Shows / Florida Matters
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.
Episodes
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
Social Security's loud alarm, another scam to scan, campus off-loading, shelf-help for kids
Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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,”…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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 &…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
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…
- Florida Matters
The Haitian assassination case, Everglades countdown begins, solutions for teen takeovers
Four South Florida men have been convicted in the 2021 assassination plot targeting Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. But there are lingering questions over…
- Florida Matters
Unions emit a collective sigh, Tampa's streetcar desires, Scouts honor
Public sector unions in Florida say they are under threat by a new law requiring at least 50% participation in certification and recertification votes. Two…
- Florida Matters
Framing a legacy, mind over muscle, shark and awesome, searchin’ for urchins
In her final State of the City last week, Mayor Jane Castor highlighted investments made on her watch. “Live & Local” takes a closer look at what was said…
- Florida Matters
Worried sick about cruises, spending time in Tally, fielding stadium questions, a fathomable find
A hantavirus has captured the world’s attention, especially here in Florida, where the cruise industry has a big footprint. We’ll talk about how dangerous this…
- Florida Matters
Budget flyers feel turbulence, USF fire aftermath, exploring otter space with kids
If you booked a flight in the last couple of months, you likely felt a few amps of sticker shock. As we know, fuel prices are flying, bumping up airfares. And…
- Florida Matters
Batdorf’s vision for St. Pete, the Bando’s hidden community, blues legacy in town
The 2024 hurricanes may be a distant memory for some. For St. Petersburg resident Kevin Batdorf, the floods that drenched his Shore Acres neighborhood prompted…
- Florida Matters
Living after prison, dangerous emissions, a Rowdie pioneer, don’t close the book on Haslam’s
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…
- Florida Matters
The USF slayings and dealing with grief, redistricting aftermath, look who’s walking
A vigil was held Friday for Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy — USF doctoral students who were murdered last month. We get an update on the investigation into…
- Florida Matters
Tampa's best secrets, decisions affecting schools, Florida caught mapping, soft cups and wine flutes
Well, you can’t say “Florida Matters Live & Local” topics don’t offer something for everyone. On this program, we catch up on a school district making…
- Florida Matters
Scruggs' ideas for St. Petersburg City Hall, Lightning latest, AI aiding and abetting
Maria Scruggs is stepping into the race to lead St. Petersburg. She got on the ballot by petition, not by paying a filing fee. She talks about her campaign in…
- Florida Matters
Acres away for development, AI campaign coffers, 'Land Remembered' update, the other Ice Bulls
We’re joined by state Sen. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, to talk about a new Florida law that allows development on agricultural land. Supporters say it opens up…
- Florida Matters
Sunshine State sticker shock, mapmakers unite, civics engineering, gotta have J-Hope
Florida is one of the most expensive Southern states in which to live. But why? We’re looking into a recent report on affordability in Florida. Plus, the…
- Florida Matters
Fundraiser flashback: Fight for student journalists, postpartum psychosis, dangers of hot cars
If you're looking for a reason to support WUSF, here's one. You help us produce “Florida Matters Live & Local,” which airs each Monday through Thursday at…
- Florida Matters
Fundraiser flashback: Moez than meets the eye, a dream house makeover, Felons Ain’t Failures
If you're looking for a reason to support WUSF, here's one. You help us produce “Florida Matters Live & Local,” which airs each Monday through Thursday at…
- Florida Matters
Fundraiser flashbacks: Florida Poly sports, New College documentary, quirky Florida
If you're looking for a reason to support WUSF, here's one. You help us produce “Florida Matters Live & Local,” which airs each Monday through Thursday at…
- Florida Matters
During WUSF's fundraiser, a flashback of favorite segments: Swiftie class, SAVE Act, e-bike bill
If you're looking for a reason to support WUSF, here's one. You help us produce “Florida Matters Live & Local,” which airs each Monday through Thursday at…
- Florida Matters
Earth Day is near, the price of no paid leave, Tampa Bay's tattoo culture
Next Wednesday is Earth Day. On “Live & Local,” we explore how the focus has shifted from education to action, and what meaningful change looks like. Plus…
- Florida Matters
Gabbard's vision for St. Petersburg, DeSantis’ map quest, making school buses safer
Public safety, affordability and planning are among the issues front and center for St. Petersburg mayoral hopeful Brandi Gabbard. We sit down with the veteran…
- Florida Matters
SNAP goes sugar-free, cop's firing questioned, Black Maternal Health week, your comments
Next week's new limits with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are meant to encourage healthier eating for those receiving benefits. But not all…
- Florida Matters
Coastal port loophole? Plus, how are you fueling? Drawing a strait line, and heading for third
Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter…
- Florida Matters
Raising awareness of local news, the Beatles' real nowhere man
It’s Local News Day, which highlights the work journalists do to keep their communities informed. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we sit down with Tampa Bay…
- Florida Matters
An (endangered) species argument, CAIR-FL pushes back, moon beaming, sold on ChatGTP
Floridians love their coastlines, but a federal move to weaken endangered species protections in the Gulf is sparking legal action and heated debate over…
- Florida Matters
Bondi’s sudden exit, bookworms crawling, TPS and caretaking, a Frosted Flakes bass, chef's kiss
Pam Bondi was praised publicly, then fired weeks later. We unpack what led to her departure as attorney general, her record in Florida and how the Epstein case…
- Florida Matters
Taxis over Tampa, Florida voting changes, dangers of hot cars, playing ball indoors again
Gridlock between St. Petersburg and Tampa could soon have a high-tech alternative. When will that eVTOL arrive? Plus, what listeners think about Florida’s SAVE…
- Florida Matters
Inside the MacDill scare, nesting their case, spare the timeshares, Gasparilla gets a drums up
An improvised explosive device found near Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base has triggered a complex investigation. We hear what’s new. Then, more on a landowners’…
- Florida Matters
Legal experts review Supreme Court arguments on birthright citizenship
On a special edition of "Florida Matters Live & Local," the focus is squarely on one of the most consequential legal questions facing the country: birthright…
- Florida Matters
Are you ready to rocket? Plus, a lawsuit for the birds, Zested interest, strange Florida fiction
By Wednesday night, astronauts may be trucking to the moon for the first time in 53 years. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we get the latest on the Artemis…