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This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn about how students and teachers are adapting to new cell phone restrictions in school (02:20). Then, we spoke with Rep. Toby Overdorf who is one of the sponsors of a new law that bans children 14 and under from accessing social media platforms (11:19). Plus, with news of Facebook doing away with fact-checking, we have a conversation about media literacy with Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise at the Poynter Institute (27:06). Later, we bring you the latest news of the week including an update on Florida’s record-breaking low temperatures from Meteorologist Megan Borowski (37:30), a look at how undocumented immigrants in Central Florida are preparing for a new Trump administration (41:29) and more.

On the South Florida Roundup we discussed the constitutional questions surrounding Gov. Ron DeSantis’ demand that local authorities assist federal immigration officials. South Florida may not be on board (1:12). We also looked at a popular new program in Miami Gardens that teaches kids a vital but not always accessible skill: computer coding (19:28). And we examined the new deal that takes Cuba off the U.S.’ state sponsors of terrorism list — and dissidents out of Cuba’s prisons (35:21).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discussed Gov. DeSantis’ immigration policy proposals for a special session and the role local police will have with Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey (02:52). Then, we spoke with POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi about what to expect if Marco Rubio is confirmed as Secretary of State (24:54). Plus, we checked in with PolitiFact's Samantha Putterman to look back at President Biden’s promises (31:02). And later, we shared a collection of news from the week including updates on a proposed rate hike from Citizens Property Insurance (37:32), how local water managers are dealing with increased flooding (39:34) and a big week for the Space Coast (46:06).

January 12, 2025 - Susan Hargreaves tells the story of Lovie the dog.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we bring you some of the biggest stories from around the state with reporters from Florida Public Radio member stations (00:22). Plus, we learn about how Spanish settlers in Florida influenced America’s barbecue craze (20:15). And later, we bring you a collection of Florida-only food stories (37:32).

On the South Florida this week, we devoted the hour to the holidays — starting with just getting there: What to expect on the roads and in the skies, especially with Miami International Airport in the midst of a $9 billion makeover (01:12). We also looked at our community’s growing number of interfaith programs and projects, whose efforts to build religious understanding matter a lot this time of year (18:13). And we looked back on some of the tasty holiday food stories WLRN has brought you in years past (34:07).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we bring you three interviews: first, we spoke with Catherine Wood, founder and CEO of ARK Investment, about what attracted her to St. Petersburg (01:33). Then, we’ll speak with John Bartleman, president & CEO of TradeStation, which is based in South Florida (19:36). Plus, author Malcolm Gladwell talks about what makes Miami so unique (37:32).

On this week's episode of The South Florida Roundup, we reviewed 2024, and previewed 2025, for the paradise — or at least the traffic-jammed region — that we call South Florida (01:13), as well as for that annex of South Florida that we call Latin America and the Caribbean (34:47). Our panel of journalists and experts guided us through the good and the bad that shaped us last year and promise to define this year. Such as, where are we ever going to put that garbage incinerator and will Venezuela ever be free?

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with meteorologist Megan Borowski to talk about the record-breaking snowfall in the Panhandle (07:00). Then, POLITICO’s Gary Fineout joined us for a preview of next week’s special legislative session and special elections (12:55). And later, NPR’s Sarah McCammon joined us to talk about how the Evangelical Right has influenced national policy (25:44). Plus, a look at Florida’s struggling citrus industry (37:33), why experts say 2025 will be a big year for seaweed (41:22) and a look at how homeless shelters in Tampa Bay are grappling with all the extreme cold weather (46:00).

On the South Florida Roundup, we looked at President Trump’s alarming decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans here — who now face deportation back to a brutal dictatorship (01:06). We also looked at a Miami-Dade effort just underway that could turn traditionally Black communities into a new city (20:22). And we talked with the filmmaker behind a new WLRN-produced documentary that traces much of Haiti’s crisis to the demise of the Creole pig (35:08).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke with the Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos and WLRN’s Danny Rivero about immigration bills passed this week and how the state plans to enforce the law (07:22). Then, we share what listeners love about Florida (20:12). And later, we spoke with U.S. Rep Moskowitz about the impact of the sweeping gun control laws passed in the wake of the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland (25:06). Plus, how some faith leaders in Florida are responding to the Trump Administration’s immigration policies (37:34), an update on Citizens’ home insurance rates (45:10 ) and changes to weather forecasting in the Gulf (46:27).

This week on the South Florida Roundup, we talked with Miami’s Roman Catholic Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who’s had a lot to say about the Trump administration’s controversial pursuit of undocumented migrants — and its swipes at the Church (01:11). We also looked at another controversial trend: top Republican politicos taking the helm at colleges like Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University (20:09). And we examined the trial of Colombia’s former president: is it politicized justice (35:33)?

On the latest episode of South Florida Roundup, we talked about how the city of Coral Gables became an end-point for smuggled migrants between the Bahamas and South Florida in recent weeks (01:06). We also looked into red light camera tickets and how cities like Aventura are making major profits from them (16:30). And we examined the city of Miami commission’s recent vote to shift millions meant for new city parks BACK to Miami Freedom Park—the future home of the Inter Miami Soccer team (33:42).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the similarities and differences between California and Florida when it comes to property insurance with KQED Science reporter Danielle Venton (03:30) and Anne Greggis with the Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network (12:54). And later, we were joined by Jeff Solochek, Tampa Bay Times education reporter, to talk about how Florida scored on the Nation’s Report Card (30:52). Plus, we looked at what’s at state for Florida with the proposal to do away with FEMA (37:21), remember the late Geraldine Thompson (41:42), and learned about young bird watchers (43:13).

The South Florida Roundup's Tim Padgett co-hosts the 90-minute call-in special “Haiti on the Line,” a collaboration between WLRN, WNYC (New York City) and GBH News (Boston) which aired live on Feb. 24, 2025. Last year more than 5,000 people in Haiti were killed in gang-related violence. The country has been in a political crisis for years. And for Haitians in America with feet in two worlds, reality in both countries is unstable. To better understand the story, public radio stations in the three cities with the largest Haitian populations in America teamed up to open the phones and hear from Haitian listeners in these communities. The hosts were joined by special guests and experts on Haiti.

Last year more than 5,000 people in Haiti were killed in gang-related violence. The country has been in a political crisis for years. And for Haitians in America with feet in two worlds, reality in both countries is unstable. To better understand the story, public radio stations in the three cities with the largest Haitian populations in America teamed up to open the phones and hear from Haitian listeners.Brian Lehrer (WNYC, New York City), with Saraya Wintersmith (GBH News, Boston) and Tim Padgett (WLRN, Miami) hosted the 90-minute special, “Haiti on the Line,” which aired live across all three stations on Feb. 24, 2025. This call-in special highlighted the personal experiences of listeners in these communities, who shared their stories about their relationship to Haiti and the current crisis and explored the new realities migrants and refugees face here in America.The hosts were joined by special guests and experts on the situation, including:Widlore Merancourt, journalist and editor-in-chief of Haitian news outlet AyiboPostJacqueline Charles, reporter for the Miami Herald who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her work covering the 2010 Haiti earthquakeDr. Geralde Gabeau, executive director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute

This week on The Florida Roundup, we traveled to Gainesville for a special show at our partner station WUFT at the University of Miami. First, we spoke with a journalist with the UF student-owned newspaper The Independent Florida Alligator (00:00). Then, we explored the role of the federal government in weather forecasting with Tim Miller, chief meteorologist for the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (19:21). And later, WUFT reporter Rose Schnabel about the joy and jeopardy of Florida’s famed springs (37:15). And musical guest Thomas Allain also joins us for the hour.

On this week's South Florida Roundup, we looked at the Trump Administration’s layoffs and cutbacks at key science agencies here – not least of which involve the researchers who revolutionized hurricane forecasting (01:10). We also talked to Tony Doris, the editorial page editor of the Palm Beach Post. who was fired after he ran an editorial cartoon that some Jewish advocates called antisemitic (18:42). And we asked why America of all countries is shutting down so much support for democratic struggles in Latin America (34:50).

February 9, 2025 Recently retired teach David Garcia has a classroom story.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we went to Zoo Miami for a special show with a live studio audience. First, we spoke with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava about Florida’s condo crisis, local government spending and immigration (01:20). Then, we were joined by Dr. Frank Ridgley, the head of the Conservation and Research Department at Zoo Miami (20:38). And later, we met and learned about a few animals (37:58).