Weekly conversations with people making a difference in the Tampa Bay region, hosted by Janet and Tom Scherberger.
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The Michelin Guide is poised this week to bestow more of its coveted stars to a handful of Florida restaurants, something that never would have happened without tourism tax dollars. That’s because local tourism agencies in Tampa, Miami and Orlando, along with the state’s tourism agency, spent $1.5 million to lure the guide’s reviewers to… -
State Sen. Darryl Rouson, the longest-serving Democrat in the Florida Legislature, supported legalizing medical marijuana but “I’m not there yet when it comes to full legalization of marijuana.” Rouson, who appeared Tuesday (4/9) on WMNF WaveMakers with Janet and Tom, said he wants to play a leadership role in shaping implementing legislation if Florida voters… -
The use of Kratom, an herb grown in Southeast Asia for centuries for its mood-altering effects, has exploded in popularity in the United States in the past fews years, particularly in Florida. Kratom enthusiasts say it helps ease anxiety and depression and even helps with opioid addiction. But critics say it can be habit-forming and even… -
Once a quiet corner of moderate Republicans who supported the arts and planned parenthood, Sarasota has morphed into a politically polarized hotbed of right wing extremism. What happened to Sarasota? Joe Gruters. The state senator and former chairman of the Florida Republican Party was an early supporter of Donald Trump and one of the first… -
Sharon Streater has led a fascinating life. She met Mother Teresa, marched with Cesar Chavez and even dressed as a soup can to call attention to farmworker issues. But perhaps her greatest, sustained impact has been in Tampa as chief organizer for the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality, or HOPE. For more than 30… -
Two Tampa Bay Times reporters who spent months investigating the potential dangers of Kratom use discussed their findings during an appearance on WMNF WaveMakers with Janet and Tom on Tuesday, March 5. Five reporters worked on the series and two of them–Hannah Critchfield and Sam Ogozalek– discussed their findings and the reaction so far. The… -
Bill DeYoung is a St. Pete native preserving the history of the city through stories of its recent past. He shared his stories on WMNF WaveMakers with Janet & Tom. DeYoung, who got his journalism start at 17 as a copy boy for the St. Petersburg Times, is Senior Writer and Editor at the St.… -
Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, is questioning the response by the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office to the shooting death of a gay man at a Tampa dog park who had told friends the shooter had threatened to kill him because he was gay. Smith made the comments during a wide-ranging interview on WMNF WaveMakers…
