Sunshine on Issues: Reports from Tallahassee

A revisit of a radio report produced December 2009 when Bobby Bowden announced his retirement as the Florida State University football coach

The Forgotten Majority and Mothers in the Gap organized a protest at a Florida Department of Corrections public hearing on new rules for inmate visits - twice monthly for four hours over two days. Ryan Torrens wants to make the Attorney General office the state's number one consumer advocate. And UCF's Aubrey Jewett talks about Ricks Scott's eight years as governor.

Three takes on the The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. A plan that allows Florida public school teachers to carry firearms in the class room. Andy Pollack lost a daughter in the Valentine Day's massacre. He can't understand why anyone would oppose the plan. Rep. Scott Plakon thinks pistol packing teachers should give parents comfort. And Rep. Jared Moskowitz talks about compromise and a long-term strategy

The day after 17 people are gunned down at a South Florida high school Moms Demand Action delivered petitions to the state capitol supporting stricter gun control. And when the Mayor of Tallahassee refers to the House Speaker as an immigrant during an immigration debate, the Speaker explains he's not a Canadian.

Roger Stone gaggles with Tallahassee reporters about the rough and tumble nature of politics. "It isn't bean bag," said the legendary master of misinformation. Three public school teachers confront the sponsor of a bill to create another publicly-funded private-school voucher program and Pastor Ron Rawls explains the thinking behind a six-week revival of the Poor People's Campaign.

Florida lawmakers start talking budget priorities. Sen. Brandes wants to reform prison system, and House Democrats oppose the Speaker's top education priority. Bill Montford thinks about leaving the Florida Senate

Episode 14 of Sunshine on Issues tells the story of three different activists taking different approaches to promoting their causes. Elizabeth Smart was 14 when she was stolen from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Three years ago Demetrious Branca lost his son to a distracted driver. And Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is a passionate progressive Democrat.

The first week of the 2018 Session the Florida House cracks down on the sanctuary city movement, labor unions and local governments. Rep. Halsey Beshears explains the House free market philosophy, Senate President Joe Negron defends the Senate's relevancy, and House Democrats say the Republicans are playing election year politics.

Florida Democratic Party has a numbers problem. It has a quarter of a million more registered voters than the Republicans but is 4 - 22 in statewide elections since 2000. Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee and Susan MacManus and Aubrey Jewett discuss a generational schism in Florida's minority party.

Sen. Jack Latvala resigns rather than face a Senate hearing on charges he repeatedly sexually harassed staff and may have traded votes for sex. The courts rule twice on HB 7069 - opponents win one and lose another. And there's a new phone App to navigate family court.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott issues new rules for reporting, investigating and closing sexual harassment in state government. Reporters quiz Scott about what and when he knew about an incident involving a PSC Commissioner. Advocate for a victim right's amendment to Florida's constitution says it's good to be treated like a criminal. And Tallahassee Rep. Ramon Alexander has one session under his belt and says he sees a broken system for making public policy.

Sunshine on Issues Opioids and union busting in the Capitol City Rep. Scott Plakon frustrates Democrats with his plan to update labor regulations. Episode 8 features Rep. Kristin Jacobs, D-Broward, profane rebuke of the bill and Plakon’s response to his critics. Medical and law experts and civic leaders use war-like metaphors when they talk about an opioid crisis. Tallahassee Democrat reporter Nada Hassanein attended a town hall meeting of drug, law and mental health experts about the opioid crisis in north Florida. She tells what she heard. This week Sunshine on Issues has a couple of introductions. Former Congressman Steve Southerland stopped at the Capitol to announce a reorganization and new mission for Stand Up for North Florida. And House Democrats picked their leader for the fall campaign and 2019. James Call talks with Miami-Dade Rep. Kionne McGhee

Florida rural counties are caught in an economic downward spiral; a lack of jobs leads people to move. A lack of people leads business and jobs to leave. An economist says Florida is uniquely positioned to stop the decline - volunteers to fight rural poverty. And we have the sex talk with Gwen Graham