The 2008 legislative session began Tuesday, and arguably the biggest issue for lawmakers is the budget shortfall. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has more from one state senator on who may take the biggest hit in this year’s session.

It's shaping up to be a tough year in Tallahassee. Declining tax revenues and the state's continuing housing crunch mean the budget axe may fall heavily during the upcoming session. Steve Newborn talked to two South Central Florida lawmakers - one Republican, one Democrat - about what's expected this year in the state capitol.

A powerful group of Florida policy makers want to change a constitutional amendment limiting the number of children in public school class rooms.
As James Call reports a committee of the Taxation and Budget Reform
Commission has approved a measure giving school districts wiggle room in implementing voter-approved class-size caps.

February 26th is Spay-Day USA in Lee County. There are roughly 10-thousand stray animals; mostly cats and dogs in Lee County. These animals can pose a public health threat. Many are killed by cars or other animals. Those captured by animal services which don’t find a home are euthanized. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has more on Lee County’s efforts to try to avoid that end…using its mobile clinic, the Spay Station.

Florida has the second highest rate of foreclosures in the nation. Two efforts were announced Wednesday in Tallahassee to try to protect future mortgage holders. Gina Jordan reports.

Juvenile Justice Advocates extended their support Wednesday to Florida’s Blueprint Commission on Juvenile Justice. The commission’s report was presented Tuesday, and was immediately applauded by the Children’s Campaign, Florida Juvenile Justice Association and the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services. Lynn Hatter has more.

Florida’s “10-20-Life” law may get some competition in the upcoming legislative session. The Challenger is a “15-25-Life” bill that targets the use of automatic and semi-automatic weapons used in crimes. Lynn Hatter has more.

Florida lawmakers are proposing new legislation that would give independently elected Clerks of Court the sole right over a county’s financial statements and books. Trimmel Gomes reports.

The Secretary of the Department of Children and Families says the state will tighten its background screening of employees – in response to the recent arrest of an agency spokesman on child pornography charges.

Governor Charlie Crist is proposing a 70 billion-dollar state budget that seeks to boost spending on programs to stimulate business. As James Call reports, Crist is also proposing more spending on health insurance for children and the disabled.