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Florida Matters

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Your spot for real, daily conversations. Where neighbors become storytellers, newsmakers explain why and how changes happen and where locals — natives to the area and newcomers — discover and delight in the community they share.

Location:

Tampa, FL

Description:

Your spot for real, daily conversations. Where neighbors become storytellers, newsmakers explain why and how changes happen and where locals — natives to the area and newcomers — discover and delight in the community they share.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Earth Day is near, the price of no paid leave, Tampa Bay's tattoo culture

4/16/2026
Next Wednesday is Earth Day. On “Live & Local,” we explore how the focus has shifted from education to action, and what meaningful change looks like. Plus, segments on paid family leave and the world of tattoo artists. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:46:50

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Gabbard's vision for St. Petersburg, DeSantis’ map quest, making school buses safer

4/15/2026
Public safety, affordability and planning are among the issues front and center for St. Petersburg mayoral hopeful Brandi Gabbard. We sit down with the veteran city council member and talk about her vision for the city. Also, a closer look at the upcoming Legislature special session on redistricting and the safety of school business. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:37

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SNAP goes sugar-free, cop's firing questioned, Black Maternal Health week, your comments

4/14/2026
Next week's new limits with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are meant to encourage healthier eating for those receiving benefits. But not all high-sugar items are excluded, raising eyebrows about consistency. An official with Feeding Tampa Bay walks us through the changes. Then, why are concerns about transparency, retaliation and leadership growing louder at the Tampa Police Department? We also learn about the importance of Black Maternal Health Week. Finally, a block for you ... or at least a few of your letters and voicemails on some recent "Live & Local" segments that touched a nerve. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:41

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Coastal port loophole? Plus, how are you fueling? Drawing a strait line, and heading for third

4/13/2026
Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg Environmental advocates celebrated a win in Manatee County last month with a new law blocking a plan for a new cruise port. But is the Terra Ciea Aquatic Preserve safe from development? Not everyone thinks so. We also get some local perspective on the ceasefire in Iran, the pressure at the gas pump and something called “third spaces.”

Duration:00:48:35

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Raising awareness of local news, the Beatles' real nowhere man

4/9/2026
It’s Local News Day, which highlights the work journalists do to keep their communities informed. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we sit down with Tampa Bay area newsroom leaders about the challenges facing community journalism. Then, we learn about a missing Beatle. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:29

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An (endangered) species argument, CAIR-FL pushes back, moon beaming, sold on ChatGTP

4/8/2026
Floridians love their coastlines, but a federal move to weaken endangered species protections in the Gulf is sparking legal action and heated debate over energy security. We’ll break down what’s behind the lawsuit and what it could mean for marine wildlife. Also on the show: a new domestic terrorism law, NASA’s Artemis II mission and a homeowner who used ChatGPT to sell his house. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:47:08

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Bondi’s sudden exit, bookworms crawling, TPS and caretaking, a Frosted Flakes bass, chef's kiss

4/7/2026
Pam Bondi was praised publicly, then fired weeks later. We unpack what led to her departure as attorney general, her record in Florida and how the Epstein case shadowed her time leading the Justice Department. Then, we share some great recent reporting from the WUSF staff. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:41

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Taxis over Tampa, Florida voting changes, dangers of hot cars, playing ball indoors again

4/6/2026
Gridlock between St. Petersburg and Tampa could soon have a high-tech alternative. When will that eVTOL arrive? Plus, what listeners think about Florida’s SAVE law, the tragedy of kids left in cars and the Trop knocks are back. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:47

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Inside the MacDill scare, nesting their case, spare the timeshares, Gasparilla gets a drums up

4/2/2026
An improvised explosive device found near Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base has triggered a complex investigation. We hear what’s new. Then, more on a landowners’ lawsuit involving the Florida bird, some timeshare clarity and the return of the Gasparilla Music Festival. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:41

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Legal experts review Supreme Court arguments on birthright citizenship

4/1/2026
On a special edition of "Florida Matters Live & Local," the focus is squarely on one of the most consequential legal questions facing the country: birthright citizenship. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:58:34

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Are you ready to rocket? Plus, a lawsuit for the birds, Zested interest, strange Florida fiction

3/31/2026
By Wednesday night, astronauts may be trucking to the moon for the first time in 53 years. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we get the latest on the Artemis II mission. Plus, the Florida scrub jay faces a legal challenge, and we chat with The Zest’s Dalia Colón. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:41

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Fighting for street-legal art, blue-night specials, a low-water mark, recipes lost and found

3/30/2026
Florida muralists are challenging the state over removed sidewalk artwork. Ideas to survive the drought. A culinary anthropologist's hobby. And a new social media segment on politics. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:43

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Birth plan on trial, tariffs on tap, SRQ flies through shutdown, Century Club equestrian

3/26/2026
A woman says her own birth plan was overridden when a hospital sought legal intervention. The case was argued before a judge over Zoom – while she was in labor. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:35

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HIV patients get temporary relief, school vaccines and protests, New College film, Betty Castor

3/25/2026
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure to keep funding going for lifesaving medication. But the coverage runs out in July. Hence, the legal back-and-forth over the AIDS Drug Assistance Program continues. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:42

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Work to do in Tally, Tampa's gold medalist, questioning St. Pete's boom, Pilates pop-ups

3/24/2026
Despite passing a slate of high-profile bills, Florida lawmakers couldn’t resolve some of their biggest disagreements. Where do things stand and what’s up with special sessions planned for next month? "Florida Matters Live & Local" knows who to ask. This segment mentions suicide around the 46-minute mark. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org for help. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:49:13

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Red-light cameras on trial, turning a new reef, sea for yourself, learning and living outdoors

3/23/2026
A judge recently found one red-light camera ticket unconstitutional. With dozens of intersections under electric eyes, broader impacts of the ruling remain unclear. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:34

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Burdens of proof for voters, terror labels, power pole honor roll, a local centennial

3/19/2026
“Florida Matters Live & Local” takes a closer look at a pair of controversial bills heading to the governor’s desk. One covers voter ID and the other allows the state to label what groups are terrorist organizations. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:37

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Travelers' turbulance, Rays the roof cost, Sun worshippers wanted

3/17/2026
Spring breakers are hitting the skies as fuel costs surge and economic uncertainty grows. Airline expert Darryl Jenkins warns he can’t confidently predict where fares are headed. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:47:57

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Spicing up the mayor's race, sports engineering, Legislative lookback, a real piece of quirk

3/16/2026
East Tampa native Anthony Gilbert is best known online as a food influencer exploring hidden culinary spots. Now he’s bringing a full plate of ideas to local politics. We get a taste of his plans. Also on the show, why Florida Poly wants to get into college athletics, lawmakers are readying for overtime and a love letter to the state's underbelly. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:41

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Talking with Lt. Gov. Collins, Dalí news that will melt your clocks, Cocoa's Car-uso

3/12/2026
Lt. Gov. Jay Collins dials into “Florida Matters Live & Local” to talk about why he’s running for governor and review some of his legislative priorities. We’ll also hear an analysis of the crowded gubernatorial race, news from the Dalí Museum and an opera singer who sells Corvettes. Call: 813-755-6562 Message: FloridaMatters@wusf.org Website: https://www.wusf.org Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.wusf.org/wakeupcall-newsletter Follow us on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WUSF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wusfpublicmedia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN1ZItTKcJ4AGsBIni35gg

Duration:00:48:40