Florida Matters More

It was an exciting state primary election with some unexpected results, and we break it down with Zac Anderson, editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune, and William March, longtime political analyst and journalist. Progressives got what they've long wished for in Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for Governor, and set up what Zac says will be an interesting "political science experiment" going forward.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they cannot afford. Join National Foundation for Transplants, an organization providing financial relief to transplant patients for more than 35 years. Visit transplants.org to learn more.

Florida's primary election was full of surprises. WUSF reporters Steve Newborn, Mark Schreiner and Roberto Roldan have been following the races and were out covering campaign events on primary night. They sit down with host Robin Sussingham to talk about the evening's upsets and drama. Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

Five candidates (three Democrats and two Republicans) for Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services sit down with WLRN Public Media in Miami, and the editorial page editors of the Miami Herald, the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post. They give their views on restoring voting rights to felons, and on how to enforce the "Do Not Call" list. The Ag Commissioner is a cabinet-level post in Florida.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

This week on Florida Matters, we're spotlighting some special news reports and features that won awards in 2017. On this podcast, a conversation with WUSF reporter and assistant news director Mark Schreiner and WUSF reporter and Florida Matters producer Stephanie Colombini. In other news, Mark puts on his sports reporter cap, and tells us that the day is approaching when the USF Women's Basketball team will defeat the University of Connecticut.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" -- at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

(Originally broadcast 5/15/18) Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham speaks to Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve; Daniel Elias, president of Pharmacology University, a medical marijuana education program; and Darrin Potter, Chief Horticulture Officer at GrowHealthy in Lake Wales. GrowHealthy and Trulieve are licensed medical marijuana treatment centers and are authorized to cultivate, process and dispense medical marijuana in Florida. They tell us that you're going to need very deep pockets to get started in the medical cannabis biz in Florida.   Support for the Florida Matters More podcast comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplant.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

We're only weeks away from Florida's primary election, and while the gap between the two Republican candidates for Governor seems to be widening, the five Democratic candidates are in a real horse race for the nomination. Host Robin Sussingham talks to reporter Steve Contorno of the Tampa Bay Times and Janelle Irwin of the Tampa Bay Business Journal about why this might be the right moment politically for the Tampa Bay area to acquire money for transit. Support for the Florida Matters More podcast comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

On this week's podcast, we talk about what makes a craft beer special. Does it matter if it's been acquired by a big corporation? What is a "hoppy" taste? And we taste the hugely popular Cigar City Jai Alai IPA. Host Robin Sussingham sits down with Neil Callaghan, Brand Ambassador for Cigar City Brewing, and a certified beer judge;  Sean Nordquist, Executive Director of the Florida Brewers Guild; Danie Dahm, co-owner of Mastry’s Brewery in St. Pete Beach; and Florida Matters Producer Stephanie Colombini. Support for the Florida Matters More podcast comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham talks to WUSF reporters Daylina Miller and Cathy Carter, and Florida Matters Producer Stephanie Colombini about their visits to area museums. Daylina talks about her interview with Clyde Butcher; Cathy gets the inside scoop behind Herb Snitzer's jazz icons; and Stephanie finds that glass art seems to be coming into its own.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

So many complaints about the Tampa Bay area come back to transit. What's it like to be responsible for transportation planning (when everyone who drives considers himself an expert?) Host Robin Sussingham sits down with Christine Acosta, Executive Director of Walk Bike Tampa (an advocacy and education  non profit organization); Beth Alden, Director of Hillsborough’s Metropolitan Planning Organization; and Whit Blanton, Executive Director of Forward Pinellas, which is that county's transportation planning agency.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

For today's podcast, Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham is letting you in on the tour she took through the William Dean Chocolates kitchen. It's like a real-life trip with Willy Wonka through the Chocolate Factory. Is it possible to sample a little too much chocolate? We'll find out.Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.

After the Parkland school shooting last February, a new Florida law requires public schools to put armed guards on every campus. Host Robin Sussingham talks about the practical ramifications of that with Superintendent Kurt Browning of Pasco County; Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd of Polk County; and Bridget Ziegler, chairwoman of the Sarasota County School Board. Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" -- at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life. And we're also grateful for the support of the Florida Department of Health! If you or a loved one need information about medical marijuana, the Florida Department of Health provides resources on qualifying medical conditions, physicians and approved treatment centers at flhealth.gov/OMMU.

Host Robin Sussingham talks to political reporter and Tampa Bay Times correspondent William March and WUSF News Director Mary Shedden about the goings on in Florida's political scene. There's enough controversy to keep it interesting. Comparisons to an episode of "Survivor" are made.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" -- at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life. And we're also grateful for the support of the Florida Department of Health! If you or a loved one need information about medical marijuana, the Florida Department of Health provides resources on qualifying medical conditions, physicians and approved treatment centers at flhealth.gov/OMMU.

Parkland, Florida, high school student and mass shooting survivor Leonor Muñoz records a riveting audio diary for this week’s Florida Matters. Host Robin Sussingham sits down with reporters from Miami’s public radio station WLRN to talk about Leonor’s experience, and how they’re covering the aftermath of the massacre.   Support for Florida Matters More comes from the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can’t afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant’s “Operation Second Chance” at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life. If you or a loved one need information about medical marijuana, the Florida Department of Health provides resources on qualifying medical conditions, physicians and approved treatment centers at flhealth.gov/OMMU.

Robin Sussingham sits down with Jeff Huffman, meteorologist with the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, to talk about how much he hates -- really hates -- to be asked about the seasonal hurricane forecast. It's irrelevant! And not very accurate! Plus, how to lower your anxiety level as a hurricane approaches. Florida Matters More is supported by the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life. Support also comes from the Florida Department of Health. If you or a loved one need information about medical marijuana, the Florida Department of Health provides resources on qualifying medical conditions, physicians and approved treatment centers at flhealth.gov/OMMU.

In this podcast, WUSF's Robin Sussingham, Stephanie Colombini and Julio Ochoa break down the recent Florida Matters Town Hall that was recorded in front of a live audience (but what audience isn't live?) in St. Petersburg. The topic was healthcare for the uninsured, and it came about after a series of stories that Julio produced on the free clinics around the Tampa Bay area. We discuss the common perception that people without insurance use the emergency room a lot, and that's driving up the cost of care. But is that really the case?     Florida Matters More is supported by the National Foundation for Transplants. Right now, hundreds of Tampa residents need an organ transplant they can't afford. You can join the National Foundation for Transplant's "Operation Second Chance" at transplants.org to learn how to help give someone a second chance at life.  

Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham talks politics and more with Adam Smith, Political Editor of the Tampa Bay Times; Janelle Irwin, reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal; and Julio Ochoa, editor of WUSF's Health News Florida.

Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham speaks to Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve; Daniel Elias, president of Pharmacology University, a medical marijuana education program; and Darrin Potter, Chief Horticulture Officer at GrowHealthy in Lake Wales. GrowHealthy and Trulieve are licensed medical marijuana treatment centers and are authorized to cultivate, process and dispense medical marijuana in Florida. They tell us that you're going to need very deep pockets to get started in the medical cannabis biz in Florida.

He'll tell you himself: the most dangerous place in Polk County is to get between Sheriff Grady Judd and a TV camera. Polk County Sheriff Judd is never at a loss for words or opinions on criminal behavior, and he's played a big role in the response to the school shooting in Parkland. Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham talks to the Sheriff about juvenile justice and more.

On this week's acronym-rich podcast,  we're talking about the future of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Tampa Bay with Dennis Hinebaugh,  the program director for transit research at CUTR, The Center for Urban Transportation Research, and the Director of CUTR's National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (NBRTI); Brad Miller, the CEO of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA); and  Sharon Calvert,  co-founder of the Hillsborough County tea party and a longtime critic of expensive transit projects. Dennis tells Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham that BRT is not the consolation prize for a failed push for light rail in the area, but a real transit solution.  

Following our Florida Matters reporters roundtable for April, host Robin Sussingham picks up the conversation with a discussion on changes in Cuba; the new museum of western and wildlife art in St. Pete; a ban on greyhound racing; and how to juice a marijuana plant. She's joined by longtime political writer William March, Justine Griffin of the Tampa Bay Times, and Florida Matters Producer Stephanie Colombini.