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.

Health

Florida’s Child Well-Being Report Card Shows Increase in Mental Distress

Trimmel Gomes Aug 11, 2022

Data shows the number of Florida children with mental distress increased 21.8% from 2016 to 2020. And nationally, more than one in nine children experienced anxiety, depression or both. File photo: Esfera, Shutter Stock, licensed. …

Economy

Multi-State Conservation Plan to Protect Salt Marshes

Trimmel Gomes Aug 8, 2022

Salt marshes are coastal wetlands rich in marine life. They sometimes are called tidal marshes, because they occur in the zone between low and high tides. File photo: Ken Schulze, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Conservation…

Business

Florida Families Urged to Sign Up for KidCare as CHIP Marks Silver Anniversary

Trimmel Gomes Aug 2, 2022

Florida Healthy Kids administers the Florida Healthy Kids program for children ages 5 through 18. File photo: Brocreative, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - As a program to improve health-insurance access for children…

Business

Florida Nonprofit Helps Children Cope with Prolonged Grief

Trimmel Gomes Aug 1, 2022

Since the 1990s, some researchers have argued that intense forms of grief should be classified as a mental illness. In 2021, the American Psychiatric Association made the classification official. File photo: Alexandr Grant, Shutter Stock,…

Crime

Some Incarcerated People to Become College Grads at Miami Dade College

Trimmel Gomes Jul 25, 2022

With 96% of all incarcerated persons returning to their communities, the Institute for Educational Empowerment wants to ensure individuals are prepared to take on the challenges of re-entering society. File photo: Rebekah Zemansky, Shutter…

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Health

Florida Judge Temporarily Blocks 15-Week Abortion Ban

Trimmel Gomes Jul 1, 2022

The Florida abortion ban includes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. In response to the ruling, DeSantis said he expected it. File photo: Aziz Karimov, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - A Florida judge put a hold on the…

Health

In Florida, Critics Say Pregnancy is Only Option for GOP Leaders

Trimmel Gomes Jun 27, 2022

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vetoed funding for Hormonal Long Acting Reversible Contraception (HLARC) funding for a second year. File photo: Syda Productions, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Abortion rights proponents are…

Health

Pandemic’s Social Distancing Took Heavy Toll on Florida Seniors; Report Finds Higher Rates of…

Trimmel Gomes Jun 17, 2022

The report found depression among seniors is up 9%, suicides have increased by 13%, and drug deaths among people over 65 have doubled in the last 10-12 years. File photo: Deliris, Shutter Stock, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Older people…

Business

Florida Lawmakers Miss Climate Change in Fixes to Property-Insurance Crisis

Trimmel Gomes Jun 6, 2022

Catastrophic losses like Hurricane Andrew have driven many large national insurers out of the state, leaving Floridians with fewer coverage options. File photo: Harvepino, Shutter Stock, licensed TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida lawmakers have…

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…

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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. …

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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…

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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…

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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…

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