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 peaceful protest at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek came after the school's principal and four staff members were reassigned over allegations that a transgender student was allowed to play on a girls' volleyball team.
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Sundial host, Carlos Frías, spoke with author Carl Hiaasen before a live audience at the Miami Book Fair. They talked about his new book, "Wrecker," and growing up in Florida.
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SundialSundial host, Carlos Frías, spoke with author Carl Hiaasen before a live audience at the Miami Book Fair over the weekend. They talked about his new book, "Wrecker," and growing up in Florida.
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As Florida’s peak tourism season kicks off, the Florida Keys is grappling with how to address a scathing audit of its county tourism agency. It included allegations of 'repeated noncompliance,' 'potential self-dealing' and 'serious ethical concerns.'
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Black youth represent roughly 17% of the population, yet they account for 58% of all youth arrests. A county trust hopes to address the issue.
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Commissioners delayed until next March their vote on a controversial heat-related ordinance proposal that would protect outdoor workers in the agriculture and construction industries. The measure would be the first of its kind in the South.
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It was the opening day of the season for South Florida staple Knaus Berry Farm. But this opening day was unlike others. It comes just a few months after the tragic death of farm co-owner Rachel Grafe.
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Zak Stern is the actual baker behind Zak the Baker in Wynwood. He's credited with starting the artisanal bread movement in Miami. He tells us why he prompted us to write poems answering: "What is Miami food?"
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Nicole Tallman is an author and the poetry ambassador for Miami-Dade County. She joins WLRN Sundial to talk about how living in South Florida helped her find her voice as the poet.
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Tameka Hobbs manages the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Sistrunk — Fort Lauderdale's historically Black neighborhood. They partnered with the Black History Project to start a Black History Saturday School in Broward County.
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This year's heat has been a wakeup call about the tangible impacts of climate change, as people in South Florida find new ways to deal with the extreme conditions.
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The money for infrastructure and rail projects comes from President Biden's $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congress approved nearly two years ago.