News & Public Affairs
Two-hundred mile march for farmworkers' rights doesn't hurdle Publix roadblock listen
03/18/13 Lenka DavisWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: CIW, Publix, workers rights, Fair Food Program, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, immigration, Lakeland
About 1500 farmworkers and their allies completed their 200 mile, two week March for Respect, Rights and Fair food yesterday in Lakeland. They gathered at the headquarters of Publix in hope that the supermarket giant would honor what they’re calling a Fair Food Program.
More than a decade ago south Florida tomato harvesters began a campaign for fair working conditions. Before the Coalition of Immokalee Workers organized, wages had not gone up in more than 20 years and workers are still pa...
Be the first to commentCoalition of Immokalee Workers and allies to begin six-day Fast for Fair Food Monday
02/29/12 Seán KinaneLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Coalition of Immokalee Workers, farmworkers, immigration, Lakeland, Publix, Student Farmworker Alliance
On Monday, Immokalee migrant farmworkers and their allies will begin a six-day Fast for Fair Food in Lakeland. This afternoon my guests were Elbin Perez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Joe Parker of the Student/Farmworker Alliance.
Here are more WMNF News stories about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Be the first to commentState Senate's harsh funding cut proposal draws pushback from USF supporters listen
02/14/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: USF, JD Alexander, USF Polytechnic, Lakeland, Florida Legislature, 2012 Legislative session
The University of South Florida could lose $79 million in funding if a state Senate budget proposal is adopted. Under the plan, USF would also lose control over its Lakeland Polytechnic Institute, which would become the state’s 12th independent university. At an emergency board meeting last night, trustees estimated the overall cost would $130 million.
The Senate’s proposed budget withholds $25 million from USF until it cuts its Po...
Be the first to commentCallers weigh in on Florida's redistricting process
07/27/11 Seán KinaneLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: redistricting, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel, Florida Legislature
This week there were two redistricting hearings in WMNF's listening area. On Monday in Lakeland and on Tuesday in Wesley Chapel. Last Call listeners had their say about the hearings and the redistricting process.
You can find out more about redistricting and try your hand at dra...
Be the first to commentFlorida redistricting committee hits Lakeland; Wesley Chapel is next listen
07/26/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: redistricting, fair districts, Will Weatherford, Don Gaetz, Lakeland, Polk County
A group of state legislators charged with mapping out Florida’s voting districts is facing criticism and praise as they make their way across the state. A public hearing in Polk County drew out voters of every stripe to weigh in on the state’s politically-charged redistricting process.
More than one hundred people attended the hearing at Polk State College’s Lakeland campus, and dozens addressed the redistricting committee directly. Some praised the ...
Be the first to commentLive report from redistricting meeting in Lakeland listen
07/25/11 Seán Kinane and Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: redistricting, Lakeland, fair districts
Every ten years, based on the latest census data, states re-draw Congressional and Legislative districts. Meetings are going on around Florida between citizens and state Legislators to hash out the redistricting process. An additional element this time around is the pair of so-called Fair Districts amendments passed by voters last November. Today, the Florida Redistricting Public Meeting is in Lakeland, and WMNF’s Kate Bradshaw is there live.
Be the first to commentThe Governor gives the go-ahead to commuter rail in Orlando
07/06/11 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Wednesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Sunrail, Rosemary Guidreau, Rick Scott, high-speed rail, Orlando, Lakeland
Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. Coming up today we’ll talk about Governor Rick Scott’s decision last Friday to okay a commuter rail project in the Orlando area called Sunrail. Just a few months after he killed a $2.7 billion high-speed train linking Tampa and Orlando, Gov. Rick Scott on Friday said he was giving the go-ahead for Sunrail - a $1.3 billion dollar Orlando-area commuter rail system that will cost state and local taxpayers even more money than high speed rail...
Be the first to commentFlorida Supreme Court rules with Gov Scott on rail, but could "Hail Mary" exist? listen
03/04/11 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: high-speed rail, Rick Scott, Florida Supreme Court, Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, Miami, Gow Fields, transit, transportation, rail, Bill Nelson, Kathy Castor
Governor Scott said he is “gratified that the court provided a clear and unanimous decision.” Scott said he “spoke with US DOT Secretary LaHood this morning and informed him that Florida … will not move forward with any federal high speed rail plan."
Senator Bill Nelson says he’s disappointed in the governor’s decision
2 comments"It's unfortunate that the Supreme Court has thrown out the Florida legislator's attempt to stay the hand of the governor of returning $2.4 billion of federal grant mone...
Lakeland weighs possible high-speed rail station locations listen
01/27/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: High-speed rail, Rick Scott, Lakeland
A year ago, almost to the day, President Obama announced the federal government was giving over a billion dollars in stimulus funds to Florida for a high speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando. That number has since grown, but the new governor has been vocal about his reluctance to accept it. But that didn’t stop dozens of stakeholders from meeting in Lakeland last night to discuss where that city’s high speed rail station should go.
If it gets built, the bullet train would launch from Orla...
Be the first to commentBill Nelson: Florida will get $342 million more for high-speed rail listen
12/09/10 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: high-speed rail, transit, transportation, Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa, FDOT, Bill Nelson
Florida may be getting more money for its proposed high-speed train. And it’s thanks to some states rejecting the federal funds. Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has told Florida’s Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson that Florida will get some of the money rejected by Wisconsin and Ohio. Recently elected Republican governors in those states have said they did not want high-speed rail projects.
1 comments"Florida is getting an early Christmas present. We just got $342 million more for ou...
