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.

Crime

Fired Florida Data Manager Files Lawsuit Over Raid on Home

Trimmel Gomes Dec 22, 2020

A police officer wields a gun and calls for Rebekah Jones' husband to come downstairs. Photo credit: Rebekah Jones/Twitter. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Former state data analyst Rebekah Jones is fighting back against the administration of Gov.…

Health

Pandemic Intensifies Food, Housing Struggles for Florida Families

Trimmel Gomes Dec 14, 2020

A new report shows a higher percentage of Florida families are struggling during the COVID crisis than families nationally. Photo credit: Javi Indy / Shutterstock.com, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- New data reveals what many policy…

Education

Study: Latinos in Florida Face Growing ‘Completion Gap’ to Earning Degree

Trimmel Gomes Dec 8, 2020

A report from Unidos U.S. and the University of North Carolina finds an aversion to debt is the main reason for the completion gap between Latinos and students of other ethnic groups. Photo credit ShutterStock.com, licensed. …

Business

Group Urges Creation of Florida Legislative Committee on Climate Change

Trimmel Gomes Dec 3, 2020

Sea-level rise has been the main focus of Florida policymakers when it comes to climate change, but environmental groups are calling for a deeper analysis of wide-ranging impacts. File photo, Tampa, Florida, September 20, 2019,…

Local

Despite Confusion, Thousands of Former Florida Felons Voted Successfully

Trimmel Gomes Nov 25, 2020

Some local elections officials, including in Broward County, said they had to rely on an "honor system" that anyone restored to vote was eligible. Despite the confusion, Neil Volz - deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration…

Environment

Living Shorelines: Natural Defense to Storms

Trimmel Gomes Nov 23, 2020

Hurricane Sally was expected to strike Alabama and Mississippi. Instead, it made a slow crawl over land in Florida's Panhandle with 105-mile-per-hour winds, ripping roofs, snapping trees, and leaving thousands without power. Photo credit…

Health

Unbiased Help to Navigate Obamacare Open Enrollment

Trimmel Gomes Nov 13, 2020

Navigator Natalie M. and consumer Omar Luna at Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center review Luna's health-insurance options. Photo credit: Epilepsy Florida. MIAMI, FL - Open enrollment for Obamacare is in full swing in Florida, even as…

Business

Florida Invests in Short-Term Workforce Programs

Trimmel Gomes Nov 6, 2020

Florida colleges and technical schools can access grants from CARES Act funds ranging from about $100,000 to $2 million to boost technical certification programs. Photo credit ShutterStock.com, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - The state of…

Environment

Florida Health Care Workers Urge Action on Climate Change

Trimmel Gomes Oct 29, 2020

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Florida's first statewide resilience officer to address climate change but soon after, that person left for a job in the Trump administration. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL --…

Environment

New Protections for Deep-Sea Coral Hotspots in Gulf

Trimmel Gomes Oct 21, 2020

An octocoral (Metallogorgia sp.) and a commensal brittle star (Ophiocreas sp.) photographed at about 6,000 feet deep during a 2017 NOAA research cruise along the northern West Florida Escarpment in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: noaa.gov. …

Environment

Pressure Mounts for Climate Question During Presidential Debates

Trimmel Gomes Sep 27, 2020

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration study examined every storm from 1980 to 2018 and found that the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, along with changes in other human pollution, has changed how often they form…

Health

New Tools for End-of-Life Decisions for People Battling Dementia

Trimmel Gomes Sep 20, 2020

Statistics show Florida has the fourth-highest rate of Alzheimer's disease in the country. Doctors are trained to save lives at all costs, but a 2018 poll about dementia found 80% of Americans think it's wrong to force someone to live for…

Environment

A Goal to Rebuild the Economy with Clean Energy

Trimmel Gomes Sep 13, 2020

The Trump administration announcement to expand a ban on oil drilling off Florida's coast was met with praise and surprise by oil-drilling opponents, considering the administration's previous efforts to expand drilling. Photo credit…

Business

Florida Labor Day Celebrations Transformed into Day of Service

Trimmel Gomes Sep 3, 2020

Union groups are holding caravans and "day of action" events across the state to bring attention to the needs of working families. Photo credit: Space Coast AFL-CIO. TALLAHASSEE, FL - This Labor Day, Florida labor groups are holding…

Economy

Hunger Persists for Florida Families Under Stalled Stimulus Package

Trimmel Gomes Aug 16, 2020

Census data show about half of Florida's households include someone who lost income through the pandemic. here are urgent calls for legislators to act quickly to ensure all Florida families can meet their basic needs during and after the…

Business

Bipartisan Bill Could Mean $25 Billion Stimulus to Postal Service

Trimmel Gomes Aug 10, 2020

The Postal Service is requesting $10 billion to cover operating losses as well as regulatory changes. United States Postal Service collection and delivery van on a residential complex in Summerfield Florida USA. Editorial credit: Peter…

Crime

Florida’s Prison System Under Siege by Coronavirus

Trimmel Gomes Aug 7, 2020

Prisoners at Dade County Correctional Facility, Florida. Date unknown. Photo credit: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com, licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - The novel coronavirus death toll in Florida's prison system reached 60 yesterday, as a…

Local

Jacksonville Locals Praise Trump’s Convention Cancellation

Trimmel Gomes Jul 26, 2020

With the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville canceled, a dramatically scaled-down number of GOP delegates will attend a meeting in Charlotte, N.C., to nominate Donald Trump. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. JACKSONVILLE,…

Health

Protester at DeSantis Briefing: ‘We Need to Hold These Folks Accountable’

Trimmel Gomes Jul 20, 2020

During a news briefing, DeSantis asked the public to wear face masks and practice social distancing. But he stopped short of a statewide mandate as he continues to downplay impact of the virus. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. …

Environment

House Moves Forward on Plan to Bring Coastal Restoration Jobs to Florida

Trimmel Gomes Jul 12, 2020

Coastal-restoration jobs could help Florida communities hit hard by losses in the fishing and tourism industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Conservation groups are looking at the…

Education

Teachers Union: Unfunded Mandate to Reopen is Unsafe

Trimmel Gomes Jul 10, 2020

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced K-12 schools will continue with distance learning for the rest of the school year due to COVID-19. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran…

Entertainment

Visit Virtually: Popular Parks, Attractions Adjust to COVID-19

Trimmel Gomes Jul 5, 2020

Josephine Spearman, education coordinator for the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve near Jacksonville, Florida, holds Indy, an eastern indigo snake, while filming an educational video for teachers and students to…

Environment

Gov. DeSantis Approves Creation of Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve

Trimmel Gomes Jul 1, 2020

The Gulf's seagrass meadows help to stabilize the sea floor, filter pollution and serve as a nursery for fish species. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill creating…

Health

Before COVID-19, Florida Ranked 35th in U.S. for Child Well-Being

Trimmel Gomes Jun 26, 2020

Florida showed improvement on nearly every indicator of children's well-being heading into the pandemic, and ranks 35th among states in the latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Photo credit: File Photo / Pixabay.…

Education

Florida Educators: Funding Essential to Reopen Safely

Trimmel Gomes Jun 15, 2020

Environment

Report: Nature Among Best Defenses from Natural Disasters

Trimmel Gomes Jun 11, 2020

Living shorelines refer to a broad range of shoreline stabilization techniques that use vegetation, shellfish or other natural resources to stabilize estuarine coasts, bays and tributaries. Photo credit: Jennifer McPeak, National Wildlife…

Environment

How Can Florida Reduce Economic Risk During Hurricane Season?

Trimmel Gomes Jun 2, 2020

State and local emergency management officials are preparing for the possibility of facing synchronized disasters, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the six-month hurricane season. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. …

Local

Report: Florida Bucks Southern Trend of ‘Hostile’ LGBTQ Policies

Trimmel Gomes May 28, 2020

This year, Virginia became the first state in the South to pass comprehensive statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, while 60% of Floridians achieve similar protections through local ordinances. Photo credit Shutterstock…

Local

Florida Faith Leaders See Hope in Face of COVID-19

Trimmel Gomes May 22, 2020

In honor of Pope Francis' historic papal document about the environment, Catholic and evangelical clergy have gathered online to discuss ways to overcome climate change and disease outbreaks. File photo, Shutterstock licensed. TAMPA, FL…

Environment

Proposal Could Tip the Balance in Lake Okeechobee

Trimmel Gomes May 14, 2020

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Lake Okeechobee water levels with the goal of balancing flood control, public safety, navigation, water supply and ecological health. Photo credit: Pixabay. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - About 30 Florida…

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