Florida’s legislative session went way longer than planned, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis argued over proposed tax cuts. DeSantis signed the budget — more than $115 billion — and a slate of new laws took effect on July 1. State government reporters Meghan Bowman and Douglas Soule with the "Your Florida" team discuss what got vetoed, what survived and what it means for Tampa Bay....
On this episode of "Florida Matters," you’ll learn about The Chitlin Circuit, how it shaped the sound of jazz, blues, and rock, and how it paved the way for the music industry we see today. We revisit a conversation brought to you last February about the network of clubs that Black performers toured in the segregated South. Coming up- you’ll hear how the artists who performed on the circuit shaped the sound of blues, rock n roll, jazz and pop that came after. And how contemporary artists are pay...
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 wa...
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...
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 Gu...
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 councilwoma...
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 l...
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 Mat...
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...
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 th...
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 ...
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 Burrel...
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 Home...
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 f...
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-...
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 'Driv...
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...
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 ...
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 anywher...
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- ...
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 Flori...
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 to...
People come to Florida in droves for the beaches and warm weather. But the sunshine state also attracts its fair share of shady characters, in real life and in fiction. There’s even a genre of crime fiction set in the Sunshine State – Florida Noir. And even if you haven’t read them, you’ve probably heard of homegrown practitioners of Florida Noir like Carl Hiassen, the late Tampa resident, Tim Dorsey or Randy Wayne White. On this episode of Florida Matters, we speak to three people with differen...
On this episode of "Florida Matters," we discuss Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address to the Legislature. Topics he covered during the half-house speech included immigration, gun laws, education and property taxes. Florida’s 2025 legislative session is underway. Top issues Floridians can expect to hear lawmakers debate over the next two months include immigration, gun laws, housing and insurance. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis began the session with his annual speech laying out his vision...
It’s Spring Training time, and for the next two months, fans of the Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and other Grapefruit league teams get to experience a slightly more relaxed brand of baseball before the regular season starts. Florida Matters takes you on a tour of Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, the Spring Training base for the Baltimore Orioles. The team's Senior VP of Communications, Jennifer Grondahl , explains some of the traditions the Orioles bring to the Tampa Bay region, including their newe...
In his first month back in the White House, President Trump has moved quickly to roll out restrictions on immigration, and stop Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. And he’s turned to a key ally from the 2024 election campaign- billionaire Elon Musk- to slash jobs and federal spending. There’s an avalanche of news out of Washington, and you may be struggling to keep up and figure out how it might affect you and your neighbors across the Tampa Bay region. On this episode of Florida Matter...
If you watched the Grammys this year, you probably caught Beyonce’s acceptance speech, when, at long last she landed the album of the year. Beyonce said she hoped to keep pushing forward and opening doors. And her album- Cowboy Carter, which won the Grammy for best country album- is also a door to the past. The album tour- Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit tour- evokes the network of clubs and venues that Black musicians and performers toured during segregation last Century. And the Ch...
On this episode of Florida Matters, you’ll hear about an effort to connect people with Black businesses throughout Tampa Bay. Among the flurry of executive orders President Trump signed in his first days back in the oval office: rolling back Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives in the federal government. It’s a tactic Floridians are familiar with. Governor Ron DeSantis waged a ‘war on woke’ over the past couple of years, targeting DEI efforts in schools and workplaces. But now big busines...
The need for doctors across Florida is growing along with the state’s population. One sign of the growing need: Sarasota Memorial Hospital recently opened a new, expanded Emergency Department in Venice. By 2035 Florida could be short of 18,000 physicians. And it’s not just doctors: the state is also facing a shortage of nearly 60 thousand nurses. Acadia Jacob, advocacy director at Florida Voices for Health and Jeff Johnson, state director for AARP Florida, joined Florida Matters to talk about wh...
Immigrants in the Tampa Bay region who are here without legal documentation are waiting anxiously to see what President Trump’s vow to carry out mass deportations means for them. WUSF’s Nancy Guan joins Florida Matters to discuss her reporting on the potential impact of tough new immigration policy on immigrants, Florida’s economy and more. And Jason Delgado, Florida Capitol correspondent for Bay News 9 and My News 13, joins Florida Matters to discuss the state immigration policy and the relatio...
