Author

Trimmel Gomes

With more than 11 years as a radio and television newsman, Trimmel Gomes has traveled the world searching and covering stories while working for major news outlets like NPR, PBS and ABC. He is a regular contributor for the ABC affiliate in Florida's capital city appearing across various programming to break down the latest in politics from Florida, Georgia and Washington.

Local

Florida Democrats Call for More Gun Control Following Texas Massacre: ‘Lots We Can Do Without…

Trimmel Gomes May 27, 2022

After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, lawmakers set aside around $97 million in recurring funding for school resource officers and created the Office of Safe Schools in the Department of Education. File photo: Heidi…

Business

Florida Officials Open Virtual Public Hearing on New Aquatic Preserve

Trimmel Gomes May 19, 2022

The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve along with the Big Bend Seagrasses, St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserves and the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve together protect the largest contiguous seagrass meadow in the Gulf of Mexico and the…

Local

DeSantis Would Cut Florida’s Black Representation in Half

Trimmel Gomes Apr 18, 2022

Floridians can follow the state's redistricting process via floridaredistricting.gov. (State of Florida) TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida's redistricting saga continues Tuesday when lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a special session to…

Health

‘Embattled’ Florida Abortion-Rights Advocates Are Hopeful

Trimmel Gomes Apr 15, 2022

Republicans across the nation have added new abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it would uphold Mississippi's law banning abortions after 15 weeks. File photo: Gorodenkoff, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE,…

Local

LGBTQ Advocates Plan Legal Challenge to Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

Trimmel Gomes Mar 29, 2022

Equality Florida, which advocates for the LGBTQ community, announced "swift and fierce" litigation to fight against the bill. They are creating a legal-defense fund to support LGBTQ youths and their families who feel the bill violates…

Environment

DeSantis Urged to Save Sunshine State’s Solar Industry With Veto

Trimmel Gomes Mar 18, 2022

If Net Metering becomes law, utilities would pay solar users less money for the excess energy they produce. They now get a full retail rate for the power they put back into the grid. File photo: Chinasong, Shutter Stock, licensed. …

Local

Florida Lawmakers Double Down on Voting Restrictions

Trimmel Gomes Feb 14, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Republicans are proposing yet another sweeping change to state election laws. The new bill would establish an Office of Election Crimes and Security - a slimmed-down version of Gov. Ron DeSantis's "elections…

Education

Florida Community Colleges Zero In on Dropout Prevention

Trimmel Gomes Feb 8, 2022

About 25% of former community-college students cited difficulty learning on their own, in an online environment, as a barrier to completing their coursework. File photo: Paul.J.West, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - New…

Health

Doctors Speak Out Against Florida Fast-Tracking 15-Week Abortion Ban

Trimmel Gomes Jan 30, 2022

A 15-week abortion ban proposal in Florida, known as the "Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction Act," is expected to pass quickly through the GOP-controlled Legislature. File photo: S_L, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL -…

Finance

Advocates Urge Additional Funding for Florida Home-Care Workers

Trimmel Gomes Jan 26, 2022

President Joe Biden's administration approved Florida's proposed request to tap into an additional $1.2 billion in September to fund Home and Community-Based Care Services. File photo: Pikselstock, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE,…

Business

Dems, Advocates Urge More Public Input in Florida Redistricting

Trimmel Gomes Jan 12, 2022

Few members of the public made it to the Florida House of Representatives' State Legislative Redistricting Committee meeting, held ostensibly to solicit public testimony. Photo: Trimmel Gomes TALLAHASSEE, FL - On the Florida…

Health

Abortion Among Big Issues to Watch in Florida 2022 Legislature

Trimmel Gomes Jan 7, 2022

Abortion is expected to be one of the most controversial issues lawmakers will tackle when they start the annual 60-day Florida legislative session on Tues., Jan. 11. Photo credit: Trimmel Gomes. TALLAHASSEE, FL - As the U.S. Supreme…

Business

Backlash for Florida Rule Change on Receiving Mail in Prison

Trimmel Gomes Dec 28, 2021

The new rule, finalized November 29, is being phased in beginning with four state-run facilities -- the Calhoun, Lawtey, Polk and Martin Correctional Institutes - starting January 18. File photo: Sherry Saye, Shutter Stock, licensed. …

Environment

A Christmas Eve Memorial for Florida Manatees

Trimmel Gomes Dec 24, 2021

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating high numbers of manatee deaths along Florida's Atlantic coast. Photo credit ShutterStock.com, licensed. PORT ST. JOHN, FL -…

Business

Rural Florida Cites Need for Better, Cheaper Broadband

Trimmel Gomes Dec 14, 2021

According to the White House, more than 30 million Americans live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure that provides minimally acceptable speeds. File photo: ShutterStock.com, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - The bipartisan …

Business

More Student-Loan Forgiveness Urged as Repayments Set to Resume

Trimmel Gomes Dec 13, 2021

The Biden administration's approach to student-loan relief so far has been on improving or expanding a handful of programs that already were on the books, even as advocates press for the campaign promise of canceling $10,000 in student…

Business

Florida Health Groups Urge Senate Passage of Build Back Better

Trimmel Gomes Dec 5, 2021

Florida KidCare is the umbrella brand for the four government-sponsored health insurance programs - Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan. File photo: ShutterStock.com, licensed. …

Environment

Settlement Funds from Oil Spill to Help Restore Florida Oyster Reefs

Trimmel Gomes Nov 21, 2021

Experts estimate the Gulf of Mexico lost between 4 billion and 8 billion oysters due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and loss of reproduction in ensuing years. Places like Suwannee Sound in Florida and other Gulf states are tapping…

Health

Overcoming Politics In New Phase With Childhood COVID Vaccinations

Trimmel Gomes Nov 9, 2021

The Florida House and Senate on Monday rolled out proposals for a special legislative session next week that will focus on opposing COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates File photo: ShutterStock.com, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Health officials…

Business

FL Unions: Pulling Out of OSHA Would Risk Health, Safety of Millions

Trimmel Gomes Nov 1, 2021

Unions representing Florida workers are concerned about calls by Republican leaders to pull Florida out of federal employer safety programs. File photo: ShutterStock.com, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Gov. Ron DeSantis' newest battle with…

Health

Senator Calls Florida Surgeon General Unfit for Job

Trimmel Gomes Oct 25, 2021

Florida's Senate president, Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, is calling on visitors to the chamber to be respectful, saying while there are no mask mandates, senators and staff can request social distancing and masking within their own…

Local

Will Florida Lawmakers Hold Public Hearings on Redistricting?

Trimmel Gomes Oct 17, 2021

Republicans in charge of Florida's redistricting process say conversations still are ongoing on how to include public participation in the redistricting process despite proposals from Democrats and advocates. File photo: ShutterStock.com,…

Education

Florida Teachers, Volunteers Go Door-to-Door to Get Missing Students Back to Class

Trimmel Gomes Oct 11, 2021

Some 500 volunteers made phone calls and canvassed neighborhoods in Broward County to find truant students. File photo: ShutterStock.com, licensed. TAMARAC, FL -- Teachers and volunteers in Broward County embarked on a unique canvassing…

Business

National Business Women’s Week Highlights Need for Credit Equity

Trimmel Gomes Oct 5, 2021

The third full week in October ushers in National Business Women's Week each year. File photo: ShutterStock.com, licensed. JACKSONVILLE, FL - After discovering the healing powers of eating natural healthy foods, one Jacksonville woman…

Economy

Florida OK’d for More than $1B in P-EBT Funding for Children

Trimmel Gomes Oct 1, 2021

Through P-EBT, eligible schoolchildren receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. File photo: Jeff Bukowski, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- After weeks of pressuring…

Local

Advocates: Florida’s Redistricting Process Needs More “Sunshine”

Trimmel Gomes Sep 19, 2021

Every 10 years, Florida legislators redraw political divisions or boundaries for state legislative and congressional districts. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- After census delays, Florida lawmakers kick off the complex, once-a-decade process of…

Local

Bill to Ban Critical Race Theory Sparks Call for African American History

Trimmel Gomes Sep 16, 2021

Republican lawmakers across the country have proposed legislation to limit or forbid the teaching of such concepts as racial equity and white privilege. Photo credit: Kelly Lacy/Pexels. TALLAHASSEE, FL - State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm…

Local

“Help a Brother Out” – Florida Groups Rally to Resettle Afghan Refugees

Trimmel Gomes Sep 2, 2021

The State Department named Jacksonville among the top 19 "welcoming cities" for refugees, but organizations in other parts of the state also are gearing up to help with resettlement. File photo: PradeepGaurs, Shutterstock.com, licensed. …

Environment

Piney Point Pollution Could Overflow with Storms, Hurricanes

Trimmel Gomes Aug 17, 2021

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is seeking an emergency court hearing to transfer control of the troubled former phosphate processing plant at Piney Point from its owners to avoid another environmental disaster. …

Education

GoFundMe, Federal Aid Offered to School Officials in Masking Disputes

Trimmel Gomes Aug 11, 2021

This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to dock the salaries of district superintendents and county school board members who mandate mask wearing in schools. File photo: ShutterStock.com, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - As the DeSantis…

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