PFLAG and Equality Florida are urging parents, families and allies to travel to the state Capitol next week to oppose several measures they say would harm LGBTQ+ youth and families.

Florida’s 2026 legislative session kicks off Tuesday, and there are many bills and proposals on the agenda. However, one recurring proposal is the push to lower the age of buying a gun in Florida.

Under HB 269 , leaving hateful messages would be a third-degree felony in Florida.

Ron DeSantis said the state will be receiving a “modest increase” in first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. DeSantis said the state has received approximately 260,000 first doses per week for the past several weeks. He said next week, Florida plans to receive 307,000 first doses from the federal government. With COVID-19 surging and vaccinations off to a slow start, President Biden said earlier this month that he planned to rapidly release most available vaccine doses to protect more people, a reversal of Trump administration policies. The new administration has said it plans to rely on manufacturers to deliver enough for second doses.

As many as 600,000 utility customers behind on their payments are now eligible to have their power cut. At a virtual meeting, activists asked the Florida Public Service Commission to postpone cutoffs until at least the end of 2020. No family should be forced to go without power,” said Zach Cosner with Florida Conservation Voters. Earth Justice and others said they will keep looking for ways to help people in need keep the lights on. Florida Power and Light, Gulf Power, TECO, and Duke Energy Florida all said cutoffs were a last resort.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this reportTALLAHASEE, Fla. – Florida State University President John Thrasher and his wife, Jean, have both tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to a statement Tuesday from FSU. The statement from the university said the president learned of his positive result at 3:45 p.m. after taking a test earlier in the day. It said members of President Thrasher’s staff were tested Tuesday and received negative test results. From Aug. 2 through Saturday, Florida State had 1,500 students and 32 employees test positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, according to statistics posted on the university website. From Sept. 27 through Saturday, the most recent weekly data available, 52 students and one employee tested positive --- with a positivity rate of 2.02 percent of the overall number of people tested.

TALLAHASEE, Fla. Police in Florida say a man who pulled a gun at a protest won't face charges because he was defending himself. The Tallahassee Police Department said in a statement that the incident occurred during a protest downtown. Police said a white man began documenting the protest" and then was pushed from behind. The Tallahassee Democrat reported that a person identified as Adam Ferguson said the person with the gun instigated the fight when he shoved a female protester. Ferguson said another protester then shoved him back, and the man threw a punch that hit Fergusons girlfriend.

News Service of FloridaTALLAHASEE, Fla. - FAMUs minority medical marijuana education program came under tough scrutiny from lawmakers Thursday morning. This was the second time FAMUs Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative presented to lawmakers. FAMU was given $2.1 million for the education program in August. Glory Brown, the director of FAMU's Office of Sponsored Programs, said the university would be open to more oversight from the state. FAMU says its satisfied with progress that has been made with the education program.

News Service of FloridaTALLAHASEE, Fla. - FAMU's minority medical marijuana education program came under tough scrutiny from lawmakers Thursday morning. This was the second time FAMU's Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative presented to lawmakers. FAMU was given $2.1 million for the education program in August. Glory Brown, the director of FAMU's Office of Sponsored Programs, said the university would be open to more oversight from the state. FAMU says it's satisfied with progress that has been made with the education program.