As state revenues plunge, Governor Ron DeSantis is readying his veto pen. Although a chainsaw may be a more appropriate tool. Is an increase in testing the reason for more case of COVID-19 in Florida? That depends on who you ask. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is crafting its own plans to help the state’s businesses deal with a likely double-whammy on the way. A law created to help protect police from undue scrutiny could create barriers for law enforcement review boards by allowing officers to intimidate and even attack people who file and investigate complaints. A landmark week for dreamers, but another Supreme Court ruling about LGBTQ workplace rights has some advocates saying their struggle isn’t over. The pressure is growing to remove an old confederate monument from the front lawn of Florida’s Historic Capitol.

Protesters are calling for police body camera video showing the shooting of Tony McDade. But law enforcement says that won’t be released until after an investigation and it’s possible the video may not exist at all. As protests continue across the nation, here in Florida the coronavirus numbers are increasing. With nearly nine thousand new cases in the past week, epidemiologists believe the protests are playing a significant role. For months the question was, will Florida schools reopen in the fall? The answer came this week. The Legislature set aside lots of money to boost affordable housing this year. But that funding may be in jeopardy if lawmakers have to do budget slashing in light of the economic downturn. Florida’s public/private business promoter is working on an aggressive marketing plan. A veteran Florida lawmaker decides to take at least a temporary break from public service. The first woman in Florida - and America - to head a state senate chamber has died at the age of 85.

High-profile killings of black people at the hands of police are raising many questions. Among them: should officers be able to claim victim privacy rights while acting on duty? As demonstrations against police violence continue, some of those who also marched with Dr. Martin Luther King say change can come if protestors will simply vote. Florida is facing a triple threat: a global pandemic, civil unrest and now, on top of everything else, it’s hurricane season! And it seems people of color are most likely to be harmed by this confluence of woe. Young climate activists get a setback in their lawsuit against the state. A national higher-education advocacy group wants to see Florida’s college students take actual courses on democracy and government in order to meet a state legal requirement for all college students to be functionally literate in civics. The number of people who were actually eyewitnesses to the D-Day invasion 76 years ago is dwindling fast. But we’ll talk with one on the eve of that momentous event’s anniversary.

From the “isn’t one disaster enough?” department, what happens if a major hurricane strikes Florida in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic? The possibility of cascading catastrophes could greatly complicate life for emergency managers and evacuees. The feds promised coronavirus tests would all be free of charge. But some aren’t. A government watchdog group has some suggestions on how Florida can start closing an ever-widening revenue gap. Sparks fly at this week’s Florida Cabinet meeting between Governor DeSantis and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. Kaylea (KAY-lee) Skinner is just one of many newly minted university graduates. She was hoping to go into event planning, but jobs in that field have dried up as a consequence of the pandemic.

As Florida reopens, visitors are again pouring in, particularly in the state’s Panhandle. It’s not only beaches and restaurants that have started welcoming visitors again. Florida’s workout facilities are open, too despite some daunting challenges. Florida lawmakers are taking notice of COVID-19’s racial disparities. So far the disease is far more deadly for minority populations. As applications soar, problems remain with Florida’s unemployment claims system, Governor Ron DeSantis insists one big problem is user error on the part of applicants. A receiver takes over the assets of the besieged Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. How could Florida’s state and local emergency management people keep people safe from hurricanes this season while also protecting them from the coronavirus?

Florida’s unemployment system is slowly getting better, but after finally managing to sign up, too many are finding no gold at the end of the rainbow. An advocate for nursing home residents says families are concerned about the safety of their loved ones in those facilities. Come Monday, more of Florida will be opening to consumers. Summer travel will look different this year. The State Board of Education decides that taking an exam instead of courses is equally effective when it comes to making sure students know how American government works. But not everyone agrees. The coronavirus has thrown a lot of plans out of whack for a lot of people. We take a look into how mothers-to-be are trying to make the best of it.

A federal court case this week considers whether released felons who can’t afford to pay all the fines and fees connected to their case can still be allowed to vote. A prominent Florida prosecutor is among those saying a recreational marijuana amendment to the state constitution should not go before the voters. Little by little, bit by bit, Florida’s economy starts to reopen. Of course when it comes to business, Florida’s biggest business is tourism. And COVID-19 has hit that business hard! A disease researcher sees a silver lining in Florida’s experience with the pandemic. And if you want to see the economy come back quickly, one of the best and simplest things all of us can do is simply wear a mask.

Governor DeSantis orders Florida to reopen for business a little at a time. Also this week, As Florida takes baby steps to reopen, experts say contact tracing is one of the most important tools for stopping the spread of infectious diseases. We’ll also explore how the online schooling forced by the coronavirus has shown a spotlight on Florida’s digital divide and we’ll talk to the attorneys who are suing the state over its failed unemployment system.

On this episode of Capital Report, Governor Ron DeSantis ponders the possibilities of how to reopen an entire state and we review the data available to help accomplish that task. Also this week, Governor DeSantis wants to ramp up testing for the coronavirus, including testing more people who aren’t showing symptoms. We’ll also talk with some Florida business owners about their take on how best to get the economy safely working again. And we’ll talk with a veteran Capital Reporter about the state’s still dysfunctional unemployment system.

Florida seems to have passed its peak when it comes to coronavirus cases. Even though the state is still logging new infections, the rate of new cases overall appears to be decreasing. Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis has gone on offense. Ahead of plans to reopen businesses that have been closed, DeSantis is attacking the same models the state has relied on to guide its COVID-19 response. Lynn Hatter has more. Floridians are wondering what returning to day-to-day activities, like work and school