The Tarpon Springs City Commission voted Friday to move forward with a planned residential community on 74 acres near the Anclote River. Environmentalists hope the land, which they once blocked Walmart from building on, can still be saved. LISTEN: One month to the day after the city started the quasi-judicial hearing process, commissioners voted 3-1… Read more »
Former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch Friday filed his paperwork to run for mayor in his native St. Petersburg. LISTEN: Around 10 a.m. Friday, Welch, along with his wife Donna and daughters Kenya and Keonna walked into City Hall to meet the clerk. It’s been a long time coming for the 20-year County Commission veteran… Read more »
January 12, 2021 Good morning, welcome to WMNF’s Radioactivity, I’m Rob Lorei. The Florida chapter of a national non-profit dedicated to open and honest government is calling for most of Florida’s Republican members of Congress to resign after voting last week to overturn the results of the presidential election. Our guest today is Common Cause… Read more »
“We have to start with what has happened in the past week, which is that the President of the United States of America in the service of the conspiracy theory that he has been peddling since the election and for years, he whipped up a frenzied mob and directed them to the US Capitol and… Read more »
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced in November that some school districts in Florida were eligible for grants to help replace diesel school buses with electric buses. The eligible districts are from the most polluted and populous regions of the state, including Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. Zac Cosner, with Florida Conservation Voters, says the… Read more »
Florida lawmakers are calling for sweeping reforms after a Department of Justice investigation alleged a culture of “systemic” sexual abuse and cover-ups at a women’s prison in Ocala. State legislators last week held a Zoom call with former inmates of Lowell Correctional Institution to talk about how to move forward. LISTEN: Laurette Philipsen expected to… Read more »
For decades the fight for civil liberties, civil rights, and social justice have been a mission for many individuals and groups around the world. This fight has resulted in many deaths as well as many victories. In the United States, some of the most important civil liberties and civil rights are guaranteed by the “United… Read more »
The U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump Wednesday on the single article of “incitement of insurrection.” Here are the speeches of two Democratic members of Congress before they voted to impeach. Kathy Castor (D-FL) – “Thank you Mr. Speaker. “I rise today to urge the impeachment of Donald Trump. Because the attack on… Read more »
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources The Statewide Coronavirus Vaccination Community Education and Engagement Taskforce unveiled its 10-point plan Wednesday. It aims to get more COVID-19 vaccine to Florida’s minority communities. The Task Force announced the plan during a morning Zoom meeting. LISTEN: Task Force Chair Reverend RB Holmes said in the week… Read more »
On Tuesday, the City of Tampa gave an update to an ongoing study looking at the impact of sea-level rise in the region. The City expects up to 8 feet of sea-level rise by the year 2100 and hopes to shape regulations and policy to be ready for it. LISTEN: For engineers and planners the… Read more »
Florida’s Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody once served on the board of an organization that sent robocalls asking people to march on the Capitol building last week. Moody is now among many elected officials receiving backlash for supporting rhetoric and rallies that culminated in last week’s domestic terror attack in Washington. LISTEN: The call The… Read more »
Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released a video criticizing outgoing President Trump for inciting his violent supporters’ attack on the U.S. Capitol. Watch the video:
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources Hillsborough County announced Monday that it will resume coronavirus vaccinations for people aged 65 and older starting this Wednesday. It says it has 9,000 doses to distribute this week. Appointments are required and they will be taken beginning Tuesday, staggered by age group. The number to call… Read more »
When the results for the 2020 Presidential election were finally announced we here at Life Elsewhere were relieved yet hesitant to announce that Donald John Trump would not feature in yet another of our shows. For well over four years we have interviewed many authors, discussed with professors, experts, and pundits the phenomena of Trump…. Read more »
Roads. Where the proposed Anclote Harbor residential community is going, it might need roads. LISTEN: The Tarpon Springs City Commission again postponed a vote to rezone 74-acres of land along the Anclote River after more than eight hours of public hearing. Traffic safety and environmental factors have emerged as concerns. Developer the Morgan Group and… Read more »
UPDATE, On Friday 8 January Wes Hodge dropped out and endorsed Cynthia Chestnut. After being trounced by Republicans in recent elections, the Florida Democratic Party will vote to choose its new leader Saturday. Candidates met in a virtual forum Thursday, presenting the party with a challenge – continue a centrist path or follow the progressive… Read more »
January 6, 2021 Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. After what is likely a huge democratic win in the two US Senate runoff races in Georgia….. and the session of Congress today designed to count the Electoral College votes to make Joe Biden president….. and the right wing protests today where Proud Boys,… Read more »
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources A task force of faith-based organizations in black and minority communities has formed to help educate and combat misinformation about a COVID-19 vaccine. The group aims to help get the vaccine to at least 60 percent of Florida’s minority community. LISTEN: Vaccination throughout Florida has been a… Read more »
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives will meet Wednesday for one of the final constitutional acts confirming the results of Joe Biden’s presidential victory. But Congress does not certify those results as some have said. The meeting is a count and recitation of votes already certified by individual states. LISTEN: The rules for Wednesday’s… Read more »
January 5, 2021 Good Morning, welcome to WMNF’s Radioactivity. I’m Rob Lorei. Today we’ll talk with Peter Dalacos, a community activist who is spearheading the effort to protect 74 acres along the Anclote River in Tarpon Springs from being turned into a housing development. The issue comes up this Thursday at the Tarpon Springs City… Read more »
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources On Wednesday, Congress will count the Electoral College results that delivered Joe Biden a 306-232 victory in the 2020 presidential election. But many Republicans plan to object based on debunked claims of election fraud. Tampa Democratic Congress member Kathy Castor told WMNF’s MidPoint Monday that her party… Read more »
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources UPDATE 5 January 2021: Here’s an update to this story. Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties are not accepting new appointments for the coronavirus vaccine after demand for it filled up appointments for those counties’ existing stocks of vaccine. They might get more next week. Florida county health… Read more »
Here is a link to many coronavirus resources Positive coronavirus cases in Pinellas Schools On Monday Pinellas County Schools released its number of students and employees who tested positive for coronavirus over the winter break. From December 19 through Saturday, there were cases of people who go to school or work at 112 schools and… Read more »
Here we are, at last, a new year. This is not just another new year, this is different, 2021 means the end of four extraordinary, incomprehensible, difficult – fill in the blank – years. Although we have fascinating guests and conversations already lined up for the new year, many of the topics cover distressing and… Read more »
The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office has formally charged a man they say killed a 12-year-old girl while boating under the influence on the Alafia River in May. State Attorney Andrew Warren and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urged boaters to think before they drink and boat. LISTEN: Donna Campbell remembers her 12-year-old… Read more »
