Jan 20 Marco Rubio has a late-bloomer strategy in GOP presidential race By Thomas Beaumont, Steve Peoples, Associated Press BETTENDORF, Iowa — Under pressure to emerge as the Republican mainstream's presidential contender, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is increasingly relying on a national strategy as he lowers expectations for February's primary contests. Continue reading
Jan 15 Jeb Bush lays out plans for foreign policy By Thomas Beaumont, Associated Press CORALVILLE, Iowa — Jeb Bush believes he's got the best prescription for American foreign policy, from his strategies for deterring North Korea's nuclear ambitions, to destroying the Islamic State. Continue reading
Jan 12 Florida death penalty system is unconstitutional, Supreme Court rules By Sam Hananel, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Florida's unique system for sentencing people to death is unconstitutional because it gives too much power to judges — and not enough to juries — to decide capital sentences. Continue reading
Jan 08 U.S. wildlife officials propose reclassifying manatees’ endangered status By Joshua Barajas Federal wildlife officials announced Thursday that the West Indian manatee, which once drifted close to extinction, will be reclassified as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. Continue reading
Dec 13 Watch 10:45 Debate over how to treat the homeless simmers in Sarasota, as more cities crack down By PBS News Hour Like many cities with temperate climates, Sarasota, Florida, is struggling with a growing homeless population. A lawsuit against the city argues that the issuance of citations for sleeping outside while there's a lack of resources available has criminalized homelessness. Meanwhile… Continue watching
Oct 17 Watch 9:55 How deepening the Panama Canal set off a fierce debate in Jacksonville By PBS News Hour A number of port cities on the East Coast are taking steps to deepen their harbors, in an effort to attract bigger-than-ever cargo container ships expected to arrive as early as next year with the expansion of the Panama Canal. Continue watching
Oct 03 Air crews searching for El Faro ship spot objects in water, recover life ring By Elisabeth Ponsot Search teams have spotted multiple objects in the water where crews are searching for the El Faro, the American cargo ship that went missing after encountering heavy weather from Hurricane Joaquin. Continue reading
Sep 13 Gentler justice: Florida youth detention center enacts ‘homelike’ reforms By Megan Thompson The Duval County Detention Center in Jacksonville, Florida, where teenagers who have been arrested wait to be arraigned or sent on to long-term facilities, has enacted a set of reforms by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice over the last… Continue reading
Sep 12 Watch 9:16 To help delinquent girls, programs aim to rehabilitate rather than incarcerate By PBS News Hour In America's juvenile justice system, experts say girls, who make up a larger portion of incarcerated youth than in the past, have often been victims of trauma and abuse. Now, programs in Jacksonville, Florida, aim to rehabilitate rather than incarcerate. Continue watching
Sep 12 ‘I am beautiful’: Meet once incarcerated girls who turned their lives around By Megan Thompson Programs launched by child advocates in Jacksonville, Florida, aim to rehabilitate rather than simply incarcerate delinquent girls. And they're working. Meet three formerly incarcerated girls who have come out of the juvenile justice system on the other side. Continue reading