Valerie Crowder
Valerie Crowder is a freelance reporter based in Panama City, Florida. Before moving to Florida, she covered politics and education for Public Radio East in New Bern, North Carolina. While at PRE, she was also a fill-in host during All Things Considered. She got her start in public radio at WAER-FM in Syracuse, New York, where she was a part-time reporter, assistant producer and host. She has a B.A. in newspaper online journalism and political science from Syracuse University. When she’s not reporting the news, she enjoys reading classic fiction and thrillers, hiking with members of the Florida Trail Association and doing yoga.
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Black voters in Florida could regain a congressional district where they make up a sizable share of the population, if voting rights groups prevail in an ongoing legal battle. -
Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a bipartisan plan to regulate the use of kratom, an herbal supplement that causes opioid- and stimulant-like effects. -
The Florida Senate unanimously passed a plan to build more affordable housing on the second day of the 60-day regular lawmaking session. -
As Florida dedicates more money to transport migrants from other states, advocates say there isn't enough oversight to make sure transport is done legally and that migrants are relocated voluntarily. -
Republican state lawmakers have filed legislation that would allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. -
State lawmakers will consider legislation on property insurance, property tax relief for hurricane survivors and a statewide toll road credit program when they meet in Tallahassee on Dec. 12 - 16. -
Hurricane Ian dealt a major blow to Florida’s already crippled property insurance market. The Category 4 storm is expected to go down as one of the costliest in U.S. history, and that’s expected to drive more of the state’s private insurers out of business. -
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is running for reelection, said the flights from Texas were voluntary. But if migrants were lured, some argue they could now be victims of a crime. -
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s new congressional map have launched a statewide tour aimed at educating Black voters about changes to the state's U.S. House district lines. -
After Gov. Ron DeSantis' controversial Florida redistricting map eliminated Rep. Al Lawson's Black voting district, he will face off against Rep. Neal Dunn, a Republican, in November.
