MidPoint: Recent Episodes
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Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Jeffrey Chernoff of Insurance and Trust Co., an insurance claims expert, and Paul Hauzer, CEO of VetCor, a recovery & restoration company, to discussed what to do and not do in the immediate aftermath of a disaster like so many in our community have experienced from Hurricane Helene. They provided us with valuable insights into the disaster recovery process.
A federal First Amendment lawsuit was filed last month by major book publishers, authors, parents, and students challenging Florida's book bans. Dan Novack, lawyer for lead plaintiff, Penguin Random House publishers, and Judi Hayes, an Orange County, FL parent plaintiff joined MidPoint to discuss it.
Shelley and guest commenter Lakeland's civic journalist, Billy Townsend opened the phone lines and held a Talk Back Town Hall, letting our listeners guide our discussion on State Politics, DeSantis' cronyism and grifting, Richard Corcoran's "bust out" job on New College, Polk County, and more..
James Gaddis, the FL State Parks whistleblower, foiled DeSantis's secret plan to pillage our state parks with golf and pickleball for his friends' profits. Tampa Bay Times journalist Max Chesnes who broke the story and Anders Croy of the DeSantis Watch accountability project also join us to discuss.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
The plague of mosquito borne viruses threaten us in Florida all year round, and bird flu is rising through our poultry and dairy industries. Are we in danger? Join us and find out from our health experts.
There is a new law Florida banning the homeless from sleeping in public. We discuss what can be done to get people off the streets with my guests, homeless advocates Antoinette Hayes-Triplett of Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative, advocate Rev. Christian Frazier and Dr. Joe Bohn of the USF College of Public Health.
Early voting in the August Primary is going on right now and Craig Latimer, the elected Hillsborough Co. Supervisor of Elections is with us to explain everything you need to know about voting.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Anders Croy, Communications Director of DeSantis Watch explains how Florida is the laboratory of the Project 2025 agenda.
The Hillsborough County school board is suing the county commission over the commission's decision to delay a vote on the school board-approved referendum to increase the property tax millage to increase pay for teachers and staff from the November ballot to 2026.
MidPoint takes on transportation. Why can't we have robust public transportation in Hillsborough Co.? Where is our transportation tax money? Are we getting it back? Streetcar extension? Is it happening? What are we doing on I275 & I4? Tune in and find out from our transpo advocates
Today, our MidPoint talk-back Town Hall invited the listeners to chime in with their thoughts on the news and public affairs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis stripped $32M in statewide arts & culture funding from the budget over his hatred of popular Fringe Festivals in Tampa & Orlando that he accused of being "sexual."
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
MidPoint learns the history of The Fearless Four: four Black Tampa policemen who, in the face of heavy backlash, filed a racial discrimination complaint against the Tampa Police Dept. in the 1970's, which helped spark advancement for Black and women police officers and Black and women city employees in Tampa.
A tragic bus accident killed 8 legal migrant farmworkers and injured dozens more who are now caught in a legal, immigration and medical limbo because their visas have expired before their treatments are complete.
Twice-elected Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren discusses justice for the wrongfully convicted, the exoneration of death row inmate Robert DuBois who served 37 years for a crime he did not commit, and the following investigation by Hillsborough County law enforcement that led to the conviction of the real serial killers.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Florida is one of only 10 states that has not already expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income childless adults as allowed under the Affordable Care Act. Now, Florida healthcare advocates are mounting a petition drive to place a Constitutional Amendment to expand Medicaid on the 2026 ballot. Florida Voices for Health joins us to explain why expansion is so important to improve access to care in Florida.
Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota's CEO Jennifer Rominiecki, and their V.P. of Botany, Bruce Holst, joined MidPoint to talk all about the blooming of the Gardens into a powerhouse of sustainability and botanical conservation research, along with their exhibits highlighting nature's relationship to art & culture, and their Artist in Residence, singer, songwriter and poet, Patti Smith. If you haven't been to the facility lately, you will want to return soon because this is NOT your grandma's garden!
Florida is now LAST in the nation in teacher pay, according to a recent survey reported by the National Education Association! We discussed that, the State's pre-emption of the allocation of state education funding, the Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax education allocation to capital improvements, the need for the November referendum on the ballot to raise teacher pay by increasing the millage property taxes, the drop in Florida Bright Futures scholarship awards, book bans, and much more with Jessica Vaughn, Hillsborough School Board member from District 3, North and New Tampa. Listen to the entire show here, on the WMNF app, or as a WMNF podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
The EPA has recently set limits on PFAS hazardous "forever chemicals" in our drinking water supply. Find out from our local water quality experts how our water utilities plan to remove PFAS from our drinking water, who will pay for it, and what you can do to avoid PFAS at home.
Gov. DeSantis signed into law a measure to limit the reach of Civilian Review Boards that seek greater transparency and accountability for police misconduct. Does the law really do that, or is it moot as to many FL CRB's that do not investigate, but merely audit police internal affairs investigations? And what does the new law requiring citizens to remain 25 feet away from a 1st responder mean? Can citizens still videotape police on the street without fear of arrest? Listen to my guests Attorney James Shaw, former Chair of the FL ACLU Legal Panel and Dr. Carolyn Hepburn-Collins, a member of the Tampa CRB discuss these new laws and their effects.
Kimberley Overman of the Housing Council of Tampa Bay and Cicely Hodges, Housing Analyst for the Florida Policy Institute are our guests to discuss the new Florida homeless laws, including establishing municipal homeless camps and the prohibition on sleeping in public spaces.
St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Lizette Hanewicz joins MidPoint guest host Gary Gibbons to discuss the pros & cons of the new proposed Tampa Bay Rays Stadium and the proposed redevelopment plans for Tropicana Field and the former Gas Plant site in St. Petersburg.
Rogue Republican former FL Sen. Jeff Brandes, founder of The Florida Policy Project, joined us on MidPoint for a wide-ranging discussion on the recent FL legislative session, laws passed and missed opportunities, along with his current project, the Florida Policy Project, which he founded to provide policy suggestions based on data and best practices to solve some of Florida's most difficult problems.
Experts review the legal and medical status of reproductive rights & technologies today. Surrogacy lawyer Roia Barrios and reproductive endocrinologist & obgyn fertility specialist Dr. Carolina Sueldo discuss the Alabama IVF law, "fetal personhood," the Florida Abortion Ballot measure, & the pending Florida 6-week abortion ban.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Out, queer Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner joined Republican House Speaker Paul Renner to support a ban on social media access for kids under 16 years old. Now, she and her peers, like Tsi Day Smyth of Voices of SW Florida, a Black & queer-led advocacy group dedicated to human rights and reproductive freedom, are at odds.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
We continue our review of 2024 legislative proposals with today's focus on efforts at criminalizing "sleeping in public" and establishing homeless tent camps around the state, and the problems of private equity firms buying up so many starter homes in foreclosure and charging exorbitant rents.
FL House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell & newly elected Democratic Rep. Tom Keen join MidPoint to discuss state politics and elections.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Rachael Cerrotti joins us to discuss her decade-long project to memorialize the refugee journey of her grandmother, a Czech Holocaust survivor. Her project is a memoir, a podcast, a book and currently an exhibit at the Florida Holocaust Museum. This show commemorates Internat'l Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 1945.
A panel of Attorneys and Organizers from Floridians Protecting Freedom, the coalition of advocacy groups promoting the abortion rights FL Constitutional Amendment, are with us to discuss the referendum's path through collecting petition signatures to the Florida Supreme Court to our ballots.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Guest host Matt Newton talks with Stetson Constitutional Law Prof. Ciara Torres-Spelliscy and Tampa Councilman Luis Viera about the many constitutional legal issues on our radar today.
We're talking about our personal health and fitness goals for the New Year with Wendy Wesley, a St. Petersburg-based nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, and food educator, and Shanequa Clarke, a Tampa-based fitness trainer with a Master's degree in Exercise Science who specializes in strength training and conditioning.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
There is an epidemic of loneliness in our society that is causing significant health problems for individuals. We explore what to do increase social connections with the USF College of Public Health Activist Lab.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
It's Thanksgiving time and our thoughts turn to food and those who may not have it. Our friends from Gulf Coast JFCS joined us to discuss the many ways their programs address food insecurity in the different communities of Florida, from resettling refugees to elderly Holocaust survivors and providing emergency food support to families in crisis.
Anti-gun violence survivors and advocates discuss the pervasiveness of gun violence, what is the current state of the laws, and what we can hope to do to curb the tragedies experienced by gun violence survivors.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Learn what to consider in making your Medicare healthcare enrollment decision for 2023 with our experts from Florida SHINE.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Hillsborough County's affordable housing trust fund is in danger of being defunded in the current budget, in favor of more money for road repairs, sports complexes and jail renovations.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Death penalty defense lawyers, Allison Miller and Craig Whisenhunt join MidPoint to discuss the new legislation that now makes Florida the state with the lowest legal threshold to put convicted people to death for murder, and the new legislation that makes sexual battery on a child under 12 also subject to the death penalty.
Local Immigration lawyers Chelsea Nowel and Ananis Makar joined Shelley for an overview of the new punitive and disruptive Florida immigration laws that threaten the Florida economy and treat undocumented people with a complete lack of dignity.
The DeSantis administration is remaking New College of Florida into a version of the Christian focused Hillsdale College and developing curriculum for a SAT alternative Christian and Western tradition-based test called the "Classic Learning Test."
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
The results of the Tampa municipal elections are in and there is more new, pending voting legislation coming from Tallahassee that may make it harder to register and vote.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Journalist Ben Montgomery was fired by Axios Media for calling out a DeSantis press agent for sending out propaganda, not press releases. Why are journalists afraid to speak the truth to power?
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Every Thanksgiving season MidPoint spotlights issues of food insecurity and we always look for "the helpers." The crew from Meals on Wheels Tampa, Cindy Vann, and Erica Leigh, and MOW super-volunteer Rebecca Fiore joined us to hear all about their efforts to feed hungry homebound seniors. You can help too. Tune in to find out how.
Democrats did surprisingly well throughout the U.S. in the midterm elections, EXCEPT in Florida. What's the matter with Florida? We talk to local Democratic political leaders to find out.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Michele Rayner is going to be re-elected to the Florida House, but she's still worried about this election. Rayner has been gerrymandered into a new Democratic District 62.
Monopolistic electric utilities in Florida have been caught cheating, scamming, and funding ghost candidates in our elections to maintain their outsize influence in State politics and keep their profits soaring.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Former Chair of the Florida ACLU Legal Panel James Shaw Jr. joined Shelley for an open discussion to share some of the interesting legal issues in the news.
The All 4 Transportation ballot initiative team discussed the new referendum that will appear on the Nov. 2022 ballot seeking approval for a 1% sales tax for 30 years to fund transportation improvements in Hillsborough County. They are urging citizens to pass this referendum and to make this investment in improved roads, safer roads, more and better bus service, bicycle infrastructure, and more transportation options throughout the county.
Libertarian Sen. Jeff Brandes, the most interesting Republican in Florida politics, is leaving the Florida Senate due to term limits. He joined us to discuss his passion for policy over politics, and his post-office plans for a policy "Do-Tank," The Florida Policy Project to focus on criminal justice reform, property insurance, transportation, and housing affordability.
Gov. DeSantis announced a new "Stop Woke" policy to bar investments of State funds in companies or funds that adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Florida will no longer consider using issues like climate change or racial justice awareness to influence investments by rating a company's values. Adam Hattersley, candidate for Florida Chief Financial Officer, and State Rep. Andrew Learned discussed this new policy and Florida's refusal to divest from Russian investments, and how this may impact Florida's finances and pensioners' retirements.
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer and Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley both provide a Primary election day recap. Who won, who lost, who is in a recount, and where were all the registered voters? Turnout was less than 25%!
Local businesses have sued to have DeSantis' "Stop Woke" law declared unconstitutional under the First Amendment because it purports to censor what their private businesses can say to their employees, especially in diversity, equity & inclusion training. They claim that it is unconstitutional for a government to insist that they can't talk to their employees about race or gender issues as they see fit.
New federal criminal charges against Alexandr Ionov, a fugitive Russian national, allege a malign foreign influence operation in St. Petersburg, FL elections. Noted national security journalist Marcy Wheeler, aka @emptywheel, and Prof. Golfo Alexopoulos, Dir. of the Russia Institute at the University of South Florida discuss the larger geopolitical implications of these criminal charges and their historical precedents.
Chris Witowski of Psilera Inc. is discussing the development of drugs from natural psychedelics to treat mental health illnesses.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Academic freedom is under attack. Over the past 2 years, the DeSantis administration has undertaken a complete reform of education policies constraining academic freedom by passing SB 7044. In the state colleges and universities, professors are concerned. MidPoint interviews the President of the faculty union at USF and a USF History professor to learn why.
Noted University of South Florida forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle discusses her investigations of undocumented deaths and missing persons and her new book, "We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys." Her investigation of Dozier was the inspiration for Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Nickel Boys.
This week on MidPoint abortion providers and advocates, discuss the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The Dobbs decision will create a "patchwork" of legislation across the country, defining where, when and how women can make decisions about their own bodies. The consequences of this decision are discussed with Kelly, an abortion access advocate from the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund, and Dr. Rachel, a local ob/gyn physician and abortion provider.
Depression and anxiety seem to be a prevailing mood among the masses, and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such mental illnesses still leave much to be desired. Adverse side effects from prescription medication and a continued sense of distress have given way to new thought processes and ideas on how mental illness could be treated in the future.This week on MidPoint, chemist and researcher Dr. Chris Witkowski of Psilera Bioscience discusses their development of therapeutic and medicinal uses of natural psychedelics.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.
Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.