AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s Mexico mirage By CALVIN WOODWARD and MARK STEVENSON Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Giving himself credit for tough diplomacy, President Donald Trump is describing a burst of activity by Mexican authorities to keep Central American migrants from getting to the U.S. border. That’s an apparent mirage as Trump retreats from his… Read more »
“The election of Donald Trump could be a good thing for America.” Said the scholarly, Binoy Kampmark in his usual, well-moderated tone. This was November 2016, just a few days after the US general election. Many a voice was being raised not only about the election result but more to the point, the presumed unlikely… Read more »
The NHL announced in an email Thursday that it will kick off the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a free concert in Tampa by Cage The Elephant. It will be at downtown’s Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:15 p.m. The press release from the NHL is below: The National Hockey League… Read more »
Democrats continue to pressure the Justice Department to release the entire Mueller report without redactions; on Wednesday the House Judiciary Committee approved subpoenas for special counsel Robert Mueller’s full report on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections. On Thursday in St. Petersburg there’s a demonstration planned demanding the release of the full Mueller report. WMNF… Read more »
President Donald Trump has backed off his threats to close the U.S.-Mexico border; but he’s still going full steam ahead on plans for a massive wall along the border. There’s a protest against that wall this afternoon on the University of South Florida Tampa campus. WMNF interviewed David Jones, a first year student at USF… Read more »
Custodians in Hillsborough County Schools are fighting back against a proposal to privatize cleaning services. They are rallying Tuesday afternoon outside the school board meeting in downtown Tampa and speaking out during the meeting itself. In a separate demonstration Tuesday morning about fifty custodians and their allies rallied in a light rain shower. Organizers say… Read more »
According to the most recent National Climate Assessment, global sea level rise over the past century has averaged about eight inches; it could rise by much more than that over the next several decades and impact home values and infrastructure in coastal counties like in the Tampa Bay region. This week at St. Petersburg College,… Read more »
Frequent contributor to Life Elsewhere, Robert Hunziker says global warming is a fact of life that haunts society with consequences that hit hard, exponentially, but where nobody lives. It is happening hyper fast, and it’s downright scary as major ecosystems of the planet turn upside down in nasty fashion. He goes on to say that… Read more »
A coalition of faith-based groups will gather on Monday to ask Hillsborough County leaders to solve problems of affordable housing and criminal justice in the county. The Hillsborough Organization for Progress & Equality, or HOPE, is hosting what it calls its ‘Nehemiah Action.’ About 1400 participants are expected. To find out more, WMNF spoke with… Read more »
This weekend is the Tampa Pride festival; most events are centered in Ybor City on Saturday. To find out what people can expect, WMNF spoke with Nancy Desmond from Tampa Pride. “Tampa Pride is the Pride event that celebrates the Tampa LGBTQ community. This year our theme is Milestones. We’re celebrating our fifth year. And… Read more »
The largest pro-Israel lobbying group held its annual conference this week. Several Democratic candidates for president promised to skip the meeting of AIPAC, or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, because of its support for the policies of Israel and its current hard-right government. The local Progressive Democrats of America chapter is screening a documentary… Read more »
The Florida Department of Transportation has proposed a major regional overhaul called Tampa Bay Next; it involves widening interstate highways, but also includes transit, facilities for bicycles and pedestrians, “complete streets,” and freight mobility. Tuesday in Seminole Heights there’s a chance for the public to find out more and to weigh in on a segment… Read more »
More aging Americans are using pot to soothe what ails them. By JOHN ROGERS Associated Press LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (AP) — The group of white-haired folks — some pushing walkers, others using canes — arrive right on time at the gates of Laguna Woods Village, an upscale retirement community in the picturesque hills that frame… Read more »
On Friday special counselor Robert Mueller submitted to the Attorney General a report of his team’s two-year investigation of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia and whether Donald Trump obstructed justice. Then on Sunday Attorney General Bill Barr issued a four-page summary of the report; in it, he said nobody in the Trump… Read more »
A devastating coral disease that started in the Miami area has spread to nearly all of the Florida reef tract and the infection known as stony coral tissue loss disease can now even be found as far away in the Caribbean as Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Maarten. In… Read more »
The 2019 Florida Legislative Session is in full swing; so we got an update on the progress of a range of bills from Susan Smith, the former president of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. The first bill signed into law this session was for smokeable medical marijuana. It was a priority of Republican Governor… Read more »
“I remember you had just received a strange 12” record, directly from London. Let’s put it on and find out what it’s all about, you said. It was Bauhaus. That’s my first memory of meeting you.” Says Bruce Pavitt at the beginning of a long, intimate conversation with Norman B. At that time, back in… Read more »
Tampa Food Not Bombs posted on its Facebook page that it was concerned that benches had been removed from Gaslight Square Park in downtown Tampa. The post also tells about how the belongings of some people without homes had gone missing. Joining us on WMNF Wednesday were Scott Rock, who is experiencing homelessness and Dezeray… Read more »
In February, WMNF news and public affairs director Rob Lorei was fired. He filed a grievance with the station’s board of directors and its president announced the board’s decision on the WMNF airwaves at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. “This is assistant News and Public Affairs Director Seán Kinane and I am speaking with David Harbeitner… Read more »
Florida felon voting rights restoration bill draws concerns By BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bill that sets conditions on restoring felon voting rights won approval Tuesday from a Florida House committee over the objection of advocates who helped get rights restoration placed in the state constitution. The Brennan Center has a… Read more »
The head of Pinellas County’s transportation agency says it would be ideal if express buses had dedicated lanes they didn’t have to share with other traffic. WMNF interviewed Brad Miller, the CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority — or PSTA. He’s in Washington, D.C. lobbying for support for local and regional transportation needs. “PSTA… Read more »
On Friday, Tampa Tiger Bay Club hosted a forum and invited both candidates in the runoff for Tampa Mayor; But former banker David Straz said he was not available. So, WMNF aired questions from Tiger Bay members and the responses from the other candidate, former police chief Jane Castor. Listen here. WMNF reached out to… Read more »
Students globally protest warming, pleading for their future at the Youth Climate Strike. By FRANK JORDANS and SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Students across a warming globe pleaded for their lives, future and planet Friday, demanding tough action on climate change. From the South Pacific to the edge of the Arctic Circle, angry… Read more »
Make no mistake, Sally Roesch Wagner is a force to be reckoned with. Her wonderfully rich voice and her crystal-clear articulation tells you she does not suffer fools gladly. You know immediately as your interview beings that Sally Roesch Wagner is not to be trifled with. Yet, even through a heartless digital connection, you cannot… Read more »
Court rules gun maker can be sued over Newtown shooting By DAVE COLLINS Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gun-maker Remington can be sued over how it marketed the rifle used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, a divided Connecticut Supreme Court ruled today. Gun control advocates… Read more »
