News & Public Affairs

Tampa City Council gives preliminary approval for wet zoning for Cigar City Brewing listen

12/02/10 Tom Baur
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Tags: Cigar City Brewing, Lincoln Gardens, Joe Redner, Beer, local businesses, jobs, Tampa City Council

Tampa’s Joe Redner infamously made his mark in the adult entertainment business on Dale Mabry. Two years ago Redner’s son Joey took his passion for hand-made artisan beer and built award-winning Cigar City Brewing on Spruce Street at the Redner complex. Joey’s application to add a tasting room on site brought out strong neighborhood resistance.

"In 1994 I took a trip. I'd heard t...

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Is Social Security Really On The Brink Of Collapse?

12/02/10 Robert Lorei
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Tags: Social Security, deficit

The White House panel on reducing the deficit has released its final report calling for widespread cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Panel co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson want to gradually raise the retirement age for Social Security to 69 by 2075, decrease the cost of living benefits for Social Security recipients, impose new limits on the Medicare health insurance program, and end several middle-class tax breaks while reducing income taxes for corporations. The panel will hold...

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World Bank envoy speaks to journalists on Climate Change listen

12/02/10 Kelly Benjamin
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Tags: world bank, climate change, andrew steer, developing nations, cop 16

The World Bank's special envoy for climate change, Dr. Andrew Steer, spoke to a group of environmental journalists today outside the United Nation's climate talks in Cancun. He said that developing nations can't afford to wait for the UN to figure out how to deal with climate change.

"There are two worlds out there. There is the world of negotiation, which necessarily is tough and slow and, at times, frustrating. And there is a world of action out there. And the world of action is basical...

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EPA Tells Florida to Clean Up its Environmental Act listen

12/02/10 Lisa Marzilli
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Tags: EPA, Clean Water Act, Florida

The Environmental Protection Agency is finally forcing Florida to clean up its environmental act. On November 15th the agency announced new state water quality standards. The legislation has raised the ire of industry polluters and has Republican lawmakers screaming “government intrusion” and threatening litigation. Meanwhile, environmental groups are busy trying to counter the barrage of misinformation they...

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Religious groups gather in Cancun to pray for climate deal listen

12/01/10 Kelly Benjamin
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Tags: climate change, cop 16, prayer, cancun, UN climate conference, mexican culture

Over 100 religious followers gathered in Cancun yesterday evening to pray for a strong deal deal on reducing global carbon emissions in Cancun.

Although much smaller than the 5,000 parishioners that were expected the gathering in Plaza del Reforma Square was still somewhat unprecedented for the city of Cancun, uniting Catholics, Protestants and Jews for an interfaith prayer vigil on climate change. Pastor Rudolpho Udepayha was one of the organizers of the event.

"We have people from ...

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Hillsborough BOCC weighs hiring Merrill as permanent county administrator listen

12/01/10 Kate Bradshaw
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Tags: Mike Merrill, Pat Bean, Ken Hagan, Kevin Beckner, Hillsborough BOCC, Al Higginbotham

Since the tumultuous departure of Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean last Spring, Interim County Administrator Mike Merrill has had reputation for running the county government with a steady hand. Today, County Commissioner Ken Hagan asked his colleagues to make Merrill the permanent county administrator. He stated numerous reasons for doing so.

"We have incredible value with Mr. Merrill, and I believe that he is sensitive to the economic climate and would not make any excessive...

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Tackling Bullying in Hillsborough County listen

12/01/10 Sarah Curran
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Tags: Hillsborough County, bullying

Whether online, via cell phone, physically or just harsh words, bullying is bullying and Hillsborough County is trying to stop it.

“We raise awareness we hopefully are helping at least bring attention the problem of bullying help stop some of it, and encourage kids to report it, help parents understand and know if their child is being bullied or if their child is a bully.”

Carol Micheal is the Community Relations Coordinator of Community Justice. Micheals, along with 12 other board ...

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How Religion Divides And Unites Us

12/01/10 Robert Lorei
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In his groundbreaking new book, Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam describes the growing polarization in America when it comes to religion. But he says there's also room for optimism. How religion divides and unites us next on WMNF.

Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam changed the way we think about the fabric of American society with his previous book BOWLING ALONE. Now with his latest book AMERICAN GRACE: HOW RELIGION DIVIDES AND UNITES US (Simon and Schuster), Putnam and...

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Book chronicles efforts to save injured and orphaned animals in Africa listen

12/01/10 Seán Kinane
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Tags: Africa, animals, endangered species, climate change, habitat destruction

Africa is known for its herds of wild animals – but many of them are endangered because of hunting, habitat destruction, and climate change.

WMNF spoke with an author who visited a wildlife foundation in Namibia that rescues injured and orphaned animals. Barbara Bennett is professor of English at North Carolina State University. Her book about the experience and the family that runs the Harnas Wildlife Foundation is called “Soul of a Lion – One Woman’s Quest to R...

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