MidPoint

Florida is now LAST in the nation in teacher pay, according to a recent survey reported by the National Education Association! We discussed that, the State's pre-emption of the allocation of state education funding, the Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax education allocation to capital improvements, the need for the November referendum on the ballot to raise teacher pay by increasing the millage property taxes, the drop in Florida Bright Futures scholarship awards, book bans, and much more with Jessica Vaughn, Hillsborough School Board member from District 3, North and New Tampa. Listen to the entire show here, on the WMNF app, or as a WMNF podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

The EPA has recently set limits on PFAS hazardous "forever chemicals" in our drinking water supply. Find out from our local water quality experts how our water utilities plan to remove PFAS from our drinking water, who will pay for it, and what you can do to avoid PFAS at home.

Gov. DeSantis signed into law a measure to limit the reach of Civilian Review Boards that seek greater transparency and accountability for police misconduct. Does the law really do that, or is it moot as to many FL CRB's that do not investigate, but merely audit police internal affairs investigations? And what does the new law requiring citizens to remain 25 feet away from a 1st responder mean? Can citizens still videotape police on the street without fear of arrest? Listen to my guests Attorney James Shaw, former Chair of the FL ACLU Legal Panel and Dr. Carolyn Hepburn-Collins, a member of the Tampa CRB discuss these new laws and their effects.

Kimberley Overman of the Housing Council of Tampa Bay and Cicely Hodges, Housing Analyst for the Florida Policy Institute are our guests to discuss the new Florida homeless laws, including establishing municipal homeless camps and the prohibition on sleeping in public spaces.

St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Lizette Hanewicz joins MidPoint guest host Gary Gibbons to discuss the pros & cons of the new proposed Tampa Bay Rays Stadium and the proposed redevelopment plans for Tropicana Field and the former Gas Plant site in St. Petersburg.

Rogue Republican former FL Sen. Jeff Brandes, founder of The Florida Policy Project, joined us on MidPoint for a wide-ranging discussion on the recent FL legislative session, laws passed and missed opportunities, along with his current project, the Florida Policy Project, which he founded to provide policy suggestions based on data and best practices to solve some of Florida's most difficult problems.

Experts review the legal and medical status of reproductive rights & technologies today. Surrogacy lawyer Roia Barrios and reproductive endocrinologist & obgyn fertility specialist Dr. Carolina Sueldo discuss the Alabama IVF law, "fetal personhood," the Florida Abortion Ballot measure, & the pending Florida 6-week abortion ban.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

Out, queer Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner joined Republican House Speaker Paul Renner to support a ban on social media access for kids under 16 years old. Now, she and her peers, like Tsi Day Smyth of Voices of SW Florida, a Black & queer-led advocacy group dedicated to human rights and reproductive freedom, are at odds.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

We continue our review of 2024 legislative proposals with today's focus on efforts at criminalizing "sleeping in public" and establishing homeless tent camps around the state, and the problems of private equity firms buying up so many starter homes in foreclosure and charging exorbitant rents.

FL House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell & newly elected Democratic Rep. Tom Keen join MidPoint to discuss state politics and elections.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

Rachael Cerrotti joins us to discuss her decade-long project to memorialize the refugee journey of her grandmother, a Czech Holocaust survivor. Her project is a memoir, a podcast, a book and currently an exhibit at the Florida Holocaust Museum. This show commemorates Internat'l Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp in 1945.

A panel of Attorneys and Organizers from Floridians Protecting Freedom, the coalition of advocacy groups promoting the abortion rights FL Constitutional Amendment, are with us to discuss the referendum's path through collecting petition signatures to the Florida Supreme Court to our ballots.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

Guest host Matt Newton talks with Stetson Constitutional Law Prof. Ciara Torres-Spelliscy and Tampa Councilman Luis Viera about the many constitutional legal issues on our radar today.

We're talking about our personal health and fitness goals for the New Year with Wendy Wesley, a St. Petersburg-based nutritionist, Registered Dietitian, and food educator, and Shanequa Clarke, a Tampa-based fitness trainer with a Master's degree in Exercise Science who specializes in strength training and conditioning.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.