Florida onPolitix | WALA TV

Bill severs rapists' parental rights

Lenise Ligon — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:18:45 GMT

The Florida House and Senate unanimously passed legislation they hope will enable alleged rape victims to stand up. The bill strips the parental rights of either alleged or convicted rapists.

Scott oks sales tax holiday for August

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:01:18 GMT

Florida shoppers this August will get to buy computers without having to pay sales taxes. This year's sales tax holiday will take place from Aug. 2 to Aug. 4.

Last day for Fla. legislative session

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:59:29 GMT

The 60-day legislative session is coming to an end as lawmakers plan to vote on a budget and scramble to get other bills passed before going home.

Fla. early coastal restoration projects

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:21:15 GMT

Governor Rick Scott announced that the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees have proposed $58 million in early restoration projects for Florida.

Budget gives Fla. state workers raises

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:01:45 GMT

Florida House and Senate budget negotiators on Saturday agreed to offer a $1,400 pay raise to all those who currently earn less than $40,000. State employees who earn more than $40,000 will get a $1,000 raise.

Fla. tuition rates to increase by fall

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:11:19 GMT

Florida legislators are working through the weekend to reach a final deal on a proposed $74 billion budget. House and Senate budget negotiators agreed late Friday to raise college and university tuition rates by 3 percent in the fall.

Bill would speed up capital punishment

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:09:34 GMT

A bill that would speed up the death penalty in Florida has been passed by the Florida House of Representatives.

Fla. lawmakers budget for $50M trail

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Florida lawmakers are setting aside $50 million to pay for a hiking trail that would stretch across the state. Meanwhile, they have still not resolved major issues such as teacher pay raises and whether to hike college tuition.

Fla. AG sues BP over 2010 spill

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:09:45 GMT

A suit filed by the Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi, includes several counts under federal, state and maritime law and focuses on Florida's economic losses. She argues that the 2010 spill cost the state a variety of tax revenues.

Senate votes down gun background checks

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:33:54 GMT

The Senate has rejected a bipartisan effort to expand federal background checks to more firearms buyers in a crucial showdown over gun control.

Florida looks to speed up executions

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:15:00 GMT

Bills now in the Florida House and Senate would create quicker time frames for death sentence appeal, and make it harder for inmates to dismiss their lawyers among other restrictions, all with the goal of speeding up the process of death sentences.

Fla. remains tough on felons' suffrage

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:30:00 GMT

Changes under Republican Gov. Rick Scott are making it more difficult for Florida's former felons to get their voting rights restored, and critics say the motivations for the move are political.

Fla. ban on funeral protests expanded

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:24:06 GMT

Gov. Rick Scott has signed into law a bill that expands a current ban on protesting to all types of funerals. The new law prohibits protesting or picketing within 500 feet of any funeral or burial.

Senators unveil deal on gun sales

Candace Murphy — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:29:05 GMT

Two pivotal senators have announced a bipartisan deal on expanding background checks to more gun buyers. The agreement could build support for President Barack Obama's drive to curb firearms violence.

Fla. may let schools start early August

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:05:25 GMT

Florida's public schools may get a chance to start school in early August. The Legislature is considering a bill that would allow school districts to move up the starting date of school to three weeks before Labor Day.

Rep: Bill would 'speed up' death row

Russell Colburn — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:09:52 GMT

As chairman of the criminal justice committee, Fort Walton Beach Rep. Matt Gaetz said he is tired of seeing inmates sit on death row for a lengthy appeals process. He said of the over 400 inmates on the row in the Sunshine State, nearly half have been there over 20 years.

Activists urge health care expansion

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:28:25 GMT

Women's-rights activists urged lawmakers to expand health insurance coverage to more Floridians. Legislative committees have voted against the expansion of Medicaid amid worries the federal government won't live up to a promise.

Florida governor gets good news on jobs

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:53:34 GMT

Florida's seasonally adjusted unemployment dipped to its lowest level in more than four years in February when it dropped to 7.7 percent.