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Testing or *over* testing in the state has many parents, teachers, and lawmakers concerned. As Matt Galka tells us, in the digital learning age, some legislators are calling for a slow down, and a return to the old ways.

As new Florida Standards Assessments tests get ready to be rolled out this Spring, there’s still plenty of concern from the school districts.  Hillsborough County Superintendent MaryEllen Elia says they’re already costing valuable class time.

“The way that we’re administering it is going to cause, and has caused, an excessive amount of time to be used in the school, and it’s a disruption,” said Elia.

The Common Core tied tests have drawn a lot of criticism for over testing stressed out students.  And on Wednesday, lawmakers in a Senate education spending committee touched on a potential issue that isn’t entirely figured out.

Many of the new tests will be taken online, but what happens if there’s a technical problem? That’s why some are saying the old pencil and paper way might be the best way.

“We do not have the technology in place to fully implement online assessments this year,” said Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee).

Commissioner Pam Stewart says Florida schools are ready for the digital age, but Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Destin) isn’t so sure.

“There is a disconnect between how ready the department feels they may be and the districts may, and what the districts feel,” he said.

Tweaks are expected, but Stewart says they won’t be coming from just one side.

“We’re going to work together, I think that the investigation we’re doing into the assessments is going to formulate the direction the legislature and we want to go,” said Stewart.

The tests currently cost Florida $90 million dollars, not including other district costs.

As gay couples across the state lined up to get married today, the panhandle couple responsible for the states reversal on the ban waited. Matt Galka was there with them when they made it official.

It was finally the big day for Steve Schlairet and Ozzie Russ.

The Washington county couple has been together for 18 years with no means of being married in Florida. Their lawsuit prompted a federal judge to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage. But the men weren’t at the courthouse when the doors opened.

“I’m not going to jump up and down like I won a million dollars, that would be different, but I’m happy I helped millions of people,” said Russ.

A group of protestors did line up early. Local pastors said they were disappointed their small town was at the center of the debate in Florida.

“They just don’t have the right to throw out the sanctity of marriage. We voted on that, we put it into law that’s a democratic process, and we’ve been violated,” said protester Alan English.

Anti-gay marriage advocates say they’ll keep fighting. John Stemburger Helped pass an amendment defining traditional a marriage in 2008. He’s hoping for the US Supreme Court to step in

“If the Supreme Court has a state’s rights issue, then the marriage amendment is immediately invigorated,” he said.

The state’s Attorney General agrees.

“We hope they take it, that’s what we’ve wanted all along because we want uniformity,” said Pam Bondi.

While some may continue to denounce same sex couples, the only label Schlairet and Russ care about being put on them now, is married.

Rick Scott was not the same man who took the oath of office four years ago.  He was less strident. More conciliatory. He had a more focused agenda and was personally more comfortable with the role of Governor.

Governor Rick Scott today became only the second Republican to be a two term Governor. An estimated one thousand plus people watched Scott take the oath of office at high noon on the Capitol steps. Scott made it clear his second term will be a continuing quest for jobs.

“I Rick Scott do solemnly swear” repeated Scott as he was administered the oath of office by Florida Supreme Court Justice Jorge Labarga.

Inaugurations are a new beginning.  A time of Hope.  A time to honor those who have served.

In a brief 19 minute address, Rick Scott claimed victory in his quest to create 7 hundred thousand jobs promised to continue the fight “Until the last day I serve as your Governor.”

The second term Governor also said he wold travel the nation in his quest for more jobs. “I have a message today for the people in New York, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and other states: Move to Florida” said Scott.

Scott also promised  tax cuts, increased education funding and money for the environment.

Reporters were told early today that Rick Scott would not be speaking with the media. Aides say the words from the podium speak for themselves.”

USF Political scientist Susan MacManus believes Scott’s inauguration puts a close on the brutal 2014 election. “Many people here were the ones who helped him get elected, and they had one eye on the stage and they were really happy that the election was over and that the outcome was what it was, but they’re also looking ahead to 2016.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Texas’s Rick Perry sat on the dais. Both disavowed any political motives for being in the state. Christie responded to the question about his political future with a quote about the weather “It’s great to be in a place where it’s 15 degrees and snowing today which is what its doing in New Jersey.”

Words that only reinforce Scott’s pitch to outsiders.

Scott laid out broad, 30 thousand foot ideas today…the rubber will hit the road later this month when he unveils his budget proposal.

Florida’s 45 Governor to be sworn in for a second term on Tuesday.

Preparations are underway at the State Capitol for tomorrows inauguration. Rick Scott will take the oath of office  at noon. Scott’s second term is expected by many to be less rocky than his first four years.

For the last year, Rick Scott has been considered one of the most vulnerable GOP governor’s in the nation. That ended when he was re-elected with just 48 percent of the vote.

“I Rick Scott do solemnly swear”

FSU Political scientist Carol Weissert expect a more confident and experienced Rick Scott in his second second term. “In terms of content, I think you will see a little more narrowing of the issues he wants to do, where in the first year he had a whole long list of things he wanted to do.”

One example of the change: Four years ago, Scott proposed slashing school funding by 10 percent….This time, with a surging economy, he will be singing a different tune.

In December, Scott told reporters “I want to have the highest per pupil funding for K-122 education in the history of the state.”

The final touches on the inaugural platform, the seating charts, and PA system were being worked out on Monday. Scott will take the oath at noon Tuesday. In remarks released by the Governor’s office, it’s clear that Rick Scott will continue his push to keep tuition low.

“Floridians have entrusted us with their tax dollars” is what Scott said at his first inaugural. On Tuesday,  Scott will note that Florida just became the third largest state. His prepared remarks will pitch living and working here to those in high tax states. Weissert says jobs will continue to be a main pitch. “Jobs. Jobs Jobs. We’re still going to see that. His new theme is trying to bring…making Florida the kind of place that people want to move to.”

Along with several previous Governors, two presidential hopefuls…Chris Christie and Rick Perry will watch the swearing in ceremony.

The days festivities begin at 8 tomorrow at a pray breakfast on the campus of Florida A&M University. 134 media have been credentialed for the inaugural ceremonies.

A federal judge says Florida is failing at providing adequate healthcare to kids on Medicaid. As Matt Galka tells us, the news was a win for children’s advocates.

Dr. Louis St. Petery has been fighting for more Medicaid money for kids for nearly a decade.  St. Petery and the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics filed a lawsuit in 2005.

“The state doesn’t pay providers, physicians, who see Medicaid kids enough to recruit enough physicians,” he said.

A federal judge ruled in favor of the advocates. He found that nearly 80% of children in the Medicaid program weren’t getting any dental service at all and kids were being forced out of the system.

“It’s great for kids, the state of Florida for many years has not provided children on Medicaid to access for health and dental care,” said Dr. St. Petery.

The ruling said that the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration wasn’t ensuring kids were getting equal services.

The AHCA provided this statement on the ruling:

“The judge’s outdated observations pertain to a Medicaid program that no longer exists. Florida’s new statewide Medicaid managed care program is cost-effective and a working success.”

St. Petery says the new program still isn’t enough.

“The children still don’t have adequate access. I agree, the MMA program is out there, and on paper, perhaps it’s better, but in reality, it’s not,” he said.

Another hearing is scheduled for later this month to determine a proper remedy for the problem.

Public school supporters have been fighting a school expansion program for the last six months, but as Matt Galka tells us, it looks like they may be running out of options.

Time may be up for public school supporters trying to stop private school expansion in Florida. The Florida Education Association filed two lawsuits over the summer of 2014 challenging the state’s tax credit scholarship program – a program the legislature passed that provides tax breaks for corporations funding scholarships for low income families. They said it was taking away from public schools.

“It is the Florida legislature’s paramount duty to fund public schools adequately,” said FEA Vice President Joanne McCall in August.

A judge threw one of the lawsuits out this week saying that the teachers union as well as the parents and students in the lawsuit couldn’t prove personal harm. Daniel Woodring represents some of the tax credit scholarship parents.  He says the pending lawsuit trying to prove the expansion is unconstitutional could be set up for the same fate.

“It’s the same argument they tried to make for personal injury under Senate Bill 850, and the court rejected that,” said Woodring.

A number of legislators and pro-expansion groups have been waging an aggressive campaign to get the union to drop the suit. School choice supporter Representative Manny Diaz says the money being used for the program is private – so nothing is being taken away from public schools

“It’s not taking money from our education system, it’s giving parents a choice of where their child was educated,” said Rep. Diaz (R-Hialeah).

About 70,000 kids are currently enrolled in the program.

Many parents have already bought or should be buying booster seats for their children as a new law gets set to go into effect on the 1^st of January. But as Matt Galka tells us, that booster seat law could be getting tougher in 2015.

Jeff Dempsey owns a chain of children stores called Our New Baby. He says he’s ready for any last minute parents needing to buy a booster seat for their 4 and 5 year olds.

“The way adult seats are designed for adults not children,” said Dempsey.

Florida was one of only two states allowing 4 year olds and up to use a regular seat belt until a bill passed in 2014.  Dempsey is a father himself, and would like to see the age requirement rise.

“The longer they stay in the seats specifically made for them, the better, I think that’s a great idea,” he said.

Representative Keith Perry sponsored the bill that passed in 2014 and says safety was the name of the game.

“Well certainly we know it’s going to save lives, I think it’s something that’s been needed for a long time, and we’re one of the last states to enact that policy,” he said.

And as parents of 4 and 5 year olds who may not have had a seat in the past gear up to fortify their cars, a new crop of parents could be in the same boat next year, as Perry says he’ll look to possibly strengthen the law.

“Now we’re going to even look at moving that up, the age group, there’s a lot of data from the pediatric association that even moving that up to age 7 can be beneficial to saving lives,” he said.

A handful of states have requirements for kids in a booster seat up until age 8.

Minimum wage workers will be getting a boost in 2015. As Matt Galka tells us, that could add up to more spending for everyone.

Rob Bazemore is a successful deli owner. Business is typically good in the shadow of the state capitol.  He doesn’t expect that to change even though he’ll have to start paying his employees more.

“12 cents doesn’t sound like much but it has to come from somewhere,” said Bazemore.

Florida’s minimum wage will go from $7.93 to $8.05 on New Year’s Day.  It’s expected to benefit more than 360 thousand low-wage workers.  Bazemore says he’s all for it, but sometimes that’s the reasons places have to raise prices.

“Without raising prices or something I already buy going down, then that 12 cents comes directly out of my bottom line,” he said.

While nobody’s going to reject a raise, experts say the 12 cent increase might not add up to all that much for the economy.

Florida TaxWatch says the jury is out on how much of an impact it can have on the state.

“Whether or not the money will be reinvested in the economy as additional spending dollars is yet to be seen,” said communications director Morgan McCord.

A 12 cent increase means a full time minimum wage employee would make about $250 dollars extra a year before taxes.

“Florida’s economy is built on sales taxes and consumption, when our minimum wage is only going up by 12 cents an hour, we’re probably not going to see a lot of individuals with more money to spend at stores and things like that,” said McCord.

20 other states will join Florida in raising their wages in 2015. Florida’s increase is tied to a state constitutional amendment from 2004 that raises the minimum wage to adjust for the cost of living.

A judge’s ruling striking down the state’s ban on gay marriage will allow for marriage licenses to be handed out next week, but for who? Matt Galka spoke with the couple who filed the lawsuit, and tells us county clerks of court don’t appear to be ready to hand licenses out to everyone, and the state will need to clarify that.

If you head to Chipley, Florida, population 3500, in Florida’s Panhandle, you’ll be in the middle of the state’s gay marriage debate. That’s where Ozzie Russ and Steve Schlairet live. The couple filed a successful lawsuit challenging the state’s gay marriage ban. Having their relationship officially recognized had never bean option in their 18 years together.

“It never crossed our mind to get married, because we thought what we had was as good as what they’ll allow us to have,” said Russ.

That will change for the two men on January 6^th. They will be allowed to get a marriage license, but county clerks of court aren’t sure if it’s only them or everyone can. Clerks outside of their home in Washington County were advised by attorneys not to give them out or risk criminal penalty.

While Washington County will have to hand out the licenses, it wasn’t the couple’s intention to just be in it for themselves

“His injunction is mandatory for every clerk in the state of Florida and he’s now asking the defendants if they understand the order,” said Schlairet.

The judge who made the ruling ordered the state to respond by Monday and clarify where his ruling applies. While gay couples around Florida wait, the couple at the center is looking forward to officially tying the knot.

“I know when we do get married, the public can’t correct me and say ‘he’s not your husband,’ I can say ‘yes he is,'” said Russ.

Thousands of other Floridians are hoping they can say the same about their significant others.

The state’s Department of Management Services was asked to “explicitly set out the Secretary’s position on whether the preliminary injunction binds a Florida clerk of court.”

‘Tis the Season to be…weird at the Florida Capitol. Holiday displays ranging from a nativity scene to a television sitcom’s Festival Pole have been put up in the Capitol building, but as Matt Galka tells us, a Satanic Temple Holiday display drove one woman over the edge.

A group of atheists put their Satanic Temple holiday display up in the Florida Capitol as a satire of a nativity scene. At least one woman isn’t laughing.

“Two days before Christmas that Jesus should be taken away and Satan put in his place? That’s just not right,” said Susan Hemeryck.

Hemeryck was arrested Tuesday for vandalizing the display, but she says she didn’t plan on doing anything at first, she just wanted to see it.

“There was the display, and it made me angry,” she said.

This video shows Hemeryck walking into the Capitol and heading for the arrangement.  She appears to try and take it before being stopped by Capitol police, but she still managed to do some damage. She says she couldn’t stand idly by.

“When Satan comes into the halls of my town I can’t let that go without a fight, I hope nobody can let that go without a fight,” said Hemeryck.

The display will remain up but the Capitol building will be closed until Monday. The group that put the display together wasn’t shocked.

“Well, I’m really not surprised, I was really surprised it took this long. Kind of expecting it to be damaged,” said John Porgal with American Atheists.

Hemeryck says she’s not happy she broke a law, and has one other regret.

“I went back to pick up my stuff after I was released from jail, and I went back and there was Satan back up again, I guess I’m sorry I just didn’t monkey stop him to smithereens when I had the chance,” she said.

She was charged with criminal mischief and is awaiting a court date at the end of January.

The state’s council on homelessness says there are more than 40,000 people living on the streets at any given time in Florida. As Matt Galka tells us, one man is doing it voluntarily to try and find a solution to the problem.

Tom Rebman is a middle school teacher in Orlando with a family and a job. But today, and for the past month, he’s homeless.  It’s not easy.

“I’m not going to fib you, last night I slept in a hotel bathroom,” said Rebman.

Armed with the bare minimum in his backpack plus a cell phone to document his journey on his Facebook Page “Homeless and Hungry,” Rebman has travelled to Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Ocala, St. Petersburg and the Capitol.  He’s trying to get the message out that the chronic homeless, some with mental problems, need to get off of the streets-jail-streets pipeline.

“Public thinks homeless people are all the vagrants they see on the street, and when I lived in Orlando, I learned “no.” There’s families, there’s couples, and they’re not substance abusers, they’re not bad people, they’re not felons. They’re peple and they’re really suffereing every day,” said Rebman.

He has met with different service organizations in each city.  He’s seen fights and dug through trash.  Sleeping has been no guarantee.

Rebman was able to secure a meeting with Erik Braun, the Director of Florida’s Office of Homelessness.

“Any time we can educate people, help them understand, get rid of misconceptions, it’s a wonderful thing,” said Braun.

While Rebman won’t be on the streets forever, he says he hopes his small amount of time living homeless pays off for the thousands of people struggling daily. The Department of Children and Families has invited Tom Rebman back in February to address the state’s council on homelessness.

How old is too old to be in prison? A watchdog group says some older inmates may be costing the state a bundle and doing little for public safety. Releasing some older inmates is just one idea Florida Taxwatch is floating to cut the cost of incarnation.

Florida is housing just under six thousand inmates over the age of 60  Make no mistake…some are violent murderers or child molesters, but others are not. 80 year old Barbara Dunn was sentenced last year to ten years for DUI manslaughter.

82 year old Eva Verner is more than halfway through her 15 year sentence for Fraud.

Now, Morgan McCord from Florida Taxwatch is suggesting that keeping some elderly behind bars may not be financially sound.

“When we implement some sort of elderly parole option, it’s allowing some of these non violent offenders to really get out of a prison system that is not providing a positive return on investment for our communities.”

Taxpayers spend an average of 17 thousand a year to keep someone in prison. The elderly can cost two or three times as much.

State lawmakers have limited what latitude judges have through sentencing guidelines. Now Taxwatch Research Director Rob Weissert says there needs to be an alternative.

“We’re talking about a revenue…eh, a cost estimating tool. Something that would provide not only what the cost of incarnation would be, but the cost of alternatives are”.

McCord says taking 10 percent of the inmates out of prison and putting ankle bracelets on them would save 120 million a year. “That’s a 120 million a year that can be reinvested in our communities, to be given to education, student performance.”

Florida will spend 280 million dollars on prison health care this year alone. The entire system costs two billion a year to run.

There are 102,000 inmates in Florida prisons. Health care costs are expected to go from 280 million this year to 369 million next year.

Less than 24 hours after being set up, a display by the Satanic Temple in the Capitol rotunda was intentionally damaged. The display was knocked from its table and an angel that was falling from heaven in the display was on the ground. Police were detaining a female suspect.  John Porgal of the Satanic Temple says he wasn’t surprised by the act.

Porgal told officials he wanted to press charges.mBy mid afternoon, the display was back on its table…but because of the damage, the angel was no longer falling. It has descended into the flames. The display was a spoof of the nativity scene erected by the Florida Prayer network.

Jameis Winston will not be facing any school discipline. As Matt Galka tells us, he is good to go for FloridaState’s potential national championship run, much to the delight of fans.

Following a two day student conduct code hearing at the beginning of the month, Florida State Quarterback Jameis Winston and his attorney maintained there was never any wrongdoing two years ago. The quarterback was accused of sexual assault by a former student.

“There certainly was no evidence in two days that suggested otherwise,” said Attorney David Cornwell following the conclusion of the hearing in the beginning of December.

A former Supreme Court justice was brought in by FSU to determine if that was the case.  On Sunday, Justice Major Harding concluded that he did not “find the credibility of one story substantially stronger than that of the other.” Winston will face no school penalties.

Coach Jimbo Fisher said it was a relief.

“We’ve dealt with it in our own ways, but it is a relief, especially for him I know, once you get a verdict, get the answers, that’s what you want,” said Fisher.

For many in Tallahassee, the support of their quarterback never waivered. At locally owned FSU apparel store Garnet and Gold, business is booming, even through all the controversy.

“When the ‘Noles are winning, everyone’s happy. And I always tell people, when they bring up things like that, I say “winning takes care of a lot of things, so we just try to focus on the positive here,” said manager Woody Hayes.

The accuser’s attorney released a statement saying they were “stunned and dismayed” and that they will consider an appeal.

An appeal isn’t due until five days after FloridaStateUniversity classes resume. That would be January 13^th, the national championship game which FSU could potentially play in would be held January 12^th.

An angel falling from heaven has replaced a nativity scene in the state Capitol. The display from the Satanic temple was originally turned down after being deemed “grossly offensive. It went up Monday after some legal maneuvering.

School children ushered in a nativity display to the state Capitol last week. No sooner was it dismantled Monday, than the Satanic Temple was signing another tune.

“Right here” pointed John Porgal. Organizers sought to install their display in the exact same spot and got flack from building managers. Tom Berger from the Department of Mgmt. Services wanted the display against a pillar. “We ask you very politely to set your display right here.” said Berger.

Porgal responded:  “It’s going right where the manger scene was! You got a problem with that, call your boss.”

They prevailed. The depiction of an angel falling from heaven is a protest says Porgal.  “There’s no real significance to it, it’s just a display we put up to counter act the nativity scene.”

Q:”so, you are not a devil worshiper?”

“No.

In addition to the fallen angel, A menorah is on display, as is a new, more low key picture of the nativity.

For two years running, the state said no to this display. Then the lawyers got involved. And they said if you’re going to have this, you are going to have this, and here it is.

Pam Olson of the Florida Prayer Network doesn’t like the Satanic Display, but …“We have freedom here, and thank god we do have that. So he can spoof all he wants, but the reality is…Merry Christmas.”

The displays come down next Monday…but the Capitol will be closed Wednesday evening through the weekend, giving little visibility to the alternate ideas that are on display.

The Satanic Temple says it did offer to abandon the display if organizers of the nativity scene displays agreed not to show the Christian scenes. A total of 8 displays will have been up this holiday season, with all but 2 aiming to spoof the nativity scene and the government that organizers say blurred the line between church and state.