Now that the Sarasota County Commission is made up of single-member districts, commissioners are considering re-drawing the district lines to create districts with more equal populations. But a progressive group wants an independent group to draw the new lines, rather than have the commissioners do it. WMNF interviewed Claire Snyder-Hall, the president of the Sarasota-Charlotte… Read more »
Every year on May 15, Palestinians remember what they call the Nakba, often translated as the ‘catastrophe.’ It marks the period in 1948 when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes amid the foundation of the state of Israel in historic Palestine. A peace group in Pasco County is holding… Read more »
Suit: Florida solitary confinement policy excessive, cruel By BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Department of Corrections is being sued over its use of solitary confinement in a complaint filed Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida Legal Services and the Florida Justice Institute. The federal class action lawsuit alleges… Read more »
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida Bar disciplinary investigation will continue into a tweet sent by Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz about President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Gaetz is a strong supporter of the president. Bar officials said in a statement Wednesday the matter is being examined by a grievance committee. Gaetz represents… Read more »
On Tuesday afternoon custodians from Hillsborough County Schools rallied outside the school district’s building in downtown Tampa. They were there during the School Board meeting because they’re upset about a proposal to let private companies bid to do their work instead. Custodians and their allies rallied outside the school district building Tuesday morning as well…. Read more »
On Monday’s Sustainable Living Program we had two guests talking about compost versus waste. Joining us was Joseph Jenkins, author of the Humanure Handbook, that was first published in 1994 and today the 4th edition of the bestseller is being released. Joe has traveled the world teaching others to make gardens instead of sewage. Also,… Read more »
In the summer of 2018 there was a widespread protest movement of people upset at the Trump administration’s “family separation” policy of separating migrant kids from their parents at the border. According to a report in The Intercept, a private company compiled a list of these protests happening across the U.S. It then gave that… Read more »
June 28, 2019, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, which is considered the most significant event in the gay liberation movement, and the catalyst for the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States. Drawing from the New York Public Library’s archives, The Stonewall Reader is a collection of first accounts, diaries,… Read more »
During his campaign for governor and after he was elected, Ron DeSantis promised Floridians he would be a champion for conservation lands. His website says he “will work with Florida’s legislative leadership to ensure proper funding is put toward conservation and preservation.” But a conservation advocate grades the governor as low as an “F” on… Read more »
The Hillsborough County Public School Board is studying the idea of turning over work that’s now done by unionized custodians to a private company instead. But activists who want to stop the privatization before the idea gets too much traction are holding a rally Friday afternoon. Megan Flocken is a Hillsborough County public high school… Read more »
Florida lawmakers pass bill allowing more armed teachers By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — More Florida classroom teachers could carry guns in school under a bill passed Wednesday by state lawmakers. It’s the latest response to last year’s mass shooting at a Parkland high school. The Republican-led House voted 65-47 on Wednesday… Read more »
Tampa’s new mayor, Jane Castor, took the oath of office Wednesday morning. About 900 people were packed into the main room at Armature Works. Others spilled into an overflow room to hear Castor’s speech in which she promised to blaze new trails. Castor also spoke about things like growth and development. “Our neighborhoods are the… Read more »
In 2017 President Donald Trump said he was going to pull the United States out of a global agreement to try to control climate change; but a member of Congress from Tampa expects a vote this week on her bill to require the U.S. to adhere to the Paris climate agreement. WMNF spoke with Democrat… Read more »
On Friday the Florida Senate passed a bill that would force local governments and police departments to cooperate with federal authorities who enforce laws on immigration. The bill that would ban what are known as “sanctuary city” policies passed the State Senate on a 22-18 vote, mostly along party lines. A day earlier the Florida… Read more »
Bob Ross on Avengers: Endgame “I’m not interested in seeing, Avengers: Endgame!” Says the usually moderately-toned, Bob Ross, who then launches into an atypical commentary on the reasons why he believes Superstar-packed, mega-movies are a symptom of the fake news era. “There’s a lot of mass psychosis going on in the country today. People do… Read more »
A lot. Florida’s legislature has 60 days (though special sessions can, and are often, be called) to make lots of laws. In odd numbered years, like 2019, the session begins the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. This year our legislature is in session from March 5, 2019, through May 3, 2019. Let’s… Read more »
Pinellas County residents in the town of Seminole are hoping to save a large open space next to the Intracoastal Waterway from development. The Save the Tides group is demonstrating tomorrow morning to protect the Tides Golf Course. WMNF interviewed Ron Stephens, the vice president of the Save the Tides group. Listen: The Pinellas County… Read more »
If you’re a homeowner in Hillsborough County waiting to install solar power, now might be the time to consider it; a new solar co-op kicked off Thursday morning in downtown Tampa. Rick Garrity is the co-op leader with Solar United Neighbors. The former executive director of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County stressed the… Read more »
St. Pete Pride Festival is Sunday June 23; and for several weeks before that date, communities in Pinellas County are celebrating Pride Month 2019. Our guests in the studio spoke about some of the Pride Month events. They are from the Gulfport Library’s LGBTQ Resource Center. Susan Gore is the board chair and Brittany Baldwin… Read more »
On Tuesday the Florida Senate passed a bill that would allow classroom teachers to carry firearms in schools. Expanding the number of school employees who can carry a gun is part of the larger bill that deals with school safety in the aftermath of a mass shooting last year in Parkland. Last year the legislature… Read more »
On Monday’s Sustainable Living Program we started out talking with the marketing staff for a net zero energy Smart Home community in Manatee County. They only have one model home open, which has solar power and is LEED Platinum Certified. The community plan includes common areas and an electric ferry; but apparently is going to… Read more »
Election Day is Tuesday in the run-off elections for Tampa Mayor and three city council seats. Five of the six city council candidates answered questions Friday at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club. Listen to the forum here. Candidates talked about what they would do to improve schools, justice reform, enhance the arts, add affordable housing… Read more »
AP FACT CHECK: Skewed Trump, Barr claims on Mueller report By HOPE YEN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and his attorney general are distorting the facts when it comes to special counsel Robert Mueller’s report in the Russia investigation. Trump and his team continue to insist that he was exonerated by the… Read more »
In 1942, the Gestapo sent out an urgent command across France: “She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies, we must find and destroy her.” That spy was Virginia Hall, a young American woman who – rejected from the Foreign service because of her gender and prosthetic leg – talked her way behind enemy… Read more »
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. Additionally, the Five Holy Wounds that Christ sustained during the crucifixion represents the purchase of our healing and salvation. On Morning Energy we are going to dive deeper into the topic of Good Friday to include: exploring the history of Good Friday, discussing Good… Read more »
