A divided appeals court on Tuesday approved a waiver for a 16-year-old girl who is seeking to have an abortion without her parents being notified. The majority of a three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal said a Polk County circuit judge had improperly denied the waiver of a state law that ordinarily requires parental notification before minors can have abortions.

Despite opposition from the tourism industry, a House committee Monday moved forward with a proposal that would allow counties to spend so-called “bed” tax money on efforts to combat flooding.

Facing term limits next year, state Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, is among nine candidates for an open seat on the Florida Public Service Commission.

A windfall of federal stimulus money won’t slow a deal between state House and Senate leaders that includes requiring out-of-state online retailers to collect sales taxes on purchases made by Floridians.