Florida Matters
Your spot for real, daily conversations. Where neighbors become storytellers, newsmakers explain why and how changes happen and where locals — natives to the area and newcomers — discover and delight in the community they share.
How the Fishback decision affects the governor’s race, and school supplies’ skyrocketing costs
Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback will remain on the ballot after a judge ruled in his favor in a state residency challenge by opponent Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. We talk about what the ruling means for the primary and the governor’s race.
Also, discussions on the rising cost of school supplies and the aorta condition that led to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death.
Finally, the Zest checks in with a chef determined to get kids access to healthier food.
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Charlie Crist makes his case for St. Petersburg, and two Florida executions in one day
Another candidate hoping to lead St. Petersburg’s city hall joins the show. You’ve likely heard of this one: 70-year-old politician Charlie Crist.
The former Florida governor details his platform, policy positions and perspective on the challenges facing the city he calls a "jewel."
Among the topics are the loss of the Tampa Bay Rays. He said if elected, he would try to talk the team's new ownership into staying in the city.
Plus, we talk about Florida’s double execution scheduled for Tuesday. One of the inmates will be the oldest person...
Encore: Want to bike from Tampa Bay to Titusville? A 250-trail is nearly complete
This week, “Florida Matters Live & Local” has been revisiting some of our best conversations from the year.
On this episode, we learn about the Coast-to-Coast Trail, an ambitious 250-mile path from St. Petersburg to Titusville that is near completion.
The show also revisits a tough conversation about unhoused residents. Advocates say a state law about outdoor camping is increasingly dangerous.
Then it’s on to mosquitoes. Yes, you’re on the skeeter menu, but what can you do to keep the blood-sucking buggers at bay?
Finally, meet a Florida man selling his home...
Encore: A guide to the weird, wild and obscure parts of Tampa
This week, “Florida Matters Live & Local” is revisiting some of our best conversations from the year.
Are there really entrances below Ybor City? A Museum of Motherhood with an “Escape Womb” in St. Petersburg? Turns out, you can live in Tampa for decades and not know about every historic nook and cranny. On this encore episode, we talk about a new book that fills in some blanks.
Also on the show, get in step with a guy spending his days on the edge — all over the United States.
Then, an abandoned resort near Disney Wor...
Encore: Life after prison, and the cost of mass incarceration
This week, “Florida Matters Live & Local” is revisiting some of our best conversations from the year.
Adjusting to life out of prison can be challenging for people who’ve just completed their sentence. Could providing them with a basic income help them get back on their feet — and keep them out of jail?
After that, a federal jury found Ticketmaster and Live Nation were acting as a monopoly. What does this mean for concertgoers and smaller venues in the area?
Plus, we try to catch up with a roaming whale shark, and have you ever...
Seeking Arcadia answers, making every splash safer, green burials, heads of the class
Residents in Arcadia woke to reports that ICE agents were headed into their neighborhood. Our immigration reporter explains what happened, what authorities have confirmed and how the operation has affected the community.
Then, how Florida’s expanded voucher program is helping children with autism learn to swim, the growing popularity of conservation cemeteries and education meets happy hour.
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Groveland Four restitution, Stop WOKE stalled, girls that wanna rock, the art of anonymity
In July 1949, four young African Americans — Ernest Thomas, Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepherd, and Walter Irvin — were falsely accused of raping a white teenager in Lake County.
The Groveland Four, as they became known, were posthumously exonerated in 2021. This year, the state set aside $4 million to make their families whole. But can justice delayed ever be served?
Then, why the Stop WOKE Act appellate ruling isn’t the end of the controversy, a rock music camp is teaching more than music to young girls, and a huge art exhibit at the Straz offers insight into an incogn...
Environmental update, star rescue, pooling your resources, making the grade (plus)
From a proposed Polk County data center to an invasive pest threatening crops, environmental challenges are mounting across Florida. Let’s get some details on those environmental stories.
Then, NASA tries to rescue a sinking satellite and the many happenings at neighborhood pools.
Wait until you hear about this grad's GPA. And his plans for the future.
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A late entry in the governor’s race, getting oysters back in bed, stories of the FBI
State Rep. Dotie Joseph says she didn’t have a run for governor on her bingo card. Yet, here she is in a crowded field vying against David Jolly for the Democratic nomination.
“Florida Matters Live & Local” guest host Cathy Carter sits down with Joseph to discuss her platform, policy positions and perspective on the challenges facing the state.
Plus, hear about why an organization is helping restore the oyster habitat in the Manatee River. And later, a retired G-man talks about 30 years of investigating organized crime in a new memoir.
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Meet a snake charmer, breaking down the Surfside report, game over for PlayStation, dog beach
It’s time for the Florida Python Challenge, when novices and pros traipse the Everglades to hunt for the invasive species in the name of conservation. We’ve got last year’s winner to talk about what goes on during the event.
Plus, a new report is out on the Surfside condo building collapse. Hear more from someone who inspected the building before it fell. We also have news about the future of video games and a look at a floating food truck — or is it a food boat?
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Flood-fix rainchecks, targeting spiked drinks, red-faced over a red card, teen game-changers
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $810 million from the state budget. A large portion of that involved water infrastructure and flood mitigation projects. How will that decision affect Florida residents?
Then, what if you could detect a rape-date drug in your drink using jewelry? A USF graduate student is joining forces with a former beach volleyball teammate to make it happen.
Also, the U.S. team was eliminated, but there are still aftershocks about President Trump’s connection to FIFA’s suspension of a red card suspension before the team’s final game.
To close, a pret...
PTSA bridges a gap, a ‘woods to table’ chef, TPS ruling aftermath, tapping into dance
Public transportation is a big problem in the area. Inconsistent funding among the counties, no light rail and reduced services have made it source of contention, but the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is trying to make it a little easier across Tampa Bay.
Then, a local chef talks about his time on a deserted island for a spinoff of the Food Network’s “Chopped” series. Also, a member of the local Haitian community discusses the end of Temporary Protected Status.
Finally, we’ll take a spin around the Tampa Bay Tap Festival. Hint: It’s not about...
Inflation and foster care, earthquake update, new angle on property taxes, NIL hope and water
As prices rise, the math of living just isn’t adding up for many Florida families. Now comes word of a connection between housing costs and foster children being kept from their parents.
Also on the show: how the November vote on property taxes cuts could affect renters, an update from a local woman in Venezuela during last month’s earthquakes, and a USF football player talks about his project to help Nigerian villages.
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America at 250: Reflecting on fractured unity, having a blast (safely), speaking in tongs
Happy semi-quincentennial. If your plans include lighting 250 candles — or fireworks just as bright — we have some safety tips.
But first, a roundtable reflection on all that has happened to get America to this point. Things could be worse, but there’s no question we live in a fractured period politically and culturally. Hence, not everyone is celebrating this weekend.
Is America at a turning point? Where does Florida fit in? What’s in the future?
Finally, we get up in your grill.
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Feeling the heat over ICE, Fluori-da a year later, it’s like a sauna out here, hail to the chef
Florida has embraced the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement. But what happens when residents push back and ask local elected leaders to take a stand against it?
A reporter who’s been covering the issue will discuss how some officials are caught in the middle of the 287(g) pledges by police departments.
Also, it’s been a year since the state stopped adding fluoride to drinking water. Is the change affecting our dental hygiene?
Plus, an update on the heat dome scorching much of the country, and a taste of Tampa...
The Supreme Court's say on birthright citizenship; TPS and morality; DeSantis' budget vetoes
President Donald Trump had issued an executive order that said children born to people in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.
The U.S. Supreme Court disagreed. In a momentous decision, the justices relied on a long-settled understanding of the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War in 1868.
In other Tuesday rulings, the court upheld laws in roughly half the states that prohibit transgender girls and women from playing on their public school and college sport teams and struck down limits on party spending in federal elections.
A panel...
Salute to statutes, political reporter's notebook, the TPS effect, chef's best-queso scenario
Sky Lebron fills in for Matthew Peddie for the show.
He starts with some political analysis at the state level. There are a few new Florida laws going into effect on Wednesday. Well, more than a few. There are 140. Also, Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Tampa to sign the state budget for the coming fiscal year. Keep your calculator nearby.
Plus, some local government changes as we head toward the August primaries and November midterms. Finally, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Temporary Protective Status for Haitians and Syrians, and Dalia Colon catches up with...
Wild West of free speech, items flying off shelves, biology vs bias, saving science from ashes
Ye is bringing his tour to Raymond James Stadium this weekend despite a push by Sen. Rick Scott to cancel over the performer's antisemitic statements. We look at the controversy surrounding the artist, once considered one of the greatest rappers alive.
Also, the future of delivery may be flying above your neighborhood as more retailers expand the use of drones. We’ll explore what it means for the way we shop and get everyday essentials.
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Ray Jay or Rays? Teens talk 'takeovers.' Prison staffing crisis. Singer jazzes up new album
Shaded seats at Raymond James Stadium sound great, but how much public money should be spent on renovating the 28-year-old facility? And, how can Tampa and Hillsborough afford that project while helping build the Rays’ “Forever Home.”
That's a show! But there's more.
We hear how the kids feel about the “teen takeovers” that have been creating public disturbances – and in one case, involved a shooting.
Also, critics of the state’s corrections system argue staffing and oversight issues impact inmate healthcare – and accountability when deaths occur.
We close with a nifty sit-down w...
Social Security's loud alarm, another scam to scan, campus off-loading, shelf-help for kids
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Through the eyes of a dog, coming fuel circle, VA under strain, grill rides, tagging rays and sharks
We were recently visited by Dave, a furry friend, but he wasn’t here to play. He was there to work and give us a personal demonstration on guide dogs. Dave even provided a personal demonstration on how he helps people gain independence.
Plus, we’ve seen gas prices skyrocket, then come down, only to go up again. Is the latest cycle making a difference to your weekly budget?
Also, a conversation over the burnout and how staffing shortages are driving healthcare workers away from the Veterans Affairs system.
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The meaning of Juneteenth celebrations across the Tampa Bay area
Friday is Juneteenth. It marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we talk with people from across Tampa Bay’s Black community about the legacy of celebration — and what freedom means to them.
We start with Florida’s emancipation story and how it fits into the broader history of emancipation. You’ll also hear from a local pastor about how Tampa celebrates Juneteenth and how that history is being taught to the next generation.
And later, how one community me...
What comes with Iran-U.S. peace? Dad's day grief. Knowing sickle cell. Good day, Sunshine City
The U.S. and Iran are set to formally sign a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But there are questions about details and what comes next.
"Let the oil flow." With that, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. and Iran are set to formally sign a deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But there are questions about details and what comes next. Our expert has answers.
Also, Father’s Day is a celebration for lots of families, but it can also be a ti...
When AI gets it wrong, a new ID debate, the Latino vote equation, politics of a ‘Wimpy Kid’
He was at his Fort Myers home when a fast-food security camera in Jacksonville Beach snapped a picture of a criminal suspect. An artificial intelligence tool used by police agencies somehow identified him as the perpetrator, and he was arrested.
Technology got it wrong, but it wasn't alone.
Afterward, Latino voters are seen as the key to winning elections in Florida, but are candidates really paying attention to their concerns?
Then, how will an important change in driver’s licenses affect you? And a well-known children’s author is helping a local candidate for...
Speaking up for homeless, Juneteenth arts, buzz words on skeeters, Kiwi’s big adventure
Recently, a woman sleeping in an alley was struck by a garbage truck and killed. The tragedy has raised the ire of homeless advocates against the state’s ban on public camping. Is the law necessary or simply driving our most vulnerable into dark, dangerous places?
Then, we talk about the role of the arts in commemorating Juneteenth. And, summer mosquito season is near — with our blood on the menu.
Tragedy renews homeless debate
(0:00) The recent death of a woman killed by a St. Petersburg garbage truck has renewed the debate over homelessness and...
The night Orlando cried, surviving summer hunger, easy being green, Tampa's renaissance menus
Can it possibly be a decade since the horrific Pulse shooting in Orlando? On "Florida Matters Live & Local," hear reflections from a clubgoer who was there the night 49 people were killed and a journalist who covered the aftermath.
Plus, a look at the challenges for some just to feed their families over the summer.
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Read 'em and reap, a different kind of 'takeover,' judged past its prime, a preservation reservation
For the second time “teen takeover” in the Tampa Bay region has ended in arrests. A Polk County teen is facing an attempted murder charge after an incident at Clearwater Beach just over a week ago.
Could social media be the key to keeping teens out of trouble?
We also talk with the local architect undertaking the renovation project for the Jackson House in downtown Tampa.
Also, does Hillsborough County need a new courthouse annex?
And what does your book stack look like this summer?
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Floridians get a fair shake, St. Pete Pride, Vibrio facts, summer camps, story of survival
We’re still reacting to the shock of a Florida earthquake. And we get into youth camps on Day 2 of our summer prep segments.
Speaking of sun and fun, it’s time for reminders on avoiding flesh-eating bacteria. Then, hear about an epic water survival story that is the subject of a new book.
Also, St. Pete Pride is recognized as the largest Pride celebration in the Southeast, but for how much longer? In January, a new law takes effect that could change the event.
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College students confront gun violence and housing fears, staycations, WWI fiction
Orlando will mark a somber milestone this week: 10 years since a gunman murdered 49 people at the Pulse nightclub. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in modern American history. This tragedy and others raise discussions about preventing gun violence.
A related topic: Off-campus housing raises safety concerns after two incidents near USF.
Then, we talk this week about summer activities, and the conversation kicks off with staycations. Finally, a local author discusses his latest war story.
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Big bet on tax relief, a bigger fish to spy, goal diggin’ in Florida, opera-tunity knocks
Florida voters will decide this November whether to dramatically expand exemptions and cap property tax increases. But more money in homeowners’ pockets could mean less for local governments. “Florida Matters Live & Local” examines the details.
Then, World Cup fans are descending on the U.S. from all corners of the globe to celebrate the beautiful game. We talk about the Florida connections — from players to matches to fans.
Plus, we try to catch up with roaming whale shark and meet one of the stars of St. Pete Opera’s “La Boheme” production.
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Casting a wider net, our happy trails, a new coastal playbook, swamp and circumstance
A little outdoorsy talk on " Florida Matters Live & Local."
Amid the rise of pickleball, the USTA says there aren't enough public tennis courts in the state. Can communities find the room and investment for both?
Also, why do hikers love Florida? Let us count the ways with two trail experts.
Plus, we explore a growing movement to save coastal areas called "living shorelines," and give the backstory on WUSF's groundbreaking series, "Defending the Everglades."
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Fight over concert fees, when war hits home, 'Lost Cause' holiday, rocket fireball raises questions
A federal jury found Ticketmaster and Live Nation were acting as a monopoly. What does this mean for concertgoers and smaller venues in the area? On "Florida Matters Live & Local," an outspoken club owner who trekked to Washington, D.C., to share his views with lawmakers talks about the challenges.
Plus, for one Tampa resident, the war with Iran is not distant news but a personal reality. His family lives in the country amid rising prices, restricted communication and growing fear. He explains how the Iranian diaspora is processing the crisis from afar.
Also, did...
The fuss over property taxes, public employees and free speech, taking a dive in Tampa Bay
The budget may finally be complete, but lawmakers are back at the state Capitol this week for a special session on cutting property taxes. "Florida Matters Live & Local" takes a look at the governor's plan.
Also, have you ever worried that something you posted online could affect your job? Should public employees be held to a different standard? We talk to a civil liberties attorney about a recent lawsuit.
And cliff diving — sans the cliff — is coming to downtown St. Petersburg this weekend. Complete with a 100-foot tower.
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Weathering the paperwork, MIA emergency chief, this sport is a big dill, guns & hoses
Our series of hurricane prep programs covers legal questions and important home documents. How do you pick up the pieces after the storm is gone?
Then, why was a local emergency manager put on leave? Tampa’s firefighters and police battle it out for charity. And pickleball for beginners.
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Preparing for hurricane season, living and learning about lipedema, celebrating Black films
Whether you’re a longtime Floridian or a newbie to this godforsaken hurricane business, preparing for storm season can be quite intimidating. What do you store in a survival kit? How can you protect your home? When should you evacuate? We rein in a panel of pros with those answers and more.
After that discussion, we talk about a new app for those suffering from a painful illness that is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Plus, get a sneak peek at the 30th annual American Black Film Festival.
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Cyclones, cones and groans, reporter's debriefing, the Castro indictment, en garde in Bradenton
Forecasters are expecting eight to 14 storms this hurricane season, which starts Monday and runs through November. And while last year was relatively quiet, you may still be recovering from Helene, Milton and Debby if you were here for 2024.
On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we talk about why forecasters are calling for fewer storms than average and what you should pay attention to.
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Bugs we love to hate, inside Florida’s Everglades fight, private art goes public, baseball therapy
Simple questions: What is a love bug? And why do they give their lives for a little smooch with our car grilles? We have someone on “Florida Matters: Live & Local” with the facts.
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A Large vision for St. Pete, housing for folks with mental health issues, unsolved mysteries
Another candidate vying to be St. Petersburg's mayor is in the studio. Meet Jim Large, a longtime fire chief who says he's a public servant, not a politician. He fills us in on his vision for the city and why he's the most qualified for the job.
Plus, a new housing development in Pasco County is creating a neighborhood designed for adults with mental illness. And, we investigate how St. Petersburg's police investigate cold cases.
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He's not a fan of the stadium plan, pitching till it hurts, utility shutoff surge, winning on cue
There’s plenty of support in high places for the plan to build a Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium with up to $976 million in public dollars. Among the proponents are Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Hillsborough County Commission Chair Ken Hagan and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
There's also an assortment of boards and organizations, multiple chambers of commerce, Hillsborough College, the Westshore Alliance, the Police Benevolent Association, and even the Tampa Bay Times.
But there are skeptics, and the most vocal is on "Florida Matters Live & Local." Commissioner Joshua Wostal offers plenty of specifics ahead of this we...
Preserving Black cemetery history, more Capitol drama, Brady list investigation, an artist's 'Realm'
Thousands of Black cemeteries have been destroyed, built over or fallen into disrepair. Hear about a movement to protect them that started at USF.
Plus, an update on the Legislature’s budget sessions, examining state records over police conduct and an artist’s collaborative exhibit.
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