Lens critics deliver more than 20,000 petitions to St. Pete City Hall to force a referendum

A group opposing plans for a new St. Petersburg Pier delivered more than 20,000 petitions to City Hall Wednesday to force a referendum in August. During a press conference calling on city council to stop spending money on the project until after the election, Fred Whaley responded to claims by critics that it’s not hard to get that many people to sign a petition.

“What it’s hard to do is get 20,000 of them to do it and I guess it was a daunting task that we didn’t realize how long it woul...

The IRS Scrutinized Liberal and Conservative Groups; Which Got the Most Publicity?

Today on Radioactivity, host Rob Lorei took a closer look into the investigation on the IRS for its scrutiny of the Tea Party. His guest, a Tea Party media spokesperson went into further detail about the party's stance on the report. The show also touched on the role of the IRS during the Bush administration and how they went after peace, civil rights and environmental groups.

Find the transcript below:

[The Los Angeles Times is reporting this morning](http://www.latimes.com/news/nati...

Gun Violence Surges in Florida

Warren Elly takes an in-depth look into the gun crisis and its presence in Florida. Listen to his discussion with investigative reporter Eric Barton.

Find transcript below:

Today… It is perhaps the single most divisive issue in America – GUNS. Driven by the slaughter of young school children, multiple public opinion polls said that Americans by a wide margin favor tougher background checks for gun ownership. A Congressional majority, perhaps persuaded by ideology or the threat of ...

Planners look to transform Tampa's East Hillsborough Avenue corridor

Regional planners are looking at ways to revamp an important urban corridor along Hillsborough Avenue in East Tampa. Tuesday at the Cyrus Green Recreational Center some 20 people gathered to listen to a progress report and offer their suggestions.

The Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, commissioned a study on traffic congestion and safety. It identified the East Hillsborough Avenue corridor as an area with motorized and non-motorized...

Democrats and Republicans clash over Medicaid expansion at Pinellas political panel

The Florida Legislature is still taking heat from people who want to see the state’s Medicaid system expanded under the federal healthcare law. The House’s failure to approve a plan that would have covered 1.2 million Floridians using federal dollars was the center of debate during a Suncoast Tiger Bay Club luncheon today in Pinellas County. State Representative Larry Ahern, a Republican, defended the House’s proposal.

"Because the House proposed a plan. We had a solution. But to comp...

Town Hall Meetings in Tampa on Government Budget Cuts; and The GOP Compares Benghazi to Watergate

Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I'm Rob Lorei. Coming up we'll speak with Ward Cox with the non-profit group For The Family. FTF is holding a series of town halls to discuss how government budget cuts are impacting citizens. Tonight a town hall will be held at 7PM at the Beulah Baptist Church 1006 West Cypress in Tampa.

Later, the tragedy in Benghazi which too place in September of last year, is bringing conservatives to compar...

BP disaster relief funds could promote new coastal businesses

Money awarded to the five Gulf Coast states affected by the BP oil disaster will be split into five categories to be used for varying restoration efforts. But some of that money can be used for economic development too. During a meeting Monday in Pinellas Park, members of a Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council committee looked at ways to divvy up the dough once it’s handed out.

“The third pot is another 30% share and it is going to be distributed to the counties around the Gulf based on ...

Hillsborough EPC hosts 12th annual Clean Air Fair

In celebration of clean air month, Hillsborough county’s Environmental Protection Commission put on it’s 12th annual Clean Air Fair Thursday at Poe Plaza in downtown Tampa. It featured exhibits from local government agencies as well as local business’ showcasing their efforts towards addressing the environmental issues facing the Tampa Bay area.

The event was an effort to bring together local businesses and organizations together to help the EPC reach out and inform the community. One orga...

Former PSC Commissioner Nancy Argenziano Criticizes Legislature for Not Repealing Nuclear Cost Recovery

Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. Coming up we’ll talk with former Public Service Commissioner Nancy Argenziano. She’s one of the most outspoken people who ever served in state government.

The state legislature passed a bill during the session that gives the state’s Public Service Commission some power to limit electric companies from collecting the controversial nuclear cost recovery fee.

There had been calls for the legislature to repeal the nuclear cost reco...

Guatemalans share their civil war stories as Ríos Montt's verdict is about to be announced

Update: After this story aired Friday, Ríos Montt was unanimously found guilty on all charges.

In an ongoing trial, former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Ríos Montt is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity. A verdict is expected later Friday. He ruled in 1982 and 1983 and is charged with planning a counterinsurgency that killed 1,771 members of the Ixil indigenous group.

WMNF reporter Lenka Davis traveled to Guatemala last month and brings us the stories of victims from one o...