Former Pentagon official defends U.S. use of drones

A former Pentagon official is defending the United States’ use of drones. During a lecture Thursday at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Michael James Barton blamed criticism of the unmanned aircraft on media that sensationalize perceived future threats associated with using new technology.

“The Spartans were really, really upset that the Athenians used arrows because how dare they, we can’t even see the enemy, they’re coming from afar. You don’t face your enemy with courage...

Fanni Green, Jamison Hudson and Tia Strachen discuss "In the Next Room"

Fanni Green, a professor of theatre and culture at the University of South Florida Tampa campus, discusses the play "In the Next Room by Sarah Ruhl. Sarah Ruhl the author has said that In the N ext Room "is not a sex farce about vibrators. It's about wet nurses; it's about the body. It's misleading to say it is purely about the object." Fanni says that to her, "In The Next room" is about discovery, longing, breastfeeding, "electric" connections, love, inventions and the human touch. Luckily...

Directors Lana Wilson and Martha Shane discuss the documentary After Tiller

Lana Wilson and Martha Shane, the directors of After Tiller, discuss their film. After the assassination of Dr. George Tiller in Kansas in 2009, four American physicians-Dr. Leroy Carhart, Dr. Warren Hern, Dr. Shelley Sella and Dr. Susan Robinson were the only remaining providers of late-term abortions in the United States. Living under constant threat of violence, they continue to do their work. With unprecedented access into the lives of these doctors and the patients who seek their help...

Homeless recount in Hillsborough aims to find more people than January

Volunteers combed the county Tuesday night to find out if there are still more than 7,000 people living on the streets Hillsborough County. Many fewer than that were counted in January, prompting this recount.

A woman named Kimberly sat alone on a curb in downtown Tampa saying she hoped the effort would help people like her.

“I just try to, you know, get shelter when I can, fill out applications. I’m trying to go back to rehab. I eat lunch at Trinity where they feed the homeless fo...

Labor activists want local control over wage theft ordinances, ask state to stay out of it

Labor activists are protesting two bills working their way through Tallahassee they fear would hurt workers. The protest in front of the County Center in downtown Tuesday Tampa was led by AFL-CIO regional coordinator Aaron Carmella who said the so-called “wage theft” bills would rob local governments of their abilities to protect workers from unfair employers.

“They say that they’re trying to streamline a process to keep it the same across the state, but basically what they’re doing is t...

Military Spending: Making the US Less Secure?

Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. Coming up we’ll talk about the military budget with a 24 year veteran of the CIA who will be speaking in Sarasota tomorrow.

Mel Goodman was a Soviet analyst for the CIA and state department for 24 years. He is an Army veteran and was a professor at the National War College. He’s written a new book in which he says that the US spends far more on the military than necessary. And that the projection of US military power abroad can actual...

Tampa advocate for prisoners is honored with post office naming

A long-time community leader’s memory is being honored by naming a post office after him. More than 100 Tampa residents watched as a plaque with Abe Brown’s name on it was unveiled Tuesday at the post office on East Hillsborough Ave.

Abe Brown was a winning coach, beloved educator and founder of Prison Crusade Ministries. Brown founded what is now Abe Brown Ministries after a former player he coached was charged with murder. His family says he realized that he ta...

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn indecisive on normalization with Cuba

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn isn’t taking a stance on normalizing relations with Cuba.

"It’s not an issue that I am weighing in on. It’s not an issue that, as mayor, I have any control over. I have enough on my plate with the things that I do control.”

But Buckhorn says he does see the embargo ending sooner or later.

“I would hope it would be when the Castro government – either Raul or Fidel are gone – and I think it will be when the Cuban people have an opportunity to exercise the...

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor worried about boys abducted in Tampa and taken to Cuba

The man accused of abducting his two sons from Tampa last week is reportedly in Cuba. An Associated Press reporter in Havana wrote "the family appeared to interact normally" there. Tampa Congress member Kathy Castor told reporters during an unrelated event today that she is working hard to ensure the family is returned to the U.S.

The news comes just days after Castor returned from a trip to Cuba. The U.S. Representative said she’s in contact with authorities including the Hillsborough Co...

Occupy Tampa holds its first general assembly in months

It has been about seven months since Occupy Tampa pulled up the stakes on their tents. But that doesn’t mean members aren’t continuing activism. Sunday night Occupy Tampa held its first general assembly in months.

It is 7:30 p.m. and about 35 people have gathered for the assembly at Kiley Garden Amphitheater. Pepe Slamdunk remembers times from last year when the turnout was higher.

"Last year the amphitheater was full of people. A hundred people at a time, we'd have people on the side...