NewsNight

NewsNight examines the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Great Outdoors Initiative, including proposals for development projects in some state parks such as adding pickleball courts and hotels.

As Democrats gather to nominate Kamala Harris for president, campaigners in Florida say abortion will be a key issue in the election. NewsNight looks in-depth at the fight over Amendment 4 and what it might mean for the prospects of both parties amid a tightening race heading into November.

Florida Democrats hope the Harris-Walz ticket will boost their chances in November as new numbers show Republicans with a record voter registration advantage in the Sunshine State. Plus, Central Florida's Venezuelan community voices concerns over President Maduro's crackdown on dissent.

NewsNight takes a detailed look at efforts to develop a permanent memorial on the site of the former Pulse nightclub, with the facilitator and a member of the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee. Plus, Florida voters are set to decide whether school board elections should become partisan.

Orlando City Commissioners will hold another public hearing in August on an ordinance aimed at improving nighttime security in downtown areas amid concerns over crime. Plus, Florida proposes new rules to implement legislation restricting children from accessing social media.

This week on #newsnightwucf Arts and cultural organizations in Central Florida are scrambling for alternative funding sources. It follows Governor DeSantis' decision to veto $32 million in state grants for the arts over his concerns about "sexual" content at Fringe festivals. But critics say such festivals receive only a small fraction of the funding, and they're urging lawmakers to override the v...

Hemp farmers and retailers in Florida are welcoming a decision by Governor DeSantis to veto a bill that would have banned certain hemp products such as delta-8 and imposed restrictions on others. NewsNight looks at the impact of the move and what it might mean for November's ballot initiative on recreational marijuana.

Following the recent approval of a toll road extension through the Split Oak Forest, NewsNight looks at what it means for the Florida Wildlife Corridor and conservation of our state's protected lands. Plus, the panel discusses severe flooding in South Florida following recent heavy rains.

Governor DeSantis says the state will allocate $1.25 billion dollars in the next Florida budget to pay for teacher salary increases. It'll be the latest in a series of compensation hikes for teachers since DeSantis took office. But tensions remain with unions who say the state continues to suffer shortages and ranks near the bottom in the nation for overall teacher pay.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues its forecast for hurricane season which begins on June 1 st with its highest ever prediction for the number of named storms. It follows the signing of a new bill removing all remaining references to "climate change" from Florida law, stripping an emphasis on renewables from the state's energy policy, and prioritizing fossil fuels.

New rules barring local governments from implementing heat protections for workers, beyond existing state and federal regulations, come into force in Florida this summer. NewsNight looks at what the incoming legislation will mean for employees, and why some businesses support the restrictions.

In the second part of our NewsNight Conversations series on Central Florida's water issues, experts and local officials discuss efforts to improve the resilience of coastal areas as the state ramps up spending on the work. An in-depth look at how our region can shore up its coastline to mitigate future damage from sea level rise and storms.

 In the first of a two-part NewsNight Conversations series, community members and stakeholders look at how a years-long effort to restore Florida's treasured Indian River Lagoon is going, and the challenges remaining in rejuvenating and maintaining the waterway and its wildlife.

Governor Ron DeSantis says Florida won't comply with Biden administration changes to the Title IX civil rights law on sex discrimination, adding protections for transgender students in schools, colleges and universities that receive federal funds. Plus, the president's reelection campaign heats up in Florida, with the state's new six-week abortion ban set to come into force this week.  

The City of Orlando takes its first step in renewed efforts to create a Pulse memorial. Plus, as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments over the power of governments to punish people for sleeping outside when no alternative accommodation is available, NewsNight looks at what the case might mean for states like Florida that have passed laws banning unauthorized camping.

Forecasters are predicting a busier than usual Atlantic hurricane season. NewsNight looks at the conditions experts believe may lead to an above average number of storms, how authorities in Central Florida are preparing, and what an active hurricane season may mean for our state's fragile insurance industry.

This week on NewsNight , the Orlando City Council sets a date for a special election to fill the seat of suspended Commissioner Regina Hill. Plus, former President Donald Trump says abortion should be left up to the states following last week's rulings on the issue by the Florida Supreme Court.  

This week on NewsNight , the future of development in Winter Park. With the city's incoming mayor due to be sworn in on April 10th, Sheila DeCiccio sits down to discuss her vision and some of the key challenges ahead. Plus, the Florida Supreme Court rules that a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion can be put on the November ballot.

NewsNight's Steve Mort talks with U.S. Representative Mike Waltz, who represents Volusia County, about the crisis in Haiti. Waltz, a Republican, is a staunch critic of the Biden administration, particularly on foreign affairs and America's military entanglements overseas. He sits on the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees.

NewsNight's Steve Mort talks with U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost from Orlando about the crisis in Haiti. Frost has joined several fellow Democrats in Congress in urging the White House to make sure the United States doesn't return Haitian nationals to the Caribbean country during the crisis. He's also calling for an extension and redesignation of the Temporary Protected Status afforded to Haiti...

NewsNight's Steve Mort talks with Jacqueline Charles who covers Haiti and the Caribbean for the Miami Herald about Haiti's security crisis, the debate over migration to the United States, and the political situation which has resulted in gangs essentially running the country.

This week on NewsNight, a look at a number of major public space development projects in downtown Orlando. The panel discusses the city's approval of several land purchases to create a new Lake Eola Gateway park and potential affordable housing units. Plus, could Brevard County be on track to get a Brightline rail station?

The week on  NewsNight , lawmakers pass an updated bill cracking down on the access children have to social media in Florida. However, legal challenges are likely, and confusion surrounds exactly which sites could be exempt. Plus, Florida health officials hail their response to a measles outbreak in our state while other parts of the country experience rising cases.  

The week on NewsNight , can policy makers and schools find ways to reduce Florida's teacher shortage? Plus, a look at a move to exempt more public sector workers from a Florida law banning the automatic deduction of union dues. And the panel discusses the challenges schools face in funding critical maintenance projects.