Tech Students, Teachers, and EV's

[link text][1][link text][1][link text][2]The Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa Florida has an Energy Whiz Olympics for students the first week of May each year and it’s all about clean energy and creative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students. Among many other events on Saturday May 4 there will be an Electrathon Race. Tampa Bay has an electrathon group of tech students from different schools that design small electric vehicles and will be participating in the FSEC r...

Director Oliver Stone: films cast imprint on American culture

Film director Oliver Stone has challenged socially accepted views of American history through films like Platoon and Wall Street. Stone spoke this month at Rollins College in Winter Park and he emphasized the roll of film on society.

Stone asserts movies wield enormous power to persuade and manipulate. The controversial director laments that unconventional views are underrepresented in the cinema. We were not allowed to interview Stone or record [his speech](http://www.rollins.edu/wpi/eve...

Regional transit in Tampa Bay is getting an updated vision

The board coordinating transit agencies from all over the Tampa Bay area is updating its master plan this year. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority discussed the changes during its meeting Friday. Even though the board considers the update minor, it includes opportunities for increased regional connectivity.

Much of the focus will be on making it easier to get between Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. Bob Clifford is TBARTA’s executive direct...

Florida's ban on bongs looks imminent

The Florida Senate, Friday, approved legislation that would ban drug paraphernalia used to smoke marijuana. The ban on bongs was introduced by St. Petersburg area Rep. Darryl Rouson who is an admitted ex-addict. If signed by Governor Rick Scott, the law would take effect on July 1st.

Sellers would be charged with a misdemeanor for first offenses. Subsequent offenses would be a third degree felony.

Critics are outraged over the decision arguing that Florida has it backwards. Several ...

YWCA Sponsoring Conference on Ending Racism; Conservatives Reversing Themselves on Support of Constitution?

Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. Coming up we’ll talk with Lenice Emanuel of the YWCA Tampa Bay about the upcoming Stand Against Racism event this Friday night at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.

And later we’ll look at how conservatives are changing their tune on the Constitution.

This Friday night at Eckerd College the YWCA Tampa Bay will hold it’s Fifth Annual Stand Against Racism event. It’s part of the YWCA’s national effort to raise awareness tha...

St. Pete residents weigh city budget options

St. Pete officials are taking input from residents on how to manage the city’s money. During the first of three budget summits last night in Northeast St. Pete, residents weighed in on what services and projects they think officials should prioritize. Lou Brown III has worked on a project called the people’s budget review that surveyed more than 500 residents.

“Ten percent responded with ending racism, segregation and enhancing the southside. Nine percent of responses were Pier related...

Tampa panelists question Cuba's terror designation

In a decisive move this month, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) announced she want the U.S. to normalize relations with Cuba. During a discussion in Tampa Wednesday, five out of six panelists agreed.

Attorney John Grandoff said the island nation should be removed from the state sponsors of terrorism list.

Grandoff said Cuba wasn’t added to the state sponsor of terrorism list until 1982.

If the U.S. removes Cuba from that list, it opens the door to lift the 50-year long trade embargo. ...

Some blind people could be cured if medical research continues; foundation simulates blindness to raise funds

Blindness caused by degenerative eye diseases can be slowed or even reversed thanks to breakthroughs in medical research. That’s why the Foundation Fighting Blindness set out to raise funds for clinical trials this month by simulating what it’s like to eat what you can’t see. Foundation spokesperson and Mrs. World April Lufriu said guests of Dining in the Dark at the Vinoy in downtown St. Pete wore a foam and plastic mask for thirty minutes while they tried to enjoy their entrees.

“Your ...

The Retirement Gamble: Are 401(k) Fees Fair?

Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. Tonight on PBS a new documentary looks at how 401(k)s are doing more to enrich Wall Street than workers who are using them to save for retirement.

But first- one listener comment about yesterday’s program—on which we discussed a forum on US Cuba relations that will take place in Tampa tomorrow.

Here’s what one listener had to say:

Tape

For most Americans, traditional retirement is now a pipe dream: Six in 10 people believe they'll have to ...

Voting rights activists demand stop to legislation that would limit voting assistance

A bill being considered in the Florida Senate would change the way people with special needs can get help casting ballots during elections. During a press conference in front of bill sponsor Senator Jack Latvala’s Clearwater office Tuesday, activists demanded he remove his support of the bill they worry will make it harder for people to get help and burden poll workers. The ACLU’s Central Florida director, Joyce Hamilton Henry calls the measure an invitation for litigation.

The measure w...