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…

Original Broadcast: June 10, 2025By Classical WSMR

In the lead up to the start of hurricane season, Florida Matters took a closer look at stories of recovery- from homeowners, business leaders and community members. In this episode you’ll hear highlights from the series: how businesses are rebuilding and how local governments are trying to prevent the flooding that swamped neighborhoods across our …

This week on The Florida Roundup, we heard from one family living in Florida who have been authorized to be in Florida for more than a decade, waiting and worrying about their immigration case (00:00). Then, we spoke with David Jolly, the former Republican Congressman who has entered Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race as a Democrat (20:16). Plus, we…

David Jolly represented Florida's 13th congressional district, in Pinellas County, from 2014 to 2017. He left the Republican party in 2018 and has spent the past few years advocating for more options for voters dissatisfied with the major political parties. In April, he registered as a Democrat. Jolly was born in Dunedin and grew up in Dade City. H…

There’s a certain model of handgun that’s popular with gun owners across the country. It’s popular with law enforcement too. But recently, some agencies- including right here in Tampa Bay- opted to remove the Sig Sauer P320 from their arsenals because of safety concerns. On this episode you'll hear from a journalist who's been covering this issue f…

Original Broadcast: June 2, 2025By Classical WSMR

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about leadership changes at Florida’s universities with POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury (00:00). Then, we looked at how the U.S. House spending bill could impact Floridians with NPR’s Claudia Grisales (19:25). Plus, the latest in state budget negotiations and other legislative news with WUSF’s Douglas Soule (3…

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 …