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Heard On Sundial: South Florida Protests, Hurricane Forecast, Reopen the FL Keys

Gerard Albert
/
WLRN
Passionate protesters peacefully walk the streets of Downtown Fort Lauderdale to support the Black Lives Matter movement and fight against police violence.

On this Monday, June 1st, episode of Sundial:

 

Protests Against Police Brutality Across South Florida

     

There were protests throughout South Florida over the weekend, demanding police accountability following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of white officers. Hundreds of protestors took to the streets of Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach in what were largely considered peaceful protests during the day. In the evening, there were reports of looting and vandalism on businesses and arrests were made in all three counties.

 

“A couple of protesters were jumping on the police vehicles. Protesters were trying to get them off,” says the Miami Herald’s Jacqueline Charles. She was covering the protests in downtown Miami that moved to I-95 Saturday afternoon. “This jumping on the police vehicle is what lit the match. Rubber bullets are being fired, tear gas is being fired, there are police vehicles that have been set ablaze.”  

 

 

We spoke with Charles about what she witnessed on Saturday. We also heard from WLRN’s Palm Beach County Reporter Wilkine Brutus who was at the protest in West Palm Beach.  

National Hurricane Director on 2020 Season

 

Today (Monday) marks the beginning of hurricane season in South Florida and forecasters expect it to be a busy one. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says we can expect 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 that could become hurricanes and three to six that could develop into a major hurricane. Forecasters believe warming ocean temperatures and changes in the current in the Atlantic are among the reasons why we’ve seen increasingly busy seasons over the past couple of years.

 

“People a lot of times will think there’s time to watch these things develop in the ocean,” said Kenneth Graham, Director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. “But there’s other situations like Hurricane Michael, where you only had 3 or 4 days. You need to be prepared and ready just in case.” 

 

We spoke with Director Graham about the preparations for this year’s season and how the Coronavirus pandemic is impacting their work. 

 

Reopening of the Florida Keys

 

Today (Monday) marks the reopening of the Florida Keys to tourists. Over the past two months, a checkpoint was set-up at the northern end of the Overseas Highway to prevent any visitors in an attempt to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. The checkpoint is down, but there are a number of restrictions in place on businesses and visitors. 

 

“Temperatures are being taken at the door at every restaurant,” says Key West Mayor Teri Johnston. “In areas where you’re going to be taking your mask off, we want that information. It’s an educational process.” 

 

We spoke with Mayor Johnston and WLRN’s Monroe County Reporter Nan Klingener about the return of tourists to the Keys and the protections in place.        

Chris knew he wanted to work in public radio beginning in middle school, as WHYY played in his car rides to and from school in New Jersey. He’s freelanced for All Things Considered and was a desk associate for CBS Radio News in New York City. Most recently, he was producing for Capital Public Radio’s Insight booking guests, conducting research and leading special projects at Sacramento’s NPR affiliate.