The Florida Roundup

Fridays at noon on WLRN 91.3FM

Each week, host Phil Latzman leads a panel of journalists in a discussion and analysis of South Florida news. 

Listeners can join the conversation by:

  • phone at (800) 743-WLRN or (800) 743-9576,
  • email thefloridaroundup@gmail.com,
  • post on our Facebook page or
  • tweet @WLRN.

*Right click on "Listen" and "save link as..." to download and save as MP3.

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri December 28, 2012

How South Florida Will Remember 2012

Credit Radio_jct
Floridians may most associate 2012 with its irrelevance in the presidential election, when the nation had declared the winner and Florida was still counting ballots.

We were once again in the center of the political universe, but perhaps for all the wrong reasons as the state that can't vote straight.  It was also the year that the death of a black teen from Miami Gardens named Trayvon Martin made us reassess race relations, and the right to stand your ground.    

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri December 21, 2012

Gun Control Debate: Is Florida "The Gunshine State"?

Credit Zweroboi
With over a million concealed weapons permits, Florida has more than any other state.

On the Florida Roundup: The tragedy in Connecticut hits home in what some people call “The Gunshine State,”as Florida has over a million concealed weapons permits, the most in the country.    Do you feel safer?  We hear your reaction to Florida’s milestone.  And will gun control be on the agenda in Tallahassee?

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri December 14, 2012

How Florida Fails To Prepare Students For College

Credit j.s. clark
Many high school graduates in Florida are finding that they are not ready for college-level work.

 

On the Florida Roundup:  Florida has its new Education Commissioner, former Indiana Superintendent Tony Bennett.  We’ll learn why Jeb Bush fans are thrilled and the teachers unions are not. NPR’s StateImpact Florida reporter Sarah Gonzalez will tell us why many of Florida’s high school graduates are not ready for college work.  And we hear from you on Florida’s growing need for remedial education and what the purpose of high school should be.  Tweet us @WLRN.  

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Public Insight Network
6:00 am
Fri December 14, 2012

What Florida Students, Teachers And Parents Think About Remedial Education

Credit Sagette Van Embden / Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Shakira Lockett says in high school she typically earned As and Bs in her English classes. But at Miami Dade College, she had to take remedial courses in math, reading and writing.

The series on remedial education exposed what some in the public school system at the secondary and college level already knew: that many students are graduating from high school unprepared for college. 

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri December 7, 2012

Tallying It Up: Election Problems, Citizens Insurance And Miami-Dade Prayer

Credit Dan Grech
Secretary of State Ken Detzner is touring around the 5

On the Florida Roundup :  Local leaders and scientists gather in Palm Beach county to discuss how sea-level rise is “sinking in” in South Florida.  Citizens Insurance is awash with complaints about its "incentive plan" to have private insurers take over some of its policies. Will you be paying for it, hurricane or not? 

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Public Insight Network
6:30 am
Fri December 7, 2012

Dade Commission's Polarizing Call To Prayer

Credit wilson.cheong
The Miami-Dade Commission has brought back the spoken prayer to hold before their official hearings.

The Miami-Dade County Commission’s 8-3 decision to reinstate spoken prayer before its official meetings is sparking passionate responses on both sides of the issue. 

A sponsor of the bill to bring back spoken prayer, Commissioner Jose "Pepe" Diaz, called it a matter of "freedom of speech," while Commissioner Sally Heyman, part of the trio opposed to the measure, said it was "unfair to members of the community to be subjected to a religious point of view."  Since 2004, the commission has opened its meetings with a moment of silence during which commissioners and the public could do as they pleased. 

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The Florida Roundup
2:00 pm
Fri November 30, 2012

How Climate Change Is Reshaping South Florida

The Keys are particularly vulnerable to a rise in sea level.

On The Florida Roundup: Hurricane season has officially ended.  South Florida was saved from any severe hurricanes, but we see the effects of climate change as beaches erode, roads crumble and flooding inundates parts of region.  

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The Florida Roundup
6:00 am
Fri November 30, 2012

Climate Change Signs Abound, Locals Say

Credit James Lowry
Climate Change? James' walking trail in the Keys is frequently flooded these days.

With its low-level waterfront communities, South Florida is particularly vulnerable to climate change. 

But perhaps no area is more vulnerable than the Florida Keys.

James from Cudjoe Key tells us that a nature trail he has walked for 10 years is now regularly flooded, even at low tide.  Here is a photo he sent us:

While much has been written about the danger to South Florida caused by rising water levels, Pamela from Miami points out that Miami should pay attention to its air:   

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The Florida Roundup
2:06 pm
Tue November 20, 2012

Marlins Trade Away Top Players - And Fans' Trust

Credit ItsL_E
With the Marlins purge, does Miami have a bit of buyer's remorse over the mostly publicly-funded stadium?

The Marlins latest fire sale is official: Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig approved the trade of 5 of the team’s top players.  

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The Florida Roundup
5:00 pm
Fri November 16, 2012

What's Going On With Obamacare, Early Voting And The Miami Marlins

Credit Bob B. Brown
The Marlins' purge of some of its top players has upset fans and local officials still fuming over what some viewed as a lopsided stadium deal between the team's owner and the city and county.

This week on The Florida Roundup:  Have state GOP leaders taken the election as a cue to change course? 

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The Florida Roundup
4:06 pm
Fri November 9, 2012

Why Florida Is Still Figuring Out “That Whole Voting Thing"

Credit Dan Grech
As of Friday, counties in Florida are still tallying ballots, thus cementing the state's national reputation as a place that can't run an election. Why do voting problems continue to plague Florida?

"An irrelevant laughingstock," a "benign tumor," a state that should just be "

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri November 9, 2012

Is Florida the state that can't vote straight?

Credit Benjamin Thompson / Flickr/Creative Commons

11/09/12 - This week on the Florida Roundup.  The election is over, but again Florida is the state that can't vote straight.  Long lines for early voting and on election night in Miami-Dade leave voters frustrated, and Florida blank on the electoral map for days.  Even without the state's results President Obama wins reelection and Florida becomes bluer - with Democrats making gains at the state and national level, while Republicans take a hit.

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The Florida Roundup
2:00 pm
Fri November 2, 2012

Into The Fray: Florida's Voting Issues And Ballot Measures

Credit Alicia Zuckerman
Early voters have faced long wait times. Above, voters at the Miami Beach City Hall.

Florida is ready to vote. Or is it?  Over 3 million Floridians have already voted early in person or by absentee ballot.  Early voting totals continue to be strong in mostly Democratic South Florida.  For many, lines at the polls are long, while still others wait by the mailbox for their absentee ballots.  

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The Florida Roundup
6:25 pm
Fri October 26, 2012

Absentee, Early Or Day-Of: Florida Voters Tell Us What They Plan

Credit UN1SON
Over a million absentee ballots have already been cast.

Early voting starts tomorrow, and many say they plan on taking advantage of the pre-Election Day hours.  Mary from North Miami writes:

I like the feeling of participation and community that comes with standing in line with neighbors I don't even know. But there's a limit to the number of hours I want to devote to this experience, and I want to make sure my vote gets in, so I'll probably be voting early next week.

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The Florida Roundup
4:18 pm
Fri October 26, 2012

Voting In Florida Starts This Weekend: What To Expect

Credit Alex Johnson
Line of early voters in 2008 in Plantation. This year, early voting starts on Saturday.
The Florida Roundup
11:00 am
Fri October 26, 2012

Live Chat: The Florida Roundup October 26, 2012

Credit WLRN

10/26/12- On today's Florida Roundup, we will be talking about early voting, which begins this weekend, as well as what will be on the ballot and what wasn't discussed on this Monday's presidential debate in Boca Raton.  This week's guests include Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald, Jim DeFede of CBS 4, and Mike Mayo of the Sun Sentinel.

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The Florida Roundup
5:06 pm
Mon October 22, 2012

How Obama and Romney Differ On U.S. Relations With Cuba And Haiti

There's one more presidential debate left, and it takes place in the most crucial swing state of them all.  Host Phil Latzman along with panel of journalists, politicians and an academic discuss U.S. foreign policy and domestic issues important to Florida voters.  

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The Florida Roundup
11:46 am
Fri October 19, 2012

LIVE BLOG: Florida Roundup Pre-Debate Special At Lynn University

There's one more presidential debate left and the political party starts today at noon.  Join us for a live, two-hour, pre-debate special from Lynn University. We'll be tweeting, blogging and live-streaming the whole event.

Host Phil Latzman along with a panel of journalists and political thinkers will discuss U.S. foreign policy - the subject of the presidential debate - as well as other issues important to Florida voters in this election.

Tweet us @WLRN, #LynnDebate to give us your input on the conversation.

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The Florida Roundup
4:14 pm
Fri October 12, 2012

How Education Figures Into The Presidential Race

Credit cdsessums

On this week's show: we focus on education and compare the policies of the presidential candidates.  

President Obama and Mitt Romney agree on issues such as paying teachers based on student performance.  The main difference between the two is on the question of vouchers.  

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri October 5, 2012

Jobs And The Economy

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama debated the state of the American economy this week - we analyze what that might mean for Florida's economy. How has federal stimulus impacted Florida’s recovery? We hear from you on whether stimulus money has worked where you live. And we explain the troubles of US Century Bank.

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The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri September 28, 2012

We Want You!

During our pledge drive, we highlight the work of reporters from the WLRN-Miami Herald newsroom. They give us the latest on Governor Rick Scott's voter purge efforts. How many non-citizens are actually registered to vote and voting? The November ballot will include several proposed amendments to the state constitution. Ashley Lopez and Sarah Gonzalez tell us about them. Plus: more evidence on allegations that Republican Congressman David Rivera funded a Democratic candidate's campaign. Our guests from WLRN also include Dan Grech, Sammy Mack, Kelley Mitchell and Kenny Malone. 

The Florida Roundup
12:00 pm
Fri September 21, 2012

Panel Discusses Gov. Scott's Economic Policy

Romey on Univision TV

New figures show incomes in the South Florida region have dropped, and Florida's unemployment figure of 8.8% remains unchanged.  Has Governor Rick Scott's economic policy made any difference?  Meanwhile, Mitt Romney looks to recover from gaffes about the 47% made at a Boca Raton fundraiser. Both he and Barack Obama spoke at Univision forums in Miami to appeal to Hispanic voters.  Plus: after testimony by victims' families, will a state task force recommend changes to the Stand Your Ground law?

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