News & Public Affairs
The Libertarian Illusion
05/12/09 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Tuesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Politics, Libertarians
The Libertarian philosophy is gaining wider public exposure - from the candidacy of Ron Paul to Republican officials in the last four decades who branded themselves as "Libertarian Republicans." The concept they embrace is smaller governmnet, fewer taxes and a belief that private property rights are supreme.
Our guest, Providence College political scientist William E. Hudson argues in his new book, The Libertarian Illusion: Ideology, Public Policy, and the Assault on the Common Good, t...
2 commentsMothers Against Drunk Driving plan fundraiser this Saturday
05/12/09 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Tuesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: achohol, drunk driving, MADD
This Saturday morning the local chapter of MADD will hold a fundraser at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. Here to talk about the fundraiser and efforts to stop drunk driving are Don Murray, Florida director of MADD, and Jennnifer Alban, the group's Florida Development Director.
For more information, visit MADD.org or call (813) 935-2676.
1 commentsCrist confirms he will run for Senate listen
05/12/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, Mel Martinez, U.S. Senate
Gov. Charlie Crist confirmed today that he will be running for the U.S. Senate seat next year being vacated by Mel Martinez. Speaking at a news conference in Tallahassee, Crist was asked about those Floridians who may be disappointed that not only will he not be the governor after next year, but that he may be ineffective in his job as he becomes distracted by the Senate race for the next year and a half.
In Washington, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said it will support Cr...
Be the first to commentCastor: Tampa Bay will get its share of stimulus funds listen
05/11/09 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Communities in the United States that are in most need of job creation are least likely to benefit from federal stimulus transportation spending, according to an Associated Press analysis. Despite this, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor told a group of Hillsborough County Democrats today that plenty of stimulus funding is coming to the Tampa Bay area.
After reviewing $18.9 billion in stimulus funding, the AP found the federal government plans to spend 50 percent more per person in regions w...
Be the first to commentJamie Bennett tarred by allegations from ex-campaign manager listen
05/11/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Jaime Bennett, St. Petersburg politics, Peter Schorsch
According to a campaign organizer fired last week, St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Jamie Bennett intentionally tried to influence neighborhood presidents and community leaders with free baseball tickets to the city's suite at Tropicana Field.
That's according to Peter Schorsch, Bennett's former campaign manager, in comments made to the St. Petersburg Times on Sunday. Schorsch also said Bennett attempted to discredit other candidates, and attempted dirty campaign tactics – such as try...
Be the first to commentPam Iorio will not run for CFO or Senate in 2010 listen
05/11/09 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio announced today that she would not seek any statewide office in 2010.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist will announce his future political plans on Tuesday. It is widely expected that he will run next year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez. Crist’s decision is likely to set off a chain of other announcements, including the state’s Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announcing a run for governor.
But Iorio’s announcement on Monday means that she wi...
Be the first to commentNeighborhood activist pleased at new Gasparilla regulations listen
05/11/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Gasparilla, public indecency
For years, some residents in Tampa’s Hyde Park District have become increasingly angry at the annual Gasparilla Parade event.
The signature Tampa street party brings several hundred thousand people to town in mid-February. Many of those people drink alcohol, sometimes beginning early in the afternoon. That’s led to lots of reports of public urination, belligerent attitudes, and other related aspects of drunken behavior.
In response, the organizers of the event met with some residents...
Be the first to commentLiberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf speaks in Tampa listen
05/11/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, University of Tampa commencement
On Saturday morning, the President of the Republic of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, addressed the University of Tampa commencement convocation at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The first woman president on the continent of Africa, President Sirleaf was elected in November 2005. In 2006, Forbes magazine named her the 51st most powerful woman in the world.
In her address, Sirleaf told the Tampa graduates that they should not get discouraged in the current economy if they can’t acquire thei...
Be the first to commentA 'Mother Load' of humor from one who knows
05/09/09 Mary GlenneyFrom A Woman's Point of View
Tags: Motherhood
Amy Wilson is a writer and actor in a one-woman show. She is a mother of three children under age 5. Amy Wilson brings her own experience in her fruitless quest to be the perfect mom to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Critics have called it “flawless”, “hysterical” and a “must see.” She talked about her experience as a mother and some of the issues surrounding motherhood. TECO Theater, TBPAC, May 12-14, 7:30 pm. www.tbpac.org. www.motherloadshow.com.
Be the first to commentCode Pink in D.C. on Mother’s Day
05/09/09 Mary Glenney and Arlene EngelhardtFrom A Woman's Point of View
Tags: Code Pink Alert, Medea Benjamin
Medea Benjamin is co-founder of Code Pink. Medea talked about Code Pink and other activists as they prepare for the 24-hour vigil across from the White House and are busily stitching together the thousands of pink and green knit squares sent from all over the world.
Remembering the original Mother’s Day intent for mothers of the world to unite to try to prevent war. She spoke of the emotion of receiving squares from groups like a homeless group in Turkey.
As Julia Ward Howe said, ...
Be the first to commentDoctor calls for health care not warfare
05/09/09 Mary Glenney and Arlene EngelhardtFrom A Woman's Point of View
Tags: Health care, politics, reform
Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-chair of the Maryland Physicians for National Health Program, and Donna Smith, Community Organizer of California Nurses Association and National Co-chair of Progressive Democrats of America “Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign, were our guests.
Did you read about the Maryland Pediatrician who was cuffed like a criminal and pushed out the door at the Senate Finance Committee’s roundtable discussion of healthcare? Dr. Margaret Flowers, a Maryland Pediatrician was that ...
Be the first to commentRep. Keith Fitzgerald on Legislature's lack of action listen
05/08/09 Arielle StevensonWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Keith Fitzgerald, Solar Energy, Legislature, Charlie Crist, Renewable Dividend, Gainesville
Last year, Gov. Charlie Crist bucked party lines by endorsing clean energy at the the Global Summit for Climate Change, promising to invest in renewable technologies and reduce carbon emissions.
As lawmakers in the Tallahassee wrap up another legislative session today it looks like Florida has made little progress toward greener fuels.
Democratic State representative Keith Fitzgerald of Sarasota spoke with WMNF earlier this week about the state’s clean energy portfolio. Fitzgerald sa...
Be the first to commentGeneral Dynamics to hire engineers for Broward plant listen
05/08/09 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
The Labor Department announced this morning that the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 8.9 percent in April, and it’s even higher in Florida.
Up to 20 Tampa Bay area engineers who have government security clearance and are willing to relocate to Broward County may be in luck finding a job next week.
C4 Systems is one of 12 business units of the weapons and technology company General Dynamics. On Monday and Tuesday they will be in...
Be the first to commentRanks of homeless in Pinellas swell listen
05/08/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Homelessness, Pinellas County
A report says that homelessness in Pinellas County has risen by 20 percent since 2007.
The Pinellas Coalition for the Homeless announced that a total of 6,235 are homeless, after conducting a count in the last week of January. And the report show a 100 percent increase in homeless children.
Sarah Synder is the executive director of the Pinellas County Coalition of the Homeless. She says the bad economy is the #1 factor in the increase.
Meanwhile, there will be a benefit for a Pinell...
Be the first to commentKing sways some Democrats on budget vote listen
05/08/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Politics, Legislature, state budget
The Florida Senate voted 32-8 for the $66.5 billion budget today, but not all of the Democrats voted against it, as they vowed last night as a protest.
Jacksonville Republican Jim King tried to shame some of them today against voting against the budget, discussing the bipartisan nature of the Senate in passionate terms.
Miami Dade County Democrat Fredericka Wilson bitterly accused Senate leaders of capitulating to the more conservative House in crafting the final budget.
J.D. Alexand...
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