Beyond the News WFLA Interviews: Recent Episodes
NewsRadio WFLA (WFLA-AM)
Interviews conducted by the WFLA Radio newsroom in Tampa Florida, with local and national newsmakers. Be sure to follow us!
Florida's citrus industry has been decimated by the citrus greening disease. A farm family in Polk County sees an agritourism opportunity in reviving U-pick citrus ... with protection to keep out the bugs that spread the disease. We speak with Katie and Shane Bevilacqua of Golden Ridge Groves and Market in Alturas, which holds its grand opening Thursday (20th).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pasco County will start taking applications December 1st for grants to homeowners who suffered damage in Hurricanes Idalia, Helene and Milton in 2023 and 2024. No area of the county escaped impact from recent storms. Owners of traditional, manufactured or mobile homes can apply for relief.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Florida chapter of a group called the HOA Reform League is rallying at the state Capitol Tuesday (18th) to call on state lawmakers to change laws and enforcement of governance of Homeowner's Associations. Paul and Brandy Miller of Pasco County founded the group and they join Gordon Byrd to talk about what they see as the issues with HOA's that need addressing.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The city of Tampa is taking applications for a second round of hurricane assistance to homeowners. The Homeowner Hurricane Assistance program is for city homeowners who didn't qualify for a previous round of help with repair costs earlier this year. We speak with Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera about the program, which takes applications starting November 17th.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Monday (3rd) Governor DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced $30 million in grants to four Florida children's hospitals, to improve research and care for pediatric cancer patients in the state. One goal is to make sure children and families don't need to leave the state to access care. Targets include encouraging collaboration among researchers and creating a portal to help parents navigate clinical trials. We speak with Dr. Cassandra Josephson, the Hawkins Family Endowed Chair director of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Many people are motivated to support relief for survivors of Hurricane Melisssa, which stormed through Jamaica as a Category 5 and has also impacted Cuba, the Bahamas and Haiti. We speak with Bryan Oglesby of the West Florida Better Business Bureau on giving wisely and avoiding scams.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hillsborough County Fair opens Thursday evening (October 30th). We speak with fair manager Suzanne Holcomb about what's new and returning this year.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Along with the eerie and the spooky, there are real life safety issues as children's trick or treating coincides with adults going to costume parties and high school football games. We get some Halloween 2025 safety tips from Dr. Patrick Mularoni at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Florida and other states face the loss of November SNAP benefits if the federal government shutdown drags on. Food banks may be called on to help, but they depend on USDA for some of their food. We speak with State Senator Nick DeCeglie, who is also CEO of Hope Villages of America. That nonprofit also runs and works with food banks and food pantries.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hillsborough County's Pet Resource Center is 600 percent over capacity for cats. We talk with the center's Chelsea Waldeck about the causes of the cat population explosion and how they're working to adopt those cats out (adoption fees are waived).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Registration is open for the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Clearwater, an event made up of a timed race and two fun run/strolls. It's been around since 1979 and one of the charities it supports helps to empower those who are homeless. Achieva credit union is a sponsor and we speak with Teresa Hibbard of the Achieva Foundation about the event.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hillsborough County government is holding a workshop to get input on its Post Disaster Redevelopment Plan. The idea is to have a plan ready to go in case another disaster such as Hurricanes Helene or Milton strikes the Tampa Bay area. We speak with CK Moore, the Section Chief for Planning of Hillsborough County Emergency Management.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A presidential search committee at the University of South Florida just named Dr. Moez Limayem as the only finalist for the job. The Board of Trustees and State University Board of Governors will vote on his nomination. He's been president at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville since 2022. Before that he spent ten years as Dean of the Muma College of Business at USF. We're reposting an interview with Dr. Limayem from 2021, in which he spoke about a course offered by the College of Business at USF to promote what's now referred to as DEI. (This was two years before Governor DeSantis signed a bill outlawing DEI at state universities in 2023.)
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The one year anniverary of Hurricane Helene is this week (Friday). We speak with Kevin McAndrew, Pinellas County director of Building and Development Review Services about how the rebuilding and permitting process stands at this time and how the county is working to help property owners now and in the future.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A major milestone ahead for renovation of a Tampa public housing complex. Monday (15th) demolition will begin on vacated units at Robles Park. This will begin a renovation process. Eventually the new Robles Park Village complex will host more than 1,800 mixed-income units along with commercial and retail. The redesign will include a memorial center for those buried at the historic Zion Cemetery. We speak with Tampa Housing Authority CEO Jerome Ryans and Dan Coakley of PMG Affordable, the Miami company partnering for the redevelopment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For the first time, the American Legion is holding its annual National Convention in Tampa, Aug. 22-28. Some seven thousand Legionnaires, members of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion are expected. We speak with the Legion's convention chair, Michael Walton, about the events in Tampa over the next few days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A major acquisition involving two TV companies could have a major impact on news and viewing patterns in the Tampa Bay area. Nexstar, owner of News Channel 8, is buying Tegna, owner of 10 Tampa Bay, for more than six billion dollars. This would put the local NBC and CBS affiliates under the same ownership. Tampa is one of a handful of markets where both Nexstar and Tegna own stations. We speak about the implications of the deal with USF political communications associate professor Josh Scacco, PhD. (Newsradio WFLA and iHeartRadio Tampa Bay have a news and weather partnership with News Channel 8.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Chip Lupo of personal finance website Wallethub about two surveys of special interest to Florida. One finds Tampa Bay and South Florida among the top ten markets for inflation, while the Best States To Live In report ranks Florida 6th, still top tier but down from 2nd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday is August 13th... 8/13. Tampa's taking the opportunity on the calendar to celebrate 813 Day. We speak with Curtis Kellogg of Tampa's and Hillsborough County's tourist promotion agency, Visit Tampa Bay, about the day and various ways to celebrate and save.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
School begins Monday around the Tampa Bay area. We speak with psychologist Jennifer Katzenstein PhD of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg about getting children (and parents) through anxiety and restoring routines. Dr. Katzenstein is director of Psychology, Neuropsychology, and Social Work at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, and co-director of the hospital's Center for Behavioral Health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Qatar's national military skydiving team trains for much of the year in Zephyrhills, even though most of its performance are delivered in or near its home nation. Saturday morning (9th) the Qatar Air Sports Committee Demonstration Team will put on a free show at Skydive City. We speak with the facility's co-owners, Kyle and Lauren Salvato, about the performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Three cats were left in a pink cage on the side of a road in Bradenton. By the time they were found July 29th, two were emaciated and one had died. Manatee County Animal Welfare is working to nurse the two survivors, both gray tabbies, back to health. Meantime, investigators are trying to identify the person who left them there. We speak with Animal Welfare supervisor Steven Bell and county spokesperson Michael Strollo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
School starts in Florida the week of August 11th. But if you have school aged children or teens, the time to get their body clocks back on track is right now. We speak with Dr. Luis Ortiz, a sleep specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, about how to fight summer sleep patterns, games, phones and other distractions to get your kids back on time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Hernando County waterfront park wiped out by Hurricane Helene's storm surge is reopening, with some changes. We speak with Community Services Director Chris LInsbeck about Alfred McKethan Pine Island Park.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Water skiing doesn't always require skis. We talk with champion barefoot waterskier and coach Ben Groen about the Barefoot Waterski Nationals taking place July 30 - August 2nd in Auburndale, FL.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hillsborough County is asking the public to share experiences recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year. The county is using a federal grant to find ways to make disaster recovery smarter and faster. Emergency management Planning section chief C.K. Moore says they want to hear about recovery from last year's hurricanes, to improve the county's post-disaster redevelopment plan. There's a hearing Tuesday (15) at Feeding Tampa Bay, as well as a way to contribute online. Find out more by listening to this podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Preparing for the before, during and after of a hurricane: Read Shepherd speaks with Jim Stiner of Home Depot about sandbags, plywood, and generators.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Independence Day holiday week is expected to produce new travel records. We speak with Mark Jenkins of AAA Auto Club Group, about what to prepare for, whether you're traveling by land, air, or sea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The air conditioning and refrigeration industries are asking Congress to chill an EPA initiative started under the Biden administration to change refrigerants used in AC units. The EPA move seeks to respond to climate change by changing to refrigerants such as propane, which is highly flammable. To further complicate matters, there's a phase-in period with transitional coolants. We speak with Bob Cochell, owner of Gulf Coast Air Systems, former president of the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, and longtime advocate for the HVAC industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David Jolly, a former Republican Congressman from Pinellas County, is running for Florida Governor as a Democrat. We ask him about his stances on the state's issues and whether a Democrat stands a chance in a state where Republicans have a million vote edge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last year's hurricanes could mean more mosquitoes this year, or perhaps years in the future, for Pasco County. We speak with Pasco Mosquito Control Director Adriane Rogers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As another hurricane season approaches, residents of one part of Tampa are still dealing with damage in the aftermath of flooding during Hurricane Milton. They live in the section of the city that's actually farthest away from the water, and many didn't have flood insurance. We speak with Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera about what led to the unexpcted floodwaters, and how residents are moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lionfish are an invasive species in Florida. They arrived in our waters as early as the 1980s and efforts to control the population are ongoing. Lionfish eat just about every creature they see in the sea, and can devastate ecosystems. Destin is holding a Lionfish Festival this weekend (17-18) to encourage people to catch the weird-looking fish and make a meal out of it. We speak with Tony Hart, Lionfish Outreach Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a move that caught most off-guard, Roman Catholic cardinals have chosen the first American-born pope. But while he was born and raised in Chicago, the new Pope Leo XIV has spent more of his life outside the U.S. than in it. We speak with St. Leo University associate professor of theology and religion, Dr. Stephen Okey, about the new pontiff. (Photo: Getty Images and Canva)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pasco County is trying to deal with a spike in its mosquito population by stifling reproduction. We speak with the mosquito control district's executive director, Adriane Rogers, about a pilot program to use sterile male mosquitoes to prevent females from breeding the next generation of bloodsuckers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor presents her State of the City address Monday (28th). St. Leo University professor Gianna Russo, who has formerly served as the city's official Wordsmith, will read a poem she composed for the occasion. She'll preview the themes in this year's message.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pope Francis died early Monday. After nine days of mourning, the process of choosing a new pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church will begin. We speak with Dr. Stephen Okey, head of the Doctor of Theology program at St. Leo University near Tampa, to explain what's ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pinellas County is holding in-person and virtual meetings to get public input on how to spend an $813-million grant from HUD to support recovery from Hurricanes Idalia, Helene and Milton. Gordon Byrd speaks with Deputy County Administrator Matthew Spoor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bradenton police are looking for a man in connection with an incident in which three Teslas were vandalized in the parking lot of the Pinebrook Commons shopping center. Detectives think he was driving a dark Chevy crossover or SUV. We get more information from police spokesperson Meredith Censullo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tampa celebrates St. Patrick's Day by dyeing the Hillsborough River green. It's the centerpiece of a daylong festival Saturday (15th). We speak with Ivy Lupco of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, which stages the event.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Several Pinellas County towns are holding city elections March 11th (Tuesday) for the first time since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We focus in on the Gulfport mayor's election as that city was particularly hard-hit by the storms. This isn't just about an election but about a city's recovery from last year's history-making storms. In this podcast we interview candidate Sam Henderson, the incumbent Mayor,See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Several Pinellas County towns are holding city elections March 11th (Tuesday) for the first time since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We focus in on the Gulfport mayor's election as that city was particularly hard-hit by the storms. This isn't just about an election but about a city's recovery from last year's history-making storms. In this podcast we interview candidate Karen Love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Several Pinellas County towns are holding city elections March 11th (Tuesday) for the first time since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We focus in on the Gulfport mayor's election as that city was particularly hard-hit by the storms. This isn't just about an election but about a city's recovery from last year's history-making storms. In this podcast we interview candidate John Liccione.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Pinellas beach city of Treasure Island is celebrating its ongoing recovery from last year's hurricanes with a "Back to the Beach" event Saturday and Sunday, inviting people from all over to join in. We speak with the city's Jason Beisel about the event and ongoing recovery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Your old documents, your old computers, your old phones, and even your old gaming consoles could leave you vulnerable to identity theft. Hillsborough County is giving residents the chance to destroy that information Saturday morning. Listen to Consumer and Veterans Services director Eric Olsen to find out more about Shred Fest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hillsborough County holds its annual Neighborhoods Expo Saturday morning (March 1st). It gives county residents the chance to meet with county departments and services. We speak with county neighborhood liaison Stephanie Agliano.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
City of Tampa and Hillsborough County officials will be on hand Wednesday morning as a historic marker is dedicated to Zion Cemetery. The first cemetery for Tampa's Black residents during the segregation era was sold and erased from maps and public knowledge, even though bodies were found at the site decades later. Part of the graveyard was incorporated into the Robles Park Village public housing complex. Its rediscovery in 2019 led to a campaign to uncover the area's hidden Black gravesites of the 20th century. We speak with Fred Hearns, Black History Curator at the Tampa Bay History Center, and president of the Zion Cemetery's preservation society about the site's past and future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Grapefruit League plays its first game Friday, and major league baseball teams that spend spring training in Florida are starting games over this weekend. Teams on Florida's west coast include the Yankees, Pirates, Orioles, Braves, Rays and Red Sox. We speak with Jennifer Grondahl, VP of Communications with the Baltimore Orioles, about spring at Ed Smith Stadium and how the O's bring year-round economic impact to Sarasota.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The SS United States, formerly the world's fastest transatlantic passenger liner, is about to become the world's biggest artificial reef. Later this week, the liner will be towed on its last voyage from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, where it'll be stripped of fuel and other biohazards. Then it will be towed to waters off Okaloosa County, which bought the ship to give both sea creatures and divers a refuge. The county also plans a land-based museum honoring the ship's legacy. We speak with Alex Fogg, who's in charge of natural resources for the county.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
February 14th is a day for the heart, Valentine's Day, but it's also a day for other organs as well. It's National Organ Donor Day. We talk with Tampa General Hospital nephrologist Dr. Pranjal Jain about becoming a living organ donor. You may be eligible even if you think you aren't.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last year many seasonal residents of Manatee County watched helplessly from their summer homes as Tropical Storm Debby, and Hurricanes Helene and Milton did a number on their properties. Many snowbirds aren't sure how much hurricane prep they're allowed to do before heading north. Manatee County is holding a Q-and-A sessionFriday (2-14) aimed at those folks. We speak with Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Florida State Fair opens its 12-day run Thursday (6th) in Tampa. We speak with Fair CEO Cheryl Flood
about what to expect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's sort of like the day the steel mill closed in Allentown. HSN, once one of the Tampa Bay area's largest employers, is closing its St. Petersburg studios and moving operations to Pennsylvania. Home shopping on TV was born in Pinellas County (on the radio), then went nationwide and worldwide. We speak with the first salesman-host, Bob Circosta, about HSN and its legacy in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pinellas is among Florida counties seeing a spike in flu cases as the season nears peak. We speak with Dr. Eric Shamas, an emergency room physician at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A case so unusual it made it to the medical journals. Dr. Kostas Marmagkiolis, a cardiologist with Tampa Heart and Vascular who's affiliated with Tampa General Hospital, co-wrote an article for JAMA Cardiology about a local patient. The man had a yellow rash on his hands and feet that the doctor identified as a sign of extremely high cholesterol. Listen to find out what drove his levels so high.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A 63-year-old who runs a property management company in New Port Richey is accused of ripping off absentee property owners by depleting escrow accounts. We speak with New Port Richey police detective Joe Ioppolo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport is celebrating National PIE Day Thursday. Spokesperson Michele Routh explains why and talks about other events at the airport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The end of January is the deadline for Hillsborough County high school seniors to apply for a wide range of college and vocational scholarships offered through the Hillsborough Education Foundation. We speak with the foundation's Angie Anthony about what's available.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
BREAKING NEWS: Governor DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in North Florida ahead of a winter storm bringing snow and sleet and more. We recorded an interview Monday with Okaloosa County Emergency Management Director Patrick Maddox.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
St. Petersburg city officials and the Bay Area Apartment Association are staging a Hurricane Recovery Rental Housing Fair Wednesday (22nd) to help people displaced by the hurricanes find a permanent residence. We speak with the city's Housing and Community Development Director, Dr. Avery Slyker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Whit Blanton, Executive Director of Forward Pinellas, about plans and a grant to design 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King St as two-way in downtown St. Petersburg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Tampa Bay area law school that graduated incoming President Trump's nominee for Attorney General is looking forward to a bump in prestige pending her confirmation. We speak with Stephanie Vaughan, Stetson College of Law alumna and law professor, about another Stetson Law alum, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi., who appears before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday (15th) (Photo Credit: Getty Images/Canva)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. He's reacting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's decision to deny "endangered" status for the Florida manatee, and keep the status as "threatened."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
FEMA officials have been renewing (and non-renewing) temporary housing assistance for people who can't live in their homes because of damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We speak with FEMA's Wesley Thompson about what recipients need to know whether their vouchers have been renewed or not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's Girl Scout cookie season again. Some flavors are being retired but others are still strong. We speak with West Central Florida Council CEO Mary Pat King about how to buy cookies, how cookie sales help the Girl Scouts, and how best to help your child sell and market her product.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to LaurenGomez, an Environmental Specialist at TECO's Manatee Viewing Center about the impact of our cold snap on the manatees in the discharge canal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Tampa Bay area is home to much of the nation's tropical fish farm industry. Farmers are rushing to protect their fish ponds by covering them in plastic. We speak with Sandy Moore, President of New Business Development for Segrest Farms, a tropical fish wholesaler based in Gibsonton, Florida.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A firm that's been part of Florida's citrus industry for the better part of a century, ALICO, says it's going to "wind down" citrus operations. Crop output has been devastated by greening disease and hurricanes. We speak with Dr. Robert Kryger, Ph D, with Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, about the impact of that move.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The annual commemoration of Epiphany takes place Monday (January 6) in Tarpon Springs. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, the day commemorates the baptism of Jesus, and features more than 60 divers hoping to retrieve a cross from Spring Bayou. We speak with Johanna Gatzoulis with St. Nicholas' Cathedral, which organizes the event.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tuesday (January 7th) is the deadline to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance if you suffered losses in Hurricanes Helene or Milton. We speak with Troy York of FEMA about what you need to know to apply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In New York, they drop the ball. In Atlanta, they drop the beach. In Las Cruces, New Mexico, they drop a chili pepper. Plant City is starting its own New Year's Eve tradition to welcome in 2025 and can you guess what they're using as a symbol? We speak with Dawn Hyatt, executive director of Plant City Main Street.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Once the holidays are finished, we deal with all that post-holiday waste, perhaps including a tree. Danny Gallagher with Hillsborough County Solid Waste talks about how to dispose of trees, tinsel and other trash of the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Holiday celebrations are a lot harder for Floridians who've suffered losses in this year's hurricanes. For example, preparing a Christmas dinner is nearly impossible if your kitchen got wiped out
by flooding. We speak with University of South Florida management professor Lisa Penney about how to deal with holiday stress, especially if you suffered property or personal losses from events such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The holidays are stressful for most people. But they can be especially difficult for those with existing mental health issues, including conditional anxiety and depression. We speak with the head of the University of South Florida's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Dr. Ryan Wagoner, about how to get through the holidays and support those who might be struggling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kid-themed Legoland park in Winter Haven says it's discontinuing water ski shows, which go back to the site's history as Cypress Gardens. About 1500 people have signed a petition asking the park to change its mind. We speak with Daniel Conrod, a former competitive water skier who signed the petition at change.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
December 3rd is Giving Tuesday, the global day for supporting the work of charities and nonprofits. But how do you make sure yo're giving to a charity that actually works on its cause and doesn't burn money on bloated administrative costs? We speak with Bryan Oglesby of the Better Business Bureau in West Florida.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Florida Statewide Drone Expo is being hosted Saturday (12/7) at Azalea Middle School in St.Petersburg. We speak with Willis Reese, who heads the school's magnet aerospace program, about the expo and about their aerospace program as well as the Civil Air Patrol, which has a campus chapter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Florida's Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, declared in Winter Haven that the state of Florida will recommend cities and counties stop water fluoridation. He pointed to studies related to a lawsuit involving gthe EPA, that tie fluoride to conditions such as ADHD and low IQ in children. We get a response from Dr. Jeff Ottley of the Florida Dental Association.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bradenton police arrest the 56-year-old owner of a pressure washing company. They say he convinced an elderly woman from Frisco, Texas to send him $250,000 by claiming he was Elon Musk. We speak with police spokesperson Meredith Censullo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The deadline for people and businesses to apply for Small Business Administration loans for damage suffered in Hurricane Helene is coming up soon. We speak with SBA's Joseph Davis about who's eligible and how to apply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We speak with U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Clearwater) about the testimony of FEMA's director about the Trump signs incident, as well as the confirmation process for President-elect Trump's nominees, including attorney general pick Matt Gaetz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thousands of city officials from around the nation are gathering in Tampa for a City Summit hosted by the National League of Cities. They're networking and also looking at some of the ways that Tampa has addressed challenges with affordable housing, transportation, infrastructure, and finding money to address those issues. We speak with the league's CEO, Clarence Anthony, who's also the former mayor of South Bay, Florida and father of former Florida Gator and retired Buccaneers wide receiver Riedel Anthony.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Friday (Nov. 8), the University of South Florida holds the official groundbreaking for its new on-campus football stadium. We speak with USF VP of Athletics Michael Kelly about how this will change the university, the athletic program and the fan experience. Photo: USF AthleticsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sarasota's Lido Beach reopens Saturday (2nd) for the first time since Hurricane Milton. Parking will be limited because of sandpiles and visitors are urged to use the free trolley service from downtown Sarasota. We speak with City of Sarasota Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle to find out what they had to do to get Lido Beach ready, and what visitors need to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Several Tampa Bay area school districts are asking voters to approve renewing, adding or raising taxes to pay for education, including Hillsborough, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota. We speak with Beth Rawlins of Citizens for Pinellas Schools about the Nov. 5 referendum in that county to raise a school property tax from one-half mill to a full mill, or from $50 per $100,000 assessed to $100 per $100,000.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The widow of a Brooksville man who died of listeria after eating ham packed in a Virginia facility is suing the Florida company that owns it and the supermarket where he bought it. We speak with
attorney Harris Yegelwell of Morgan and Morgan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
arly voting begins Monday (21) in most Tampa Bay area counties. Some voters, and some polling places, are relocated because of the impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton. Gordon Byrd speaks with Pasco election supervisor Brian Corley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Early voting begins Monday (21) in most Tampa Bay area counties. Some voters, and some polling places, are relocated because of the impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton. Gordon Byrd speaks with Hillsborough elections supervisor Craig Latimer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Salvation Army has been assisting survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Tampa Bay area and throughout affected areas. Army members from New York and other areas have been working along with the organization's year-round presence. We speak with Major Ted Morris of the Salvation Army's Clearwater Corps Command.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Last month Pasco County's Mosquito Control District rallied resources to the west end of the county after some locally acquired cases of dengue. Then came hurricanes Helene and Milton. One inundated the coasts while the other caused river flooding inland. Now county officials are working to control the dengue outbreak while fighting a potential flareup of other mosquito-borne illnesses at the east end of the county. We speak again with executive director Adriane Rogers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis about what to avoid after the hurricanes, a nedw portal that will allow victims to upload documents for review, the "insurance villages" across the state, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' "Operation Blue Roof."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Pinellas County scheduled a virtual workshop to update its Disaster Mitigation Plan October 17th, not knowing that the county would be coming off two hurricanes in succession that caused serious damage. We speak with the county's Smita Ambadi about how to participate and what information the county needs to update its plans. It's not a forum to submit requests for assistance, but don't be surprised if that comes up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Classes are resuming at a Clearwater elementary school where many of the children are left homeless by flooding during Hurricane Milton. We speak with Eisenhower Elementary principal Tijuana Baker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tampa Bay residents have lived through high water, flooding and high winds from two major hurricanes -- Helene and Milton. As stressful as it's been for adults, how are children and teens dealing with the stress, and what are the signs of bigger problems? We speak with Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, the director of psychology, neuropsychology and social work, and co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Tampa Woman's Club is offering "good food and warm words" to South Tampa residents struggling after Hurricane Helene. It's offering spaghetti box dinners to Helene survivors Monday afternoon. We speak with the club's 3rd VP, Gina Roth about their efforts and Helene's impact in Tampa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A week after Hurricane Helene, Pinellas beaches are open but cleanup is continuing and most hotels and businesses are closed. How does the tourist agency that markets what it calls "America's Best Beaches" talk to visitors when the beaches are closed? We speak with Visit St Pete - Clearwater President and CEO Brian Lowack.
A new state law goes into effect today (Oct. 1) banning the homeless from sleeping in public spaces after dark. Agencies that serve the homeless have been rpeapring for the law. We speak with Maggie Rogers, CEO of the Pinellas HOPE and Tampa HOPE shelters.
Hurricane Helene's storm surge is expected to follow the example of Idalia and other summer and winter storms and do some damage to Gulf beaches in Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey was predicting most beaches on Florida's west coast would be inundated by Helene, but the forecast looks better south of Tampa Bay. We speak with USGS's Kara Doran, who's actually based in St. Petersburg with the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center. (Photo: NHC/NOAA)
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Marci Andino, VP-Elections Infrastructure, Information Sharing and Analysis Center, about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the 2024 elections.
The US House task force investigating the two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump holds its first public hearing Thursday (September 26th). We speak with one of the task force members from the Tampa Bay area, U.S. Representative Laurel Lee.
With Potential Hurricane Helene aiming for the Gulf with a possible Florida landfall, the Tampa Bay area could again get a brush with a hurricane. We spoke with Sean Johnson of FPL, which serves Manatee and Sarasota counties, earlier this year on how they've worked to make the system in those counties more hurricane-resistant. (NOTE: This was recorded in June, prior to rain impacts from Debby.)
The federal government has added Hillsborough and Pinellas counties to the list for primary assistance following Hurricane Debby, which didn't make landfall in the Tampa Bay area but did
present heavy rain and flooding. This also means access to Small Business Administration loans for physical and economic damage to businesses and nonprofits, and low-interest loans to homeowners. We speak with Timothy Watson of the SBA. (Photo: Canva)
Two cases of the dengue virus reported in west Pasco County. Symptoms include fever, chills, rash and vomiting. We speak with Adriane Rogers, executive director of the Pasco County Mosquito Control District, about what's being done and how to protect yourself.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Freddy Barton from Safe & Sound Hillsborough about the rash of on-line threats against schools--in the wake of the deadly shooting in Winder, Georgia.
The legendary holiday symphonic-metal group Trans-Siberian Orchestra is putting tickets on sale for its 2024 tour, which stops in Tampa December 15th. It includes the performance of the rock opera "The Lost Christmas Eve." TSO was founded in Tampa in 1996 by Paul O'Neill, Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli. We speak with lead guitarist and music director Pitrelli about the group's legacy and this year's tour.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Laura Hill with the Hillsborough school district about the school bus camera program. A one-month grace period is about to come to an end, and drivers caught illegally passing a bus (lights flashing, stop arm extended) will face a $225 fine.
By the way, Laura says up to this point, the cameras have caught more than 10,000 drivers passing a stopped school bus.
The 23rd anniversary of the9-11 attacks falls on Wednesday. Frank Strom, head of Hillsborough County's consumer and vererans' affairs unit, talks about the county's observance and how they're trying to pass the legacy on to a generation that wasn't born on September 11, 2001.
We just got past Labor Day, but many Floridians are already booking their travel for Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Year's. We get holiday travel tips from Mark Jenkins with AAA Auto Club Group based in Tampa.
After 28 years, Manatee County sheriff's detectives have solved a cold case murder with the arrest of the victim's former boyfriend. We speak with Randy Warren of the Manatee Sheriff's Office about the 1996 murder of Doris Korell of St. Petersburg and the arrest of Stephen Ford. (Photo courtesy Manatee County Sheriff's Office).
The state canceled meetings on a proposal to bring golf, pickleball, lodging and other facilities to state parks. But environmental watchdogs aren't taking their eyes off the agency that runs the parks. We speak with Michael McGrath of Sierra Club Florida, who was at a protest against the move on the approach to Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County.
UPDATE: After this podcast was recorded, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced changes to its meeting schedule as well as a page for public comment. State lawmakers, members of Congress and Florida's two U.S. Senators are urging the DeSantis administration to slow down. We speak with Haley Busch, outreach director of 1000 Friends of Florida.
A big step forward for the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus. The ribbon gets cut Monday (19th) for a new six-story student center and residence hall. It's the biggest project since USF-Sarasota-Manatee moved into its current site in 2006. We speak with the Sarasota-Manatee chancellor, Dr. Karen Holbrook, about what it means for the campus.
Bat maternity season in Florida ends August 15th, meaning Floridians may again use exclusion techniques to evict bats that have roosted in their houses. We speak with Dr. Shelly Johnson with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (IFAS) about bat removal strategies.
Florida now authorizes local school districts to use cameras on school bus stop-arms to catch drivers violating bus safety. In Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties, those cameras are supplied by a company called BusPatrol. We speak with company executive Steve Randazzo.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Nate Custer from FEMA about applying for help after Hurricane Debby. 10 Florida counties, including Manatee and Sarasota, have been declared major disaster areas, and people with flood or other damage can apply for federal assistance.
The new school year begins Monday in the Tampa Bay area and much of Florida wiith new restrictions on cellphone use by students. We speak with Dr. Jennifer Katzenstein of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital about the impact on students and parents.
With school opening across the Tampa Bay area August 12th, parents are scrambling to schedule back-to-school physicals for sports. We got tips from Dr. Patrick Mularoni of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, who is medical director of sports medicine. We also talk about getting kids ready to play fall sports in the heat.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with former Tampa police officer Ruben "Butch" Delgado, now head of a Special Investigations Unit for Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance. We're talking about things a homeowner who suffered damage from Debby needs to do---especially if they don't have "flood insurance." We're also talking about the "predators" who scam unsuspecting homeowners out of money and do no repair work.
Hillsborough County is taking applications for its annual Neighborhood Awards until August 14th. Neighborhood Associations are eligible to win recognition for their projects to improve their communities. The Neighborhood of the Year earns a prize worth $500. We speak with Stephanie Agliano of the county about how to get involved.
The teacher's union and other groups are launching a campaign to pass the one-mill school property tax referendum in Hillsborough County. They say the school district needs the money to keep up with neighboring counties' salaries. But everything hinges on whether a judge orders the Hillsborough County Commission to place the tax on the ballot this November, instead of waiting until 2026. We speak with Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association president Rob Kriete.
This past week, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody began issuing rules for the new law restricting social media accounts for kids under 16. Dr. Jennifer Katzenstein,with Johns
Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg says teens and tweens know a lot of what they interact with isn't good for their moods. We speak with her in this interview.
A Pinellas County beach town is trying to move tourists and day-trippers off its side streets. Starting July 29th, there's no more free parking in the Sunset Beach neighborhood of Treasure Island.
Street parking will cost $5 an hour. City spokesman Jason Beisel insists it's not a money grab. We speak with him about the change.
The Florida Aquarium and the University of Miami are joining forces in an effort to help coral in the Florida Keys survive rising water temperatures. It involves crossbreeding Florida coral with coral from a warm bay in Honduras. We speak with Keri O' Neil, who's leading the project for the Florida Aquarium.
Bay scallop season is starting in Pasco County Wednesday (10th). It runs till August 18th. We speak with Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine biologist Nancy Sheridan about how to scallop by the rules.
The University of South Florida is rolling out a new underwater remote vehicle with a 4K camera that can go two and a half miles deep. Only one other US University (Hawaii) has anything like it. We speak with Dr. Monty Graham, director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography, about what this means for deep-sea exploration.
For the first time since the pandemic, St. Petersburg restores the Sister Cities student exchange program with Takamatsu, Japan. Students from St. Petersburg are going over to Takamatsu the weekend of July 5th. They'll stay for ten days and then students from Takamatsu will head to St. Petersburg. We speak with one of the program organizers and the mother of one of the exchange students.
Downtown Tampa hosts a day full of events July 4th (Thursday). We speak with Rachel Radawec of the Tampa Downtown Partnership about "Boom By the Bay."
Police at the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida are swearing in a new K-9 Thursday (20). Snowbird's job isn't putting the bite on bad guys or sniffing out drugs. Snowbird is a comfort dog. We speak with Snowbird's handler, Officer Mark Lickenfelt, about the role of comfort and support dogs in law enforcement and in promoting wellbeing on college campuses.
Hillsborough Adult Day Services is promoting Alzheimer's Awareness with its Brain Bus touring the county's adult day facilities. We speak with the agency's Angie Toledo-Vasquez.
After a slight delay, rainy season is expected to come in full force in the Tampa Bay area with tropical moisture dropping several inches this week. That means possible street flooding and a potential slowdown of beach renourishment. We speak with Pinellas County floodplain administrator Lisa Foster and public information coordinator Ashley Giovanetti on how the weather could affect the county this week.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Lee Bryant, President of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association about a new law set to go into effect July 1 that will require all doors, hallways, and gates in and around school buildings to be locked during school hours. Bryant says implementing this new law might not be as easy as it seems.
St. Petersburg is holding its annual hurricane preparedness expo Thursday (30th) at the J.W. Cate Recreation Center. The gym will be filled with exhibitors, information and swag along with tips for dealing with a big storm. We speak with St. Pete Fire Rescue Lieutenant Garth Swingle.
The state of Florida gives more than $3,000,000 in grant money to Sarasota's Mote Marine Lab, to research three projects that could lead to reduction of the problem of blue-green algae in Florida's freshwater lakes. We speak with Dr. Emily Hall, who's leading one of those projects at Mote.
Monday is Memorial Day (27th), and ceremonies will be held around the country, including at Bay Pines VA Cemetery in Pinellas County. We speak with Roberto Pizarro, the assistant director of Bay Pines National Cemetery.
This Memorial Day weekend, a group that counsels veterans is holding a special service for those veterans and first responders who died by taking their own lives. It's taking place at the American Legion Post 5 and cemetery in Tampa, at Kennedy and Dale Mabry. We speak with Ellsworth "Tony" Williams, who leads a group called Veterans Counseling Veterans whose purpose includes preventing veteran suicides.
Starting in August, the National Hurricane Center will start experimenting with changes in the well-known "cone of uncertainty". They're going to show potential impacts on inland areas, which often feel under-warned during a hurricane. We speak with Polk County Emergency Management Director Paul Womble, about what this will mean for communities away from the coastline.
Wednesday evening (15), bicycle riders across the nation will be taking part in Rides of Silence to remember those killed or injured in crashes, and o promote bike and pedestrian safety. We speak with John Sinibaldi of the St. Petersburg Bicycle Club
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Florida Chief Financial Officer/Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis about the "My Safe Florida Home" program, which got a $200 millikon boost from the state legislature this past session. New applicants will be able to sign up and schedule an inspection starting July 1.
The Florida chapter of the nation's oldest and largest Hispanic membership organization is meeting in an unusual spot. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) state convention is happening in Haines City. Organizers are also sponsoring a job fair and voter education. We speak with Florida director Eliseo Santana about the meeting, LULAC's issues in Florida and the fast-growing Hispanic population in eastern Polk County.
NewsRadio WFLA/FNN's Read Shepherd talks to Dave Connor, Pinellas County Public Information. With hurricane season now less than a month away, Pinellas County is opening a year-round self-serve sandbag pickup site at the County Solid Waste facility, 2855 109th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Dave talks about how the site will work, and under what circumstances sandbags will work for a homeowner, and under what conditions they won't....
This is the 500th episode of Beyond the News. We speak with US News governmental managing editor Gary Emerling about their 2024 Best States survey. Florida makes the top 10 overall and scores very highly in two important categories. Find out more by listening here.
The National Wheelchair Rugby Championships are taking place Friday through Sunday in Wiregrass Ranch in Pasco County. We speak with Mike DeLancey, a disabled veteran who's helped in the formation of a wheelchair rugby team locally and in bringing the championships and hundreds of athletes, family, coaches and volunteer assistants to the Tampa Bay area.
Saturday, April 27th is National Drug Takeback Day, with hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the nation collecting old prescription meds as part of Operation Medicine Cabinet. In Clearwater, they're offering to collect old drugs AND shred old documents, to keep them away from identity thieves. We speak with Clearwater police spokesman Rob Shaw.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Greg Deese, F-DOT Regional Engineer, about the impending opening of the Gateway Expressway, which will connect I-275, US 19, and the approach to the Bayside Bridge. The toll road is set to open to drivers on Friday, April 26.
Every year, the American Lung Association ranks metro areas across the nation for air quality in terms of ozone and particle pollution. Most of Florida gets good marks, but some areas have issues, particularly Tampa Bay and South Florida. We speak with Ashley Lyerly with the ALA.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Captain Garth Swingle about a May 11 event in which local and elected officials--along with the media--can get a first-hand look at what Fire Rescue crews and how they do it. The "Fire Ops 101" program will also give participants a chance to expeience hands-on firefighting and rescue operations. The event is scheduled for May 11 at the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Training Facility , 1716 N. Belcher Rd, Clearwater.
Dickey Betts, legendary guitarist and singer best known for his work with the Allman Brothers, has died at age 80 at his home in Osprey, near Sarasota. Betts was born in Florida and grew up in the Bradenton area. We speak with musician Damon Fowler, who toured with the Dickey Betts Band in 2018, about Betts and his legacy.
Former Florida governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham has died at age 87. One of his major initiatives involved manatee protection and conservation. We speak with Patrick Rose, executive director of the Save the Manatee Club, which was co-founded by Graham and singer Jimmy Buffett, who died last September.
Bat maternity season begins Tuesday (April 16th), which means some restrictions in the way you can deal with bats that get into your house or business property. We speak with Jayne Johnston, a senior wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, about how to deal with bats during bat baby time.
Hillsborough County is updating its vulnerability assessment for the first time since 2020. They hope to get information on challenges facing neighborhoods and areas within the county to help residents stay safe and deal with potential impacts of flooding and other climate-related issues. The county is holding a public meeting April 16th that can also be accessed virtually. We speak with Hazard Mitigation, Resiliency and Sustainability Manager Troy Salisbury.
A private nonprofit that describes itself as the eyes and ears of the Florida taxpayer takes a look at the proposed deal to build a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays and redevelop the Gas Plant, and offers some suggestions. We speak with Bob Nave, senior VP of research at Florida Taxwatch.
The solar eclipse is Monday, April 8. It's not total in any part of Florida but the Tampa-Hillsborough library system is holding watch parties nonetheless. We speak with the system's Cheryl Wolfe.
A new hurricane forecast coming out, from a Sarasota-based climate group. The Climate Adaptation Center will focus its outlook on Florida's west coast. We speak with Center CEO Bob Bunting
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Elliott Falcione, the Executive Director of the Bradenton Convention and Visitors Bureau about the expansion of the Gulf Islands Ferry from Bradenton to Anna Maria Island
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Vietnam Veteran Col. (ret.) Rolfe Arnyhm about this week's "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans and War Dogs" remembrance event. Col. Arnhym will be the keynote speaker at the event---at Veterans Memorial Park on US 301 in Tampa.
St. Petersburg - Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is holding a job fair Tuesday (26th). The airport has a number of employers on-site using the fair, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the TSA, concessionaires, vendors and general aviation suppliers. We speak with the airport's Michele Routh about the fair and available jobs.
A Venice-based charity that supports Christian missions in Haiti is able to fly supplies into the country again, after a three-week hiatus forced by violence around Port-au-Prince. Agape Flights has received clearance from Haitian aviation authorities to enter and leave the country. It's working through a backlog as it flies in and out twice a week. We speak with the organization's Tim Kenny.
Local food is fastest and freshest, but red tape in federal school lunch programs has sometimes forced schools to source out-of-state. After years of building relationships with Florida farmers and processors, the Hillsborough School District is serving its students an All-Florida lunch on Thursday, March 21st. We speak with Shani Hall, the district's Director of Nutrition Services.
St. Patrick's Day is Sunday and many people will be going out to celebrate over the weekend. We talk with Mark Jenkins of AAA Auto Club Group about their Tow-2-Go service and other ways to avoid driving under the influence, getting a ticket or an accident this weekend.
Tampa dyes the Hillsborough River green on St. Patrick's Day. This year the city does it one day early, on Saturday (16), as part of an Irish-themed festival that includes Irish music, dance, food and a parade by the Rough Riders. We speak with Rachel Radawec of the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
Sarasota police bring animal abuse and cruelty charges against the owner of a dog grooming franchise on South Tamiami Trail. We speak with Police public information officer Cynthia McLsughlin.
The Firestone Grand Prix returns to St. Petersburg Friday through Sunday (8-10). So do thousands of fans. We speak with Visit St. Pete - Clearwater CEO Brian Lowack about the economic impact.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Brandie Miklus from the non-profit group "Friends of Tampa Union Station" about a federal plan to create two new Amtrak routes to Florida. However, those routes would bypass Tampa.
The collection of the late Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, author, professor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, will be housed at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, in a collaboration with USF and Eckerd College. We speak with the museum's board chair, Michael Igel, about Wiesel and the impact of housing his collection.
Hillsborough County is offering residents a chance to shred documents and destroy hard drives that could be a goldmine to identity thieves. Gordon Byrd speaks with the county's Eric Olsen about Shredest, happening Saturday (March 2nd) from 9 to 11 a.m.
A professor seen on 'SharkFest' and other nature shows has been arrested and accused of putting the bite on a shark research nonprofit. Police in Bradenton say Georgia Southern professor Christine Bedore ripped off the American Elasmobranch Society for at least $300,000, using the organization's money to pay for a car, medical procedures, entertainment, travel and pet insurance among other personal items. We speak with Bradenton police PIO Meredith Censullo about the charges.
At least ten cases of measles have been reported around Florida since the beginning of the year. We speak with Dr. Juan Dumois, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petesburg, about what's driving these cases and how to respond.
The 89th Florida Strawberry Festival opens Thursday in Plant City. More than 600,000 showed up during the 2023 run and those numbers are expected to be met or exceeded this year. We speak with one of the festival's associate directors, James Scott.
The clock in the tower at Tampa's Hillsborough High School was dedicated in 1949. Students of the classes of 1946 through '48 raised thousands of dollars to build the clock in honor of those alumni who died in combat in World War Two.The clock stopped keeping time and chiming the hours several years ago. But it's being rededicated Saturday (2/24) after an alumni fundraising campaign. We speak with Darlene Fabelo, a HHS graduate who led the drive.
If you're one of the 4,500 signed up for special needs shelters with Pinellas County, expect a phone call, or two, before the end of February. Nick Morrow with Pinellas Emergency Management explains how they're updating their list for the 2024 hurricane season.
The Federal Aviation Administration is giving almost $120 million in grants to airports across Florida for terminal improvements. We speak with Public Relations Director Michele Routh about how St. Petersburg-Clearwater Internationa Airport plans to use its $6 million grant in a planned terminal upgrade.
The Largo police department was founded 100 years ago, in 1924. There's a celebration (moved to Saturday February 24th) at police headquarters, with tours and demonstrations by the SWAT and K-9 teams. We speak with Largo Police Chief Mike Loux about the changes in policing over the past hundred years, and in his 33 years with the department. NOTE: The event has been moved back to Feb. 24 because of rainy weather expected Feb. 18.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Jay Recher from 620/95.3 WDAE about the spring training experience, and how it's evolved over the past 20 years.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Rob Higgins from the Tampa Sports Commission about Tampa's efforts to host a 6th Super Bowl at some point in the years to come.
A new report produced for the American Bar Association claims poor and low-income Floridians charged with misdemeanors are getting "nickel and dimed" with fees and fines. We speak with Sarah Couture, Florida director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center.
Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano about what he believes are problems with a 2023 workforce housing bill known as "Live Local."
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is holding a "Pinellas Disaster Recovery Listening Session" at its Pinellas Park office from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday (8th), to talk about recovery and resiliency after Hurricane Idalia. We speak with TBRPC's Disaster Recovery Coordinator Jamie Neville.
The 2024 Florida State Fair opens Thursday (Feb. 8) and runs through President's Day. Executive director Cheryl Flood talks about what's going on at the first state fair of the season.
This week (Feb. 5-9) is Severe Weather Awareness Week. Florida is holding a statewide tornado drill Wednesday (7th). We speak with Stephanie Hendrix, Planning and Preparedness Manager for Pinellas County Emergency Management, about the drill and tornado awareness.
This is Florida's prescribed burn season. State and local officials set parts of the woods on fire to head off bigger fires later in the year, and to support habitat for species that depend on a yearly fire cycle. We speak with Jay Bailey of the Sarasota County Fire Department and Tony Clements with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, about prescribed burns and an event they have Saturday, February 3rd to educate the public about controlled burns called Fire Fest.
The U.S. Coast Guard recently seized $55 million in illegal drugs. Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to the Executive Officer of the Cutter "Resolute," Cmdr. Mario Gil.
Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard, showcase and home to parades, has an array of vivid flowers and shrubs in its median. But a storm in December brought surge and salt-water intrusion that damaged much of the landscape. Now the city of Tampa is undertaking its biggest replanting along Bayshore in six years. We speak with City of Tampa horticulturist Ken Akins about the project.
The Manatee Viewing Center at the Big Bend power plant south of Tampa has had more than a thousand manatees for most of the winter so far. On December 29th, they set a new all-time record with 1100 on hand. Cherie Jacobs with TECO Energy explains the factors behind the increase.
A Tampa Bay area veterinary surgeon reaches a milestone. Dr. Rizal Lopez DVM of the SPCA in Pinellas County has performed 25,000 spay and neuter surgeries over his career. We speak with Dr. Lopez about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
Five children from the Tampa area were stuck in Gaza when the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October. A non-custodial family member took them to Egypt as their mother in Florida begged for help to find them. Project Dynamo discovered their whereabouts and wnet to get them. Guest host Read Shepherd speaks with Project Dynamo founder Bryan Stern about the rescue.
Hillsborough County's Pet Resource Center is offering free spaying and neutering appointments for up to 200 bully breed dogs between February 12 and 23. But you need to sign up now. The free services also include microchipping, heartworm testing, and vaccines. Listen for more information about the Operation Pit Stop program here in this interview with Ginette Campos.
The official numbers are still a few days away, but preliminary figures show 2023 is Tampa's warmest year on record, narrowly beating out 2022. We speak with Meteorologist Eric Oglesby at the National Weather Service for the Tampa Bay area in Ruskin.
Paul Falica was killed December 18th in a hit-and-run crash. He had served 40 years as a postal carrier with the United States Postal Service. Friday (29th), his fellow carriers will drive a procession of postal trucks from the Sulphur Springs post office, to the spot where he lost his life, as a way of honoring their longtime colleague. We speak with Tampa Postmaster Jacquelyn "Jackie" Villemaire about remebering Falica's legacy.
New Year's resolutions may be falling out of favor, especially among younger adults. But one expert says it may be a matter of taking smaller steps to change. We speak with St. Leo University psychology professor Tammy Lowery Zacchilli.
Two big recycling questions for Christmas... what to do with cooking grease and with all the wrappings from presents? We speak with Daniel Gallagher and Shawn Yang of Hillsborough County Government for some ideas.
An unusual winter low is due to move across Florida Saturday, dumping several inches of rain and bringing the possibility of flooding and severe weather. We speak with emergency management officials in Pinellas and Pasco counties about what people should expect.
This is the first Christmas shopping season in which shoppers may consult with artificial intelligence to make their buying decisions. A University of South Florida marketing professor says that AI can help both consumers and retailers make better choices about purchases and inventory. We speak with Dr. Dipayan "Dip" Biswas.
Hillsborough County Commissioners are expected to renew a grant program targeting technology companies in Israel that want to open U-S operations. The $100,000 would support the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator. We speak with FIBA's co executive director Rakefet Bachur Phillips.
Scientists with Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota have been returning corals to Florida Bay, after they were removed because unusually high temperatures were causing the coral to bleach. The corals have been kept in onshore farms in the Keys and near Sarasota. There's also a promising sign with some corals resisting bleaching in the heat. We speak with Mote Program Manager Dr. Jason Spadaro.
What can shoppers and retailers expect during the holiday shopping season? Carol Osborne is a senior instructor of marketing and promotion at the Muma College of Business, University of South Florida in Tampa.
Hillsborough County Adult Day Services is holding an event Saturday, November 18, at its new Wimauma location to connect caregivers to experts and resources. We speak with the agency's Angie Toledo.
Saturday is Veterans' Day, and Hillsborough County is observing the day with a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. It also serves veterans year-round. We speak with Frank Strom with the county's office of Consumer and Veterans Services, a Marine veteran, and Army veteran Tee Floyd, about services for veterans in Hillsborough County.
The historic water tower at Tampa's River Park in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood is getting some overdue TLC. City officials are pressure washing and repainting the tower for the first time since 1989. The tower was originally built to pump water by a 1920s developer and has become in icon, We speak with Adriana Colina, Tampa's Logistics and Asset Management Director.
November brings the dry, cooler season in Florida as well as the change to Standard Time. Both have an impact on watering your lawn. We speak with David Glicksberg, who is Manager for Sustainable Water Resources with Hillsborough County's Environmental Services Division.
The Hillsborough County Fair opens Thursday (November 2nd). Its executive director describes it as a traditional county fair. It has a rodeo, truck and tractor pull, a demolition derby, and plenty of livestock shows. We speak with Suzanne Holcomb.
Registration for the 2024 Skyway 10K foot race on March 3rd opens October 20th ats 8 a.m. This year there's no lottery and it's first-come first-serve. We speak with Joyce Bedard of the Armed Forces Family Foundation. They're the charity that uses funds raised by this race to build support structures for U.S. military families on-base.
Debate is heating up over the state's call to ban chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine on university campuses. Florida says the group's toolkit calls it part of the violent attack by Hamas that has claimed more than 1400 lives in Israel. We speak with attorney Adam Steinbaugh of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which put out a statement against the group's deactivation.
Remember last spring's sargassum bloom that threatened Florida's east coast? The University of South Florida, Florida Atlantic University, NOAA and other agencies are sharing a three million dollar grant to develop a way to forecast where sargassum blooms are going. We speak with USF researcher and oceanographer Brian Barnes, who's leading the effort.
The St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club celebrates its 100th anniversary in January. The club is kicking off its centennial by hosting the International Shuffleboard Association World Championship, Oct. 23-27. We speak with the club's executive director, Christine Page, about how the sport and those who play it have evolved over the years.
October 19th is Missing in Florida Day. It's dedicated to families with missing loved ones, offering law enforcement, forensic and other resources to help them come to a resolution. We speak with USF forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle, who's one of the speakers at that event.
If you're adopting a dog, why not two? Manatee County is waiving the adoption fee for dogs at its shelters in October. It's also staging a special event in Palmetto where you can watch shelter dogs at play together. We speak with Hans Wohlgefahrt, an outreach specialist for county Animal Welfare.
Children who suffer traumatic brain injuries usually receive two treatments when they arrive at a hospital: an IV to prevent brain swelling and anti-seizure medication. But one central Florida county is as much as 45 minutes or more away from Level I trauma centers when thunderstorms shut down rescue helicopters. Orlando Health's Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital and Tampa General Hospital are training Polk County paramedics to administer those meds while they're en route, thus saving critical time and making a recovery without long-term neurological issues more likely. We speak with Dr. Donald Plumley, head of pediatric surgery at Arnold Palmer about the initiative.
FEMA has signed up about 70,000 people for Hurricane Idalia assistance, but that won't go on forever. We speak with FEMA's Troy York about an upcoming deadline and why it's a good idea to register even if you haven't (yet) discovered damage.
One year ago Thursday (28th) Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida. We speak with Sarasota County emergency services director Rich Collins about lessons learned and the ongoing challenges of recovery.
Thursday (28th) marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian's landfall near Fort Myers. The storm took 150 lives in our state and was the costliest hurricane in state history. Stacy Aloisio is the emergency manager in North Port and served with Lee County emergency management during Ian's arrival and worked in the county's recovery efforts. She shares lessons learned and tells us how North Port is doing, one year after the storm.
The Bay Fishing Pier at Fort DeSoto Park reopens Thursday (28th) after a five-million-dollar makeover that includes bait cleaning stations, facilities for anglers in wheelchairs, and a covered landing for the Egmont Key ferry. We speak with Project Manager Robert Meador.
Hillsborough County is asking property owners who suffered damage from Hurricane Idalia to regisgter with the county. One reason is to access local resources. Another is that Hillsborough is not one of the 16 Florida counties eligible for individual assistance from FEMA, and the county is trying to change that by documenting losses. We speak with C.K. Moore of Hillsborough County's Office of Emergency Management.
The dunes that protect the beachfront in the Pinellas County beach town of Treasure Island suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Idalia, and the city is launching an emergency dune restoration program that means some disruption for beach access. We speak with Treasure Island city commissioner Beth Wetzel.
Pinellas County is holding an online webinar Monday (18th) to help people who suffered damage from Hurricane Idalia go through the claims process. We speak with Jessica McCracken of Pinellas Emergency Management about the event. We also include a link to register for it with this podcast.
Areas impacted by Hurricane Idalia on the Big Bend and Florida's west coast are dealing with cleaning up and fixing up. We speak with Troy York, a media representative from FEMA, about what people need to know when it comes to applying for assistance and dealing with denials.
Jimmy Buffett's family revealed that the singer, who died Friday, had been dealing with Merkel cell skin cancer for four years, as well as lymphoma. Merkel cell is a rare skin cancer. We speak with Dr. Vernon Sondak, the head of the department at Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center that deals with skin cancers, who has written a book on this particular cancer.
Jimmy Buffett died Friday night at age 76. He's being remembered not just for his music but for his commitment to conservation. Buffett co-founded the Save the Manatee Club and played a leading role in efforts to save what was an endangered species. We speak with the club's executive director, Pat Rose, who knew Jimmy from the club's beginnings.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to affect the Tampa Bay area, before landfall north of Tampa. We speak with Jamie Rhome, deputy director, National Hurricane Center.
Many local governments on Florida's west coast are activating sandbag distribution ahead of a potential tropical storm. We speak with Mikah Collins of Hillsborough County about what you need to know if you're getting sandbags to protect your home.
School opens Friday (11th) in Polk County. Students walking to Davenport High School and Davenport School of the Arts now have a safter crosswalk thanks to efforts by Polk County, several agencies, and Duke Energy. We speak with Bill Skelton of Polk County Roads and Drainage.
Scammers have been booking up driver license appointments online at the Hillsborough Tax Collector's office and selling them to unsuspecting residents, especially targeting Spanish-speaking residents. We speak with Hillsborough Tax Collector Nancy Millan.
A team with Mote Marine Lab has been evacuating coral it's cultivating in the Florida Keys from its offshore nurseries due to the extreme temperatures in the water, soaring into the 90s. We speak with the director of Mote's coral cultivation program, Dr Jason Spadano.
On the one-year anniversary of Andrew Warren's suspension as Hillsborough State Attorney, he's receiving an award from the American Bar Association as he continues his appeal process. Meantime, the current top prosecutor says she's mended fences with the cops. We speak with Andrew Warren.
Tampa recorded its hottest July since records began around 1890. So did several other locations on Florida's west coast. We speak with National Weather Service meteorologist Jen Hubbard in Ruskin.
Tributes are pouring in for Paul Reubens. The actor best known as "Pee-wee Herman" died at age 70. The former mayor of the town Reubens grew up in remembers him as a longtime friend and a "soldier" for human rights. Fredd Atkins was Sarasota's first African-American mayor, and remembers Reubens as a high school classmate and lifelong friend.
A group described as the largest African-American motorcycle club is holding its annual convention in Tampa this week. Kenneth Thomas, a former police officer, founded the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club in 1987. He and current national president Nathan Mack talk about how the club and some three thousand attendees will be doing charity work during their stay.
An early morning fire devastated the Alligator and Wildlife Recovery Center at John's Pass in Madeira Beach. The center housed more than two hundred animals, many of which are feared dead in the fire. The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is holding a fundraiser to help the center. We speak with chamber CEO Robin Miller.
Sarasota County reported six malaria cases to the state health department in May and June, prompting a stepped up effort to control mosquitoes. We speak with Wade Brennan, manager of Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services. How long will it take to break the chain of transmission?
As we celebrate Independence Day, the peak of hurricane season is just a few weeks away. We talk with Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis about what you need to know about supplies and dealings with insurance companies. In other words, the basics of hurricane survival and resiliency.
Charles Kondek, a Tarpon Springs police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2014, was also a regular blood donor. One Blood blood bank honors his legacy of service by holding an annual blood drive. It's taking place this year at a Publix supermarket in Tarpon Springs. We speak with Pat Michaels of One Blood about the event and how it honors Kondek's legacy.
The state of Florida is targeting one group known for aggressive driving as it tries to get to zero highway fatalities. But it's not just through enforcement. They're also trying to change the culture and influence behavior. We speak with Kris Carson of the Florida Department of Transportation's District 7 (Tampa Bay).
This is the 911 call from the incident in which a Dunedin man unintentionally shot a pool cleaner who showed up after dark to work, without letting him know. Redactions and bleeps for language.
Florida's new human trafficking law takes effect July 1st. It ups certain penalties, especially when minors are trafficked in adult establishments. The bill also creates a statewide database to track human trafficking trenda at the local level. USF criminology professor Joan Reid will run the database. We speak with her.
The Florida Department of Health in Manatee and Sarasota counties has posted a mosquito alert after two cases of malaria have appeared in the same area. Malaria is spread solely by the anopheles mosquito. We speak with FDOH spokesperson Steve Huard about ways to lessen the chance of getting bitten and possibly acquiring a mosquito-borne illness.
We speak with Hillsborough school board member Karen Perez on the resignation of Superintendent Addison Davis and the search for a new leader for the district.
We speak with Tampa International's (TPA) Vice President of Airport Operations John Tiliacos on two stories. First, the airport stands to benefit after the FAA reduces an exclusion zone during space launches that has been cutting off a prime approach route for flights to the Northeast. Second, we talk about the Airport Bear that wandered the property for a day.
Clearwater shows off its transformation of Coachman Park with a grand opening June 28th, kicking off a week of events. Additions include a playground, bike trails and a 4,000-seat amphitheater called The Sound. It'll be inaugurated with a Cheap Trick concert that night. We speak with Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst about Coachman Park and The Sound.
The owners of an aquaculture project about 40 miles off Sarasota in the gulf have filed with the EPA to change the species being farmed as well as caging requirements. That has environmental activists calling on the feds to restart the permitting process. They say aquaculture in that area of the gulf has the potential to feed red tide algae blooms. We speak with Cris Costello, senior organizing director of Sierra Club Florida.
St. Petersburg is seeing a wave of extortion cases using nudes aka sextortion. The criminals are meeting victims on social media or dating apps, encouraging them to send nude pictures, then demanding money to keep those photos out of friends' and family's inboxes. It's double the rate from a year ago, and worse yet, many of the victims are minors. We speak with St. Petersburg Police Detective Henry Snowden on how to avoid becoming a victim and how to keep your child from becoming a victim.
Groundbreaking June 6th on a new hydrogen plant near Mulberry in Polk County. Its operators say it uses natural gas but also captures more than 90 percent of carbon dioxide produced, making it a clean process. They hope to become part of a regional hydrogen hub that the federal government is forming to encourage use of the fuel. We speak with Hani Banoub, a VP for one of the companies involved, Ocean Green Hydrogen of Tampa.
Thursday, June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season. St. Petersburg is holding its annual Hurricane Expo from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Campbell Park. We speak with city emergency manager Amber Boulding.
The American Association of University Professors declares in a preliminary report that Florida's public colleges and universities are "under assault" by recent efforts such as the ban on DEI courses and the overhaul at New College in Sarasota. We speak with Professor Henry Reichman, professor emeritus at Cal State - East Bay. He chairs the AAUP's committee on academic freedom.
The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is called the 100 Deadliest Days of the year for teen drivers. School is out for summer and teens learning to drive can be distracted by friends, phones, and simple inexperience. Driving impaired is also an issue. We speak with Mark Jenkins of AAA Auto Club Group on how parents can help teens survive the 100 Days.
Saturday, May 13th is Stamp Out Hunger Saturday. It's the day postal employees represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers pick up non-perishable foods (and sometimes other items) to distribute to local food banks. We speak with Al Friedman of NALC, who coordinates Stamp Out Hunger for postal workers in several southeastern states.
This week (8th-11th), Tampa is observing Special Operations Forces Week, or SOF Week, with events and presentations aimed at the Special Operators in all branches of the service and their families. Around 15,000 are expected and downtown Tampa is expecting an influx of traffic. No surprise as U.S. Special Operations Command is based at MacDill. We speak with Meaghan Keeler of the Global Special Operations Foundation about SOF Week.
The Florida Legislature has sent Govenor DeSantis a bill that expands the Move Over Law to include any disabled vehicle with flashing lights or emergency displays on. Right now it only applies to first responders, emergency and tow truck workers.
Britain crowns King Charles III Saturday. Some British expatriates and American royalty fans plan to watch the ceremonies from this side of the Atlantic. We speak with David Palermiti, manager of the Pub Tampa, a British-themed establishment that plans to open at 6 a.m. Saturday.
Business and government leaders are getting together Thursday and Friday for the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Leadership Summit at the Clearwater Beach Hilton. They'll talk about preparing for hurricanes and related challenges including property insurance and housing. We speak with Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council executive director Sean Sullivan.
Leo Schofield is up for parole after serving more than three decades for the murder of his wife Michelle in 1987. The Lakeland man insists he's innocent and his case has attracted new attention thanks to a podcast called "Bone Valley" that examines the evidence. We speak with Bone Valley's creator and co-host Gilbert King, ahead of Schofield's parole hearing May 3rd (Wed).
The tragic death of Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett's two year old daughter Arrayah underscores the importance of preventing child drownings. It's the number one cause of death for toddlers aged one to four years old. Adam Katchmarchi PhD is executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
Port Tampa Bay is holding its annual hurricane preparedness exercise Monday, May 1st. We speak with Vice President of Operations Matt Thompson about what goes on in such an exercise and how the port prepares for big storms. Port Tampa Bay accounts for 45 percent of gasoline brought into Florida.
The Gasparilla Music Festival returns along downtown Tampa's riverfront this weekend (April 29-30). We speak with Kelly Bustin, a member of the board that runs the festival.
A "procedural error" is blamed for an emergency test that woke up millions of Floridians before 5 a.m. Thursday morning. The state has fired the contractor and both have apologized. Many of us are vowing to turn off phone alerts. We speak with Austin Flannery of the National Weather Service office in Ruskin (Tampa) on why that may be a life-changing mistake.
Each year the American Lung Association releases its State of the Air report, which uses federal EPA data to show ozone and particle pollution in areas across the nation. We speak with ALA's Ashley Byerly about the 2023 report.
April 18th (beginning 17th at sunset) is Holocaust Remembrance Day. We speak with Michael Igel, chair of the board of the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, about the museum's observance of this day.
It's a big change for the skyline at the south end of Tampa Bay. Two of the three smokestacks at the Big Bend power station, which have been in service for decades, are about to come down. The power station is retiring two of its coal-fired units and making modifications. We speak with Cherie Jacobs of Tampa Electric about those changes.
Tens of thousands of fans are due in Tampa for Taylor Swift's sold-out concerts Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Dr Eric Anthony Shamas, an emergency physician at Bayfront Health, has some tips for Swifties that may keep them out of an emergency room..
It's college graduation season, and at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, pets in dorms also get their own ceremony Tuesday (April 11th). We speak with Mackenzie Siddon, who oversees what's called Pet Life at Eckerd.
The Hillsborough NAACP Branch has opened what it calls a "Freedom Library" at a Tampa church. The library aimed at school-age children, would include books by minority authors, and some works that have been challenged in Florida schools. We speak with Fedrick Ingram of the American Federation of Teachers union, which is supplying about a thousand books as part of a nationwide campaign.
The Frozen Four, aka the NCAA Men's Division 1 Hockey Championship, is in Tampa Thursday through Saturday. We find out about the event, the teams, and college hockey with Jayson Hajdu of College Hockey, Inc.
The Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo starts Tuesday (28th) in Lakeland. It's one of the biggest general aviation events in the world, with more than 200,000 expected to attend at some point. We speak with Eric Crump, executive director of its parent roganization, the Aerospace Center for Excellence.
The Center for Biological Diversity is one of two organizations suing the Biden administration because it won't declare the gopher tortoise an endangered species in Florida. We speak with Elise Bennett, Florida Director and senior attorney for the center. Her office is based in St. Petersburg.
Vince Speranza, a World War Two vet who took part in the Battle of the Bulge, is tandem skydiving this weekend at a Palatka airport to celebrate his 98th birthday. It's part of a rehearsal for a skydiving event in France to celebrate the 79th anniversary of D-Day. We speak with Art Shaffer of Skydive Palatka, which sponsors the Round Canopy Parachute Team - USA.
Freshman congresswoman Laurel Lee used to be Florida's Secretary of State, and now she's playing a role in elections at the federal level. Rep. Lee is chairing a House subcommitteee on elections that held its first meeting Friday (10th). She looked at what went right in the 2022 midterms. Future hearings could focus on issues including cybersecurity and infrastructure. We also talk with Rep. Lee about what it's like to arrive in D.C., and her first bill, a resolution endorsing the Florida Strawberry Festival.
The Bay Pines VA Hospital and Cemetery opened for business in 1933. A 90th anniversary ceremony takes place Thursday, March 16th. We talk with Bay Pines public affairs officer Rob Frazier about how the services provided have kept pace with the times and about Thursday's celebration.
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday (March 12). Moving the clocks forward an hour makes a sleep-deprived nation even more so. Dr. Michelle Zetoony, DO is a sleep specialist based in Pinellas County. She also co-hosts a podcast devoted to sleep called "Sleep Takeout". Dr. Zetoony offers some tips to avoid losing sleep when we "spring forward."
A crash on Tampa's Selmon Expressway killed a one-year-old boy who wasn't property restrained. We speak with Petra Stanton of the Safe Kids campaign at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg about the proper use of child seats.
The Florida Strawberry Festival opens Thursday in Plant City. We talk with the festival's Kyle Robinson about the qualities that have made it the biggest fair event in Florida, along with of course, music and strawberries.
Newsradio WFLA concludes its series of interviews with Tampa City Council candidates with the District 6 contest. Hoyt Prindle is a Tampa attorney.
Newsradio WFLA concludes its series of interviews with Tampa City Council candidates with the District 6 contest. Nicole Payne is a business and educational advisor and consultant.
Newsradio WFLA concludes its series of interviews with Tampa City Council candidates with the District 6 contest. Charlie Miranda has served several terms on Tampa City Council dating back to 1974.
Newsradio WFLA concludes its series of interviews with Tampa City Council candidates with the District 6 contest.Rick Fifer is a Realtor.
Newsradio WFLA concludes its series of interviews with Tampa City Council candidates with the District 6 contest. Tyler Barrett describes himselg as a community organizer.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing all of the Tampa City Council candidates in 2023. Lynn Hurtak was appointed to council last year to fill out the remainder of John Dingfelder's term after he resigned. She's running for a full four-year term.
Newsradio WFLA continues its interviews with Tampa City Council candidates. KJ Allen is running in the District 3 citywide contest.
Newsradio WFLA continues interviewing candidates for Tampa City Council. Jose Vasquez is running in citywide District 3.
Newsradio WFLA continues its interviews with Tampa City Council candidates. Janet Cruz is a former state representative and state senator who's running for District 3.
Newsradio WFLA continues its interviews with Tampa City Council candidates. George "The Hunted" Feshev is running in citywide District 3.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing the candidates for Tampa City Council. District 2 is elected by voters citywide. Michael Derewenko serves in a marketing role for an irrigation company.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing the candidates for Tampa City Council. District 2 is elected by voters citywide. Robin Lockett is the former political chair of the NAACP and regional director of Florida Rising.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing the candidates for Tampa City Council. District 2 is elected by voters citywide. Mike Suarez served on council from 2011 to 2019.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing the candidates for Tampa City Council. District 2 is elected by voters citywide. Guido Maniscalco is running after completing two terms in D-6.
Newsradio WFLA continues our interviews with Tampa City Council candidates. Sonja Brookins is running in District 1 citywide. Election day is March 7th.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing the candidates for Tampa City Council. Chase Harrison is running in citywide District 1. Election day is March 7th.
Newsradio WFLA continues our interviews with Tampa City Council candidates. Joseph Citro was elected to Tampa City Council District 1 in 2019 and is seeking his second term. Election day is March 7th.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing candidates for Tampa City Council. Alan Clendenin is running for Tampa City Council District 1. Election Day is March 7th.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing candidates for Tampa City Council. Evelyn McBride is a write-in candidate in District 5.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing candidates for Tampa City Council. Gwendolyn Henderson is a teacher who's running in District 5, composed of East Tampa, West Tampa, and Tampa Heights.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing candidates for Tampa City Council. Orlando Gudes was elected in 2019 and is running for a second term in District 5, composed of East Tampa, West Tampa and Tampa Heights.
Newsradio WFLA is interviewing all of the candidates for Tampa City Council in the March 7th city election. Blake Casper is a businessman who is challenging Bill Carlson in District 4.
Bill Carlson is a Tampa City Council member in District 4, facing challenger Blake Casper in the March 7th city elections.
The Bradenton Area River Regatta takes place Saturday (11th) on the Manatee River. It features powerboat racing, music and other events on both sides of the river in Palmetto and Bradenton. We speak with Michael Dongilli of ISMUSA.
Saturday (Feb. 4) is World Cancer Day. Bill C. Potts is a longtime St. Petersburg resident and a five-time cancer survivor. He's written a book called "Up for the Fight" and has advice for cancer patients on how to self-advocate.
If you're a resident of the City of Tampa and are waiting for a mail ballot for this year's city election, you may be in for a surprise. State lawmakers expired all mail ballot requests at the end of last year's election cycle and if you don't ask for a ballot again, you won't get one. We speak with Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer about mail ballots and other information about the upcoming vote.
The 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in St. Petersburg takes place Monday morning. It's one of the largest in the nation with an estimated 80,000 attendees. We speak with Jeff Copeland of the MLK Dream Big Team, which organizes the parade.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with new guidelines recommending aggressive treatment of childhood obesity earlier. We speak with Dr Raquel Hernandez of Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Hillsborough school officials are showcasing their plans to change school boundaries for next year in a series of meetings. The Hillsborough PTA is holding a town hall about the boundary changes Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the Gandy Civic Center. We speak with Hillsborough PTA president Ani Marie Granger-Welch and Ellen Lyons, VP of advocacy.
Thursday (12th) is the deadline to seek federal assistance if you suffered losses due to Hurricane Ian. We speak with FEMA's Issa Mansaray.
Doctors continue to monitor the status of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who collapsed after going into cardiac arrest during a Monday night football game. We speak with Dr. Jason Wilson, chief emergency physician at Tampa General Hospital.
Tampa's New Year's weekend includes a parade, an NFL game, a bowl game and a hockey game, plus fireworks. Lt. Bryan Felts with Tampa Police talks about how to stay safe and deal with crowds and traffic.
We interview our second of the four development companies that submitted proposals for the Tropicana Field - Gas Plant site. We speak with master developer Dr. William Henry, Paula Rhodes and James Fogarty of the "Gas Plant District - Restoration Associates" consortium.
We could see some of our coldest Christmas temperatures since 1989, when thermometers dipped into the 20s around Tampa Bay and thousands spent the day in rolling blackouts. We speak with Cherie Jacobs of Tampa Electric, who says there'll be plenty of power this weekend in Florida.
Christmas weekend will be the coldest Christmas in the Tampa Bay region in several years, with temperatures expected to drop to the freezing mark in some locations. The nonprofit that manages Pinellas cold-weather shelters says they'll be open the nights of Friday, Dec. 23 and Saturday, Dec. 24. We speak with CEO Monika Alesnik of The Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas.
AirBNB is implementing new rules to discourage unwanted New Year's Eve parties on the properties it represent. We speak with Ben Breit about the rules.
(Note nature.) North Port police make an arrest in a brutal murder that happened just before Hurricane Ian ravaged the community. We speak with police spokesperson Josh Taylor.
The residents of Tampa, Kansas, population about 100, are getting a free visit to Tampa, Florida, population in the hundreds of thousands with many major attractions. The local tourism agency is doing it in the holiday spirit, and to grab the attention of winter-wary Midwesterners. We speak with Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corriada.
The city of St. Petersburg announced four developers submitted proposals for redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site, also known as the historically black Gas Plant neighborhood. We speak with one of the developers, the Sugar Hill Community Partners group. (We hope to speak with the others too!)
The supply chain is in better shape than last year but China's COVID lockdowns are still causing logistical nightmares for retailers. We speak with USF Professor Seckin Ozkul about supply chain problems and whether rail troubles will affect holiday retail.
How are inflation and recession fears affecting the way Americans are shopping and spending for the holidays? We put that to Michael Snipes, PhD, associate professor of economics at the University of South Florida.
Social distancing is relaxing, two and a half years into the COVID pandemic, and this may be the first time some people get to spend extended time with elderly relatives. If you see signs of cognitive decline or other issues, how should you address them? We speak with Dale Dalbey in the Destin office of Synergy Home Care.
Forecasters say this Thanksgiving travel season could set records. We speak with Emily Nipps of Tampa International Airport about what to expect.
Experts expect a record-breaking week of travel around Thanksgiving. St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport (PIE) says it may run out of parking. We speak with Public Relations Director Michele Routh.
Pinellas County's rental housing shortage is affecting recruitment and imposing long commutes on teachers. The school district is responding by asking developers to come up with proposals to turn an almost 100-year-old school building, Tomlinson Adult School, into apartments for teachers and staff. We speak with Clint Herbic, Associate Superintendent for Operational Services.
Daylight saving time ends Sunday (6), meaning drivers will see dark afternoon commutes. A few safety tips from Mark Jenkins with AAA Auto Club Group.
Florida placed several cities in the latest Best Places to Retire list by US News, but the top spot went to two areas in south central Pennsylvania. Find out why with US News senior editor Emily Brandon.
Trick or treating can be especially challenging for children with food allergies. Shari Bresin, an extension agent in Pasco County with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, talks about the teal pumpkin movement, with houses telling parents of children with allergies that non-food treats are available.
The ghost and goblin costumes aren't real but there are real dangers for trick or treaters on Halloween. We speak with Dr. Danielle Mercurio, DO, who's a pediatric physician in the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.
On the November 8th midterm elections, Clearwater residents will decide on a referendum to sell the old City Hall site and other parcels to developers who promise a hotel, retail and apartments in the Bluffs area. We speak with Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, who says it offers voters a chance to overcome two lost decades in downtown revitalization. (Efforts to find organized opposition have been unsuccessful.)
Tampa International Airport is holding a job fair Tuesday (10-25), originally postponed by Hurricane Ian. Some 400 positions are listed with the Aviation Authority and more than a dozen vendors, including FedEx, the TSA and Southwest Airlines.
Vincent Nowicki, a St. Petersburg real estate developer who ran for mayor in 2021, started the ball rolling that led to Lisa Wheeler-Bowman's resignation and called attention to new council appointee Brother John Muhammad's support of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Water skiing is 100 years old this year, and a major international water skiing tournament is taking place in Winter Haven this weekend. Gordon Byrd speaks with Polk County tourism and marketing director Mark Jackson about Winter Haven's history with water skiing and what's going on there this weekend.
A group pushing for a transportation sales tax in Hillsborough just released a list of the county's most dangerous intersections. They argue that passing the tax in November will provide money for safety improvements. The top three are all on U.S. 301 (Gibsonton Drive, Big Bend Road and SR 674). One (Florida and Waters) is in the city of Tampa. Five out of the other six are in the Riverview, Brandon and Bloomingdale areas, including another on U.S. 301. One is in north county. We speak with Christina Barker of All for Transportation and Emily Hinsdale, local road safety activist.
A dozen post offices are closed temporarily and many people in Southwest Florida have lost mail service because of Hurricane Ian. David Walton with USPS talks about how to get caught up.
FEMA has extended Hurricane Ian disaster relief to Polk, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, joining Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. We speak with FEMA spokesperson Shirley Tracey about how to apply for assistance, especially if the power's still out and you have no internet. (Please share with those affected by Ian!)
Florida may experience a hurricane next week. What if you need gas to evacuate or run your generator? Mark Jenkins with AAA Auto Club Group in Tampa tells us what to expect at the pump and on the roads before and after a hurricane.
The parents of Andrew Joseph III, a 14-year-old killed in a traffic crash after being ejected from the Florida State Fair by Hillsborough deputies, are suing the Sheriff's Office, the Florida State Fair and at least one deputy. Supporters plan to rally outside the Tampa federal courthouse during the trial which begins Sept. 12. We speak with Dr. Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, Pastor Carl Soto of Black Lives Matter Restoration Polk, and Angel D'Angelo of the Restorative Justice Coalition.
The Florida Department of Transportation is installing barriers to protect mangroves and cut down on litter at Gandy Beach, alongside the Gandy Bridge. We speak with FDOT's Kris Carson.
Parts of the Stop Woke Act are under a federal injunction after a judge in Tallahassee rejected many of the state's arguments about the law restricting the way racial issues are discussed in workplaces Thursday. We speak with Stetson University College of Law Professor Louis Virelli in Gulfport, about the judge's ruling and what reception it can expect on appeal.
We (apparently) complete our series of interviews with School Board candidates with Damaris Allen, the challenger for Hillsborough School Board District 2. Incumbent Stacy Hahn did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.
More than 7,000 resident students are moving into dormitories at the University of South Florida campuses in Tampa and St. Petersburg starting Thursday (18). Rising rents may be one factor motivating students to live on campus. Ana Hernandez is assistant vice president of Housing and Residential Education.
The Florida Aquarium in Tampa announces its first expansion since it opened in 1995. We talk with CEO Roger Germann about new sea creatures and new ways of exhibiting existing residents of the conservation-centered aquarium.
Army veteran and mom Alysha "Aly Marie" Legge is running for the Hillsborough County School Board in District 6.
Roshaun Gendrett, who worked as a teacher in Los Angeles for two decades, is a candidate for Hillsborough School Board District 6.
Karen Perez is an incumbent on the Hillsborough School Board running for another four year term in District 6.
Monday night (15) into Tuesday morning (16), one side of the Howard Frankland Bridge is closed for construction work. We speak with Kris Carson of the Florida Department of Transportation.
Patricia "Patti" Rendon, a parent of three current and former HCSD students, a former school advisory committee and PTA member and an advocate for children with disabilities, is running for the Hillsborough School Board in District 4 seat to succeed Melissa Snively.
Danielle Smalley, a career teacher, charter school principal, born and raised in east Hillsborough, is running for the District 4 seat to succeed Melissa Snively.
Hunter Gambrell, an employee with the Polk School District and fifth-generation resident of east Hillsborough, is running for the Hillsborough School Board District 4 seat to succeed Melissa Snively.
Caprice Edmond was first elected to the school boar in 2020 to fill out an unexpired term. She's running for a full four years this time. Edmond started as a foster care advocate and guardian ad litem. She then worked as a teacher. She's concerned about improving low-performing schools in District 7.
Maria Solanki is a candidate for the Pinellas County School Board District 7 seat currently held by Caprice Edmond. Her experience with education began dealing with vision difficulties in the classroom. Now she's a mom. She's concerned about low-performing schools in the district and health and nutrition for students.
Interview with Stephanie Meyer, mother and school volunteer, running in Pinellas School Board District 6 to succeed the retiring Bill Dudley.
Brian Martin is a father of four who's running for the Pinellas County School Board in District 6 to succeed the retiring Bill Dudley.
Kimberly Works is a candidate for Pinellas County School Board District 6 to replace the retiring Bill Dudley.
Interview with Dr. Keesha Benson, career educator and mom, running for the Pinellas County School Board district 3.
Interview with Dawn Peters, mother, business person and school volunteer, running for Pinellas School Board District 3.
Interview with Carl Zimmerman, teacher, former state lawmaker and candidate for Pinellas County School Board District 3.
The Florida Policy Survey found out what 600 Floridians think of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, future abortion laws in Florida, the new federal gun law, which issues are important to Floridians and what they think of Gov. DeSantis and President Biden. We speak with the pollsters. Professor Stephen Neely of USF and graduate student
Bethany Bowra of Florida International University.
New voter cards are going out in the mail for the primary and general elections across Florida. The primary is August 23rd. We speak with Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer.
A wide-ranging conversation with Tiffany Justice, Florida-based co-founder of Moms for Liberty, about the Biden administration vs Governor DeSantis on LGBTQ issues, involvement in school board races, and their upcoming conference in Tampa.
A charity called Beyond the Call of Duty is traveling around the country with a motorcycle ride and moving "wall" representing the hundreds of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2021. The End of Watch Ride is visiting Florida agencies that lost officers or deputies, starting with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office on Friday (1st). We speak with ride organizer J.C. Shah, a retired police officer from Washington State.
A Tampa attorney is filing a constitutional challenge to part of Florida's eviction law. It requires renteds to put up back rent and keep paying rent if they wish to file a challenge to their evictions in court. Attorney Ryan Torrens says that denies renters access to courts.
One of many Juneteenth events taking place in the Tampa Bay area this weekend is a business expo showcasing black businesses in St. Petersburg, Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. We speak with spokesperson Malynda Washington about the expo.
A new survey shows homelessness increased four percent in Hillsborough County from 2020 to 2022. But the survey was taken in February, and experts are certain that rising rents and general inflation have worsened the problem. We speak with Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative CEO Antoinette Hayes Triplett .
A rare prime time hearing for the House committee investigating the Capitol riot and events of January 6th. We speak with WMU-Cooley Law School Constitutional Law professor Michael McDaniel, a retired Army general, about what to expect.
The CDC has recently declared 10 Florida counties, including South Florida and the Tampa Bay area, as high risk for COVID 19 transmission. We speak with Tampa General Hospital's Dr. Jason Wilson about what that means now that vaccines and antivirals are available. Dr. Wilson is Associate Medical Director of the ER at TGH and is an Associate Professor of USF Health.
After a five-year hiatus, Manatee County-based Feld Entertainment is bringing back the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, this time with no animals and a focus on human performers. We talk with the Circus' producer, Juliette Feld Grossman, about their new entertainment and business model and impact on Florida and the west coast, which has had ties to the circus going back a century.
Florida's explosive population growth presents challenges for county emergency managers as they juggle the potential need for new shelters. We discuss this and other issues with Pinellas Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins.
Retail chains are rationing baby formula as a nationwide shortage worsens. Dr. Rachel Dawkins, medical director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinic in the Department of pediatric medicine at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, talks about alternatives for parents of babies.
Dr Eugenie Clark was born 100 years ago Wednesday (May 4th). She was a marine scientist and ichthyologist who became known as the "Shark Lady" for her discoveries that changed public perception of sharks, and became the scientific founding figure of what is now Mote Marine Lab. The U.S. Postal Service is honoring her with a stamp. We speak with Mote CEO Dr. Michael Crosby about Clark's life and work.
Monday night, a leaked draft, now confirmed as authentic, of at least a U-S Supreme Court
opinion in what's become knows as the Dobbs case, seems to indicate that a majority of justices are ready to overturn the 1973 Roe versus Wade ruling and its successor, the 1992 Planned Parenthood versus Casey decision, on abortion. We have Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a Christian pro-life legal group, here to react to the leak and what the ultimate ruling could mean.
Inflation is cutting into Floridians' ability to pay bills, buy groceries, and plan for vacations and other discretionary spending. How bad is it and who (or what) gets the blame? We speak with Christina Stevens about a recent survey by the University of South Florida.
More than 200,000 Floridians got missed in the 2020 Census. That affects how much Florida gets back in federal dollars that we send to DC, and how much data planners have for roads, schools and businesses. Florida Taxwatch is launching a Census Institute to help close the data gap. We speak with FTW economist Jonathan Guarine.
For Earth Day, Saint Leo University in Florida took a poll and found Americans and Floridians are less concerned about climate change than in previous years. Is it because of polarization, high gas prices, or concern fatigue? We speak with Saint Leo pollster Frank Orlando.
State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is out with new guidelines recommending against gender reassignment treatments for those under 18. We get reaction from Brandon Wolf of the group Equality Florida.
Governor DeSantis says he'll call a special session on homeowners insurance. We speak with state senator Jeff Brandes, who was polling lawmakers to get the Legislature to call one on its own. Brandes says no problem in Florida overshadows the insurance crisis.
April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Dale Dalbey with Synergy Home Care talks about the challenges faced by caregivers as the disease progresses.
The University of South Florida surveyed about 600 Floridians during early April for their views on Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor DeSantis and President Biden. We speak with pollsters Stephen Neely and Christina Stevens.
It's 100 days since Family Support Services took over child and foster services in Pinellas and Pasco counties. We speak with CEO Jenn Petion on how things are going, and how they're doing with hiring and other issues.
The Rays open their season Friday (8th) hosting Baltimore. Chief Business Officer Bill Walsh talks about the team's promotions and concessions at Tropicana Field this year.
The weekend of April 2-3 is one of two weekends a year that people are allowed to fish license-free in Florida freshwater. We speak with John Cimbaro, a fisheries biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
After a three year break due to COVID, Tampa is bringing back the River O Green Fest and dyeing the Hillsborough to celebrate St Patrick's Day. It's delayed one day to Sunday (13) because of stormy weather forecast Saturday. Gordon Byrd speaks with Ashly Anderson of the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
We lose an hour when Daylight Saving Time returns March 13th, and losing an hour of sleep in the morning turns Spring Forward into Fall Forward for many. Dr. Fareeha Hussaini of USF Health talks about how to keep from losing sleep over DST.
Nikki Austin speaks about the Skyway 10K run across the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay Sunday (March 6th), benefitting the Armed Forces Family Foundation.
Operation Dynamo, a nonprofit based in Tampa, has assembled a team including many veterans and intelligence experts to get Americans and others out of Ukraine. Spokesman James Judge gives us an update.
Several members of Congress have signed a letter asking President Biden to grant Temporary Protected Status to individuals from Ukraine who are in this country undocumented or illegally. We speak with Florida immigration attorney Renata Castro about what this means.
History is suddenly a hotly debated topic in the Legislature and local school boards, with controversies over what is taught and how it's taught. At the end of February, Florida historians are getting ready for their annual conference at Saint Leo University north of Tampa. We speak with Dr. Daniel DuBois, a history professor at Saint Leo who's heading the Florida Conference of Historians.
It's time for the Florida State Fair again. It runs at the fairgrounds in Tampa starting February 10th through the 21st. We speak with the fair's executive director, Cheryl Flood.
Three conservation organizations are involved in two lawsuits that claim the Federal government is not living up to its obligation to protect manatee habitats. We speak with Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director for the Center for Biological Diversity.
Experts with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held a joint news conference on the manatee mortality event on Florida's east coast. They say 85 died in January, and that while cold weather was a contributing factor, these sea cows were already weakened by starvation due to lack of seagrass.
Governor DeSantis has issued an emergency rule denying state licensing to agencies that house unaccompanied minors who have crossed the border and been brought to Florida. About 200 faith leaders are objecting to that rule. We speak with Rev. Dale Schaeffer, with the Florida District of the Church of the Nazarene.
Stephen Breyer retires from the U.S. Supreme Court, and a Floridian could be nominated to succeed him. We speak with Brendan Beery, constitutional law professor at WMU-Cooley Law School in the Tampa suburb of Riverview.
Rare earth elements are crucial in much 21st-century technology. Right now China controls most of the supply, but that could change if a project to extract some of them from phosphate proves successful. We speak with Dr. Patrick Zhang and Dr. James Mennie of Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland.
The three-day weekend around Martin Luther King Jr Day includes parades and other events on both sides of the Bay. We speak with Howard Harris about the MLK parade and events in Tampa, and Anthony Hart about the MLK parade and weekend events in St. Petersburg.
The three-day weekend around Martin Luther King Jr Day includes parades and other events on both sides of the Bay. We speak with Howard Harris about the MLK parade and events in Tampa, and Anthony Hart about the MLK parade and weekend events in St. Petersburg.
The World's Biggest Bounce House, at more than 13,000 square feet, is appearing in Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park Friday (14th) thru Sunday (16th) along with other inflatable buildings. We speak with Danielle Hodge, tour manager for The Big Bounce America. https://thebigbounceamerica.com/
Starting Monday, january 3rd, GoPasco bus service will change because the county can't recruit enough drivers. We speak to the county's transit director, Kurt Schieble, about the schedule changes and what they're doing to bring in new drivers.
Christmas is over but Valentine's Day is around the corner. The Pinellas Clerk of Courts office is signing up couples for their wedding and vow renewal ceremony. We speak with the head of the office, Clerk of Courts Ken Burke.
Americans agree that social media platforms are doing more harm than good to our politics, but they disagree on how to fix the problem. We speak with Dr Joshua Scacco, USF Communications Professor and lead student researcher Sam Rechek on a recent poll of one thousand social media users.
There's a slight decline in the number of people observing Christmas. Is that a function of increasing secularization or a short-term response to the pandemic? We speak with Dr. Marc Pugliese, associate professor of religion at St. Leo University, a Catholic institution based in the Tampa Bay area.
New numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that prices in the Tampa Bay area rose
Police say a man threw a fellow sailboater off his Catalina into the Intrascoastal off Clearwater, then decided to take off without trying to rescue him. The victim's body was found off Sand Key the next day. That man is now charged with manslaughter. More from Clearwater police spokesman Rob Shaw.
A poll from Saint Leo University in the Tampa Bay area finds that 80 percent of us look forward to Christmas and the other year-end holidays but about two-thirds of us are glad when they're over. The reason: stress. We speak with St. Leo psychology professor Christopher Wolfe about dealing with Christmas stress.
This coming Sunday (12th), residents of two historic African-American neighborhoods in St. Petersburg are holding a reunion at the facility that replaced them -- Tropicana Field. We speak with Gwendolyn Reese of the African American Heritage Association of St. Petersburg on the event and about a recent report to city council on structural racism.
Florida Polytechnic University has acquired a "drive by wire" car that becomes part of a system that could be used to test and vet the coming generation of fully autonomous, self-driving vehicles, particularly the software that runs them. We speak with asst professor of mathematics A.J. Alnaser, PhD.
The supply chain backlog is one of the big economic issues of 2021, and one big problem is a shortage of truck drivers.
The St. Petersburg Biff-Burger is closed and its physical remnants are to be auctioned off "to the bare walls" Tuesday, December 7th. We speak with Greg Farner, owner of Bay Area Auction Services, about what's for sale, and we touch on the Biff-Burger's history as the last location in a formerly widespread burger chain that was born in the Tampa Bay area.
After a series of issues with previous contract holder Eckerd Connects, including foster children sleeping and being left overnight in offices, Family Support Services is the new lead agency for child support and services in Pinellas and Pasco counties, effective Jan. 1, 2022. We speak with FSS President and CEO Jenn Petion about how she sees her mission.
Saturday (27th) is Small Business Saturday. We speak with Bill Herrle, Florida Executive Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, about the day and how Florida's small businesses are doing.
Communities all over Florida are observing the holidays with special events. We speak with Rick Craft at the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department about events in his city.
The Biden administration announced the release of millions of barrels of crude oil from the strategic reserve, in an effort to bring down gas prices. When will we see an effect at the pump? And has the White House emphasis on fighting climate change contributed to rising prices? We speak with Patrick De Haan, head of analysis for Gas Buddy.com.
Thanksgiving, Christmas and the holiday season can present some health concerns for older family members. Some are immunocomprised and concerned about COVID. There may be other physical issues such as hygiene, susceptibility to falls, or dementia. Allison Horsley with Synergy Home Care offers a few ideas to deal with the holidays and aging loved ones.
As season two of the Netflix documentary Tiger King is released, the lead detective investigating the disappearance of Carole Baskin's husband gives the media an update on his investigation into the case. Here's the news conference conducted on Zoom by the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office and Corporal Moises Garcia.
Expect Critical Race Theory to be a topic of discussion in the 2022 Florida legislative session. State Representative Randy Fine (R-Melbourne) is the House sponsor of a bill (sponsored in the Senate by Joe Gruters of Sarasota) that would ban what he identifies as ten components of CRT from being taught to employees or students in state government and universities.
Critical race theory is illegal in Florida schools, and there's a push to make it illegal in colleges and workplaces too. But a Tampa church is actually trying to teach CRT to high schoolers, using TikTok videos and online webinars. We speak to representatives of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa.
Florida's first and only snow park, Snowcat Ridge, opens for its second season Wednesday, November 10th. We speak with marketing director Jon Pianki about what's new this year and what they learned from their first season.
Starting November 8, citizens of more than 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Brazil and China, will be able to travel to the US without special permission for the first time since the pandemic. They will be required to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test. St. Petersburg immigration lawyer Steve Maggi says this could benefit foreign investment, which is already a significant share of Florida's economy.
Personal finance site Wallethub ranked 100 U.S. cities for veterans and placed Tampa at the top of the list. Three other cities -- Orlando, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville -- made the top 20. We speak with Wallethub senior analyst Jill Gonzalez about the survey.
We interview Richie Floyd, a self-described "democratic socialist" who's running for St. Petersburg City Council District 8.
We speak with Jeff Danner, a St. Petersburg city councilman from 2005 to 2013, who's running for the open seat in District 8.
A Canadian taxpayer group paid for a billboard near Tropicana Field to send a message to the Rays about expecting public money to build a stadium for a half-season in Montreal. We speak with Renaud Brossard, Quebec director of the Canadian Taxpayers Foundation.
Companies in the manufacturing, logistics and supply chain sectors are looking to fill jobs with veterans. Allen Von Plinsky of RecruitMilitary speaks about an upcoming job fair for veterans in Tampa.
Monday, October 25th, is the 100th anniversary of a major hurricane striking Tampa Bay. The hurricane of 1921 brought 11-foot storm surges to Bayshore and devastated areas around the bay and beach communities. The Tampa Bay office of the National Weather Service has produced a special online presentation about the storm. We speak with National Weather Service warning coordination meteorologist Daniel Noah about the storm and its lessons for us today. (Please follow Beyond the News wherever you get your podcasts!)
Incumbent Gina Driscoll is running for re-election in St. Petersburg city council District 6.
Mhariel Summers is a former legislative intern who's running for St. Petersburg City Council District 6.
Tom Mullins, an executive for investment banking at Raymond James Financial, is running for St. Petersburg City Council District 4.
Lisset Gonzalez Hanewicz, former prosecutor and now an attorney in private practice, is running for St. Petersburg City Council District 4.
We're doing a series of interviews with St. Petersburg City Council candidates. Financial planner Copley Gerdes is running for the District 1 seat.
We're loading a series of podcasts on the St. Petersburg City Council races. Here's our interview with Bobbie Shay Lee, running in District 1. She's a local activist on health issues including breast cancer.
The city of Tampa was forced to switch from ozone to chlorine during the Delta wave of COVID-19 in August, as hospitals needed liquid oxygen for COVID patients. Now the wave has subsided and the city has returned to LOX. We speak with Sonia Quinones, communications coordinator for the Tampa Water Department.
The city of Clearwater is holding its Big Cleanup the week of Oct. 11-16. Sheridan Boyle, the city's sustainability coordinator, speaks about how the citywide cleanup helps improve sustainability, and how cleaning up inland parts of the city helps the beaches.
Tuesday, September 28th is National Voter Registration Day. Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer talks about how his office is observing the day with registration efforts.
Did you know that Hillsborough has its own county fair? We speak with fair director Suzanne Holcomb about this year's fair, which starts Thursday, September 23rd and runs through October 3rd, with livestock shows, rodeo, thrill rides and even a demolition derby.
Dr Sarah Stein, a cold case expert based in Central Florida, shares her thoughts on the Gabby Petito case. Should North Port police have tailed Brian Laundrie? Did officers in Utah handle a domestic call correctly? How did social media make this case different?
Florida is the number 3 state for human trafficking, and the University of South Florida is creating a research lab at its St. Petersburg campus to combat the problem and help people avoid being trafficked. We speak with Dr. Joan Reid, a criminology professor who's directing the new lab.
This is from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd's news conference on the Sunday murders in Lakeland that left four dead. WARNING: The content describes a violent crime and some information may be disturbing.
Gordon Byrd speaks from the newsroom with National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Carlisle about a weather system in the Gulf that could bring rain and thunderstorms to the Tampa Bay area Thursday. What effect could it have on the Buccaneers' season opener with Dallas?
Samantha Moullet, Volunteer Specialist for the city of Clearwater, talks about the hundreds of volunteers the city needs for its Big Cleanup October 16th.
The Tampa Bay Partnership, a business backed organization seeking to improve quality of life in the Tampa Bay area, has named a new CEO. Bemetra Simmons was previously an executive with United Way Suncoast and before that in the banking sector.
Most people have no idea how to get state funding for a nonprofit program or service. Two members of the Legislature are holding a Zoom meeting Saturday morning to explain the process. Hear more from State Representative Dianne Hart (D-Tampa).
Disabled American Veterans assistant national director Todd Hunter, who served in Afghanistan, talks about how DAV members and veterans who served in Afghanistan are feeling after the Taliban sweep through the country.
Tropical Storm or Depression Fred could bring several inches of rain to Florida's west coast and the Big Bend this weekend. Dixie County is already dealing with 38 inches of rain this summer and widespread flooding after more than a foot of rain fell in the past two weeks. Dozens of roads are already washed out. We speak with Lt Mindy Lemmerman of Dixie County Emergency Management.
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) convention is happening this weekend in Tampa. We speak with Todd Hunter, assistant national communications director
St. Leo University near Tampa, the fourth largest Catholic university in the U.S and a college that works closely with military degree-seekers, announces that it is merging with Marymount California University. We speak with St Leo President Jeffrey Senese, PhD.
Ben and Jerry's ice cream recently announced it would stop marketing its product in the West Bank - which it described as the "Occupied Territories," to show sympathy toward Palestinians. It could be interpreted as support for the Boycott, Divestiture and Sanctions movement. But does it actually violate a Florida law against BDS? We spoke with one of its authors, Rep. Randy Fine of the Melbourne area. Plus a bonus as he relates his experience being hospitalized for COVID and
Two Florida cities make the top ten in the 2021-22 edition of US News and World Report's Best Places to Live. We speak with US News real estate editor Devon Thorsby.
North Port and nearby areas received as much as a foot of rain during Hurricane Elsa, and that water is flowing back toward the city through rivers, creeks and canals, Flooding is expected in some low-lying areas this weekend., Gordon Byrd speaks with city public information officer Josh Taylor.
Hillsborough County Emergency Management Director Timothy Dudley speaks about preparations before and after Tropical Storm/ Hurricane Elsa reaches the Tampa Bay area.
Many people who worked from home during the pandemic did double duty as caregivers for aging relatives. But now with work returning to the office, they may need to make new plans, even as caregivers are in short supply . Gordon Byrd gets some insight from Dale Dalbey, who runs a Northwest Florida office of the caregiving services firm Synergy Home Care.
Therapists and others have been booked solid as people try to deal with pandemic-related anxiety. Other providers are stepping in to fill the gap. Gordon Byrd speaks with Clearwater-based health care consultant Sharon Fekete.
Police found a swastika and other antisemitic graffiti spray painted on a wall at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg Thursday morning. Gordon Byrd speaks with St. Petersburg police spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez.
Florida's commercial stone crab fishery has declined by 30 percent since the turn of the century. Researchers at Florida Southern College in Lakeland are trying to determine whether eggs that hatch in waters with variable pH - such as seagrasses - do better than others. We speak with Dr. Phil Gravinese, assistant professor of biology, and students Abigail Smith and Gretchen Faraci,, who are taking part in the field work.
Gordon Byrd speaks with the co-owner of a local (Tampa and St Petersburg) restaurant duo "The Mill" that's hiring for the serving area and the kitchen
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa is holding a job fair to fill some 300 positions Tuesday, May 25th. We speak with SHR's recruitment manager, Brandi Kines.
The Colonial pipeline is working again, but now a driver shortage could keep fuel from getting to gas stations. We speak with Brad Ball, president of Roadmaster, whose driving schools are racing the clock to get new tanker drivers on the road.
Michele Routh with St Petersburg - Clearwater Airport talks about a job fair Allegiant is holding for customer service and ground ctews Monday, May 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tampa International Airport was the first in the nation to offer both PCR and quick testing for the COVID-19 virus last October. It got a lot of attention as a step toward getting air travel going again. More than 20,000 tests were administered but now the site is shutting down, effective May 7th. We speak with the airport's Emily Nipps.
Better late than never -- it's the 2021 Florida State Fair! Opening April 22nd instead of its usual February run. Gordon Byrd speaks with the fair's Executive Director, Cheryl Flood, about COVID protocols, rides, entertainment and , of course, fair food including this year's viral choice: Pickle Pizza.
Tampa City Councilman Guido Maniscalco updates the council on efforts to name a street for WFLA radio legend Tedd Webb. Also comments by Councilman John Dingfelder.
We speak with Rays Vice President of Marketing and Creative Services Eric Weisberg about Saturday's (March 27) Drive to Opening Day event outside Tropicana Field, and about the home opener s well as how the Rays will handle COVID restrictions and welcome back fans at the start of the 2021 season.
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have announced plans to return to Caribbean cruises this summer. They're bypassing the CDC by sailing out of the Bahamas and St. Martin. We speak with Vicky Garcia, chief operating officer of Cruise Planners.
A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, our buying habits at the grocery store keep changing. We speak with Marta Cyhan, Chief Marketing Officer for Catalina, a St. Petersburg-based company that tracks trends at the checkout.
Plenty of out-of-state colleges bring their rowing athletes to Florida to train, but the takeup on the sport by Florida schools has been slow. Toni GInsburg-Klemmt, a third year student at New College in Sarasota, is trying to pick up the slack there with a new rowing club, New Crew SRQ, based at New College and open to students at other local institutions.
Florida Blue Medicare, one of the state's major Medicare networks, is launching an initiative to get more vaccinations in underserved communities. Gordon Byrd speaks with their Senior Medical Director, Dr Paul Kaplan.
USF is offering an online course on "diversity, equity and inclusion" in the workplace. It's free thanks to support from Jabil and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Moez Limayem. dean of USF's Muma College of Business.
Governor DeSantis is due to be a lead-in speaker at CPAC in Orlando Friday. A new poll of 1,000 Floridians shows support for his handling of the pandemic. Gordon Byrd speaks with Frank Orlando of the St. Leo University Polling Institute.
Unlike many universities, Florida Polytechnic is looking to hire professors -- 25 of them for the fall semester. University provost Dr. Terry Parker tells us what areas they're looking to fill and why the university is able to do this in the middle of a pandemic.
Most states that are successful in attracting movie production offer incentives. But a lobbying campaign against "Hollywood Handouts" has killed incentive programs in Florida. A group is trying to get around that by putting together private investors to bring production to certain regions of the state. Gordon Byrd speaks with Chris Ranung of Feature Florida Partnerships.
Mark Larsen was WFLA's late morning host in the 90s as Rush Limbaugh's star rose. He met Limbaugh during a visit to Tampa for the Rush to Excellence tour. Larsen looks back at the impact of El Rushbo on talk radio.
After a long battle with cancer, Rush Limbaugh died Wednesday at age 70. Lionel of LionelMedia.com, guest contributor on AM Tampa Bay, met Limbaugh when he worked at WFLA in the early 90s and worked at Limbaugh's New York flagship a few years later. He offers his recollections on Limbaugh's meteoric rise to fame and lessons for today's broadcasters and podcasters.
Gordon Byrd speaks with the head of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla about the cancellation of the 2021 parades.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Ian Marlow, president of Boca Raton-based cybersecurity firm Fi-Tech-Gelb, on the attempt by a hacker to raise lye to toxic levels in the Oldsmar water system, which is now under federal investigation
Brian Weinhaus is a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security's HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) arm. He talks about their efforts to control Super Bowl-related counterfeiting of NFL team jerseys, rings, and other forms of intellectual property.
Some things are not returning to the way they were before the pandemic... including working and shopping from home. Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Ronald Sanders, Staff Director of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at USF, on results from the latest in their trilogy of surveys on how COVID has affected the way Americans live.
People have been getting a lot of their information about COVID-19 and the pandemic from social media... but that doesn't mean they trust it. We speak with Professor Stephen Neely of USF about their nationwide survey.
Hillsborough's chief prosecutor says the death of a 30-year deputy in a traffic crash was a deliberate act by the suspect, who faces capital murder and eight other charges. Gordon Byrd speaks with State Attorney Andrew Warren, who tells us what's next in the case.
How do people feel about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, its safety and effectiveness, about economic stimulus and other responses to the pandemic? The University of South Florida's College of Public Affairs is out with a new nationwide survey. We speak with USF CPA Associate Professor Stephen Neely,
After responding to the death of George Floyd by commissioning a study on economic gaps between white and black residents in the Tampa Bay area, the Tampa Bay Partnership asks the question: "What would our economy be like if those gaps didn't exist?" Gordon Byrd interviews TBP research director Dave Sobush.
As a new, more contagious strain of COVID-19 appears in Britain, many countries have banned travelers from the UK. But not the USA. Emily Nipps with Tampa International Airport talks about the factor that may reduce any potential impact from British tourists in the Tampa Bay area.
A tornado moved through the Tampa Bay area, doing some damage in the Pinellas Park area. Gordon Byrd speaks with Pinellas Park Police Dept. Captain and public information officer Adam Geissenberger (recorded Wednesday evening).
COVID-19 is forcing some scaling back of the Epiphany observances in Tarpon Springs... meaning thousands of people won't be crowding around Spring Bayouto watch the dive for the cross. Johanna Kossifidis is spokesperson for St. Nicholas Cathedral.
A national organization called Better Together is holding a job fair for former prison inmates to help them find work, Thursday (Dec 10). Grace Family Church in Tampa is holding a parallel event that same day. We speak with Tristan Starbird and Rolonda Beacham.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Captain Peter Lackman of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, about the decision to postpone 2021 Gasparilla events to April.
Plenty of loggerhead turtle nests are found along the Pinellas coast in season, but a green sea turtle nest hadn't been seen in Pinellas in years... until the Sea Turtle Conservation Team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium made a discovery. We speak with Lindsay Flynn, the conservation supervisor.
We interview Monica Santiago of Pasco Emergency Management about potential impact from Tropical Storm Eta.
A person has come down with West Nile virus in Hillsborough County. Since the virus is spread by mosquitoes, the county is adjusting its spraying and prevention plans. Gordon Byrd speaks with
Nick McFaul, Operations Superintendent for Hillsborough Emergency Management.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Erin Thomas, a planner with Hernando Emergency Management. Even though Hernando is outside of the cone of uncertainty, coastal areas could feel some impact from Tropical Storm Eta.
Florida drivers with suspended licenses because of unpaid tickets and fees have a chance to make things good in November and get their licenses back. Gordon Byrd speaks with Orange Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore-Russell.
Reaction to the passage of Amendment Two which will raise Florida's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. Karl Gibbons heads Third Eye Management, a consultant to small businesses based in Naples. Leigh Anne Balzekas runs Disco Dolls, a boutique and salon in Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood.
Can we expect long lines at the polls in Florida? Gordon Byrd speaks with Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren speaks about plans to work on issues including disparities in sentencing, releasing information to the public when police draw their guns, recruiting more minority prosecutors and creating a working group to review the racial impacts of prosecution patterns.
There are some new rules as stone crab harvesting season begins in Florida October 15th. Gordon Byrd speaks with Amanda Nalley of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
There haven't been many polls on how Floridians feel about the four constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall. Gordon Byrd speaks with pollster Frank Orlando of St Leo University.
Category 5 Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida panhandle two years ago this weekend and devastated Panama City and nearby areas, including Tyndall Air Force Base. We speak with Panama City city manager Mark McQueen about how his city's recovery and rebuilding process is going.
Manatee County (Florida) deputies say a 62-year-old man named Larry Wiggins tried to get a vote by mail ballot for his dead wife. Now he faces a voter fraud charge. Gordon Byrd speaks with Manatee Supervisor of Elections Michael Bennett.
No surprise... people are still buying more masks, disinfectant and toilet paper six months into the pandemic, but would you believe yeast and turkey bacon are flying off the shelves? We speak with Marta Cyhan, CMO of St. Petersburg-based Catalina, on grocery trends during COVID-19.
Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. Joe Guido with the group Headcount talks about the event they're holding in St Petersburg, and how the pandemic has affected registration efforts.
People around Pensacola are recovering from Hurricane Sally and many are in no position to adopt a pet. SPCA Tampa Bay, based in Largo, is sending 30 dogs and 15 cats to the SPCA Tampa Bay shelter in Largo, where people are more able to adopt. Gordon Byrd speaks with CEO Martha Boden.
A Florida climate change group and the foundation that supports it are putting up wax sculptures to send a message about climate change. As they melt in the Florida sun, they're supposed to communicate that nothing will remain the same after climate change, for animals or people. Gordon Byrd speaks with Thais Lopez Vogel, co-founder of the VOLO Foundation.
Governor DeSantis has vetoed a bill that would have banned flavored E-cigarettes until they received FDA approval and raised the state's tobacco age to 21. We speak with Tampa Republican State Representative Jackie Toledo, who says she's "disappointed" by the news.
Every year, September 7th is Save the Manatee Day. Gordon Byrd interviews Ally Greco of the Save the Manatee Club.
Once again, a survey ranking the states for manufacturing gives Florida a D, even as the state touts its low taxes to get businesses to relocate. Florida's only "A" is for taxes. We speak with Dr. Michael Hicks PhD of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana,
For the first time since the pandemic began in March, Florida electric utilties are starting to cut off customers. We ask Ana Gibbs of Duke Energy how to avoid getting power disconnected if you're having trouble paying bills.
August 24th is the first day of school in Pinellas. Samantha Young, a third-grade teacher at Ponce De Leon Elementary School in Clearwater talks about the challenges of welcoming students back to classrooms during the pandemic.
Part 2 of a new USF survey on COVID-19 finds people are less willing to evacuate or go to shelters because of the pandemic. BTN speaks with Dr Christa Remington of the USF School of Public Affairs.
USF's College of Public Affairs surveyed 600 Floridians on various COVID-19 related issues. We speak with Associate Professor Stephen Neely.
In Pinellas County, mosquito control officials say the population is at or below average... but complaints have skyrocketed. Maybe it's because COVID-19 has kept more people homebound and doing back yard barbecues or gardening. We speak with Alissa Berro of the county's mosquito control agency.
Early voting begins Saturday in Pinellas County. Expect lines, social distancing, and you might want to wear a mask. We speak with Dustin Chase, Deputy Supervisor of Elections in Pinellas.
Speaking with Andrew Fossa, Pasco Emergency Management Director, about the tropical system that could become TS Isaias and threaten the Florida Gulf Coast with heavy rain and storm surge this weekend.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan, who's recruiting people for a 10-member Community Advisory Team to share their opinions and information about policing issues one-on-one with the chief.
A tour coming to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa called the "Parking Lot Social" updates driveins for the era of social distancing, with comedy nights, family movie nights, midnight movies, Silent Disco, Bingo and even "Car-a-Oke." Gordon Byrd speaks with the tour manager, who goes by "Dex."
After dealing with protests blocking traffic, the city of St Petersburg is beginning a campaign to get protesters... and anybody else on the streets... to follow traffic rules. Gordon Byrd speaks with police chief Anthony Holloway.
Personal finance site Wallethub says Tampa is the sixth best city in the nation, and first among large cities, for first time home buyers. We speak with Wallethub senior analyst Jill Gonzalez.
Fireworks got tied to three house fires in Clearwater over the weekend. Fortunately, no one got hurt. We speak with Rob Shaw, spokesperson for Clearwater Fire and Rescue.
With fireworks shows canceled in most cities, the July 3rd show at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota may be the last remaining public pyrotechnic show on Florida's West Coast. Gordon Byrd speaks with park and SANCA CEO Stephen Rodriguez about how they're setting up the show to maintain social distancing.
COVID-19 is causing a shortage of garbage drivers in one part of Hillsborough County. Solid waste director Kimberly Byer explains why there are changes in the pickup schedules for 130,000 households.
We speak with Quinton Desamours, the 18-year-old from Lehigh Acres (Fort Myers) who quit his job at Publix after he was told to take off a Black Lives Matter face mask.
We speak with Tom Iovino of the state Health Department office in Pinellas County. Staffers and clients are being testing and contact tracing is underway after a worker at a health clinic that serves homeless people tested positive for COVID-19.
The co-owner of a Port Richey restaurant responded to recent protests by declaring the Local Fresh Grill a "law enforcement safe haven" on Facebook and posting a sign in his window. He says business is up but those who disagree are trashing him in social media. Gordon Byrd speaks with Ron Pentaude of Local Fresh Grill.
After days of protest and some violence over the death of George Floyd, supporters of law enforcement are planning a Back the Blue march in Tampa Saturday (June 13th). Gordon Byrd speaks with one of the organizers, Cassandra Kistler of Lakeland.
Florida's economy is the most exposed among the states to coronavirus, according to a new study by personal finance Walltehub. Gordon Byrd speaks with Wallethub senior analyst Jill Gonzalez.
The best known test for COVID-19 involves sticking a swab so far up the nose it almost literally feels like "picking your brain." Results take a long time. Fazal Fazlin, co-founder and CEO of Kaligia Biosciences, talks about clinical trials in Tampa for a new process that uses saliva, with turnaround time of just a few minutes.
The Tampa Bay Partnership releases a dashboard tracking the factors that will influence reopening in our area. Gordon Byrd speaks with research director Dave Sobush.
Vacation rentals are allowed again in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and 23 other Florida counties. But parties of more than 10 are still banned. Airbnb's Samuel Randall joins us to talk about how they're enforcing those restrictions.
Hundreds of bar owners and workers staged protests in Clearwater and Tampa Wednesday, asking the governor to let them reopen. Tommy Foxhill owns Atlantis gentlemen's club in Largo and helped organize the Clearwater protest. He says bars can use the same guidelines as restaurants.
Wine sales in grocery stores show a big uptick after coronavirus and lockdowns took hold... while promotions, coupons and BOGOs seemed to disappear from supermarkets. We talk about retailing trends in the pandemic era with Marta Cyhan, chief marketing officer of Catalina, based in St. Petersburg.
Thousands of hospitality workers have been laid off or furloughed because of COVID-19. The Tampa office of an insurance company is holding a virtual job fair to fill 240 positions. We speak with Steve Stout of TRANZACT - who says hotel and restaurant workers can make good insurance salespeople.
Restaurants are fighting for money to rehire staff and rebuild inventory after their pandemic-related closures. Celeste Deal is with ARF Financial, a company that lends to hospitality businesses and is offering a prize to a business that shows innovation and forward thinking in overcoming the effects of COVID-19 on revenues.
Pinellas County is using CARES Act money from the feds to offer $5,000 grants to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and forced to shut down. Gordon Byrd talks about the requirements with Mike Meidel, Pinellas County's Economic Development Director.
How is the home market affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? Big drops in sales... but what about prices? Gordon Byrd speaks with Tampa Bay Partnership research director Dave Sobush, who's been crunching numbers from local real estate organizations.
Millions of us suddenly switched to telecommuting because of coronavirus. How's that affecting the way we work, our productivity, and how are we balancing our other responsibilities? A University of South Florida study with 500 nationwide participants aims to find out. Gordon Byrd speaks with the lead on the study, USF Distinguished Professor of Psychology Tammy Allen PhD
Gordon Byrd speaks with Melissa Bernhard, conservation manager and senior biologist with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program, about Gulf nesting season and whether human beach bans will give turtle hatchlings a break.
Tampa General Hospital is participating in several studies on COVID-19 including the use of hydroxychloroquine. Gordon Byrd interviews Dr. Jason Wilson, an emergency physician who is director of research for emergency medicine.
Interview with Troy Daland, CEO of Durisan, a Sarasota company that makes alcohol-free hand sanitizers. COVID-19 transmission on shoes and other surfaces is the topic. NOTE: After the interview we learned that his name is pronounced DAY-land not like DeLand, Florida.
Dave Sobush, director of policy and research for the Tampa Bay Partnership, on how our COVID-19 curve compares to other parts of Florida.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Rick Homans, CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, which is studying public attitudes and our overall vulnerability to COVID-19 effects in the Tampa Bay area.
One problem slowing down coronavirus testing is that it uses swabs manufactured in Italy and China... ironically two of the worst-hit nations with COVID-19. USF Health in Tampa and its partners have developed a way to manufacture thousands of medical-grade swabs using 3D printers. Gordon Byrd speaks with Summer Decker, PhD, at USF Health's radiology department about how this works.
Problems with COVID-19 testing at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Dozens showed up for the test without getting prescreened by doctors. That is causing problems. WFLA's Felix Vega speaks with Jon Paul Lavendara of Hillsborough code enforcement.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Chad Dodd, DVM, a consulting veterinarian based in St. Pete Beach, about ways to keep your dog healthy and get then exercise during the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor DeSantis' decision to order all bars in Florida to close for 30 days to fight coronavirus has a big impact on bartenders, musicians and others who work in those places. Gordon Byrd spoke with longtime Bay area musician Kelly Mettling, who lost all of his gigs because of the bar ban and other coronavirus-related crackdowns on public entertainment. We spoke to him on St. Patrick's Day, traditionally a big day for taverns.
As of Thursday afternoon, Olympic Rowing Time Trials due to start March 17th and ITU-sanctioned USA Triathlon events are still set to go at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota... one of the few local sports events not canceled due to coronavirus. Gordon Byrd speaks with Steven Rodriguez, CEO of SANCA, which operates the park.
Well timed for all those Wrestlemania visitors! Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Brad Massey of the Tampa Bay History Center, about "Sunshine State Showdown," which showcases the history of pro wrestling in Florida and the Tampa Bay area
Gordon Byrd speaks with associate director Rhett Rollyson of the Florida Strawberry Festival about the 2020 event in Plant City, Feb. 27 - Mar. 8.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Laura Koivula, deputy manager of animal crimes for the Humane Society of the United States. She's on the scene of a five acre property near Old Town in north Florida, where her agency and the Dixie County Sheriff are removing 140 dogs from neglect. Some of the dogs have sores and skin conditions, some didn't have access to food or water.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Brian Rick, with the Florida Department of Transportation, about a new series of pedestrian crossings with a new light system going up along Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland.
Apartment rents are rising in Florida, and Tampa and St. Petersburg are seeing some of the biggest increases in the nation. Gordon Byrd speaks with Brian Carberry of Apartment Guide to go over the numbers.
Felix Vega speaks with Lakeland State Senator Kelli Stargel about her bill which would require parental consent for minors seeking abortions
Gordon Byrd speaks with Craig Latimer, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, about the upcoming Florida presidential primary.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Mike Rogalski, COO of the Florida State Fair, which opens Thursday and runs through Feb. 17th.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzalez, about their new survey that ranks Orlando as the best place in the nation to get married, ahead of Las Vegas. Miami ranks 5th and Tampa 6th.
Gordon Byrd spoke with Rich Briggs, research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, about the 7.7 quake between Jamaica and Cuba that was felt in Miami and as far north as Tallahassee.
It's Super Bowl silly season and humans and non-humans alike are making their picks. Mote Marine Lab had three of its otters pick between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs... or at least their logos. Gordon Byrd speaks with Mote PR manager Stephannie Kettle.
Felix Vega interviews Largo mayor Woody Brown, who's in Washington for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. They talked about climate change, recycling, elder care and dealing with special needs residents during hurricanes.
Gordon Byrd speaks with state Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Tampa) about his bill to improve transit driver safety. It follows the fatal stabbing of HART driver Thomas Dunn last May and a November stabbing that wounded another Hillsborough bus driver.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Whitney Blair Wyckoff of US News about their Best Jobs and Best Paying Cities report.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Johanna Kossifidis about the upcoming Epiphany Day events in Tarpn Springs.
Are people giving up on New Year's resolutions? A survey of 1000 Americans by St. Leo University near Tampa says 54% don't plan to make any for 2020. Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Christopher Wolfe, asst. professor of psychology at St. Leo, who also suggests an alternative that could make those pledges to work on money or lose weight more effective.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Larry Coggins, Tampa Bay regional director of MADD, about the group's 35th annual candlelight vigil in Temple Terrace and its advocacy for DUI victims and survivors, as it approaches its 40th birthday in 2020.
Frank Orlando, director of the St. Leo University Polling Institute in Pasco County, speaks about President Trump's job approval nationally in Florida, as well as the approval ratings of Congressional leaders, Florida's Governor and two U.S. Senators, and what Democrats think about the presidential candidates.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Eric Perez of Meggitt Training Systems about how simulators help police recruits and officers walk through situations involving deadly force... including ways to de-escalate a tense situation. Perez is speaking from the I/ITSEC conference in Orlando.
Hillsborough County Commissioners will take up an expansion by a financial services company that could add up to 400 new jobs. Steve Morey of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council talks about a decades-long push to bring jobs in the financial services sector to the region.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Ted Kresge, whose house has hosted a huge Christmas light display since 1977.
For the second time this year, a HART transit bus driver has been stabbed on his run. This time, the driver survived. Gordon Byrd spoke with Amalgamated Transit Union International president John Costa about driver safety.
Tampa is one of a few cities where Uber is trying a pilot program for passengers with pets. Gordon Byrd speaks with Javi Correoso about Uber Pet.
Two Florida panther kittens (or cubs) left motherless are being cared for at ZooTampa (Lowry Park). FWC says their mother was euthanized after showing symptoms of a possible neurological disorder affecting panthers and bobcats. We spoke with Dr. Ashley Ayoob of Naples, the vet who treated the kittens in a veterinary hospital soon after they were discovered.
Scott McCartney, Wall Street Journal writer and "Middle Seat" columnist, talks about their annual rankings of the nation's best and worst airports. Tampa ranks number 1 in the midsized category, edging out Portland, Oregon.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Largo police lieutenant Scott Gore about a new 911 application that is made for the age of smartphones. It allows dispatchers to use the phone's camera to scan a crime scene.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Susan Bowles, a clinical nurse at an Orlando maternity hospital and Florida maternity chair for the March of Dimes, on a new report giving Florida a "C-" grade on premature births.
Marc Lalonde, PhD, VP of research for Shriners Hospitals for Children, talks about how their new Genomic Institute based at the University of South Florida campus in Tampa will improve the treatments they provide to children in need of orthopedic and burn surgeries at no cost.
Cherie Jacobs with TECO speaks about the Manatee Viewing Center at Big Bend Power Plant in Apollo Beach, which opens its season Friday (Nov. 1).
Reaction from Michelle Herrole, a former student-athlete at UF who now runs the Vinik Sports and Entertainment Management Program at USF in Tampa, after the NCAA Board of Governors voted to begin the process of allowing college athletes to make money off their names, images and likenesses. (Herrolle is not acting as a spokesperson for the USF athletic program.)
Lauren Gardner, Ph.D., administrator of the Autism Program at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, talks about a free training program for law enforcement to help them avoid arresting or Baker Acting autistic individuals for behavior related to autism.
Florida Polytechnic in Lakeland is adding a 12-credit unit in the humanities because it says, employers are looking for communications skills from their tech-savvy workers.
Tedd Webb and Sue Treccase join Gordon Byrd to pay tribute to Mark Govan, longtime Florida Gardening host, who passed away this week at age 60.
Megan Licursi joins Gordon Byrd to talk about the Hillsborough County Fair, which runs for two weekends beginning Thursday, October 17th.
Gordon Byrd interviews Dr. Erin Kimmerle, who leads the state forensic anthropology institute at the University of South Florida. She's been brought in by a documentary producer to examine remains that could be those of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, who disappeared on an around-the-world flight, flying over the Pacific in 1937.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Wallethub's Jill Gonzalez about a new survey that places several Florida cities among the nation's fastest growing.
Amanda Nalley with the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission talks about the state authorizing recreational red snapper fishing for three weekends in October.
Gordon Byrd interviews Tara Green, Clerk of Courts for Clay County in northeast Florida, about Operation Greenlight... a campaign by county clerks during mid-October to help people with suspended driver licenses save some money paying fines and getting legal again.
A new way hackers are targeting your Android phone... pairs of innocent-looking apps that work together when you download them, to steal data, run up charges, or hijack your device. Gordon Byrd interviews Dr. Karim Elish of Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland.
Florida's third worst in the country for vaccinations but the reason why has more to do with health insurance than the anti-vaxxer movement. Gordon Byrd speaks with analyst Jill Gonzalez of Wallethub.
Gordon Byrd speaks with WDAE's Steve Carney about Wednesday's American League Wild Card Game between the Rays and Oakland A's.
A new law raises the penalty for harming or killing a police dog, fire rescue dog, or police horse. Gordon Byrd speaks with State Representative Michael Grieco (D-Miami Beach), one of the co-sponsors.
Florida cities take three out of the top four positions in a new survey about how fulfilled workers feel on the job. Gordon Byrd interviews Johnny C. Taylor Jr,, CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management... a society of "H-R" managers.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Troy Quast, Ph.D., USF College of Public Health, a lead author on a study that showed older survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with diabetes, had a higher mortality rate than unaffected persons as long as ten years after the storm. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Gordon Byrd interviews Kelly Richmond with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg about the search for a manatee that may have been injured by a watercraft in the Intracoastal off Treasure Island in Pinellas County.
Interview with Dr. Grisselle Centeno, Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FL, about establishing a framework for teaching ethics to engineering students using a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation
Gordon Byrd interviews Florida Atlantic University professor Kevin Wagner about their latest presidential poll, which shows gains for Elizabeth Warren and a general election dead heat.
A man watched the smoke shop robbery that killed his brother on remote surveillance video. He called police but otherwise could only watch helplessly as his brother was on the ground. Gordon Byrd interviews Randy Warren, PIO of the Manatee Sheriff's Office about the search for two suspects and any witnesses.
Erik Maltais, Marine veteran and one of the volunteer leaders of the new Tampa chapter of Bunker Labs, talks about promoting veterans entrepreneurship in the Tampa Bay area.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Stephen Rodriguez, CEO of Nathan Benderson Park, about the national and world club crew Dragon Boat championships coming to Sarasota in 2021 and 2022.
Gordon Byrd interviews analyst Jill Gonzalez of personal finance site Wallethub.com about a study ranking 100 U.S. cities' public transportation systems. Tampa ranked 98th, St. Petersburg 99th, and no Florida community made the top 50.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Andrew DePietro of GoBankingRates.com about their new report on 50 Housing Markets That Are Turning Ugly... sluggish or dropping prices and rising underwater and foreclosure rates. 15 of them are in Florida.
Gordon Byrd interviews Gary Coxe, a private pilot who' s collecting supplies in Lakeland to fly to the Bahamas next week, under the sponsorship of the Sandals Foundation, for survivors of Hurricane Dorian
Gordon Byrd interviews Matthew Marchetti, co-founder of Crowd Source Rescue, a nonprofit behind an app that puts people needing rescue in touch with those who have boats and can rescue them. It got used thousands of times during Hurricane Michael and he says it's also being used during Dorian.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Tampa's Chris Reynolds, PhD, with the emergency management program at American Military University, about the process of hurricane planning and recovery, as well as scams involving hurricane relief.
If your boss tells you to work during a hurricane and you refuse, nothing in Florida law will stop you from getting disciplined or fired. Gordon Byrd speaks with David Stefany, partner of the Tampa law firm Allen Norton and Blue.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Rabih Bechara, MD, FCCP, about the dangers posed by hurricanes to people with chronic lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and COPD.
Gordon Byrd talks with Kris Kiser, CEO of the Outdoor Power Institute, about generator safety during and after a hurricane.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Kat Dillard and Jenna Haefling of Rethinking Plastics about a pending final vote by Sarasota city commissioners to ban plastic straws and polystyrene on city property and under leases with the city.
Gordon Byrd speaks with David Cox, executive director of the Gasparilla Music Foundation, which puts on the annual Gasparilla Music Festival
Gordon Byrd speaks with National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Hurt in Ruskin (Tampa) about the flood watch for the west coast of Florida, which areas stand the most chance of getting soaked, and what fans going to the Bucs-Dolphins preseason game at Raymond James Stadium should expect.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Lina Guzman and Dana Thomson of Child Trends about the effect of a 2020 Census undercount of Hispanics on the money Florida receives from the feds for child health and other programs.
Richard Rude with the National Weather Service speaks with Gordon Byrd about a flood watch issued for West Central Florida until Friday morning.
Gordon Byrd speaks to Kenneth Hernandez, Business Development Manager of Electric Transportation for Tampa Electric, about plans to introduce plug-in electric cars at three high schools in Hillsborough County this year.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Ben Mutzbaugh of The Points Guy travel website about their study of 50 major U.S. airports... three Florida airports rank near the bottom.
Gordon Byrd interviews Chris Sutton, CEO of COBRA, which offers active shooter training for businesses and groups.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Michael Hicks, Ph.D., head of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Their new Manufacturing Scorecard for 2019 gives Florida a D for overall manufacturing but an A for tax climate and improving grades in two other categories.
Two students with a conservative group sued the University of Florida and won a settlement and changes, over a policy they say allowed student government to discriminate against conservative speakers paid for by mandatory student fees. Gordon Byrd speaks with Caleb Dalton, chief counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Clearwater Marine Aquarium CEO David Yates on two beached whales recovering at his facility in Tarpon Springs.
Found money! The Hillsborough Court Clerk's Office is trying to get unclaimed cash to its rightful owners before the state grabs it all. Gordon Byrd speaks with clerk's office communications director Tom Scherberger.
Robert Niles, founder and editor of Theme Park Insider, talks to Gordon Byrd about an unusually slow summer for the theme park industry.
Gordon Byrd interviews David Jones, event director of CDC (Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa) on a recruiting Job Fair for the 2020 Census
Gordon Byrd interviews Alisa Coe with Earthjustice, one of the groups suing the state to make it spend money on land conservation as required under Amendment One, passed by the voters in 2014.
Gordon Byrd interviews Professor Jeffrey Swartz, based at Western Michigan University - Cooley Law School's Tampa campus and a former Miami-Dade judge, about Labor Secretary Alex Acosta's defense of the plea deal he cut with Jeffrey Epstein over child sex trafficking charges when he was U.S. Attorney in Miami.
Stephen Shiveley with the Tampa Bay National Weather Service Office in Ruskin talks about a low pressure area in the Gulf, expected to become a tropical depression.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission executive director Eric Sutton about a new coral conservation campaign... FLCoralCrew.com
Dennis Feltgen at the National Hurricane Center in Miami updates us on a low pressure area in Georgia that could become a tropical depression and dump a lot of rain along Florida's Gulf Coast later this week. (information current as of Monday 2 p.m. EDT)
Gordon Byrd speaks with Daniel Eberts of Oneblood, the local blood bank in most of Florida, about a blood drive in Tarpon Springs on the Fourth of July, to honor a fallen officer. Charlie Kondek was a blood donor and shared a birthday with America.
Gordon Byrd interviews Sharon Hunnewell-Johnson, president of Galaxy Fireworks, about how trade conflicts between the U.S. and China affect her industry.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaks about her first appearance at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Boom By the Bay.
Gordon Byrd interviews Randa Richter of SPCA Florida. Their shelter in Lakeland is sending more than two dozen stray kittens to a shelter in new Hampshire because they don't have enough kittens to adopt.
911 call made by a Mosaic supervisor after one of his employees discovered an alligator with its jaws clamped on a man's body in a canal near Fort Meade (east of Tampa).
Interview with Phyllis Guthman, Arts4All and USF, about the Animation and music camp for autistic teenagers at USF (June 24-28).
Gordon Byrd interviews Tony Mann of Clearwater, who started giving blood in 1979 and has reached 100 gallons, saving hundreds of lives.
Gordon Byrd interviews Brian Gorski, executive director of CCA-Florida, about the conservation group's release of juvenile snook and other species to combat the devastation to the marine food chain from last year's red tide outbreak along Florida's Gulf Coast.
Governor Ron DeSantis and Pinellas state senator Jeff Brandes speak at a signing for a bill encouraging self-driving cars.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Javi Correoso of Jump scooters, a unit of Uber, about safety issues involving rental e-scooters in Tampa
Gordon Byrd speaks with Rick Homans, CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, about the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization's hearing on whether to incorporate the F-DOT's plan for I-275 through downtown to Bearss Avenue in its long range transportation plan.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Central Florida Congressman Ross Spano (representing Valrico, Plant City, Lakeland and parts of several counties) about the Dream and Promise Act and other immigration-related issues.
Gordon Byrd interviews Dr. Robert Bertini, director of the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida in Tampa, who will lead the National Institute for Congestion Reduction
Interview with Steven Rodriguez CEO of SANCA, which runs Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota County.
An interview with Anne Swerlick of the Florida Policy Institute on a Georgetown University study showing almost 70,000 children dropped off Medicaid and Kidcare in Florida between 2017 and 2018.
911 calls placed to Clearwater police after a 11 foot gator broke into a kitchen early Friday morning.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Kevin Hettinger, Human Relations director at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, about their upcoming job fairs as they attempt to fill more than a thousand job openings.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Robert Heuter, head of the shark research center at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, after three sightings of hammerhead sharks off Florida's gulf coast in May.
Gordon Byrd interviews Dr. Joanna Burger, lead of a team of researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey who conducted a study on preparing low-income communities for hurricanes and other disasters.
Gordon Byrd talks with a mother-son bookwriting team from the Orlando area who've become experts in navigating the modern world of e-publishing.
Part of a 911 call released by Tampa Police made shortly after bus driver Thomas Dunn was fatally stabbed while driving a bus on Nebraska Avenue Saturday, May 18th.
Gordon Byrd speaks with FHP Trooper Ken Watson about the death of a nine year old Sarasota boy killed when a pickup truck ran him over, as he and his sister rode their bicycles to Brentwood Elementary School.
Interview with David Whiting, deputy division director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Listen to Gordon Byrd's interview with Stefan Seltz-Axmacher, CEO of Starsky Robotics, a San Francisco company testing a self-driving truck on Tampa's Selmon Expressway
Gordon Byrd speaks with Maya Burke, a member of the Tampa Bay Climate Science Advisory Panel, which is out with a new recommendation calling for the rise in sea level to accelerate, adding an additional 12 to 18 inches in forecasts for the year 2100.
Gordon Byrd speaks with Dr. Norman Leppla, University of Florida, about the annual love bug swarm. Drivers seem to think it's worse this year and he says there's an "abundance" of love bugs, especially in east central Florida.
Interview with St. Leo University pollster Frank Orlando on new polls showing a strong performance by Joe Biden among the 2020 Democratic field.
Personal finance website Wallethub says six Florida cities made its top 25 for small business startups, out of 100 large cities nationwide. Orlando is number one, Miami number three, Tampa number five.
If you're going to see someone graduate at UF, FSU or FAMU, rooms in the college towns of Tallahassee and Gainesville have been booked solid for months. AirBNB's Ben Breit has tips if you'fre thinking about using his service or others to find a room.
Goodbye mongoose! Farewell, pink sparrow. Gordon Byrd speaks with Sarah Funck of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about a new rule adding 13 nonnative species to the banned list in Florida, meaning you can't own them as pets or sell them commercially.