Valerie Crowder

2 weeks ago | panhandle.press | Valerie Crowder

A proposed ban on oil and gas drilling near the Apalachicola River and Bay is heading to the Florida House floor after clearing two committees with unanimous support. “This will safeguard Florida's critical coastal ecosystems,” said state Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe), who’s sponsoring the measure.

2 months ago | panhandle.press | Valerie Crowder

Florida lawmakers in the Panhandle are working on legislation to protect the state’s critical waterways from oil and gas drilling after a proposed plan to drill near the Apalachicola River received widespread pushback from coastal residents. “I believe that we should not have any drilling near our critical waterways,” said state Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe).

2 months ago | panhandle.press | Valerie Crowder

Gun safety. Distracted driving. Utility disconnections. These were among the issues that Tallahassee-area residents spoke about on Friday during the Leon County Legislative Delegation meeting. “Everybody that takes the time to come up here and sit in a meeting for two and a half hours – they all believe their issues are pivotal,” said state Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee).

2 months ago | panhandle.press | Valerie Crowder

Uncertainty about the future is nothing new for the artists and shop owners who rent space at Tallahassee’s only arts and culture district, known colloquially as “Railroad Square.” “For the last number of years, it has been under threat of being sold,” said Terry Galloway, co-founder and director of the Mickee Faust Club, a small community theater that was located in the Railroad Square Art District for more than three decades.

2 months ago | kbindependent.org | Valerie Crowder |Tony Winton

Growing up, Dedé Flores always wanted to become a doctor. “And I always did really well in school because I wanted to go to college,” said Flores, who asked to not use her real name to protect the identities of her undocumented immigrant family members. “I wanted to help people.”She was brought by her mother from Nicaragua to South Florida as a child, in the hope of a better life. Today, her dream is a reality.