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Julia Cooper
ReporterJulia Cooper reports on all things Florida Keys and South Dade for WLRN.
Before joining the team full-time, she was WLRN’s Fall 2023 Intern and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in Journalism and minor in Women’s Studies.
During her time at UF, she served as an audio producer and multimedia journalist for WUFT News, North Central Florida’s NPR-affiliate. She also served as a photojournalist for The Independent Florida Alligator and the Gainesville Sun, and reported for the statewide Fresh Take Florida news desk — you can see some of her reporting here.
Cooper also contributed to the award-winning project, The Price of Plenty which was a collaboration between journalists from the University of Florida and University of Missouri. That project was funded by a grant from the Pulitzer Center’s nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.
Her contributions to the audio news documentary Surviving Ian were recognized with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she won first place in general assignment reporting from the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists and placed in the Hearst Journalism Awards for the Audio News and Features category.
Julia can be reached at jcooper@wlrnnews.org.
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The surprise "microburst" weather event— uncommon in the Florida Keys — left significant tree damage in a Plantation Key neighborhood that took several days to clean up. “I lived here all my life and I’ve never seen anything like it," said one resident.
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The latest ALICE / United Way report shows more than 4 million households are straining to survive financially amid higher costs for food and housing as the affordability crisis continues to bite. Miami-Dade households fared worse, followed by Broward and Palm Beach County. The Florida Keys fared slightly better.
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Two cases of locally-contracted dengue fever were confirmed by health officials in Monroe County this week. Here’s how health and mosquito control officials say you can better avoid being bitten by potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes.
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After a public outcry not to fire Key West City Manager Al Childress, the city commission voted 4-3 Wednesday to terminate Childress’ work contract without cause.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more investments into Florida’s artificial reefs and an extra day added to the spiny lobster mini season this year – exclusively for Florida residents.
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The nonprofit Key West Wildlife Center this month began the long-awaited work to revitalize its aviary and clinic building to withstand hurricane damage and provide more space for wildlife patients.
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Monroe county commissioners have approved construction on the first such project in a chronically-flooded neighborhood — Twin Lakes in Key Largo. The $21 million project will include creating a stormwater drainage and collection system and elevating portions of road in the subdivision.
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The Florida Department of Transportation held a kickoff meeting to introduce the project to the public this week. Officials also said they are considering the possibility of a dedicated bike lane across the bridge.
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The Lower Keys Hospital District Board announced that it will convene a special committee to set minimum care standards on the Lower Keys Medical Center’s next lease after public push for more oversight on the Key West hospital.
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To commemorate the 79th anniversary of former President Harry S. Truman taking office, staff at the Truman Little White House in Key West put on an outdoor painting event. The event tied art and history — with roof shingles originally from 1911 as the canvas.
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Florida Keys officials say a public ferry from Miami to Key West is no longer likely, but an inter-island boat system, an overhauled bus network and a new on demand car service are still in the works, alongside the reconstruction of the iconic Seven Mile Bridge.
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The National Hurricane Center is gearing up for what might be an extremely active, even record-breaking hurricane season. To prepare, meteorologists are keeping an eye on rapid intensification and making several changes to the way information is shared.