Search results for

April 13, 2025 Judith Levy represents

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a proposal to shift tourism tax dollars towards property tax relief with Rolando Aedo of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (09:00). Then, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas Soule for highlights from the legislative session that ends this week (15:02). Plus, we heard from Florida college students about their post-graduation career plans (26:36). And later, an update on the Brevard County teacher who was fired for using a student’s preferred name without parental approval (37:20) and we learned about a novel community court program in South Florida (43:28).

On the South Florida Roundup, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava discussed her fight against Florida’s controversial move to remove fluoride from local drinking water (01:15). We also talked about Cuban exile healthcare billionaire Mike Fernandez’s claims that Miami’s Cuban political leaders are betraying their community (19:02). And a weather expert weighed in on the drought and if we should be as concerned as the alligators are (35:14).

On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at the new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV – and talk with a nun who knew and worked with him in Peru. How will his American and Latin American, ties influence his papacy (01:08)? We also discussed a community court in Fort Lauderdale, and why Florida’s new homelessness law makes it an important innovation (22:13). And we examined that rescue of Venezuelan opposition leaders who are now here (35:09).

Governor Ron DeSantis recently arranged for a million doses of hydroxychloroquine to come to Florida as a treatment for COVID-19 patients. President Trump…

On the South Florida Roundup, we unpacked a tumultuous week — and what may be a tumultuous weekend — involving America’s and South Florida’s angry dispute over President Trump’s migrant deportation crusade (0:09). We also examined why a new poll shows the denizens of Miami Beach favor a Metromover connection to Miami — even if their mayor and city commissioners don’t (20:44). And we previewed the soccer Club World Cup kicking off in Miami and around the U.S. Saturday (35:07).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at the residential housing market across the state with a collection of business journalists (00:00). Plus, we explored the new era of collegiate athletics now that student athletes can get paid directly (19:22). Then, lawmakers are closer to reaching a budget agreement, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas Soule for the latest on negotiations (29:06). And later, we bring you a roundup of news from the week including an update on the families of the victims of the deadly mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub (37:20), reactions to the Trump administration’s revoking of a humanitarian parole program (40:26), and an update on a famed flamingo (45:32).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at the demonstrations that took place across the state Saturday as part of the national “No Kings” protest (00:00). Then, we spoke with Shankar Vedantum of NPR’s Hidden Brain about our hot and cold emotional states (11:02). And after weeks of delay, state lawmakers passed a budget — POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard joined us for an update (28:14). Plus, some higher education (37:12) and environmental news from the week (39:54).

On the South Florida Roundup, we assessed another week of immigration controversy — from Miami’s vote to partner with the feds to Florida’s plan to build a migrant detention center in the Everglades that’s being called Alligator Alcatraz [1:08]. We also spoke to a South Florida journalist who’s recording what the last surviving witnesses of the Holocaust have to tell us — here, today [20:38]. And we saluted our repeat Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, who’ve made us the hottest thing on ice [35:51].

On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at Alligator Alcatraz which has gone from out-there idea to reality in less than a week. Miami-Dade County is pushing back and so are environmental groups as construction begins in the Everglades [01:09]. We also headed to Fort Lauderdale, where Sistrunk Boulevard, a historically Black neighborhood in the city’s downtown, is hailed as a development darling, but is all that new growth hurting the people who live there [19:19]? And, we discussed a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that may have a chilling effect on gender affirming care nationwide. How does that impact the community in South Florida [37:11]?

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at what we know so far about “Alligator Alcatraz,” the immigration detention center being built in the Everglades, with the AP’s Kate Payne and Ted Hesson of Reuters (00:00). Plus, we spoke with POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie about a new law that aims to put a long running dispute between property owners and beach goers to rest (19:20). Then, WUSF’s Douglas Soule joined us to recap the long and contentious 2025 legislative session (34:24). And later, we bring you a roundup of stories from around the state, including an update on the investigation into the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside (37:22), a story about embattled shorebirds (40:45), and more changes to Florida’s higher education system (46:00).

June 29, 2025 Michael Stock interviews Ukrainian folksinger Marichka about her travels between her current home Canada and her homeland.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we heard from one family living in Florida who have been authorized to be in Florida for more than a decade, waiting and worrying about their immigration case (00:00). Then, we spoke with David Jolly, the former Republican Congressman who has entered Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race as a Democrat (20:16). Plus, we checked in with WUSF’s Douglas Soule for an update on ongoing state budget negotiations (31:44). And later, education news from around the state including UF’s ongoing presidential search (37:16), the FIU Board approving Jeanette Nuñez as President (46:00), and shake ups at Pasco Hernando State College (46:38).

On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at President Trump’s new travel bans and restrictions — and the impact, if not the insult, it’s registering in our Haitian, Venezuelan and Cuban communities (01:08). We also talked with acclaimed NBC 6 meteorologist John Morales about his concerns that Trump’s budget cuts could have weathermen like him “flying blind” this hurricane season (20:02). And we heard from South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez about his suit to keep his cops out of immigration enforcement(35:40).

June 8, 2025 Elaine is an experience golfer new to South Florida

On The South Florida Roundup for this Fourth of July weekend, we revisited our Memorial Day weekend conversation with Miami native Edda Fields-Black about her Pulitzer Prize-winning history of Harriet Tubman and a pivotal Civil War raid (01:08). We also examined Lucy’s Law, which strengthens the state’s boating codes after Luciana Fernandez’s tragic death (19:34). And we looked at how we measure patriotism — and why Florida keeps finishing near the bottom in one patriotism survey (34:18).

In a rebroadcast of The Florida Roundup, we chatted with three authors who have written in or about Florida. First, we spoke with veteran science journalist Stephan Hall about his book Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World (00:45). Then, we had a conversation with Annabelle Tometich, author of The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony (19:40). Plus, host of WUSF’s The Zest podcast Dalia Colón shared some of her favorite meals from The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook (37:22).

August 10, 2025 Michael Stock interviews Eljuri about her new album and social activism.

August 10, 2025 Sara Friedlander tells of a particular quirk of her dad.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we checked in with reporters across the state to see how cities and counties are responding to audits from the state’s Department of Government Efficiency or ‘DOGE’ (00:24). Then, we spoke with Your Florida state government reporter Douglas Soule about Gov. DeSantis’ push to draw a new congressional map for the state (19:50) and later UF Professor Sharon Austin (28:04). Plus, a roundup of education news from the week including reports of fewer teacher vacancies (37:44) and how Florida’s voucher program is funneling money away from public schools (39:40).