Florida Matters

From back to back hurricanes to the twists and turns of the US presidential election, there’s been a lot to keep up with in 2024. Reporters in the WUSF newsroom who covered the issues that had the biggest impact on the greater Tampa Bay region join Florida Matters to share their insights. Steve Newborn covers politics and the environment, Nancy Guan focuses on immigration and education, Stephanie Colombini covers health care and Sky Lebron covers transportation among other things. Highlights include stories about polarizing constitutional amendments on recreational marijuana and abortion access, immigration issues, the high cost of groceries and housing, campus protests, and a widely criticized plan to put amenities like pickleball and golf courses in state parks. Reporters also covered some lighter stories including a quest to find the source of mysterious sounds in Tampa Bay, which some speculate was caused by fish mating.

Just a few short months ago the Tampa Bay Rays appeared to be in striking distance of getting a brand new ballpark in St. Petersburg- on the Tropicana Field site. Then, in October, Hurricane Milton roared into town, tearing the roof off Tropicana Field. This was no leaking roof: the storm destroyed the massive fabric top of the stadium. That led to a cascade of new problems for the talks already 18 years old. The city council needs to address repairs to the existing stadium. And newly elected Pinellas County Commissioners less friendly to the stadium deal were sworn in And delays caused by the hurricane are threatening to drive up the cost of the $1.3 billion dollar project. So are the hopes of the Rays- and St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch- for a new stadium in tatters like the roof of the beloved Trop? Colleen Wright who covers St. Pete for the Tampa Bay Times joins Florida Matters to bring you up to speed-- and to help explain what the community could expect.

You might remember when state parks hit the headlines last summer. Florida’s department of environmental protection proposed major developments at nine state parks- including lodges, pickleball courts and a golf course. But they dropped those plans after widespread protests. You’re about to meet a St. Petersburg couple on a mission to visit all 175 state parks. And you’ll hear what makes these places so special and why people want to protect them. In the months after March 2020 as the world grappled with the unknown of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilma Norton and Peter Couture decided to start visiting state parks. And as you’ll hear on this episode of Florida Matters, they have a whole new appreciation for Florida since they embarked on their adventure.

As you look ahead to Thanksgiving, you’re probably thinking about the logistics of the get-together: travel, food preparation or navigating conversations with your extended family. And you may also be thinking of your neighbors and how you can step up for those who need a helping hand this time of year. Jennifer Yeagley, with the St. Pete Free Clinic, calls it a “beautifully busy time” as the spirit of giving rolls out. And this year the holidays are going to be even busier as people get their lives back on track after Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. Yeagley talk with Florida Matters about what the free clinic provides for vulnerable people in the community- from health check-ups to groceries- and how the hurricane season has already driven up demand for those services.

affordable houses in short supply and lots of competition. But if you do own a home in the Tampa Bay region, you might be facing another challenge: getting insurance. WUSF’s Jessica Meszaros has been reporting on what the homeowner’s insurance crisis looks and feels like in Tampa Bay, and her reporting is featured on WWNO’s ‘Sea Change’ podcast. Meszaros’ podcast ‘The Stormy Insurance Crisis in the Sunshine State’ dropped back in August, before Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. Those back to back storms brought the insurance crisis into focus, as the region recovers. Meszaros joins Florida Matters why Florida is the “origin story” of the collapsing home insurance market, and how sketchy companies and climate change are fueling the crisis.

Like a lot of your friends and neighbors across the greater Tampa Bay region- you’re probably looking forward to putting the 2024 Hurricane season in the rear view mirror. The season’s not quite over- yet. But if your home or business was damaged by Hurricane Milton- or Helene or Debby- it may take some time to get your life back in order. Joining Florida Matters to take calls from listeners around the greater Tampa Bay region this episode are: Brady Penn, external affairs officer with FEMA; Charles Gallagher, attorney with Gallagher and associates in St. Petersburg; Clara Reynolds, President and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

On election night 2025, Florida Matters heard from reporters at WUSF and partner stations at watch parties in the Tampa Bay region as results came in. Political journalist William March shared insights on the races that were set to have the biggest impact on the balance of power in federal and state government. And the proposed constitutional amendments - on recreational marijuana, abortion access and more. And listeners called in to share their experience of the election, from voting to the issues that were top of mind as they cast their votes. Guests on this episode include: Political journalist William March WUSF reporters Nancy Guan, Steve Newborn and Stephanie Colombini WLRN reporters Verónica Zaragovia and Wilkine Brutus

The economy is a leading topic mentioned by voters this year. A poll from the Pew Research Center published in September revealed eight in ten registered voters said the economy will be very important to their vote in the presidential election. People who responded to an unscientific WUSF survey said they have concerns about property and auto insurance. Income inequality, the cost of housing, inflation and the national debt are among the other economic issues that you say you’re worried about. And basic needs - like the cost of food - are important for voters of all ages. On this episode of Florida Matters, you’ll hear from WUSF’s Steve Newborn about the economic concerns of senior citizens and students across the greater Tampa Bay region as they think about how they’ll vote. And Michael Snipes, an associate professor of instruction in economics at the University of South Florida, explains the relationship between the election and the economy when it comes to issues like inflation, the cost of housing and homeowners insurance, and policy proposals like eliminating tax on tips. And, with the presidential election just days away, a lot of people are worried about election integrity. Marion County elections supervisor Wesley Wilcox talks about how you can be sure your vote will be counted, and what’s being done to prevent cyberattacks on elections offices.

Hurricane Milton made landfall nearly two weeks ago- and for some- the disaster isn’t over. Flooding is still causing big problems after the storm dumped more than a foot of rain in some parts of the greater Tampa Bay area. in Hernando County the Withlacoochee river is just starting to go down, but it’s going to take some time for flood waters to recede. Hernando County emergency manager David DeCarlo explains how people near the Withlacoochee river are dealing with the floodwaters, and what the county is doing to help.

As the presidential election heads into its final weeks, you’re probably seeing a torrent of campaign ads, memes and political headlines on your social media. There’s a lot of misinformation swirling around online too And after back to back hurricanes, misinformation is also spinning up around natural disasters- from how storms are formed to disaster recovery. When your social media feed is jammed with images and headlines about political candidates and storm victims- how can you tell what’s real and what’s fake? In about 10 minutes you’ll hear from Alex Mehadevan, director of Mediawise at Poynter. He’ll share tips on the impact of misinformation- and how to spot it. But first- Hurricane Milton made landfall nearly two weeks ago- and for some- the disaster isn’t over. Flooding is still causing big problems after the storm dumped more than a foot of rain in some parts of the greater Tampa Bay area. Hernando County Emergency Manager David DeCarlo joins Florida Matters to explain how people are coping with the ongoing flooding

It’s been nearly a week since Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key and ripped through the Tampa Bay region and across Central Florida. Just as people were beginning to pick up their lives after Hurricane Helene. And for many of you it’s been a tough stretch- dealing with damage to your homes, flooding, boil water notices and power outages- and the frantic search for gas. But life is starting to return to some semblance of normal after back to back hurricanes. And that includes getting back to school. On this episode of Florida Matters you'll hear from Tampa Bay Times education reporter Jeff Solochek on how schools were preparing to reopen across the region. Also, Hillsborough County elections supervisors Craig Latimer shares tips on voting in the aftermath of a disaster. And FAU urban design professor John Renne talks about how communities can rebuild to be more resilient.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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