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The youngest person to every fly around the world also happens to be a Floridian. Barrington Irving was honored in the state Senate Wednesday. Irving is 23. Last March he flew 26,000 miles around the world. Irving had some heart stopping moments due to dangerous weather conditions and said it’s a miracle he survived the trip.

“God, honestly, God brought me through it because there are some points I should have been dead with some of the stuff I’d been through,” said Irving.

Irving shattered the record for youngest pilot to circle the globe. The previous record holder was 37 years old.

Floridians with developmental disabilities are afraid budget cuts will leave them without the help they need. Today at the Capitol people who work with the developmentally disabled spoke out against the budget cuts. Both the House and Senate’s budget proposals reduce funding for Intermediate Care Facilities. The care centers provide assistance for people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and autism. Jim Weeks with Sunrise Community, a care facility In Miami, said if the cuts happen then the centers would have to be shut down.

“If we lose these facilities the individuals who are being served will have absolutely no where to go and the state will absolutely end up spending more money on them then they could possible save under this program,” said Weeks

House Democrats want to get rid of some sales tax exemptions to save funding for programs that help the developmentally disabled.

The U-S Supreme court ruled that states can resume executions. IT found that lethal injections are not cruel and unusual. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, the ruling opens the door, after 16 months, for the state to resume executions.

The Supreme Court ruling allowing executions to go forward came as Florida was celebrating Victims Rights Week. Attorney General Bill McCollum called for the audience to applaud the ruling.

“I would suspect over the next weeks and months, we will see a number of executions in Florida,” McCollum said.

Patricia Tuthill was at the victims ceremony. Her 23 year old daughter was raped then murdered in another state. The killer got life..but Tuthill is okay with the decision.

“Because I think his days in maximum security prison are going to  be very long, for me the death penalty might have been an easier way for him,” Tuthill said.

Florida hasn’t had a lethal injection since December of ‘06 when it botched the Angel Diaz execution.

Governor Charlie Crist has ordered his lawyers to review those eligible for a death warrant.

“Five or less probably,” Crist said. “That doesn’t mean I’ll sign five. I mean I would consider signing an additional one.”

The ACLU says while allowing executions to go forward, the ruling also invites more challenges.

“There’s going to be another mistake,” Larry Spalding with the ACLU said. “And when it happens, the case is going to go back to the United states Supreme Court.

Florida has 388 inmates on Death Row

Florida has the third highest uninsured rate in the Nation. Governor Charlie Crist is pushing a plan to offer bare bones insurance coverage for about a hundred and 50 bucks a month. As Whitney Ray tells us the plan would offer people coverage they can afford, but maybe not the coverage they need.

Laurie Staples knows how to work the system to get the insurance coverage her family needs. She has two jobs, but at times the extra income excludes her from Medicaid.

“As soon as you get the letter that you’re going to be denied insurance you quit one job for a while,” said Staples

Laurie’s 12 year old daughter, Caitlyn is autistic. A year ago her insurance quit paying for Caitlyn’s therapy.

“There’s no way that I could afford insurance for my daughter in the private sector,” Staples said.

Governor Charlie Crist has a plan to allow people like Laurie to stop working the system to get coverage.

“The act would break down some of the bureaucratic barriers that currently exist, make it simpler for health insurance companies to help our fellow Floridians,” said Crist

Crist says his plan could provide coverage for about 150 bucks a month. Crist’s plan works like an insurance buffet where people can pick and choose the coverage they want. But people buying into the plan couldn’t afford to over load their plates. The plan offers bare bones coverage. Rich Rasmussen with the Florida Hospital Association said every little bit helps.

“If we can get at this issue of providing more coverage to 3.5 million Floridians who have nothing, then we’ve achieved something,” Rasmussen said.

Crist’s plan promises coverage without raising taxes. The Governor’s plan is sailing through the Senate and is starting to pick up steam in the House. Crist said he hopes the plan makes it to his desk before the end of this year’s legislative session in May.

The HOPE task force, a panel of financial experts and cabinet members, is just days away from presenting recommendations to Governor Charlie Crist. Crist assembled the task force earlier this year to come up with solutions to the state’s foreclosure crisis. Tuesday the task force met to put the final touches on its recommendations. Many of the suggestions center on informing the public about predatory lenders. Travis Munnerlyn, a member of ACORN, a group helping Floridians fighting foreclosure said the recommendations don’t go far enough.

“Education is not the answer, that’s just something to say to pass the buck. I’d say education’s not the answer to it,” said Munnerlyn.

The task force will recommend lenders disclose any prepaid penalties attached to a loan. ACORN wants prepaid penalties eliminated.

The state Senate was full of little legislators Tuesday. Fifth grade students from Madison Academy toured the Capitol. They held a mock session in the Senate chamber. The tour was sponsored by the Florida League of City as part of its program to promote civic education. Students said it worked.

“The funniest part today was the mock session and getting to vote and place amendments and bills,” said 5th Grader Sarah Baltzell.

“The kids that do this program, they go back home and they take a different interest in the things that are going on in school and leadership roles. It’s really nice to see that happen,” said Myra Valentine, the Mayor of Madison.

The students also had a chance to meet lawmakers and visit with them in their offices.

State lawmakers served up Key Lime Pie to all comes at the Capitol today. The key Lime pie took its rightful place in the Capitol Rotunda. It was named a the official state pie a year ago. Sponsor Larcenia Bullard of Miami says the designation is more than just fun.

“It is not just symbolic, it is business,” Bullard said. “This is a business opportunity to those who have the resources to open key lime factories, Key lime stores. People are requesting Key lime pies.”

The Key Lime Pie joins other state symbols, such as the the state bird, the state flower, and event he state motto.

Environmentalists are upset with state lawmakers over a lack of Everglades restoration funding. Budget cuts are also slowing down a program to buy environmentally sensitive lands. Today, Lawmakers shot aback. State Senator Burt Saunders of Naples says state taxpayers money is going to fix the Everglades this year, even if it isn’t coming out of the state budget.

“We have 229 million dollars already appropriated for 2008-2009 for the water management district,” Saunders said. “So to say that we are cutting funding to Everglades restoration is incorrect.”

Lawmakers are still in the middle of budget negotiations, but the House has no money for the Everglades, which the Senate has about 100 million dollars.

After weeks of protest from county and city leaders a controversial plan to cap Government spending has failed. The Tax Payer Bill of Rights would have limited how much taxes could be raised, but as Whitney Ray tells us while the plan sounded good opponents say it would have ruined the economy.

A powerful commission has voted against a so called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, after opponents argued the plan would cut money for police, fire, roads and schools.

“It sounds very nice TABOR, the problem is what it really can do to our state,” said John Ratliff with SEIU Local 1991.

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meets every 20 years. It’s made up of 25 appointed commissioners and has the authority to put tax issues on the November ballot. When opponents thought the vote would go against them, they attacked the commissioners. Opponents of the plan are furious commissioners, not elected lawmakers, have the final say.

“This isn’t about Florida; this is about the unelected millionaires. They don’t care about anybody, but about their money and it’s disgusting,” said Doug Martin, the communication director for AFSCME Florida Council 79.

Commissioner Mike Hogan sponsored the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

“Even the ones that are against it, they struggled with what they saw, how the government spent unrestrained,” said Hogan.

Ultimately he wasn’t able to convince enough commissioners to have his plan put on Novembers Ballot, which has local and even some state officials breathing easier. A similar plan was passed in Colorado in 1992. People there voted to postpone the plan after city and county officials complained about failing schools and deteriorating roads.

It was all boots and leather Monday around the Capitol. Hundreds of bikers rode right up to the Capitol courtyard to talk about issue facing them. Their lobbying has already paid off. Earlier this month a bill to allow authorities to confiscate speeders’ bikes lost a lot of its bite after bikers addressed several committees. Now bikers want stiffer penalties for drivers that hit motorcycles.

“We just want to be citizens like everybody else. We pay our taxes, we raise our families. There’s no right for you to run over us and kill us and then get an 82 dollar fine. And the difference between a car and a motorcycle on fines is just ridiculous. If a car hits someone and kills them, they get them for manslaughter. If they hit us, they charge them 82 dollars, pat them on their back, and send them on their way,” said Doc Reichenbach.

Bikers held a press conference and read a list of fellow bikers killed on Florida roads.

State Senator Steve Oelrich used biker day at the Capitol to talk about motorcycle laws that aren’t being enforced. Oelrich took reporters on a tour to spot bikes without mufflers. It’s illegal in Florida to remove a motorcycles’ muffler. Removing the muffler makes the bike very loud. Only 10 citations were issued to bikers last year for breaking noise laws. Oelrich, a former sheriff, wants officers to start enforcing the laws.

“My thing is why even have laws on the books if we’re not going to enforce them and this is a perfect example,” said Oelrich.

While only 10 citations were written to bikers who broke noise laws, about 750 people were ticketed for playing their car stereos too loud.

The evolution debate continues at the Capitol. In February, the Board of Education voted to include the theory of evolution in state science curriculums. Since then lawmakers have filed a bill aimed at protecting teachers who want to teach the holes in Darwin’s theory. Citizens for Science held a press conference Monday to rally support against the bill. Members of Citizens for Science said the bill would provide a loophole for teachers who want to push religion.

“Scientists actually have evidence without certainty. Those who propose Intelligent Design have certainty without evidence, and that’s an important difference,” said Dr. Harold Kroto a Nobel Prize Winner.

Citizens for Science will hold a discussion panel on Evolution tonight in Tallahassee.

Three bills moving in Tallahassee could drastically change the way you drive. As Whiney Ray tells us, new restrictions, new requirements, and new ways of catching violators could soon be the law of Florida.

Hear it here: Moving Violation Bills Moving In Tallahassee

Motorcycle wheelies would be a no-no under proposed legislation. Bikers who are serial speeders are being targeted for tough penalties.

“Before it gets to the floor we may put a stronger monetary penalty on the third offense, somewhere in the range of five and ten thousand dollars,” said bill sponsor Carlos Lopez-Cantera.

One bill would strengthen the state’s seatbelt law by allowing officers to pull you over if you’re not buckled up.”

Seatbelts are already required in Florida, but police can’t ticket you unless you’ve done something wrong.

With pictures in hand to prove seat belts save lives, sponsor Rich Glorioso wants police to be able to write tickets for not wearing seatbelts, even if everything else is okay.

“This will save about 200 lives a year, 2,700 serious injuries, and disabling injuries, about 600 million dollars in economic damages and 12 million dollars in medical,” said Glorioso.

A third bill would let local governments put cameras on state roads to catch people running red lights. A handful of cities already use the cameras…but not on a state right of way. Police officers say this idea is also about saving lives.

“We want to reduce the number of red-light crashes in Florida and ultimately reduce the number of deaths,” said Tallahassee Police Captain David Folsom

The message from lawmakers this year: Buckle up, watch your speed, and stop for red lights or face the consequences. Another bill making waves at the Capitol would keep people under 18 from getting their licenses until they passed a drivers education class.

A bill allowing the state to buy a commuter rail rolled through a House council in Tallahassee today. The bill would allocate more than 600 million dollars to buy a 61 mile stretch of the CSX rail line going through Orlando. Opponents of the bill lined up to tell lawmakers their concerns about the project. Labor Lobbyist Rich Templin read a letter from a union member against the legislation.

“She wrote and I quote ‘I think it’s unconscionable that they’re even considering giving this company all this money when the budget is as bad as it is. It is wrong for them to even consider this deal when they are debating whether my neighbors living on social security will be able to denture or eyeglasses and whether or not to take money away from kids’ schools,’” said Templin.

Supporters of the bill said it will cut down on vehicle pollution and provide better public transportation.

Lawmakers want to stop school bullying. An anti-bullying bill heading to the House floor requires schools to take a more aggressive approach to bullies and as Whitney Ray tells us, the bill also takes the bully battle to cyberspace.

Hear to here: Lawmakers Battle Bullying

For some kids going to school is a nightmare. Bullies roam the halls intimidating students. Some kids feel they have no where to turn. Assistant Principal Doug Cook said it’s not hard to spot a student whose been bullied.

“You can definitely see it in their expression. You can see it in a lot of emotions in certain incidents students will refuse to come to school,” said Cook.

Representative Nick Thompson is sponsoring a bill requiring schools to set up guidelines to deal with bullies and their victims.

“If an incident of bullying occurs, the bill requires that they notify the parents of the bully and the parents of the child being bullied,” said Thompson.

Parents say keeping them involved would cut down on bullying.

“If somebody’s picking on my child I would want to know and if they’re picking on somebody else I’d want to know that so I could take care of that issue,” said Tabitha Hart.

But sometimes bullying happens online. The bill is named after a Florida Teen who killed himself after two years of being picked on over the internet. Principals say it isn’t easy to control what students do in cyberspace.

“The cyber is something schools are feeling powerless about, we’ll if it happened off campus how can we do something about it,” said Cook.

The bill allows teachers to intervene if bullies use school computers to pick on kids. If the bill passes every school district in the state would have to set up its own anti-bullying policy.