The competition in the Avon Park Middle School Gymnasium is on the line as Dontae Pinckney steps up to the basketball free through line, bounces the ball a couple of times and shoots. ...more

November 10, 2009

Turn that car stereo down, some state lawmakers want to tell drivers who crank up the volume to window-rattling levels. ...more

October 25, 2009

Criticized for requiring strict punishment for even minor infractions, Florida's "zero-tolerance" school discipline policy is being updated according to a new law, which calls for discretion by school officials when applying the law. ...more

October 23, 2009

Child abductions I am absolutely horrified by the number of children being abducted in Florida. ...more

October 22, 2009

If a family has lost private health insurance, a new law shortens the waiting time before switching to the state KidCare program. ...more

May 26, 2009

The Senate voted on Tuesday to prohibit credit card companies from arbitrarily raising a person's interest rate and charging many of the exorbitant fees that have become customary - and crippling - to cash-strapped consumers. ...more

May 20, 2009

A battle between clean energy and renewable energy is about to break out in the Legislature. ...more

April 3, 2009

Wind Protection Needed A new law that was effective Jan. 1 requires homeowners to install wind protection for windows and doors if they are insured with Citizens for a value of $750,000 or more and live within the wind-borne debris zone. ...more

April 2, 2009

Moratorium Magic In the first wave of development in Florida, there was too much water so the Army Corp of Engineers dug canals to drain land. Now there is too little water to support development in many suburban areas, so the Legislature is considering Senate Bill 2424, which would essentially give the state control of water distribution and price. In other words, the state could divert water from rural areas to provide continued development in metro areas like Tampa and St. Pete. ...more

March 31, 2009

A bill aimed at undercutting acceptance of evolution in Florida science classes, which kicked up a fuss but didn't pass in the Florida Legislature last year, apparently is going nowhere this year. ...more

March 28, 2009