On "Florida Matters," we discuss hurricane recovery for Tampa Bay area businesses following the 2024 storms. We also look into how business owners can prepare and find relief this year. Building a business can be hard work. And for business owners across the Tampa Bay region, there’s been an added disruption — hurricanes. Hurricanes Milton and Hele…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we chatted with three authors who have written in or about Florida. First, we spoke with veteran science journalist Stephan Hall about his book “Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World” (00:45). Then, we had a conversation with Annabelle Tometich, author of “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fr…

If your home flooded during hurricane season last year, you may still be recovering from the damage. A lot of neighborhoods flooded as a series of storms impacted the Tampa Bay region- Hurricane Debby, then Helene and soon after that- Milton. And it wasn’t just places on the coast. Inland neighborhoods flooded too. So- with hurricane season almost …

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at how federal funding cuts and job losses could impact weather forecasting and hurricane preparedness in Florida with Alex Harris, lead climate change reporter for the Miami Herald (03:30) and with James Franklin, former Chief of Forecast Operations at the National Hurricane Center (11:07). Later, we che…

WSMR Live Performance With Violinist Max Tann and Pianist Jung-A Bang - May 15, 2025By Classical WSMR

When a disaster strikes, you can expect help from local and state governments, and from FEMA. But it may not be long before you find out those agencies can’t do it all. And knowing who your neighbors are can make a big difference in how your community recovers. In this episode, you’ll hear from community leaders, and from some of your neighbors acr…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Rep. Vicki Lopez, who is the co-chair of a new House select committee that will consider proposals aimed at reducing property taxes (00:00). Then, we spoke with an abortion provider in North Florida about the impact of Florida’s 6-week ban (19:22). Plus, we asked the Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen a…

Hurricane season is always stressful. And it may weigh even heavier as you continue to recover from last year’s storms. So how are you coping – and dealing with the unknowns as Hurricane Season arrives? We invited a couple of people who are experts in helping people get through crises. On this episode you'll hear from Clara Reynolds, the President …

Original Broadcast: May 6, 2025By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a proposal to shift tourism tax dollars towards property tax relief with Rolando Aedo of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (09:00). Then, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas Soule for highlights from the legislative session that ends this week (15:02). Plus, we heard from Florida college…

When Manatee County got rid of bus fares- ridership went up. And it’s not the only place in Tampa Bay where more people started taking the bus after fares went away. Hillsborough County made its most popular bus route, from downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida, free for this year, and ridership is way up. On this episode of Florida Mat…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in on condo reform legislation and other bills with WUSF’s Douglas Soule (00:58). Then, Politico’s Gary Fineout joined us to discuss why this session will be going into overtime and the halting of the House’s Hope Florida investigation (07:15). Plus, we talked about how the Trump administration’s immigra…

You know the Tampa Bay Rays. If you’re a baseball fan, you follow the wins and losses. But if you’re a taxpayer in St Petersburg or Pinellas County, the ongoing stadium saga may grab your attention. The city of St Petersburg is fixing the damaged roof of Tropicana Field. Across the Bay in Tampa - the team plays its home games at Steinbrenner Field …

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Rep. Alex Andrade, the Republican lawmaker leading the House probe into Hope Florida (01:36) and then turned to Alexandra Glorioso, reporter for the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau, for further analysis (14:38). Then, we checked back in with our Bay Area colleagues at Forum, KQED's liv…

When Uber arrived in Tampa Bay ten years ago, it was a game changer for transit, disrupting the taxi industry and opening up the gig economy. Uber says it has more than 8 million drivers and couriers worldwide using the app each month. And it’s been reported that Uber commands about three quarters of the ride share business in the US. Javi Correoso…

When Uber arrived in Tampa Bay ten years ago, it was a gamechanger. The rideshare app disrupted the taxi industry and offered people a way to make extra money on their own schedule. It hasn’t all been smooth driving since then. Last year, Uber and Lyft drivers in Tampa joined a nationwide strike, calling for higher wages. Joining Florida Matters fo…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a measure to cut the state sales tax with Rep. Tom Fabricio (R-Miami-Dade) (03:25). Then, we opened up the phone lines and email inbox to hear how you are navigating economic uncertainty after a tumultuous week for the stock market (19:00). Plus, another look at this week in the Florida Legislature w…

Original Broadcast- April 20, 2025By Classical WSMR

At the start of the session, you heard from WUSF’s ‘Your Florida’ team. Reporters Meghan Bowman and Douglas Soule are keeping tabs on the legislature up in Tallahassee and talking with you and your neighbors across Tampa Bay about issues that you think are important. On this episode you'll hear from Douglas and Meghan about how the session is going…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a local ordinance the city of Jacksonville passed that mandates jail time for immigrants without legal status with two city council members (00:00). Plus, we speak to the Superintendent for St. Johns County Schools about how the school district is managing rapid population growth (21:00). And later, …

Original Broadcast: April 2, 2025By Classical WSMR

Tampa Bay is a pro sports town. You’ve got the Lightning for Hockey, Buccaneers for Football, and the Rays for baseball. That attracts folks for hundreds of games in the area this year. But there’s another huge presence: the numbers are in for the first IndyCar Series broadcast of the season for the audience that watched Alex Palou and Josef Newgar…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the growing number of local police departments entering training agreements with ICE. First, we spoke with WGCU’s Elizabeth Andarge (00:44 ) about the city of Fort Myers' vote reversal before hearing from Mayor Kevin Anderson (05:25). Then, we learned more about the ICE 287 (g) agreements from WLRN’s…

Birding- or bird watching- is booming. The US Fish and Wildlife service estimates there are 96 million birders in the United States. That’s one in three adults in this country. And even if you aren’t one of them- you may just be birdwatching by default. On this episode, Florida Matters executive producer Gracyn Doctor takes you on a bird walk at Le…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a bill to study the impact if property taxes were eliminated with state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who sits on several committees slated to take up the legislation (04:04). Then, we spoke about a dip in consumer sentiment in Florida with Mihaela Pintea, chair of FIU’s economics department (22:00). Plus, we …

Original Broadcast: March 20, 2025By Classical WSMR

If you experienced Hurricane Milton- or Helene or Debby- it’s something you don’t want to relive. But for some people in Tampa Bay- they’re still dealing with flooding from last year’s storms. WUSF's Sky Lebron visited people in Pasco and Polk County who whose homes were flooded during last year's hurricane season. Some are living in RVs because fl…

For many Floridians, getting ready for hurricane season means things like dusting off the emergency supply kit, checking flashlight batteries and making sure you know where your important documents are stashed. But for some Tampa Bay residents who lived through the 2024 hurricane season- they’re still dealing with flooding from Hurricane Milton- an…

Original Broadcast: March 18, 2025By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at how mass layoffs are impacting Florida’s federal workers with WLRN’s Jenny Staletovich (08:15). Then, we spoke with Sen. Ben Albritton, Florida’s Senate President, about his priorities for this legislative session (30:00). And later, we heard about some of the bills being considered with WUSF’s state g…

People come to Florida in droves for the beaches and warm weather. But the sunshine state also attracts its fair share of shady characters, in real life and in fiction. There’s even a genre of crime fiction set in the Sunshine State – Florida Noir. And even if you haven’t read them, you’ve probably heard of homegrown practitioners of Florida Noir l…

Original Broadcast: March 11, 2025By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we traveled to Gainesville for a special show at our partner station WUFT at the University of Miami. First, we spoke with a journalist with the UF student-owned newspaper The Independent Florida Alligator (00:00). Then, we explored the role of the federal government in weather forecasting with Tim Miller, chief me…

On this episode of "Florida Matters," we discuss Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State address to the Legislature. Topics he covered during the half-house speech included immigration, gun laws, education and property taxes. Florida’s 2025 legislative session is underway. Top issues Floridians can expect to hear lawmakers debate over the next two mo…

This week on The Florida Roundup, a previously unpublished study from 2022 found affiliates of Florida insurance companies paid out $680 million dollars to investors between 2017 and 2019 while claiming to be running out of money and filing for big rate increases for policyholders. We spoke with the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times’ investigative repor…