Florida Matters

People had barely even begun picking up their lives after Hurricane Helene two weeks ago when Milton hit the Gulf Coast. A day after Hurricane Milton slammed into the Gulf Coast, Florida Matters heard from people across the greater Tampa Bay region about the storm's impact and the recovery ahead. Milton made landfall Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, with dangerous storm surge, damaging wind and flooding rain. Millions across the state were still without power as first responders continued to rescue people stranded by floodwaters and assess the damage. For many, Hurricane Milton is a life-changing event, and Florida Matters opened the phones to hear people share their experiences of the storm and ask questions about what's next for recovery and restoration from our panel of reporters and expert guests. Among the voices you'll hear are WUSF reporters Stephanie Colombini, Kerry Sheridan, and Gabriella Paul, former FEMA director Craig Fugate, chair of the University of South Florida's Psychology Department, Dr. Judith Bryant, Axios senior climate change reporter Andrew Freedman, University of South Florida College of Public Health instructor in Global Disaster Management, Humanitarian Relief and Homeland Security Elizabeth Dunn, former state senator Jeff Brandes, and Pinellas County Public Information Manager David Connor.

People have strong opinions about immigration, and during this presidential election campaign, anxieties over America’s broken immigration system- and hopes the election might bring change- are top of mind for many voters. Some of you have told WUSF you’re worried about border security. Others are concerned about the rise in xenophobic rhetoric directed at immigrants. Immigration law is complex. And so is the way the immigration system works- and doesn’t work. And it’s not just immigrant communities who are affected. Joining Florida Matters to share their stories about how the immigration system impacts their lives and businesses are Diego Dulanto-Falcon, a DACA recipient and Masters student at the University of South Florida, Elizabeth Arranda, Professor of Sociology & Director of USF's Immigrant Well-Being Research Center and Gary Wishnatzki, a 3rd generation berry farmer and owner of Wish Farms in Hillsborough County. You'll also hear from WUSF's Nancy Guan who has been reporting on immigration in the greater Tampa Bay region. And an update from WUSF's Octavio Jones on the impact of Hurricane Helene on Hernando Beach and Aripeka, two weeks after the powerful hurricane brought storm surge to Florida's gulf coast.

Across the greater Tampa Bay region, people are taking stock of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene. Storm surge of eight feet and more in some places flooded homes and businesses. Tens of thousands of homes and buildings are damaged- some completely destroyed. Some beachside towns look like a war zone after a wall of water bulldozed sand through the streets. And as of Monday, 11 people were confirmed to have died in our community. On this episode hear what recovery looks like as people pick up the pieces after this monstrous storm. And - the voices of people who experienced the fear and confusion of last Thursday night, and shared moments of camaraderie as the water rose higher and higher. WUSF's Stephanie Colombini, Gabriella Paul and Jessica Meszaros join Florida Matters to share their reporting from Hurricane Helene and its aftermath

It’s election season. And if you’re a new voter, it may be intimidating trying to decipher the flood of campaign ads, figure out your ballot or even know who it is you are being asked to vote for. Two people paying close attention to elections are Tara Newsom and Alex Mahadevan. They sat down with WUSF’s elections podcast: Our Changing State, Vote 2024 to talk about how young voters are navigating the election and how the media covers politics. Alex Mahadevan is the director of Mediawise at Poynter, which aims to empower people with media literacy skills to identify misinformation. As media organizations shrink and trust in the media slips, Mahadevan says people are turning away from legacy media organizations for their political news and information. “They're going to like an influencer on Tiktok who agrees with, like, how they feel about the world, and they're going to media platforms that kind of match their information consumption habits,” says Mahadevan. And Newsom, who is a professor of government and civic learning at St. Petersburg College has been talking with students about issues they think are important. “In this election they recognize that democracy, their reproductive freedoms, climate change, foreign policy’s all on the ballot,” says Newsom.

In this episode of Florida Matters, you’ll get a taste of what’s on offer from the host of the Zest Podcast, Dalia Colon. Season 10 of The Zest includes vegan fare for theme park buffs, what basketball pros eat when they’re on the road, and even some kitchen hacks. If you’re a foodie, you’re probably already streaming the new season of The Zest, WUSF’s podcast celebrating the intersection of food and Florida. Host Dalia Colon travels around Tampa Bay telling the stories of its unique residents. This season, she’s talking hot sauce, kitchen hacks and gadgets, and coffee that uplifts the people.

In the upcoming general election, Florida voters will get a chance to decide whether they want to approve the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. Matthew Peddie, host of "Florida Matters" and the podcast "Our Changing State," speaks with WUSF reporter Sky Lebron about what Amendment 3 means. And- it takes a savvy voter to separate fact from fiction when it comes to making sense of political advertisements. Alex Mahadevan, the director of MediaWise — the Poynter Institute’s digital media literacy project — explains what voters need to know to make informed decisions.

WUSF’s Gabriella Paul has been talking to renters, homeowners and investigators to find out what’s been going on with the housing market. She says investors are changing the market by adding competition on houses deemed affordable. Paul joins Florida Matters along with Kristin Washington, a Tampa realtor, to explain the impact of large and small investors on the housing market. Plus- Alex Mehadevan, director of Mediawise at Poynter talks about deep fakes and their influence on politics and the 2024 election.

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection revealed plans to build golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges on some state parks- and people aren't happy about it. Now the group backing the golf course proposal has pulled out. The uproar over the development proposal shows just how strongly Floridians feel about their state parks. Coming up, you’ll hear what makes these wild places so special, and why people want to protect them. You'll meet Wilma Norton and Peter Couture, a St. Petersburg couple on a mission to visit all 175 state parks. And, what the primary election revealed about voter turnout and what it means for your ballot in November. You'll hear from WUSF's Kerry Sheridan and Steve Newborn as they discuss highlights from the election, school board politics and more.

You may know Titus O’Neil as a star of WWE. You may have even seen the viral moment when he tripped on his way into a wrestling match and slid under the ring. But in the greater Tampa Bay region, O’Neil is known best as Thaddeus Bullard, and how he gives back to the community through the Bullard Family Foundation. Every year the foundation holds a ‘Back to School Bash’. Organizers said they gave away 30-thousand backpacks full of school supplies to families during the event last month at Raymond James Stadium. His philanthropy led to being honored earlier this year with a Kente Community Award from the University of South Florida. But his path to fame and fortune wasn’t an easy one. He wrote about his upbringing to a single mother who struggled to put food on the table in his book ‘There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Kid.” Hear how he overcame those challenges and went on to play football at the University of Florida before later jumping into pro wrestling.

Abortion is a polarizing issue. But whatever your opinion, if you’re a Floridian voting this November, you’ll have a say in whether the right to an abortion is written into the state constitution. Like voters in 11 other states this fall, Floridians will have the chance to vote on abortion access - in this case through a constitutional amendment. But since May, Floridians seeking an abortion have faced an added hurdle as have medical practices and groups that support people who are seeking abortions Today, the procedure is banned beyond the sixth week of pregnancy with some rare exceptions. That’s after the Florida Legislature replaced a 15 week ban that had been in place since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022. Florida Matters created space for conversations on both sides of this controversial issue. In a special program recorded live at at WUSF in Tampa, you’ll hear the background to the proposed amendment and how it could roll back Florida’s current ban on abortions. During the conversation you'll hear from Kathryn Varn, Tampa Bay Reporter with Axios; Bree Wallace, Director of Case Management, Tampa Bay Abortion Fund; John Stemberger, President & Senior Counsel, Liberty Counsel Action; and Louis Virelli, Lawyer & Constitutional Law Professor, Stetson University College of Law.

Debby dumped 12 inches of rain in some parts of Tampa Bay on her way through the area over the weekend. Cities are starting to assess the damage. And the Tampa Bay Rays are finally getting a new stadium, and then some, after the St. Petersburg City Council greenlighted the plan. Hear from WUSF's Kerry Sheridan about Debby's Impact on Sarasota. And Tampa Bay Times reporter Colleen Wright, who covers St. Petersburg, explains how the stadium deal got approved despite opposition from some residents, and what comes next.

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 Incumbent Senator Rick Scott stands on the issue. And- WUSF's Steve Newborn explains what races he's watching in the upcoming primary election on August 20th.

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 dedicated her life to helping kids like Jamal, who are separated from their families by abuse or neglect but outside the foster care system. They're a uniquely vulnerable group of the nation's growing number of people who are unhoused. This episode first aired in March 2024.

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. One reason may be that in the past four years, school board meetings have gotten a lot more polarized. And these county level government agencies are getting a lot more attention from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Three people paying close attention to local school boards and this amendment are Tampa Bay Times education reporter Jeff Solochek, Republican political strategist Rod Thomson, who also chairs the Communications Committee with the Sarasota County Republican Party, and Damaris Allen, the executive director of Families for Strong Public Schools. They discussed the arguments for and against partisan school board elections with Florida Matters and took questions from an audience of Tampa Bay area residents at the WUSF performance studio in Tampa.

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, culture and stories of the sunshine state. Nashid Madyun, the executive director of Florida Humanities, first talked with Florida Matters last December. Madyun and Jackie Levine, executive editor of 'Once Upon a Time in Florida', a collection of essays about Florida, dig into the stereotypes that are wrong, and explain how the humanities can help you get to grips with this vast, complex state. Later in the show: voters go to the polls in November to pick the next president- and a whole lot more. Over the next few months on Florida Matters, you’re going to hear from experts on things like how to register to vote, how to read election ads and other issues to help you navigate the election. Election supervisor Craig Latimer and Florida Matters executive producer Gracyn Doctor chat about what a brand new arrival to the state needs to know before heading to the voting booth.

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 Scripps National Spelling Bee champions hailing from the Tampa Bay region, we talk with spelling bee coach Scott Remer about what it takes to succeed in the pressure cooker environment of competitive spelling.

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 the state budget, which is now a whopping $116.5 billion. “We’re making big investments in our future while spending less of our taxpayer’s money to maintain our state’s strong financial standing and robust economy," DeSantis wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Cord Byrd listing the line-item vetoes. To talk more about the role of arts organizations in the Tampa Bay economy and how they will navigate the next year without those state grants, we spoke with David Jenkins, Producing Artistic Director at Jobsite Theater at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Mary Bensel, Executive Director at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in the city of Sarasota, Brian Hersh, CEO of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota and Jennifer Jones, President and CEO, Florida Cultural Alliance.

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 region’s Black LGBTQIA community about representation and the importance of both Pride and Juneteenth. Joining the show: Darius Lightsey, the secretary of St. Pete Pride. He’s the organizer of Shades of Pride, a two day Juneteenth LGBTQ+ art and music fest. And Tamara Leigh, the editor of Blaque Out, an online publication that celebrates, showcases and educates around Black queer culture, and the founder of Tampa Bay Black Lesbians - a social media community.

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 ago. A documentary screening this month in Tampa and St. Petersburg tells the story of that bridge collapse, and its aftermath, through the eyes of people who witnessed it. Matt Cohen, the marketing director for the Skyway Bridge Disaster documentary, and Robert Raiola a retired Florida Department of Transportation diver who assisted in the recovery efforts after the Skyway bridge crash, join Florida Matters to talk about the documentary and lessons learned from the disaster

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 chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt School of Medicine. Kitsantis has a PHD in statistics and specializes in biostatistics and epidemiology. FAU published a study recently that explores the rise in vaping among youth, and Kitsantis discussed the risks of vaping. To learn more about how vaping is seen as an alternative to cigarettes for many adult smokers- and its role for smokers who want to quit- Florida Matters visited the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. There, we spoke with. Vani Simmons, a PHD in Clinical Psychology and a senior member in the Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior at Moffitt.

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 himself sometimes marveled at the remarkable journey his life took from the deep segregated South to the halls of Congress. While much has changed, America still faces challenges at home and abroad, and threats remain to issues that Lewis held dear, like voting rights and social justice. Raymond Arsenault has spent much of his career speaking with and writing about those at the center of the civil rights movement, including John Lewis. Arsenault is the John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History Emeritus at the University of South Florida, and is co-founder and senior scholar of the University of South Florida’s Florida Studies Program. His new biography is "John Lewis, In Search of the Beloved Community."

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 Dudley, the Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director, Mary Burrell, Whole Community Engagement Program Lead for Pinellas County, and David DeCarlo, the emergency manager for Hernando County.

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 as they deal with toxic mold, dust and other hazardous environments. On this episode of Florida Matters we talk with journalist María Inés Zamudio about her reporting on the dangerous conditions facing immigrant workers doing disaster restoration work. We also talk with WUSF's Jessica Meszaros about another group of workers in Florida: people whose jobs are outside, like farmworkers and construction workers. With the summer heat approaching, we look at the potential impact of a new law that bans local governments from mandating heat protections like shade and water breaks for outdoor workers.

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 by violence as pro-Palestinian demonstrators have clashed with counter-protesters and faced off against police. WUSF’s Nancy Guan and Meghan Bowman join Florida Matters to discuss how demonstrations at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus unfolded over three tense days. And we revisit protests on campus and around the greater Tampa Bay region, from the Civil Rights era and Vietnam War, up until the present day with Andy Huse, curator of Florida studies at Special Collections at the University of South Florida Library, and Rodney Kite-Powell, director of the Touchton Map Library and Hillsborough County historian at the Tampa Bay History Center.

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 a profound influence on state politics during his two terms as governor, and later as a U.S. senator. As governor, Bob Graham helped usher in the Save Our Rivers program, the Wetlands Protection Act, the Growth Management Act, and the Save Our Everglades program. In this episode we talk with Jake Varn and Victoria Tschinkel, who both served as secretary of the Department of Environmental Regulation when Bob Graham was governor of Florida. We also hear from the executive director of the Save the Manatee Club, Pat Rose. Graham formed the club- initially as the Save the Manatee Committee- in 1981 with singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett.

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 on criminal justice and health. And Richard Blau, an attorney with GrayRobinson. He's chair of the regulated products division, where he oversees the firm’s legal guidance, compliance, and support services for the alcohol beverage, cannabis, food, and tobacco products industries.

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 it. Legislation was rolled out in 2022 with restrictions on classroom instruction on race, gender identity and sexual orientation. Transgender students have faced restrictions on what bathrooms they’re allowed access to. Teachers are now required to convey that under enslavement, some African Americans gained skills that later benefited them, a change heavily criticized by teachers and some state officials. And there’s been increased scrutiny, and in some cases removal, of books on teachers’ shelves and in school libraries. WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan, who covers K-12 education and has been reporting on how teachers have been dealing with the new laws over the last couple of years, joins Florida Matters along with Gail Foreman who teaches social studies, history, and AICE psychology at Booker High in Sarasota, and Brandt Robinson, a history teacher at Dunedin High School.

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 fame and fortune wasn’t an easy one. He writes about his upbringing to a single mother who struggled to make ends meet in his book, "There's No Such Thing as a Bad Kid." But along the way, Bullard built a reputation as someone who’s worked to give back to his community. Through the Bullard Family Foundation, he's helped kids who face the same kind of challenges he did growing up. Over the last decade Bullard, who lives in Tampa, has given out more than 15,000 gifts every year to underprivileged kids through his "Joy of Giving" event. And in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools - he’s worked to transform Sligh Middle Magnet School into an educational innovation hub. On this episode of Florida Matters, Bullard talks about overcoming poverty, finding fame as professional wrestler Titus O'Neil, and helping the next generation.

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 upheld the 15-week ban, which in turn means a more restrictive six-week ban will soon take effect. Stetson University College of Law professor Louis Virelli spoke to Florida Matters about the legal context of the court's decisions. Also joining the program to discuss the impact of these court opinions on health care are WUSF reporter and host Cathy Carter, WUSF health care reporter Stephanie Colombini and political analyst and retired political science professor Susan MacManus.

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 nearing the end of its residency in downtown St. Petersburg. A world-class development that will “fuel our economy” for decades to come is how St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch described the multibillion-dollar plan to transform Tropicana Field and the sea of asphalt parking lots surrounding it. "If you look out over the next 10, 15, 20 years, we have so much more confidence that this is going to be a great place for a ballpark, and for a neighborhood that fits that ballpark," said Rays co-president Matt Silverman, who spoke recently on the team's podcast about the redevelopment, "Here to Stay." But it’s not a done deal just yet. The heart of the current debate isn’t so much about sports, it’s about money. Specifically how much the city and Pinellas County and the Rays ownership will invest. Tampa Bay Times reporter Colleen Wright joined Florida Matters to explain the next steps in the long process of building a new stadium for the Rays and redeveloping the land around it. And Ron Diner from No Home Run, a group of Pinellas County residents who oppose the stadium deal, explains why he thinks the deal is wrong for St. Pete

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 the overall number of service members dropped, according to the same study. Holley Harris is the president of the Greater Tampa Bay chapter of the Women in Defense organization, a national organization that brings the Department of Defense together with all the industries that support it to create and enhance opportunities for women, and increase the diversity in the defense community. Vanessa Thomas works as the women veteran’s coordinator at the Florida Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

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 version of the bill was vetoed by Governor DeSantis. Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times - Miami Herald Tallahassee bureau and political journalist William March talk with Florida Matters host Matthew Peddie about what’s likely to happen next with this bill.

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 William March and Tampa Bay Times, Miami Herald Tallahassee correspondent Lawrence Mower join host Matthew Peddie to discuss the highlights from the legislative session and what it means for residents of the greater Tampa Bay region.

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” last year. That means not having a fixed, regular or adequate place to stay, and includes people living in shelters. That’s a 9 percent increase since 2019. The number of students experiencing homelessness in Florida is even higher. On this episode we speak with Anne Ray, the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse Manager at the University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies, about the rising number of homeless students and the support that's available for them. We also discuss a specific group of students who experience homelessness: kids who are separated from their families because of abuse or neglect, but who aren’t part of the foster care system. We talk with a Tampa non-profit leader, Vicki Sokolik, who works to support those students, and we hear from Jamal, an alumnus of her program.

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, it’s too hot to eat.” For the first months in the state, she subsisted on smoothies and cheese toast. The last two decades have been a culinary journey for Colón. She became a vegetarian in 2013, and she hosts The Zest, WUSF’s podcast showcasing Florida’s food, foodies, restaurants, and recipes. After moving to Florida from Cleveland in 2005, Colón says it took her a while to appreciate the fruits, vegetables and herbs that the Sunshine State has to offer. We sat down with Colón for this week’s episode to discuss The Zest and the release of her new cookbook.

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 buttons- Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Florida A&M University and others, says her mission is to elevate books by Black authors, especially graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs. We sat down to talk about being an educator, books, politics and her priorities for the district she represents.

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 about her trailblazing career and an upbringing that helped shape her commitment to equality and justice.

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 time Tampa City Council member and owner of Black English bookstore in Tampa Heights, which she opened last December. We visited Black English bookstore to talk with Henderson about being an educator, books, politics and her priorities for the district she represents. Later in the program, we sit down with Joyner for a conversation about politics, civil rights, and her trailblazing career as a lawyer and state lawmaker.

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 in comic books that looked like them.

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 report on some of the biggest proposals from political journalist William March and Jeff Brandes, former state senator and founder of the Florida Policy Project, a non-partisan research institute. Brandes and March talk about bills that could erode the rights of local governments to make decisions on the environment, development, and cultural issues like what flags to fly over government buildings. They also discuss the issues that aren’t really being addressed, including housing and homeowners insurance.

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 election. They are also dealing with security, making sure voters and poll workers are safe, and keeping an eye on new threats, like the potential influence of AI-driven misinformation adding to the drumbeat of election misinformation. On this episode of Florida Matters, host Mathew Peddie sat down with election supervisors Julie Marcus, Brian Corley, and Craig Latimer from Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties. They talk about what keeps them up at night and what people need to know as they prepare to vote this year.

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 he launched his presidential campaign. DeSantis had a huge amount of campaign cash and political capital within the Republican party. He had momentum from a comprehensive victory in his re-election as governor, and grabbed national attention with a series of culture war policies targeting immigration, education and LGBTQ+ rights. But it all came crashing down after the Iowa caucuses. NBC senior national politics reporter Matt Dixon joins Florida Matters to explain what it means for Florida voters and lawmakers who had anticipated a legislative session with DeSantis out of town on the campaign trail

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 island and tiny Eagle Lake in Polk County are among those seeing resignations. To discuss the issue further, we spoke with Barbara Peterson, executive director of the Florida Center for Government Accountability; Caroline Klancke, executive director of the Florida Ethics Institute; and Joshua Ceballos, local government accountability reporter for WLRN.

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 dried up, and as federal protections that were put in place to make sure people who were out of work didn’t lose their homes expired. WUSF’s Gabriella Paul, who covers paycheck to paycheck issues, has been following the story over the last several months, talking with renters, landlords, and experts who are tracking the data on evictions and working to help people stay in their homes and deal with the legal fallout from evictions. Paul joins Florida Matters to talk more about her reporting on evictions and their impact on people who’ve lost their homes. Also joining the show is Tom DiFiore with Bay Area Legal Services.

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 continues his presidential campaign, vying to be the Republican nominee to challenge President Biden in November. DeSantis said policies in other states have "sparked an exodus" of residents to states like Florida, which he described as a "refuge for freedom and sanity." Political analyst and retired University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus and WUSF politics and environment reporter Steve Newborn join host Matthew Peddie to discuss the speech, the response from the Florida Democratic Party, and what's ahead for the legislative session.

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.

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

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 and examine bills on the environment, child labor, education, health care, and talk about the continued consolidation of power in Tallahassee and what it means for residents in the greater Tampa Bay region. Joining Florida Matters are political journalist and Tampa Bay Times correspondent William March, WUSF politics and environment reporter Steve Newborn and investigative journalist and publisher of Seeking Rents, Jason Garcia.

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 highlight a grim fact in Florida: more kids are getting their hands on guns. In a series airing on WUSF this week - Growing Up with Guns - Health News Florida’s Stephanie Colombini examines the consequences: from deaths and injuries to children, to the trauma of losing a loved one to a shooting or being a witness to gun violence. The series also highlights the work being done to push back against gun violence, help kids arrested on gun charges to turn their lives around, and support victims of gun violence. On this episode we sit down with Colombini to talk about what her reporting reveals. Joining the conversation is Freddy Barton, executive director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough, who's working to turn the tide of youth gun violence.

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 Jacki Levine, the editor of "Once Upon a Time in Florida" for a conversation about what went into the creation of this book. They talk about what Florida stereotypes are wrong, how much we don’t know about this vast, complex state, and how the humanities can provide a more complete picture of Florida during a time of rapid change. We also hear from some of the contributors to "Once Upon a Time in Florida": NPR TV and film critic Eric Deggans talks about how the stylized image of Florida in shows like Miami Vice affects the way others see the state, and how we see ourselves. WUSF’s Dalia Colon reads from her profile of former U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros Lehtinen, whose family sought refuge in Florida after fleeing Communist Cuba. Historian Gary Mormino muses on the demise of the once mighty citrus industry, and Pulitzer Prize winning author Jack Davis describes the "beauty and bluster" of the Gulf of Mexico and its impact on the state.