On tonight’s program: A bill to ban Critical Race Theory in public schools and workplaces moves ahead in the Florida Legislature; The Florida Senate is ready to consider a billion-dollar emergency fund for Gov. Ron DeSantis; Florida lawmakers are seriously looking at permanently boosting correctional officer pay amid a massive staffing shortage...;Florida’s health care facilities have some critical personnel problems of their own; Lawmakers say children and parents need better protection from abusers—especially during custody fights; An arrest may come soon in the case of a Florida LGBTQ activist whose body was found in a Jackson County landfill; And it seems a significant number of Floridians have no problem saying goodbye permanently to single-use plastics.

On tonight’s program: A bill titled “Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality” would ban most Florida abortions after 15 weeks, but some say it’s focused on the wrong priorities; A bipartisan Senate committee has cleared the way for two electoral maps to get a floor vote -- but some voting rights advocates warn the maps might not fully reflect the state's demographic changes...;A veteran Capital Reporter gives his take on the Session’s initial week; And a leader in the Florida LGBTQ community was found dead last week in a Jackson County landfill and the Tallahassee Police Department is now investigating his death as a homicide.

On tonight’s program: As Florida housing becomes ever less affordable, will developers respond to the growing need for less-than-premium dwellings?; Political insiders spoke about government spending in front of a room of fellow political insiders at Florida Tax Watch's annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner last night [Wednesday]...; While some lawmakers say they’d like to see more money for coronavirus testing in the coming fiscal year, the state’ surgeon general says he doesn’t see the need for so much focus on testing; And controversy erupts at the Florida Capitol over the urgent issue of….the state’s “Official Dessert.”

On tonight’s program: A bipartisan Senate committee in charge of redrawing the state's electoral districts could move its draft of the U-S House map to a floor vote tomorrow....; Once again, Florida lawmakers consider measures that would allow businesses to sue local governments over ordinances that could impose a fiscal impact; Lawmakers consider changes to the regulation of vacation rental properties; Florida’s small business community says things would be going really well for them, if only they could hire enough people to do the work; And hearing aids can be costly for families but essential for kids, lawmakers are looking into a plan to ensure insurance companies foot the bill.

On tonight’s program: Florida's legislative leaders laid out their vision for the 60-day legislative session as part of their opening day remarks...; Governor Ron DeSantis shares his goals for the legislative session and pounds away at the overarching theme of “freedom”; Should the names of prospective presidents for Florida colleges and universities be kept secret? The legislature takes up that issue again this year; Florida lawmakers want to help ensure during dependency hearings kids voices are heard; And Florida lawmakers try again to lure show biz productions to the Sunshine State

On tonight’s program: Republican lawmakers are already arranging their education priorities; Of course, there’s also the matter of funding the state’s school system, as well as deciding what teachers can and can’t teach; Competing bills designed to promote gun safety and loosen gun restrictions are back (before the Florida Legislature); Lawmakers are looking for solutions to address a healthcare worker shortage that’s been intensified by the pandemic; And a bill this session would allow businesses to sue local governments for loss of revenue, but some say it goes too far.

On tonight’s program: Florida's congressional and state legislative district maps for the coming decade are expected to draw legal challenges. Voting rights advocates are counting on the state's Fair Districts Amendments to ensure the final maps aren't politically gerrymandered....; Florida ended additional jobless checks from the federal government in late June…so, where are the workers?; Medical professionals say they support a person’s right to choose, but they hope they’ll choose to get vaccinated; School board meetings used to be among the most boring local government gatherings. Today, that has changed dramatically; Florida’s iconic marine mammal, the manatee, faces a mortal threat; And an academic research project suggests many state government decisions aren’t exactly based on the best available impartial information.

On tonight’s program: Lawmakers are preparing to work out the details of the state budget, in a year they recognize could be financially difficult for many Florida families; A veteran Capitol reporter notes a large chunk of the governor’s proposed budget actually comes from the Biden administration; Redistricting leaders in the Florida House take on critics of the proposed maps; Florida’s state government leaders are getting serious about expanding broadband access. Especially in the state’s more rural areas; An historic sites in St. Augustine - America’s oldest city - are facing rising seas.

On tonight’s program: For almost a quarter of a century, Florida’s school board elections have been non-partisan affairs. But that could change. Not everyone thinks that’s a positive move; Florida businesses may get new powers to sue local governments over lost revenue; Cruise ships return to Key West amid the city’s battle with state lawmakers; During the year’s final pre-session committee week, Florida lawmakers take aim on the algal blooms that have spoiled the state’s waters in recent years. Still, there were also calls for caution; Florida's H-I-V epidemic was at the forefront of the discussion at Leon County's World AIDS Day event, where state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo made an appearance this week; And Florida managed to dodge multiple bullets during the hurricane season that ended this week. Although some other parts of the country weren’t as lucky.

On tonight’s program: We bring you a follow-up story about the new Florida law signed last week against COVID vaccine mandates. A move that supporters insist is based on good, solid science; Florida’s Medicaid enrollment continues to climb, in part because nobody is getting removed from the state’s rolls; The threat of COVID is prompting more Florida seniors to avoid extended care facilities and opt instead to age at home; Seniors aren’t the only folks suffering increased mental and emotional anguish from the pandemic. It’s hitting African-Americans hard as well; And nearly a thousand Florida manatees have died so far this year and conservation advocates are pushing for Congress to pass a bill that would reverse a decision in 2017 that down-listed the manatee to threatened instead of endangered.