News & Public Affairs
U.S. Senate hopeful Maurice Ferre on Afghanistan listen
02/18/10 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Maurice Ferre, Kendrick Meek, Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, U.S. Senate
A recent poll showed Democrat Kendrick Meek in third place behind both Republican Marco Rubio and Republican Charlie Crist in a three-way matchup for the U.S. Senate, if Crist were running as an independent.
That same poll showed that if one of Meek's little-known Democratic opponents, former Miami mayor Maurice Ferre, we...
Be the first to commentHillsborough Commissioners Discuss Next Step in Workforce Alliance Shakeup listen
02/17/10 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Renee Gilmore, Hillsborough County Commission, Marcella O'Steen, Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Mark Sharpe
Today the Hillsborough County Commissioners discussed the next step in the wake of the resignation of Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance President Renee Gilmore.
After the release of a report that revealed thousands of dollars spent on pricey meals and other lavish expenditures, Commissioner Mark Sharpe had called for her resignation. He said that he hopes the consequences of allowing misuse of taxpayer funds on things like thirty-five dollar employee lunches will set an example.
During publ...
Be the first to commentAtheists Call For An End To Official Prayers At Tampa City Council Meetings
02/17/10 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Wednesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: atheists, prayer, Tampa City Council
For several weeks now the atheists of Florida have been calling on the Tampa City Council to abolish its practice of government-sponsored prayer at the start of each council meeting. The group says "that government should be strictly neutral, neither advocating nor discouraging any religious expressions."
We're joined now by three members of the group-- which will again press the issue at tomorrow's Tampa City Council meeting. They are:
John Kieffer, President Rob Curry, Executive Di...
2 commentsAn Eyewitness Account Of The Tea Party Convention In Nashville
02/17/10 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Wednesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: tae party, conspiracy theories, birther movement
Earlier this month, the Tea Party held a convention in Nashville. While much of the mainstream media focused on the speech by former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, there was much the national media overlooked. That's according to our next guest Jonathan Kay, the managing editor for comment at Canada's National Post newspaper. Kay attended the Tea Party convention and he says the convention was filled with conspiracy theorists. His article on the convention appears at (htt...
Be the first to commentHillsborough County Commission Approves ELAPP Cone Ranch Purchase listen
02/17/10 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: water, ELAPP, Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, Al Higginbotham, Mariella Smith, Conservation, Hillsborough County Commission, Cone Ranch
The Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners voted 6-0 today to transfer Cone Ranch from the county water utility to its Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).
The purchase will take place using $11.8 million in ELAPP bond money, which Utilities and Commerce Administrator Mike Merrill said was less than what he was hoping for.
Water Utility Director Paul Vanderploog said that not transferring the land for the price of a full assessed value that may have total...
Be the first to commentThe Ruby Paine Controversy
02/17/10 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Wednesday) Listen to this entire show:
In this segment retired educator Marilyn Williams is here to talk about the kinds of training some local school districts are giving to teachers. The training involves the writings of Ruby Paine who, according to Williams, has been hired by some local school districts to do diversity training for teachers. Paine's work has been endorsed by the Florida Department of Education. But Williams is concerned that the training "reinforces stereotypes" of low income students of color. Williams also sa...
Be the first to commentWill mobility fees slow overdevelopment? listen
02/16/10 Joshua Lee HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Mobility fees, impact fees, transportation funding
According to Hillsborough Planning officials, growth and urban sprawl have spread across Hillsborough County, due in part to impact fees on urban development. The County wants to change this by getting rid of impact fees. So planning and transportation officials from local levels of government discussed changes to a newly proposed mobility fee that would replace the impact fee. It could mitigate the effects of new development, while generating revenue for improving local infrastructure.
W...
Be the first to commentReclaimed water could be cleaner than many think listen
02/16/10 Joshua Lee HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: reclaimed water, reservoir, water, Tampa Bay Water, swiftmud
Dirty water may mean disgust, illness and waste for many, but with treatment, it could be made suitable for reuse. Last night the University of South Florida joined city officials with scientists and water management authorities to discuss the future of using reclaimed water in Tampa.
Reclaimed water can be used for many purposes other than just giving people water to drink. It can be used for irrigation, creating wetlands, and can be injected underground to ward off salt water intrusion....
Be the first to commentDefense attorney Linda Moreno speaks out about client Aafia Siddiqui listen
02/16/10 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Aafia Siddiqui, Linda Moreno, Sami Al-Arian
Earlier this month the US-educated Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui was convicted by a New York jury of attempted murder.
She was accused of shooting at, but not injuring, US forces while she was in custody in Afghanistan.
One of her defense attorneys, Linda Moreno, is best known to people in Tampa Bay for representing Sami Al-Arian.
1 commentsEconomist runs for Democratic Party nomination for Governor
02/16/10 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Tuesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: North Dakota State Bank, state owned banks, Farid Khavari, Florida Governor's race, The Bank Of The State Of Florida
Our guest today is Dr. Farid Khavari, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
Dr. Khavari, an economist, is a Democratic candidate for the 2010 gubernatorial race in Florida. He has written nine books related to economics, energy, environment, healthcare and other economic-political subjects. His latest book, Towards a Zero-Cost Economy: A Blueprint to Create General Economic Security in a Carefree Economy, is receiving increasingly national and international attentio...
2 commentsSenator Charlie Justice indicts Bill Young of trading earmarks for cash listen
02/16/10 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Charlie Justice, Bill Young, earmarks
State Sen. Charlie Justice is running for the U.S. House of Representatives seat currently held by Bill Young. Young has not said if he will run for re-election. Today, Justice’s campaign began what it is calling a “ten count indictment” of Representative Bill Young. It’s not a legal indictment, Justice says, but rather accusations of trading Congressional earmarks for campaign cash.
Young did not respond to our request for an in...
Be the first to commentHands Across the Sand draws thousands to protest oil drilling in Florida waters listen
02/15/10 Doris NorritoWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: oil drilling near Florida's coast, alternative energy
The prospect of oil drilling in Florida waters drew over 2500 people to beaches all along the Florida coastline. Bracing wind and uncharacteristic cold, residents and visitors united to show Tallahassee and Washington a unified commitment to protect Florida’s marine ecosystem and tourist based economy. The message was clear – no oil drilling in Florida waters!
Restaurant owner Gregg Nicklous spoke of the impact on tourism and jobs.
Pinellas elected officials from both major parties sp...
Be the first to commentApollo Beach Desalination Plant Finally Up and Running listen
02/15/10 Concetta DeLucoWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: reservoir, wellfields, Tampa Bay Water, swiftmud
The Apollo Beach Desalination plant has finally passed some important hurdles. This morning the Tampa Bay Water board received updates on several of its other alternative water supply projects including the C.W. Bill Young reservoir.
The desalination plant was designed to generate 25 million gallons of water per day. Today, the plant is able to meet final requirements and hopes to receive $21 million plus $10 million in interest from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD...
Be the first to commentHART looks at New Tampa for a light rail stop listen
02/15/10 Joshua Lee HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Transportation, transit, transportation funding, transit referrendum, light rail, HART
There are seriously crowded roads in the New Tampa area. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit board members decided today that they may have a remedy for the traffic jams. HART officials in Ybor City agreed to look at improving congestion on Bruce B. Downs.
HART is seeking to provide some alternatives to the use of cars, such as express buses, road improvements and a light rail network. HART’s Chief of Planning & Program Development Mary Shavalier says that in addition to the USF, Downtown,...
Be the first to commentKathy Castor faces Tiger Bay Club listen
02/12/10 Tom BaurWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: kathy castor, Tiger Bay Club
Kathy Castor, Congress member for Florida’s 11th District, spoke this afternoon at the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club, at the Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater.
Standing before more than 80 members of the Tiger Bay club, two-term Democratic Representative Castor claimed the Reinvestment and Recovery program is creating jobs and helping cash-stra...
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