One of the hot button issues this presidential election is reproductive rights. Floridians registered to vote have a say on whether the state enshrines abortion rights in its constitution. Debbie Mucarsel Powell, one of the Democrats running for U.S. Senate, tells Florida Matters why she believes it could help her. Plus, you’ll learn where Incumben…

Jamal would sleep outside some nights when his mother would lock him out of the house. Other nights he would go from couch to couch at friends' houses. That's until he found help with a Tampa non-profit run called Starting Right, Now. You'll hear how Jamal coped without a place to call home. And how Starting Right Now founder Vicki Sokolik dedicate…

School board elections have been nonpartisan in Florida since 2000. That’s because voters here approved a constitutional amendment on the issue back in 1998.But now there’s a proposal to make school board races partisan again: a constitutional amendment to reverse the one decided 25 years ago. Floridians will get to vote on Amendment 1 in November.…

The arts are vital in Florida. You’ve heard what cuts to arts funding means for hundreds of theaters, museums and arts groups - and the economies they help support. Arts and humanities also help Floridians make sense of this state. On this episode of Florida Matters, you'll hear from someone whose mission is to promote and share the history, cultur…

Summer break is in full swing with a way to go until school starts up again. This is the time kids can lose a lot of the academic gains they’ve made during the school year.Nicole Brown, vice president of community impact for United Way Suncoast, joins Florida Matters to discuss programs to help stop the "summer slide". And, with the last two Scripp…

Arts organizations around Florida are scrambling to make up budget shortfalls after Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in cultural and museum grants. The cuts will have an impact on hundreds of theatres, museums, performance groups and other arts organizations large and small.The vetoes are part of nearly $1 billion that DeSantis trimmed from…

It’s pride month - and Juneteenth is just around the corner. Pride celebrations take on added significance for LGBTQ+ Floridians who have been the focus of restrictive new laws in recent years.And for Black and LGBTQ + residents, June takes on extra significance. On this episode of Florida Matters, we speak with leaders in the greater Tampa Bay reg…

On this episode of Florida Matters, we talk with two people involved in the Sunshine Skyway Bridge documentary, including one of the divers who helped recover the victims. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, after it was hit by a cargo ship, has rekindled interest in the Sunshine Skyway bridge disaster that happened 44 years …

On this episode of Florida Matters we talk with two experts about the health impacts of vaping- both on adults and youth. We discuss the role of e-cigarettes as an alternative to conventional smoking for adults who want to quit and we take a look at a new Florida law aimed to stop children from vaping. We talked with Yiota Kitsantis, professor and …

In this episode of Florida Matters, we speak to Florida historian Raymond Arsenault about his biography of the late Congressman John Lewis.Lewis spent a lifetime fighting for equality. When the Georgia representative died in 2020, aged 80, America had changed profoundly from when Lewis fought for desegregation as a young civil rights activist.Lewis…

Forecasters are predicting an extremely active hurricane season, with 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes, including five major hurricanes. We talk with Megan Borowski, the interim chief meteorologist and director of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network about the season ahead. Also joining the show to discuss hurricane preparedness are Tim Dudl…

When extreme weather hits Florida, the destruction can be immense. Hurricane Idalia caused $3.6 million in damage when it barreled into the Big Bend last year. That’s according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s estimates. Cleaning it up is tough, dirty and dangerous work. The workers are often left without adequate protection…

This week, we speak to WUSF reporters about their experience covering the pro-Palestinian protests on the USF campus, along with two local historians who talk about the history of protests in Tampa and at USF.College campuses around the country are witnessing a surge of protests against the war in Gaza. Some of the demonstrations have been marred b…

In this episode, we’re talking about Bob Graham’s environmental legacy - including his efforts to protect wild places like the Everglades and other waterways - and wildlife, like the manatee.Bob Graham knew how to rally people to a cause, no matter their political affiliation.He died this month at the age of 87. The Democrat from South Florida had …

This November, Floridians will vote yes or no on allowing adults 21 and older to use recreational marijuana.On this episode of Florida Matters, we discuss how the proposed amendment could change life in the Sunshine State.Joining the conversation: Tampa Bay Times/Tallahassee correspondent Romy Ellenbogen, who covers state government, with a focus o…

Teachers have been navigating challenging and confusing times since education laws rolled out in 2022. In this episode, we get an update on what their classrooms have been like since.For the past couple of years, public school teachers in Florida have navigated some challenging, and at times confusing, changes to what they teach and how they teach …

People know Titus O’Neil as a star of WWE.But before he was a pro wrestler and Global Ambassador for WWE, Titus O’Neil was Thaddeus Bullard. He began his athletic career as a promising football player - a University of Florida Gator who played under legendary coach Steve Spurrier, and later in the Arena Football League.Bullard's path to athletic fa…

The Florida Supreme Court released opinions on two proposed constitutional amendments Monday afternoon. One would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, and the other would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older.At the same time, the court released a ruling on a challenge to Florida’s 15-week abortion ban. The court up…

The issue of a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays been debated for decades. And in the next few months, make-or-break decisions will be made on the redevelopment plans.This week marks the start of another season of baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays. They’ll face the Toronto Blue Jays in their first home series at Tropicana Field, the stadium that’s …

This week, we speak with two women veterans about their military experiences and opportunities and challenges for women veterans.The number of women in the military is rapidly growing. A 2022 Defense Department report shows that in 2021, there was an 18% increase in women in active duty and a 22% increase in women in the reserves. That’s even as th…

One of the most controversial bills to come out of this year’s legislative session restricts the use of social media sites for teenagers. The bill had bipartisan support- but there are questions about whether it violates the first amendment rights of these young people. And it’s not clear which social media platforms will be affected. An earlier ve…

Florida lawmakers wrapped up the 60-day legislative session last Friday, passing a $117.46 billion budget and a slate of new bills. Among them are new restrictions on social media use by teenagers, limits to where people experiencing homelessness are allowed to sleep and some tweaks to the troubled homeowners insurance market.Political journalist W…

An increasing number of people in Florida are experiencing homelessness. The surge in homelessness comes as state lawmakers are considering legislation that some advocates see as punitive: a law that would make it illegal to sleep on public property. Florida’s council on Homelessness reported 30,809 individuals experiencing “literal homelessness” l…

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Dalia Colón talks with Florida Matters about hosting The Zest podcast and releasing her new cookbook, "The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook."In the introduction to her new book, "The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook," Dalia Colón writes about her first impressions of the Sunshine State: “By the time I’d unpacked my car, I’d came to a conclusion: In Florida, …

Arthenia Joyner was first elected to the Florida legislature in 2000, taking office amid the legal turmoil of the presidential election between George Bush and Al Gore. Her sixteen year career as a state lawmaker included two years as senate minority leader, and she was the first Black woman elected to that post. We sat down to talk with Joyner abo…

As Florida changed its Black history curriculum and removed books from public schools… first-time Tampa city councilwoman Gwen Henderson pushed back and opened a bookstore. Florida Matters visited Henderson at the bookstore she runs in Tampa Heights with her daughter Ariel. It’s called “Black English.” Henderson, who wears a ball cap covered in but…

This week, we talk with two Black women who are leaders in the community and who have each taken a different approach to politics. Former State Senator Arthenia Joyner was the first Black woman to serve as Senate Minority leader in the Florida legislature. We’ll hear from her later in the program. And long time educator Gwen Henderson is a first ti…

Black nerds, or Blerds, are mainstream these days. From comic book superheroes on the big screen, like Black Panther or Storm, to hip-hop artists celebrating their affinity for anime, Blerds are a growing part of pop culture. But it wasn’t always like this. For a lot of Black kids growing up before the 2000s, there weren’t many people on screens or…

Legislative priorities for lawmakers in Tallahassee this year include increasing the number of health care providers in Florida and clamping down on children's social media use.Although the state legislative session is almost half over, there’s still more work ahead for lawmakers before they can pass a budget.On this episode, we get a progress repo…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talked about proposed changes to the state’s child labor laws with Florida Rep. John Snyder and WLRN’s investigative reporter Danny Rivero. Then, we spoke with legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein about the current state of journalism and American Democracy. Plus, we round up some news stories a…

Supervisors of elections have a lot on their plate this year. Florida’s presidential preference primary will be held in March, but there’s also a slew of municipal elections all the way up until November.In the meantime, election officials are preparing to deal with a flood of new voters and changes to voting rules since the last presidential elect…

The choice of candidates for Republican voters in the presidential preference primary has dwindled to just two- former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and former president Donald Trump, the front runner in the race. That was not what Florida voters- and especially supporters of Governor Ron DeSantis- would have expected eight months ago when h…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with the director of the Congressional Budget Office about how the country’s population is expected to get older. Then, we talked with FSU researchers about Florida’s rapidly aging coastal communities. Plus, we spoke with a Politico reporter Gary Fineout and UCF political science professor Aubrey Jewett ab…

A new financial disclosure law has resulted in some local government officials resigning.Senate Bill 774, ethics requirements for public officials, took effect Jan. 1. It requires elected officials in local municipalities to file much more detailed financial disclosures than before- on assets over $1,000.Cities like St. Pete Beach, Anna Maria islan…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we speak with a Jacksonville-based owner of a Kava Bar about kratom, and we look into the Tampa Bay Times’ multipart investigation into the kratom industry with some of the reporters who contributed to the series. Then, a conversation with longtime Florida reporter Matt Dixon about his latest book exploring the bat…

An eviction on your record can make it tough to find a place to live. But fighting the eviction in court can be costly. And it doesn’t always help.Evictions in the greater Tampa Bay region surged last year compared to pre-2020 levels. That’s a trend felt nationwide, as emergency rental assistance put in place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic d…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we fact-checked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address with PolitiFact. Then, we spoke with the former secretary for the Agency for Health Care Administration about Florida’s plan to import prescription drugs from Canada. Next, we heard from Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, about his push for condo reforms and…

DeSantis launched the 60 day session with a speech that touched on issues like immigration, education, and law enforcement, and appeared pitched to primary state voters as much as Floridians. The speech sets the stage for a legislative session where lawmakers will tackle issues like health care, the environment, and education, even as DeSantis cont…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talked about the proposed amendment to shift to partisan school board races in Florida with state Rep. Spencer Roach and FAU associate professor Meredith Mountford. Then, we discussed the push to get abortion rights on the 2024 ballot with the president of Women’s Voices of SW Florida. And later, we heard from a…

We've had some very interesting conversations on Florida Matters with newsmakers across the greater Tampa Bay region. Here's a sampling of some of our favorites, from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor talking about her priorities for a second term, to Tarpon Springs resident Chris Powell reflecting on environmental changes to his favorite island.…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we look back at some of the Sunshine State's biggest stories in 2023, including Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign and other political news; changes in public education; record heat; Hurricane Idalia; and rising home insurance rates.

Florida Matters revisits some favorite episodes from 2023, including conversations about hurricanes and political storms, education, population growth and baseball.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we bring you two special reports: Growing Up With Guns, a series from WUSF examining the way guns can endanger kids' lives and futures, and Bright Lit Place, a podcast from WLRN News that explores what fixing the Everglades would mean for Florida and the world.

State lawmakers start the legislative session soon. They will be working alongside Ron DeSantis, the governor and presidential candidate, crafting new laws on education, the environment, business and much more. On this episode we talk about how presidential politics might shape Florida’s legislative session. We discuss the governor’s budget request…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo about her top priorities for the upcoming legislative session including her health care proposal. We also talked about how the plan aims to expand health care access with Politico reporter Arek Sarkissian. Then, we talked about how the issue of free speech i…

A shooting in Ybor City the weekend before Halloween killed two people: 14-year-old Elijah Wilson and 20-year-old Harrison Boonstoppel, and injured 16 others.So far, two people, a 22-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy, have each been charged with second degree murder. Police say the investigation is ongoing.The charges against the 14-year-old highl…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talk about some of the biggest challenges to stabilizing Florida’s insurance market with the state’s insurance commissioner, Michael Yarwosky, and Tim Cerio, president/CEO and executive director of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. And later, we speak with the Miami Herald’s senior political correspondent about …

The mission of Florida Humanities is to help Floridians make sense of this complex, dynamic state by elevating stories about its culture, history and literature. A new book, "Once Upon a Time in Florida," celebrates the organization's golden anniversary. Florida Matters sat down with Dr. Nashid Madyun, executive director of Florida Humanities, and …

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discussed the debate between Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom with fact-checking from PolitiFact Florida’s Samantha Putterman and then simulcast with LAist daily news show AirTalk to hear what both Floridians and Southern Californians thought about the showdown. And later, we hear some of the m…