Statewide

Probation officers for supervised sex offenders in Florida will be accompanying officers on patrol Halloween night to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters. Alachua County residents have been voicing concerns on social media over protocol for sex offenders on Halloween night.

The University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law is hosting its first Pro Bono Week from Oct. 24-31. This week's events highlight the contributions of pro bono attorneys and the Innocence Project of Florida, while educating law students on the value of pro bono service.

A conference in St. Petersburg this week will help forensic investigators stay up-to-date with modern practices and train skills that aid in handling evidence. This training, offered by the Florida Division of the International Association for Identification, can help investigators establish criminal convictions in court.

Columbia County residents are upset over the approval of a permit with the Suwannee River Water Management District to build 12 chicken houses near Fort White.

For the third session in a row, the Florida Senate will consider legislation that requires greyhound injuries to be reported. Florida Senator Eleanor Sobel introduced the bill and hopes requiring injury reporting will help save greyhound lives.

The legalization of same-sex marriage has pushed some Florida lawmakers to propose the Pastor Protection Act, which would allow pastors the right to refuse to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. But civil services, like bakers and florists, would not receive the same protections. Some Gainesville religious leaders are speaking out again the Pastor Protection Act.

A total of 369 child deaths have been called in to the state abuse hotline so far in 2015. That means Florida is on track to have roughly as many child deaths this year as it did before passing a sweeping child-welfare reform law in 2014.

Several lawmakers in both parties and an influential business group expressed concerns about the potential impact of the proposal on private property rights.

Florida ranked 47th in the United States for sexual health by the State by State Safer Sex Index. Melissa St. Onge, communications manager for Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, said she was not surprised to hear Florida ranked so low on the survey, and that sexual health conversations should start at home and continue with education in class.

Almost three-quarters of Floridians --- 73 percent --- oppose allowing students with concealed-weapons permits to carry guns on campus.