One of the two Democratic candidates for Attorney General, Miami State Senator Dan Gelber, campaigned in Tampa today. Gelber spoke about the economic and political challenges that Florida faces, and what changes he wants to see. Gelber harshly criticized the Republican leadership in Tallahassee. According to Gelber, the current economic hardship facing Florida is due… Read more »
Yesterday afternoon, South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers (SWFBUD), held their 4th annual Bike Bash at Straub Park in St. Petersburg. The event was intended to encourage an expansion of bicycling in the region, while raising awareness about safety and the benefits of cycling. Rachel Van Slyke rode her bicycle to Tampa from Gainesville to… Read more »
Today the Teco Line Street Car System’s Whiting Street Extension had it’s groundbreaking ceremony at the downtown YMCA. The extension will use federal stimulus money and is one measure to bring more public transportation to the Tampa Bay Area. The 4th grade class from the Rampello Downtown Partnership School Band played at the ceremony. City… Read more »
Last month at the University of South Florida, researchers from around the state gathered to discuss all types of renewable energies. Compared with some other technologies, energy from the ocean energy is undeveloped but shows potential. Commercial ocean energy harvesting systems do not exist today. Many efforts are underway around the world, but there is… Read more »
In a district-wide open house last Thursday night, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) solicited input from the public about possible lands the district should acquire for protection, management, and restoration. Only a handful of citizens attended the meeting and voiced concerns about local and regional land acquisition. SWFWMD’s Eric Sutton points out how… Read more »
The 2009 Florida Energy Consortium Summit was held at the University of South Florida on Wednesday. It was organized to bring together energy experts in the State University System of Florida to share their energy-related research findings and promote future collaboration. Dr. Yogi Goswami is a chemical engineering professor and co-director for the Clean Energy… Read more »
Tampa has a new Police Chief. Chief Jane Castor was sworn in this afternoon after being unanimously approved this morning by the Tampa City Council. Castor is the city’s first woman and its first openly lesbian police chief. She served as the Tampa Police Department’s liaison to the gay and lesbian community. LGBT advocates such… Read more »
Jack Davis held a conversation at the Tampa Bay History Center this Sunday, discussing his new book An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century. Marjory Stoneman Douglass was a renowned Florida Environmental activist, writer, journalist and feminist who changed the way Floridians and Americans think about the importance of preserving the… Read more »
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay hosted a press conference today promoting a program to stop bullying in Hillsborough county schools. Near Lowry Park Zoo, representatives of participating organizations exhibited a bench from their new campaign. Crimestoppers has partnered with the outdoor bench advertising company Metrobench to promote the Hillsborough County’s Bully Buster Program. Using bus… Read more »
An all-day event at the University of South Florida today focused on building awareness and direct action to solve hate crimes issues in Florida and around the nation. It was sponsored by the College of Education and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Frank Hernandez, the student government director of diversity and multicultural awareness, is… Read more »
Our guest in this segment is Josh Holton, son of long time WMNF programmer Jeannie Holton. Josh is a recent graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans and recently completed a cross-country trip as a crew person for a car entirely powered by solar energy. Josh traveled from Florida to the Arctic Circle. The solar… Read more »
UPDATE: this story originally published August 20, 2009 by Seán Kinane / WMNF News. We’re republishing this now because a new report from the Tampa Bay Times found hundreds of workers have been exposed to high lead levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has revised its lead air quality standard to allow ten times less… Read more »
This morning the St. Petersburg City Council moved a step closer to using $700,000 of federal stimulus funds to revitalize the downtown BayWalk shopping complex. Part of the plan calls for the city to give away, or vacate, a portion of sidewalk to the owners of the mall. That has outraged activists who have used… Read more »
Congress is not expected to vote on a major health care overhaul until after they return from an August recess. This morning in New Tampa, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor announced details of an amendment she has proposed. If it’s included in the bill known as America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, the amendment would… Read more »
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker debated the history, culture, and characters of the two cities on April 22 at the historic Centro Asturiano Theatre in Tampa. The Florida Humanities Council sponsored the Tale of Two Cities event. The moderators were historians and directors of the Florida Studies Program at University… Read more »
A Lake Worth city commissioner was arrested on Monday during a protest outside the Israeli Consulate in Miami. Commissioner Cara Jennings and 35 others were protesting the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces, who shot American Tristan Anderson in the head last Friday in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. WMNF spoke this afternoon with… Read more »
In West Palm Beach yesterday, two environmentalists were jailed and five others received probation for protesting the construction of a planned new natural gas fired power plant last February. The protest had involved the activists linking themselves with chicken wire and PVC pipe to protest the negative effects they say the plant will have the… Read more »
Tonight at Eckerd College as part of the President Events Series, activist and educator Dr. Elizabeth Corrie will present a lecture entitled “Washing Dishes and Other Revolutionary Tactics: What it Takes to Change the World.” Dr. Corrie is the cousin of Rachel Corrie, the late peace activist who was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer… Read more »
Energy Efficient Homes Initiative Tomorrow the group Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay will hold its 6th annual Rebuild Day, partnering with several local and national organizations to try to make a positive difference for 12 bay area homeowners. Jose Garcia is the Executive Director of Rebuilding Tampa Bay, which rehabilitates houses for low income people and seniors … Read more »
In January 2007 the Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke at the University of South Florida in Tampa. WMNF’s Seán Kinane reports, Jackson’s lecture, called “Making the American Dream A Reality,” is part of USF’s week-long celebration of the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Jackson told the community that for a long… Read more »
