that each and every rape kit be forward to the state crime law within three weeks of having been received by a law enforcement agency. State. Rep. Janet Adkins of Fernandina Beach is the sponsor.

“If you are victim of sexual assault, it is a reasonable expectation, a reasonable expectation that sometime is done with the evidence that is collected. It is an outrage” says Adkins.

One of the problem is that no one knows how many kits remain untested. Its estimated to be in the thousands.

Last spring, the Department of Law Enforcement was ordered by lawmakers to send out this survey to every police agency in the state. It asks simply, how many untested rape kits do you have?”

About one hundred of the 400 agencies being surveyed have responded so far.

It currently takes the Department of Law Enforcement 107 days to test a sexual assault kit. FDLE expects the timeline to increase if it doesn’t get more lab analysts.  Adkins says testing the kits is an important safety issue.

“That perpetrator will commit the crime again and again and again, and perhaps each time become more violent in how they commit that crime. And so its important no only for these women to receive justice, but its also important, vitally important for Florida’s public safety” Adkins told reporters.

Under the legislation, the Department of Law Enforcement must come up with a plan for getting everything tested by October of next year. …and then it must have every backlogged kit tested by June 2017.

One of the reasons for the lengthening backlog in testing labs is low salaries and turnover. State crime lab analysts are currently paid about 24 thousand dollars a year less than many city and county labs.

FAMU Drum Major Robert Champion died in a November 2011 hazing incident about a band bus following a game in Orlando. His family sued and today reached a one point one million dollar settlement with the University. The family will receive 300 thousand dollars from the state, and another 800 thousand from an insurance company. The University has been fighting the suit saying Champion voluntarily took part in his hazing.  Neither the Universities President or Legal Counsel were available today for comment.

Electric cars and self driving vehicles: it sounds like the future, but as Matt Galka tells us, the Florida Senate’s transportation chief says the future is now, and could mean good things for the state.

St. Petersburg Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) is a self proclaimed technology junkie. It’s no surprise he was one of the first to jump in one of the new Tesla electric cars on display for Drive Electric Florida Day at the Capitol Thrusday and take it for a spin.

“It drives great. This is a world class car,” he said.

Brandes says he fully supports the growing industry and says Florida has the opportunity to improve its own economy and add jobs by getting ahead of the curve.

“I think you’re going to see the price of this technology continue to go down as the battery technology improves and you’re going to see people want to explore this a little deeper,” he said.

There are about 12,000 electric vehicle drivers in the state. A number Brandes predicts will balloon in the coming years.

Electric vehicle supporters say that making charging stations more common from Pensacola to South Florida would be a good first step to growing the industry in the state.

“It would show leadership and innovation and that would get the word out,” said Britta Gross with General Motors.

Price point has been an issue.  Higher end electric cars can run upwards of $100 grand. But more practical models can cost less than $30,000. Backers also point to the savings.

“If you’re spending $300 dollars a month on fuel maintenance and repair, you’re generally looking at about $20 dollars in an electric vehicle,” said Nissan’s Cornelius Willingham.

Brandes says lawmakers can accelerate growth this upcoming session by working to implement a more electric friendly infrastructure throughout the state.

Lawmakers could consider a bill this year that prevents Homeowners Associations and condo and apartment owners from prohibiting installations of vehicle charging stations.

New uniforms, new technology, and a new no nonsense attitude by managers at the Department of Corrections is paying dividends in fewer use of force reports, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the prison agency still faces huge problems hiring and retaining staff.

Drugs, cell phones, weapons and even cigarettes are regularly smuggled into the state prison system…by staff…visitors…and lately…technology.

Drugs, cell phones, weapons and even cigarettes are regularly smuggled into the state prisons..by staff…visitors…and lately…technology says Corrections Secretary Julie Jones. “I think we had our first drone incident, where somebody tried to drop contraband over the fence with a drone.”

Corrections Secretary Julie Jones told the House Judiciary Committee that low staffing makes it hard to combat the smuggling of contraband.

“Will a salary increase help, yes.”

But Jones is’t  asking for pay raises despite a report by the union representing prison workers found 7600 left their jobs over a three year period. Jones acknowledges pay is a big reason for the departures.

“The ones that do do leave for a better job site salary.”

Kim Schultz is a 19 year veteran probation officer. She hasn’t left because she likes her job…but

“Most us have second jobs. We work for TSA. We work for security companies. We work in department stores” says Schultz.

In the past, the agency used money destined for salaries to fix buildings. That resulted in huge overtime bills.

All of that has stopped says Jones.

“And I can pour money into salaries and have the buildings crumble, and I have a resultant problem.”

Jones also acknowledged that about a third of the thirty thousand sent to prison each year are there for low level drug offenses, including marijuana.

Corrections officers have not had only one pay raise in the last 8 years while the highway patrol and other officers have gotten pay bumps to keep them from leaving for higher paying agencies.

Patricia Walker is a ten dollar an hour home health care worker in Tampa. She is in the state Capitol this week to push for a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage, or for lawmakers to live on her salary for a day, because she can’t make ends meet on ten dollars an hour.

“A lot of people have to make choices between eat and rent, or buy clothes for my kids, or they have to make choices between, you know, eight and ten dollars an hour” says Walker.”

Walker says she spent three years living in a shelter because she couldn’t afford rent until she found a roommate.

The state prison system and Corizin, one of its health care providers, is being accused of not proving costly care, including hyena operations to inmates in an effort to save money. A federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of three inmates on Wednesday by the Florida Justice Institute. Corrections Secretary Julie Jones told reporters she has not seen the suit, but if it is valid, it could impact the health care company’s ability to re bid the contract.

“Appropriate care is necessary, to your point, and if they are denying care because of bureaucracy, I would want to know about that. And so, if we’ve got legal counsel that’s bringing this to our attention, we’ll address it. And we may have to address it in the ITN process” says Jones.

In a statement, Corizon says it does not limit medically necessary procedures. Corizon has a one point one billion dollar, five year contract with the state which is being terminated and rebid later this year.

The President and CEO of Florida’s economic Development Agency, Enterprise Florida, apologized today for a remark made in June, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the agency continues to face tough questions about it’s  performance in creating jobs.

Enterprise Florida President and CEO Bill Johnson was on the preverbal hot seat. Back in June, he called lawmakers “shameful” when he was unhappy about his level of funding.It was clear they hadn’t forgotten. Sen. Jack Latvala (R-St. Petersburg)  tried to calm emotions.

“The rhetoric on this whole issue needs to be lowered” said Latvala.

“I do know some of my comments have offended, and I apologize for that.I’m very passionate about what we are doing” responded Johnson.

Enterprise Florida, which is chaired by the Governor, wants 85 million more from lawmakers.

Even if the state closed on every project they are considering “hot”, it would only cost 44 million. They’ve got a hundred eighteen million in the bank.”

Some of the 118 million in cash has been promised to corporations who have yet to live up to their promise to create jobs. Chairwoman Nancy Detert (R-Venice) confronted the CEO over why he needs so much more when he has so much in the bank.

“Historically, you;’ve never spent more than 19 million in a year. So why do we have an 80 million dollar request when you have money in the bank?” asked Detert.

During the hour and a half meeting, Johnson was never able to fully justify the need for more money, which left Detert with more questions.

“I want to see specifically, what company, how much did we give them, and what’s the average salary” she asked rhetorically afterward.

The agency also claims jobs it’s brought to Florida pay an average 59 thousand a year, but it offered no backup as proof.

Enterprise Florida says  having cash in the bank is a sign to companies that the state is serious about the promises it makes. Lawmakers are also considering telling the development agency to partner with tourism officials to promote the state.

There’s a shift in power, from the east central coast of Florida, to the west central cost in the works at the State Capitol today. State Representative Richard Corcoran of Pasco County was officially designated to be the Speaker of the House in 2016. Corcoran has promised to reform how special interests gain sway and operate in the Capitol. He was praised by his supporters and nominated by Rep. Jose Oliva (R-Miami).

“Some people’s warning about Richard Corcoran sounded more like a compliment than a warning. They say look out for Richard Corcoran, he’s three steps ahead of everyone else. Or, they’d say, look out for Richard Corcoran, he’s playing three dimensional chess when the rest of us are playing checkers” said Oliva, who is designated to succeed Corcoran.

The Speaker of the House has total control over every facet of how the House does business, what bills it hears and even over where members part of have offices. The Speaker is considered on of the three most powerful elected offices in the state, along with the Senate President and Governor.

Florida Democrats are pushing the state’s Attorney General to do more in enforcing the state’s minimum wage so employees aren’t getting skirted out of money.

Representative Jose Rodriguez and Senator Dwight Bullard say that too many Floridians are getting paid the amount they should for the hours they worked.  They say a full time minimum wage earner only makes around 17 thousand dollars a year, so every penny counts.

“We’re calling for Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office to do is start enforcing the minimum wage in a way that really has an impact and that matters. To get out there, educate, do outreach, and make sure people know that we have a minimum wage that protects them,” said Rep. Rodriguez (D-Miami).

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office responded in a statement saying she has addressed every claim submitted to her office and that Rep. Rodriguez has not brought any new claims to her attention.

The Florida legislature started prepping for 2016’s legislative session by taking on gun proposals – with one banning Floridians from setting up gun ranges in their backyards.

The legislation was inspired by a St. Petersburg case where a man set up a makeshift gun range in his yard. Neighbors became worried about their safety, but the man took it down before ever firing a shot. The bill would criminalize anyone shooting targets for recreation in densely populated neighborhoods.

“My guess is that most of the shooting in those backyards were, in fact, could be defined recreational by nature of the fact that we have a bill and calling it clearly a misdemeanor, I think it addresses the shooting that goes on in these makeshift gun ranges,” said Sen. Garrett Richter (R-Naples).

The bill also bans celebratory shooting.