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This week on a rebroadcast of The Florida Roundup, we spoke with three authors — novelist Lauren Groff (02:00), historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (20:28) and former Florida lawmaker Dick Batchelor (37:18) about free expression, leadership and discovering civility again.

In a re-broadcast of The South Florida Roundup, we looked back at our show from May 3 which was dedicated entirely to the ongoing housing crisis in South Florida. We explored how to create more affordable housing as the cost of renting or owning a home, from Palm Beach to Key West, becomes more and more out of reach. We also discussed the remedies that are gaining consensus across the region and across the state, from increased housing density to ramped-up housing vouchers. And we looked at how South Florida is or isn’t putting those answers to work.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we find out more about the company at the center of Florida’s plan to import drugs from Canada with the Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers (00:24) and breakdown the 2024-25 state budget with Politico reporter Gary Fineout (11:53). Then, a new series explores the legacy of America’s broken promise in "40 Acres and a Mule" (19:23). Plus, we get the latest on Boeing’s Starliner with Central Florida Public Media’s Brendan Byrne (33:27). And later, torrential rain brings dangerous flooding and standing water to much of South Florida (37:15), a federal judge blocks Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care (38:50), and more news from the week (40:31).

On the South Florida Roundup, we examined this week's flash flood emergency. How common are these once-in-a-lifetime rains becoming? (01:03). After another child drowned in a South Florida pool this month, we also looked into efforts to ramp up swimming instruction, especially for minority children (16:30). And ahead of the August primary election, we examined the epidemic of bogus candidates (33:19).

July 07, 2024 - Anita Payson with a story from her childhood

July 14, 2024 Phyllis Wachtell and her husband's African Grey Parrot

December 17, 2023 - Vanessa Peña remembers her aunt.

The Isle of Klezbos were in town, I talked to band leader Eve Sicular about klezmer music and their new CD "Yiddish Silver Screen".

On the South Florida Roundup, we looked at President Biden's latest attempts to get ahead of the all-important immigration issue – and how profoundly they could affect families and communities in South Florida (01:06). We also discussed a long-awaited engineering firm’s conclusions about what brought down the Champlain Towers condominium building, killing 98 people three years ago this month (18:42). And we welcome the Copa América soccer tournament as it kicks off in the U.S — and in Miami (35:36).

On the South Florida Roundup we examined new federal rules that preempt a Florida state law that preempts local government laws to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat. Given the new temperature norms we face, the stakes are high (01:10). We also looked at how local governments here are scrambling to adapt to a new state law that bans the homeless – with U.S. Supreme Court approval – from sleeping in public spaces (18:43). And, we assessed the future of Little Haiti’s marquee institution (35:51).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Redington Beach Mayor David Will about his opposition to bill that was vetoed by Gov. DeSantis that would have created statewide regulations for short-term vacation rentals (00:53). Then, we spoke about how presidential politics are playing out in Florida after both the Biden and Trump campaign made stops in the state with WLRN's Danny Rivero and WUSF's Steve Newborn (20:11). Plus, we look behind-the-scenes at the group tasked with forecasting the financial impact of the proposed abortion amendment that will appear on November's ballot (37:10). And later, we hear more from listeners weighing in on new condo reforms (46:54).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Miami) about Congressional investigations into the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump (00:46) and then spoke with U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Pinellas) about her call for civility amid political violence (14:00). We hear from two community leaders working on homeless prevention about Dignity Village, a former tent community in Gainesville (19:57), and a new state law that will soon ban homeless people from camping or sleeping on public property (25:56). Plus, a new state law restricting local heat ordinances comes as the Biden administration considers federal restrictions (37:20), a new study on urban heat islands (41:42), the city of Orlando's efforts to help citizens stay cool (43:17) and an update on the financial impact analysis for amendment 4 (44:04). And finally, how Florida became a part of the United States 203 years ago this week (47:10).

On the South Florida Roundup we discussed what went so wrong on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium — when security lost control of gate-crashing (and air vent-crashing) soccer fans before the Copa America final. What lessons must Miami learn before the 2026 World Cup? (1:09) We also looked at the important impact developer Sergio Pino had here, before his life ended in scandal and suicide this week (23:09). And we asked: What’s reality and what’s myth regarding this summer’s big fears about sharks? (36:06)

July 21, 2024 One can presume that every parent has experienced what Paricia Gomez describes.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about cellphone restrictions in K-12 schools. First, we heard from Scott Howat, chief communications officer for Orange County Public Schools, about their total ban on cellphone use during the school day (03:34), then we spoke with Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar about how teachers are adjusting to the changes (20:00). And later, we spoke with Garrett Shanley, with University of Florida’s student-run newspaper The Alligator, about his reporting on former UF president Ben Sasse’s record spending (26:23). Plus, we looked back at Hurricane Charley 20 years later (37:20) and checked in on Hurricane Debby recovery efforts (40:22) and impact on wildlife (44:42). Finally, a new TV series filmed in Florida debuts this week (47:35).

On the South Florida Roundup the WLRN team previewed Tuesday’s primary election for South Florida. And we talked about a lot more than sheriffs. In Miami-Dade County voters are weighing in on a mayor – and Joe Carollo’s gym equipment (01:06). In Broward County, Sheriff Gregory Tony faces real competition and most of the embattled school board’s seats are up for grabs, too (21:58). And in Palm Beach County, there’s a race to replace the first Haitian-American commissioner (34:49).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we went to Key West for a special show with a live studio audience. First, we spoke with former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (00:52). Then, we were joined by WLRN’s environment editor Jenny Staletovich to talk about warming ocean waters and coral reef restoration (21:28). And later, we heard from Julia Cooper, WLRN's reporter covering the Florida Keys (38:32).

On the South Florida Roundup, we dove into the new school year with a panel of some of the region’s best education journalists (01:10) and, more importantly, a teacher (33:47). We looked at urgent security issues like the current metal detectors debate, whether or not we’ve put the classroom culture wars behind us, the charter and private schools boom and a new law that may have the little kids starting school at the crack of dawn – while the teenagers sleep in. Put on your backpack and get ready for the bell.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL-25th about presidential politics and the new direction for the Democratic Party (01:25). Then, we spoke with Craig Waters with the Florida Center for Government Accountability about regulating free speech on social media (21:30) and reviewed a recent SCOTUS decision on a Florida social media law with Rebecca Klar, reporter for The Hill (34:44). And later, we went around the news of the week including cell phone bans in schools (37:28), NIL deals for high school athletes (39:14), Olympians from Florida heading to Paris (41:45) and the southernmost property for sale (46:50).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with Politico’s Andrew Atterbury to talk about the primary results in this week’s school board races (00:08). Then, we spoke with Rep. Spencer Roach (20:00) about the proposed amendment he sponsored that asks Florida voters to decide whether to make school board elections partisan. Plus, we checked some of the claims from the DNC with PolitiFact’s Samantha Putterman (33:48). And later, a roundup of environmental news from the weekend (37:15) and a Florida athlete makes it to the Wheaties box (48:26).