Florida Matters

Tampa Bay has a world renowned arts scene. Chances are you’ve caught an exhibition at the Dali museum in St. Petersburg- or taken in some of the dazzling, larger than life art at the SHINE mural festival. But did you know Tampa is also the birthplace of death metal? On this episode you’ll hear from WUSF reporters who’ve been spotlighting the arts and culture of Tampa Bay. If you feel like there’s something missing from your morning routine, Lily Belcher has a story about a cafe where you can watch kittens rough and tumble as you sip your cappuccino. Walk around the streets of St. Petersburg- and you’ll see murals- lots of them. Visit St. Pete Clearwater says more than 600 adorn walls throughout the city. A new gallery exhibition mashes up murals with another icon of the city’s arts scene: the museum devoted to surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Sue Giles Wantuck shares details about the ‘Outside In’ exhibit, and why mural artists are happy to pour hours and hours into creating enormous, complex works of art, even when they know their art won’t last forever. And Daylina Miller breaks down Tampa’s unique connection with extreme metal. They explain why the original site of Morrisound Recording was honored with a historic marker, and why metalheads right here in theplace it all began are some of the nicest people you’ll meet, even if the music’s a bit aggressive.

When you hear the term ‘romance novel', does it conjure up images of Fabio’s flying hair- or maybe some bodice ripping? You can still find that between the covers of a romance novel, but there’s so much more. You’re just as likely to read about a baseball diamond as a bodice in the new universe of romance fiction. One thing these novels all have in common? Two people making a connection. On this episode, local novelist Alicia Thompson, author of novels like ‘With Love from Cold World’, ‘The Art of Catching Feelings,’ ‘Love in a time of Serial Killers and others, and Steamy Lit bookstore owner and convention founder Melissa Saavedra talk about the growing audience for Romance fiction, breaking stereotypes and what keeps readers hooked on the genre.

There’s a lot more mystery and magic to this state than "Florida Man" headlines suggest. Take a drive around the Tampa Bay area and you may wonder about the story behind the UFO perched atop a strip club, Weeki Wachee’s mermaid show or Tampa’s obsession with pirates. Gabrielle Calise, a culture writer who reports on offbeat Florida, nostalgia and music for the Tampa Bay Times, is an expert guide to all things wild and wonderful about the state. Calise is the editor of “Florida, a Hyper-local Guide to the Flora, Fauna and Fantasy of the Most Far-out State in America," and she joins "Florida Matters" to share some of the stories behind the spectacle. Gasparilla, the festival built around the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar, dates back to 1904 and is now part of the city’s DNA. “Being the mayor of Tampa means that you're gonna participate and have to fight a bunch of pirates and give up the key to the city. No other place really has a tradition quite like that,” Calise said. Other highlights from Calise’s conversation on "Florida Matters" include tips on where to spot manatees around Tampa Bay and where to see a mermaid show (Weeki Wachee), of course). There’s also insights into Tampa’s take on a Cuban sandwich and Floridians’ attitudes to hurricane prep.

The Tampa City Council announced Tuesday morning that Henderson died at her home of natural causes overnight. Henderson was an educator and bookstore owner. And in this episode, we’re revisiting Florida Matters host Matthew Peddie's conversation with Henderson last year at Black English, the store in Tampa Heights that she ran with her daughter, Ariel. When they sat down to chat, the bookstore had been open for just a few months. And Henderson was not even a year into her role as a councilwoman. They talked about her entry to politics after a long career as an educator, and pushing back with her bookstore as the state of Florida changed its Black History curriculum and pulled books from library shelves and school classrooms.

In the lead up to the start of hurricane season, Florida Matters took a closer look at stories of recovery- from homeowners, business leaders and community members. In this episode you’ll hear highlights from the series: how businesses are rebuilding and how local governments are trying to prevent the flooding that swamped neighborhoods across our region last year. You’ll also hear tips on managing your mental health and dealing with the anxiety that comes with natural disasters. And community leaders and some of your neighbors from around Tampa Bay share their insights about building community resilience before, during and after a storm.

David Jolly represented Florida's 13th congressional district, in Pinellas County, from 2014 to 2017. He left the Republican party in 2018 and has spent the past few years advocating for more options for voters dissatisfied with the major political parties. In April, he registered as a Democrat. Jolly was born in Dunedin and grew up in Dade City. His father was a Baptist preacher. He represented Florida's 13th congressional district, in Pinellas County, from 2014 to 2017. Jolly tells Florida Matters host Matthew Peddie that his party affiliation has changed- and so have his politics- including his views on abortion. When he ran for congress in 2014, he was pro life. Now, he wants to see abortion rights returned to what they were before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade in 2022. He says Florida is facing an affordability crisis and he thinks voters will be looking for a change when they head to the ballot box in 2026.

There’s a certain model of handgun that’s popular with gun owners across the country. It’s popular with law enforcement too. But recently, some agencies- including right here in Tampa Bay- opted to remove the Sig Sauer P320 from their arsenals because of safety concerns. On this episode you'll hear from a journalist who's been covering this issue for The Trace and Mother Jones. Ava Sasani explains why some police departments and sheriff’s offices don’t want officers using this gun- and why these weapons are being sold back to the general public. But first - an update on state politics. You remember back at the start of May, lawmakers were supposed to wrap up their two month lawmaking stint by passing a budget. Only- they didn’t. WUSF’s Douglas Soule, part of the 'Your Florida' team reporting on how state government affects you, joins Florida Matters to walk us through what lawmakers need to do to pass a budget- and what could happen if they can't reach an agreement by the end of June.

On "Florida Matters," we discuss hurricane recovery for Tampa Bay area businesses following the 2024 storms. We also look into how business owners can prepare and find relief this year. Building a business can be hard work. And for business owners across the Tampa Bay region, there’s been an added disruption — hurricanes. Hurricanes Milton and Helene caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to Pinellas County businesses. And that number grows exponentially when you look around the rest of the region. Pinellas beaches are open for business, but hotel rooms are still closed along the beaches as some hotels await repairs. Even businesses that weren’t physically damaged were still impacted. On this episode of Florida Matters, you’ll hear from two people who are in the thick of helping businesses rebuild after last year’s storms while also preparing for this year’s storm season. Charlie Justice is the CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. And Jennifer Biles is a business consultant with the Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida. They talk about what hurricane recovery has looked like for impacted businesses and how business owners can prepare and find relief this year. Click here to find out how you can find assistance for your business.

If your home flooded during hurricane season last year, you may still be recovering from the damage. A lot of neighborhoods flooded as a series of storms impacted the Tampa Bay region- Hurricane Debby, then Helene and soon after that- Milton. And it wasn’t just places on the coast. Inland neighborhoods flooded too. So- with hurricane season almost here- what are local governments doing to prevent more flooding? And how are people rebuilding? WUSF journalists Jessica Meszaros, Kerry Sheridan and Steve Newborn join Florida Matters to discuss their reporting on the ongoing recovery from flooding in communities across the greater Tampa Bay region.

When a disaster strikes, you can expect help from local and state governments, and from FEMA. But it may not be long before you find out those agencies can’t do it all. And knowing who your neighbors are can make a big difference in how your community recovers. In this episode, you’ll hear from community leaders, and from some of your neighbors across the Tampa Bay region, about the different ways people can help each other out before, during and after a hurricane. Panelists included Mary Burrell, the Whole Community Engagement Program Lead with Pinellas County Emergency Management; Thomas Mantz, the President and CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay; Charles Gallagher, an attorney with Gallagher & Associates in St. Petersburg; and Matt Thorn, who started the Relief Market and Grill out of his Shore Acres home after Hurricane Helene. The conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at the Palladium Side Door Cabaret in St. Petersburg.

Hurricane season is always stressful. And it may weigh even heavier as you continue to recover from last year’s storms. So how are you coping – and dealing with the unknowns as Hurricane Season arrives? We invited a couple of people who are experts in helping people get through crises. On this episode you'll hear from Clara Reynolds, the President and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, and Dr. Amber Mehmood a professor specializing in Global Disaster Management, Humanitarian Relief and Homeland Security at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. We also heard from people across the Tampa Bay region who had questions and stories to share about facing the stress of disaster recovery and dealing with the anxiety of hurricane season. Reynolds and Dr. Mehmood weigh in with their answers and insights.

When Manatee County got rid of bus fares- ridership went up. And it’s not the only place in Tampa Bay where more people started taking the bus after fares went away. Hillsborough County made its most popular bus route, from downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida, free for this year, and ridership is way up. On this episode of Florida Matters, Manatee County Transit Division Manager Kevin Hoyt explains why it makes sense to get more people on the bus, even when they're not collecting fare revenue. And, Streetsblog USA senior editor Kea Wilson talks about how other transit agencies around the US have adopted the fare-free model, and the arguments for and against removing the fare box. Also, if you've driven the recently reopened Howard Frankland Bridge, you might have noticed it's built higher to withstand storm surge like Tampa Bay experienced during the last hurricane season. WUSF’s Sky Lebron caught up with historian Rodney Kite Powell on top of the bridge, before it reopened to traffic. Hear how the original bridge, which opened in 1960, was built for a post-war population boom, much like the remodeled bridge is built to handle traffic for Tampa Bay's current population boom. And you’ll get caught up on some of the latest transportation news from around the greater Tampa Bay region. Hear why the cross bay ferry is sailing for the last time, about efforts to ease traffic woes on the dreaded I-4 corridor, and how Tampa International Airport is dealing with animal problems.

You know the Tampa Bay Rays. If you’re a baseball fan, you follow the wins and losses. But if you’re a taxpayer in St Petersburg or Pinellas County, the ongoing stadium saga may grab your attention. The city of St Petersburg is fixing the damaged roof of Tropicana Field. Across the Bay in Tampa - the team plays its home games at Steinbrenner Field But here’s the question you - and a lot of your neighbors - really want answered once and for all: Will the team stick around long-term after the one-point-three billion dollar deal to redevelop the stadium collapsed? WUSF’s Steve Newborn, and Tampa Bay Times reporter Colleen Wright stopped by Florida Matters to help get you caught up with the latest twists and turns with the Rays and why this story reverberates far beyond the Trop. “The [St. Petersburg] mayor [Ken Welch] won't work with this ownership group,” Wright added. “I know that that sentiment is the same, also at the county level, they feel the same way, and they also feel like, if the Rays couldn't make it work with 700 plus million dollars in public funding, would it ever work? I don't know.” Newborn said negotiations on a new stadium go back decades. “This was pitched by Mayor Welch as a way to right what he views as an historical wrong. He had relatives who grew up in that old Gas Plant neighborhood which was bulldozed back in the 1980s to build this [Stadium], you know, which was by no means a sure thing. It was kind of ‘build it and they will come’, right?” “So all this was seen as basically spurring a development that would create new taxes in the area around the stadium, right, that would make it profitable.”

When Uber arrived in Tampa Bay ten years ago, it was a game changer for transit, disrupting the taxi industry and opening up the gig economy. Uber says it has more than 8 million drivers and couriers worldwide using the app each month. And it’s been reported that Uber commands about three quarters of the ride share business in the US. Javi Correoso is the director of public affairs for Uber’s South region. He tells Florida Matters Uber doesn’t discuss market share. But he says Tampa Bay has been good for the company. Correoso also talks about how Tampa Bay has been a model for Uber's integration with mass transit systems around the country. And he addresses concerns raised by drivers on the app, like pay and safety, and how robotaxis could affect the rideshare business.

When Uber arrived in Tampa Bay ten years ago, it was a gamechanger. The rideshare app disrupted the taxi industry and offered people a way to make extra money on their own schedule. It hasn’t all been smooth driving since then. Last year, Uber and Lyft drivers in Tampa joined a nationwide strike, calling for higher wages. Joining Florida Matters for a conversation about what it's like to drive for Uber, and how it fits into the wider gig economy in Tampa Bay are Jonathan Rigsby, author of 'Drive: Scraping By in Uber's America, One Ride at a Time'; Dragana Mrvos, assistant professor of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Tampa; and Ashley Girbal Kritzer, business reporter with the Tampa Bay Business Journal. You'll also hear from Javi Correoso, Uber's Head of Federal Affairs and U.S. Policy for the South region, who discusses Uber's impact on moving people around Tampa Bay and addresses some of the concerns brought up by drivers who use the platform. A more in-depth conversation with Correoso is available as a bonus Florida Matters podcast. Correoso talks about how Tampa Bay has been a model for how Uber integrates with mass transit systems around the US, the future of robotaxis and more.

At the start of the session, you heard from WUSF’s ‘Your Florida’ team. Reporters Meghan Bowman and Douglas Soule are keeping tabs on the legislature up in Tallahassee and talking with you and your neighbors across Tampa Bay about issues that you think are important. On this episode you'll hear from Douglas and Meghan about how the session is going. Lawmakers are debating things like loosening gun legislation and proposed changes to the constitutional amendment process. Meanwhile, a legislators have reversed a law passed a couple years ago that would have mandated later start times for middle and high school students. There’s also tug of war over taxes in the Florida legislature. Lawmakers and the governor want to cut taxes in this already low-tax state. But they disagree over what taxes to cut. And you'll hear the latest on whether Florida will get a new state bird.

Tampa Bay is a pro sports town. You’ve got the Lightning for Hockey, Buccaneers for Football, and the Rays for baseball. That attracts folks for hundreds of games in the area this year. But there’s another huge presence: the numbers are in for the first IndyCar Series broadcast of the season for the audience that watched Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden battle on the streets of St. Petersburg’s waterfront. 1.4 million viewers watched, a steep increase from last year’s race. And if you were anywhere near downtown St. Pete at the start of March, you probably heard it, as the streets alongside the marina were transformed into a racetrack for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. For this episode, Florida Matters takes you to the Grand Prix, where motor racing fans talk about what keeps them coming back. And you'll hear what drivers like Hailie Deegan and Lochie Hughes think about racing in St. Pete. And- we talk with Chris Steinocher, President and CEO at St Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission's Claire Lessinger, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee hosting the Women’s Final Four. They share insights into what it takes to bring marquee events to Tampa Bay, and how they help power the area's economy.

Birding- or bird watching- is booming. The US Fish and Wildlife service estimates there are 96 million birders in the United States. That’s one in three adults in this country. And even if you aren’t one of them- you may just be birdwatching by default. On this episode, Florida Matters executive producer Gracyn Doctor takes you on a bird walk at Lettuce Lake. And you'll hear about the appeal of birdwatching- and why young people in particular are flocking to the hobby. Joining the conversation- Ann Paul, President of the Tampa Audubon and Florida Ornithological Society; Kara Cook, Suncoast Rooftop Biologist with Audubon Florida; and WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan. Sheridan has reported on efforts by birders in Sarasota to protect a popular birdwatching site from development, and on young Floridians taking up birdwatching. Cook and Paul also share tips on what you need to get started on birdwatching and how to get involved in monitoring bird populations and conservation efforts.

If you experienced Hurricane Milton- or Helene or Debby- it’s something you don’t want to relive. But for some people in Tampa Bay- they’re still dealing with flooding from last year’s storms. WUSF's Sky Lebron visited people in Pasco and Polk County who whose homes were flooded during last year's hurricane season. Some are living in RVs because floodwaters left their homes uninhabitable. Others are still unable to get into their houses because the water never went down. Lebron talked with Florida Matters about how they are coping and why it's been so hard for them to get help.

For many Floridians, getting ready for hurricane season means things like dusting off the emergency supply kit, checking flashlight batteries and making sure you know where your important documents are stashed. But for some Tampa Bay residents who lived through the 2024 hurricane season- they’re still dealing with flooding from Hurricane Milton- and worried about what the next season may bring. WUSF's Sky Lebron explains how people in Polk and Pasco Counties are trying to put their lives back together without electricity, running water, and homes ruined by floodwaters. And you may know that oyster beds can help protect shorelines from the impact of powerful storms. WUSF’s Steve Newborn takes us on a tour of an artificial island in Hillsborough Bay, where oysters help protect an important bird nesting site.