People often own the manufactured home they live in, but rent the land it sits on. And the rent is going up. On this episode, you'll hear from people explaining how they’re struggling to keep pace with rising rent. Their stories are part of a special reporting project from WUSF called Not So Forever Home. The Pulitzer’s Center for local reporting s…

This week a rebroadcast of The Florida Roundup from May 23, we revisit conversations 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” (00:52).Then, we had a conversation with Annabelle Tometich, au…

On the next Tuesday Concert from the Sarasota Music Festival, violinist Elena Urioste performs Korngold’s sweeping Violin Concerto with the Festival Orchestra, led by Jeffrey Kahane. Then, a radiant and emotionally charged performance of Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 rounds out the program.By Classical WSMR

Public health experts are worried about the dip in childhood vaccinations. In Sarasota County, the vaccination rate has slid to about 80% for kindergartners. That’s a lower rate than neighboring counties — and the statewide immunization rate. On this episode of Florida Matters, we talk about what’s behind vaccine hesitancy in Sarasota County with W…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Florida’s CFO Blaise Ingoglia about the latest ruling on “Alligator Alcatraz,” redistricting, and the state’s DOGE audits (00:00). Then, POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard joined us for a deeper dive into this week’s two court decisions around the controversial immigrant detention center in the Everglades (1…

On the next Tuesday Concert with Sarasota Orchestra: it's a program from this year's Sarasota Music Festival, featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s richly scored Nonet, Dvořák’s beloved Serenade for Strings, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17, performed and conducted by Robert Levin.By Classical WSMR

Inflation has cooled off a bit this year, and prices aren’t going through the roof like they were last year and the year before. But they’re still creeping up. Add cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, and some families in the Tampa Bay region are worried they’ll go hungry. Taylour Grant, a single mom from Tampa, joins …

This week on The Florida Roundup, we connected with colleagues at Houston Public Media to talk about Texas’ foray into universal school vouchers, following Florida’s lead (03:28). But first, we checked in with Your Florida state government team reporter Douglas Soule for a look at how Florida’s voucher program is going (00:00). Then, we explored th…

On the next Tuesday Concert with Sarasota Orchestra, it’s the first in a special four-part series from the 2025 Sarasota Music Festival: featuring music by Mary Kouyoumdjian, Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by pianist Nicolas Namoradze, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, conducted by Stephanie Childress.…

It's hard to believe, but school is back in session. If you're a parent, that means you're already dealing with that early morning dash to school and also coping with the chaos in the car line. On Florida Matters we got a peek inside the backpack as another school year is underway in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties. School administrators a…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with reporters across the state to see how cities and counties are responding to audits from the state’s Department of Government Efficiency or ‘DOGE’ (00:24). Then, we spoke with Your Florida state government reporter Douglas Soule about Gov. DeSantis’ push to draw a new congressional map for the sta…

On the next Tuesday Concert with Sarasota Orchestra, pianist Jon Kimura Parker performs Beethoven’s bold and expressive Third Piano Concerto and conductor Earl Lee leads the orchestra in Brahms’ timeless Symphony No. 4 – all on a concert from this past April.By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about what’s causing record-breaking heat in parts of the state with meteorologist Megan Borowski (01:40) and how extreme heat can affect your health with Dr. Cheryl Holder (08:04). Plus, a new investigation from WLRN and the Miami Herald looks into why Brightline is the deadliest passenger train in the na…

On the next Tuesday Concert with Sarasota Orchestra: Peter Oundjian leads a cosmic program from this past March featuring Holst’s The Planets, and violinist Grace Park joins the orchestra for Dvořák’s Romance in F-Minor.By Classical WSMR

On this episode you’ll hear from caregivers and advocates about how they face this challenge. Our guests are Rachel Piltch-Loeb, author of The Millennial Caregiver: Caring for Loved Ones in the Busiest Years of Your Life. Viviam Sifontes, research educator at Moffit Cancer Center Lauren Klinger, a Wesley Chapel resident and writer. She’s been a car…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward about the state’s plans to audit the city in addition to other local municipalities as part of its effort to reduce unnecessary government spending (00:00). We also spoke about those efforts with the Miami Herald’s Alexandra Glorioso (09:22), who stuck around for our conv…

Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya leads music that celebrates global influences — including Ravel’s La Valse and Jimmy López’s Fiesta! Saxophonist Steven Banks is the featured soloist in Billy Childs’ bold new concerto.By Classical WSMR

When hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton menaced Tampa Bay last summer, you may have been glued to your radio for updates. The National Weather Service is a lifeline, not just during hurricanes, but whenever there’s severe weather. Now, hundreds of staff have left the agency in the last six months. Could that affect the agency’s work? You’ll hear f…

Original Broadcast: July 10, 2025By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we talked about President Trump’s new tax and spending plan and what it means for Social Security benefits with PolitiFact’s Louis Jacobson (00:00). Plus, WUSF’s Douglas Soule joins us to tell us about an effort by Gov. DeSantis and the state to change the way education standards are set for Florida universities an…

Giancarlo Guerrero leads a program from this past January exploring heroism and artistic defiance — including Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony and a colorful violin concerto by Arturo Márquez, performed by Anne Akiko Meyers.By Classical WSMR

Tampa federal prosecutor Michael Gordon was fired last month. There are questions about why he was fired, and concerns about what happens now to the case he was leading, involving fraud and Clearwater businessman Leo Govoni. Govoni’s accused of stealing millions of dollars of medical trust fund money. Tampa Bay Times reporter Christopher O’Donnell …

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the new immigrant detention center in the Everglades with Rep. Anna Eskamani (00:00) and spoke about the contractors who have been hired to operate the facility with Bob Norman of the Florida Trident (09:20). Then, we were joined by former state senator Jeff Brandes about property insurance reform (1…

Guest conductor Shiyeon Sung leads a program [from this past January] celebrating Ravel’s 150th birthday: featuring Boléro, his jazz-influenced Piano Concerto with Natasha Paremski, and music by Lili Boulanger.By Classical WSMR

Florida’s legislative session went way longer than planned, as lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis argued over proposed tax cuts. DeSantis signed the budget — more than $115 billion — and a slate of new laws took effect on July 1. State government reporters Meghan Bowman and Douglas Soule with the "Your Florida" team discuss what got vetoed, what survi…

In a rebroadcast of 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 o…

Original Broadcast Date: July 2, 2025By Classical WSMR

The season opens with Giancarlo Guerrero’s debut as music director designate, featuring violinist Vadim Gluzman in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, and Dvořák’s beloved New World Symphony.By Classical WSMR

On this episode of "Florida Matters," you’ll learn about The Chitlin Circuit, how it shaped the sound of jazz, blues, and rock, and how it paved the way for the music industry we see today. We revisit a conversation brought to you last February about the network of clubs that Black performers toured in the segregated South. Coming up- you’ll hear h…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at what we know so far about “Alligator Alcatraz,” the immigration detention center being built in the Everglades, with the AP’s Kate Payne and Ted Hesson of Reuters (00:00). Plus, we spoke with POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie about a new law that aims to put a long running dispute between property owners and be…

Tampa Bay has a world renowned arts scene. Chances are you’ve caught an exhibition at the Dali museum in St. Petersburg- or taken in some of the dazzling, larger than life art at the SHINE mural festival. But did you know Tampa is also the birthplace of death metal? On this episode you’ll hear from WUSF reporters who’ve been spotlighting the arts a…

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at the demonstrations that took place across the state Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” protest (00:00). Then, we spoke with Shankar Vedantum of NPR’s Hidden Brain about our hot and cold emotional states (11:02). And after weeks of delay, state lawmakers passed a budget — POLITICO’s Kimberly Le…

When you hear the term ‘romance novel', does it conjure up images of Fabio’s flying hair- or maybe some bodice ripping? You can still find that between the covers of a romance novel, but there’s so much more. You’re just as likely to read about a baseball diamond as a bodice in the new universe of romance fiction. One thing these novels all have in…

Original Broadcast: June 16, 2025By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at the residential housing market across the state with a collection of business journalists (00:00). Plus, we explored the new era of collegiate athletics now that student athletes can get paid directly (19:22). Then, lawmakers are closer to reaching a budget agreement, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas …

There’s a lot more mystery and magic to this state than "Florida Man" headlines suggest. Take a drive around the Tampa Bay area and you may wonder about the story behind the UFO perched atop a strip club, Weeki Wachee’s mermaid show or Tampa’s obsession with pirates. Gabrielle Calise, a culture writer who reports on offbeat Florida, nostalgia and m…

The Tampa City Council announced Tuesday morning that Henderson died at her home of natural causes overnight. Henderson was an educator and bookstore owner. And in this episode, we’re revisiting Florida Matters host Matthew Peddie's conversation with Henderson last year at Black English, the store in Tampa Heights that she ran with her daughter, Ar…