Margie Menzel

6 days ago | wusf.org | Margie Menzel

A proposal to impose eight-year term limits on Florida’s county commissioners and school board members is back this year. This time, the sponsors are looking to place the limits in the state Constitution. Springhill Republican Senator Blaise Ingoglia has already tried to convince his colleagues to put term limits into state law. During the 2023 legislative session, the legislature imposed eight-year term limits on school board members, down from the previous 12.

1 week ago | news.wfsu.org | Margie Menzel

It’s Children’s Week at the Florida Capitol, and former Tallahassee Senator Loranne Ausley is the winner of this year’s Chiles Advocacy Award. The honor comes as Ausley makes an extraordinary recovery from a bad accident. Today, the former Democratic lawmaker says she’s counting her blessings. “I’m doing incredible. I’m so lucky to be here, frankly," she says.

1 week ago | wusf.org | Margie Menzel

As Florida Lawmakers head into their final days of the legislative session, several major bills focused on children’s issues still haven’t made it fully through the process. They deal with child protection and autism. Senate President Ben Albritton is particularly invested in two of the bills. One is a sweeping child protection measure that would recruit case managers, combat child sex trafficking and create a professional foster care pilot program.

1 week ago | wusf.org | Margie Menzel

Concerns about overdose deaths caused by a synthetic opioid called fentanyl are growing. That’s partly because it’s become seemingly common for dealers to mix fentanyl into other drugs. Now a measure to require hospitals to test for fentanyl when a person comes in with a suspected drug overdose is poised for the floor in both chambers. According to the bill analysis, in Florida, more than 2,500 people died with fentanyl in their systems during the first half of 2023.

1 week ago | jaxtoday.org | Margie Menzel

Florida parents know the cost of child care can be prohibitive — if they can even find some. Now, a state lawmaker who has four young children is sponsoring a bill aimed at making child care less costly and more available. Sarasota Republican Rep. Fiona McFarland says child care and day care and preschool all mean the same thing. Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.