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The Florida Roundup is a live, weekly call-in show with a distinct focus on the issues affecting Floridians. Each Friday at noon, listeners can engage in the conversation with journalists, newsmakers and other Floridians about change, policy and the future of our lives in the sunshine state.Join our host, WLRN’s Tom Hudson, broadcasting from Miami.

Florida Supreme Court allows recreational marijuana and abortion on the November ballot

Florida Supreme Court
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WLRN file photo

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discuss three decisions from the Florida Supreme Court on abortion access and recreational marijuana use, Colorado State releases its annual forecast for the 2024 hurricane season, Lee County prepares to sue FEMA over its loss of flood insurance discount, why home buyers are getting priced out in Tampa Bay, why online gambling could provide millions to save land and fight sea rise, and the rise in calls to the state's gambling hotline.

Florida Supreme Court allows recreational marijuana, abortion amendments on November Ballot  

The Florida Supreme Court this week released a number of high-profile opinions.

Justices approved the language for a proposed amendment that gives voters the option to protect abortion access in the state constitution. The court also gave the go-ahead to the ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana. Florida voters will decide on both issues in November.

At the same time, justices ruled to uphold the state's 15-week restrictions, triggering a new six-week abortion ban to take effect beginning May 1.

We spoke with Florida House Speaker Paul Renner about why he opposes both proposed amendments. Then, we heard from a Florida family physician about how abortion providers are operating under current laws while preparing for further restrictions.

Plus, we find out why the Florida Chamber of Commerce opposes the recreational marijuana measure.

Guests:

  • Rep. Paul Renner, Speaker of the Florida House (R-Flagler).
  • Dr. Chelsea Daniels, Staff Physician at Planned Parenthood. 
  • Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. 

Weekly briefing 

We’re still about two months away from the start of hurricane season. But this week, Floridians got a glimpse into what many meteorologists are expecting to be an extremely active season.

Colorado State University released its first outlook for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The prediction is for 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes with five growing into major hurricanes.

Recovery efforts are still underway more than a year after Hurricane Ian made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast. And now some residents in Lee County are grappling with the threat of rising flood insurance rates, as WGCU’s Michael Braun reports.

Affordability continues to challenge many folks across the state when it comes to buying a home. Buyers oftentimes are competing not with another person, but with corporate investors as WUSF’s Gabriella Paul explains.

Six states were undercounted in the 2020 census, and Florida was one of them. Cary Barbor with WGCU tells us why this shortfall is important to securing federal funding.

This week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that could use some of that online gambling money to help fight sea level rise and save undeveloped land. But as WLRN’s environmental editor reports, there’s still one major hurdle.

Regardless of any legal challenges, online gambling is here now in Florida. And there’s been an increase in calls to Florida’s gambling hotline since then, as WUSF’s Kayla Kissel shares.

Copyright 2024 WLRN 91.3 FM. To see more, visit WLRN 91.3 FM.

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