

The South Florida Roundup
WLRN News
Each week, journalists and newsmakers from South Florida analyze and debate some of the most topical issues from across the region.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 14, 2024 • 54min
Flooding in South Florida, child water safety and a possible ghost candidate
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).

Jun 7, 2024 • 54min
Miami state attorney's office ethics dilemma, immigrant heritage month and the cricket World Cup
On the South Florida Roundup, we examined charges of rogue prosecutors under Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. Will a new appointment restore public trust? (01:02). It's Immigrant Heritage Month, so we looked at a new study underway to profile the rich and indispensable legacy of South Florida’s migrant farmworkers. (18:21) And with the Cricket World Cup coming to Broward – including a match featuring the U.S. team – we asked: how do you play this game? (33:55)

May 31, 2024 • 55min
A look ahead at hurricane season: ocean eddies, a new forecast model and resilient homes
On The South Florida Roundup, we discussed a possible clue scientists are using to determine which storms can become more lethal: ocean eddies (01:02). We also looked at a new hurricane forecast model that was developed with help from scientists at the University of Miami (17:39) and we asked high-tech builder Onx Homes how they’re developing new housing resilient to hurricanes (33:37).

May 24, 2024 • 55min
Cuban officials tour MIA, Overtown housing co-op scandal and BBL Drizzy
On the South Florida Roundup we examined why so many Miami politicians are up in arms — after the federal Transportation Security Administration hosted a tour at Miami International Airport for an official delegation from Cuba (01:03). We also looked at the controversy at Town Park Village, the Overtown housing cooperative whose issues were exposed this month by WLRN (19:03). And we asked why King Willonius of Delray Beach and his popular track “BBL Drizzy” are the country’s latest AI music dispute (34:35).

May 17, 2024 • 55min
Boat safety, alternate routes to the Keys and a new doc on Venezuela's corruption scandal
On the South Florida Roundup, we examined the tragic death of 15-year-old Ella Riley Adler – killed when a boat struck her last weekend as she was wake-boarding off Key Biscayne. Are boating accidents becoming too common in too-crowded Biscayne Bay? (01:03) We also looked at a raft of projects being planned to better move folks to and around the Florida Keys (19:05). And we talked with the director of a documentary that follows Venezuelan journalists busting the Venezuelan kleptocracy (33:52).

May 10, 2024 • 55min
Miami judge postpones Trump trial, a farewell to WLRN's Kate Payne and Panama's president-elect's plans
On The South Florida Roundup, we looked at the controversy surrounding Aileen Cannon, the Miami-raised federal judge who’s facing a storm of criticism over her handling of former President Donald Trump’s classified documents trial (01:02). We also said farewell to WLRN's education reporter Kate Payne — but not before she weighed in on some critical issues (18:43). And we discussed Panama’s president-elect, José Raúl Mulino, who wants to shut down a route so many migrants use to get here (34:30).

May 3, 2024 • 55min
South Florida's affordable housing crisis: vouchers, housing density and possible solutions
On The South Florida Roundup, we dedicated an entire episode to the housing crisis in South Florida and 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 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.

Apr 26, 2024 • 54min
Florida's marijuana referendum, Miami-Dade's sheriff race and Guatemala's genocide trial
On the South Florida Roundup, we looked at what to expect if Florida voters approve a ballot measure in November to greenlight recreational marijuana use (01:01). We also asked whether residing in Miami-Dade County should be a prerequisite for being elected Sheriff of Miami-Dade County because several candidates live in Broward (18:42). And we discussed a genocide trial underway in Guatemala and why the events that happen there matters here (34:47).

Apr 19, 2024 • 55min
Latest on Broward schools, third places and U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.
On the South Florida Roundup, we discussed the Broward bog-down: Schools superintendent Peter Licata retires after less than a year on the job – while the district settles in court to pay tens of millions of dollars to charter schools (01:03). We also looked at how West Palm Beach is restoring the idea of public spaces as “third places (18:37).” And we examined why the Biden Administration had to re-tighten the oil sanctions screws on Venezuela this week – and what it all means for expat voters here (34:45).

Apr 12, 2024 • 41min
Local police response to mental health calls, Miami's district map snafu and Bright Lit Place
On the South Florida Roundup, we spoke with Ben Crump, the attorney for Donald Armstrong, the Liberty City man shot by Miami police last month during a mental health episode. Does the case revive issues about Miami police training? (01:03) We also looked at what happens now that Miami’s district map has been dumped because of its racial gerrymandering (15:10). And we talked about the new interactive Everglades restoration visuals for the WLRN podcast Bright Lit Place (28:09).


