The Florida Roundup

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a local ordinance the city of Jacksonville passed that mandates jail time for immigrants without legal status with two city council members (00:00). Plus, we speak to the Superintendent for St. Johns County Schools about how the school district is managing rapid population growth (21:00). And later, we learned about a new professional women’s basketball team coming to Jacksonville in 2026 (40:00)

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about the growing number of local police departments entering training agreements with ICE. First, we spoke with WGCU’s Elizabeth Andarge (00:44 ) about the city of Fort Myers' vote reversal before hearing from Mayor Kevin Anderson (05:25). Then, we learned more about the ICE 287 (g) agreements from WLRN’s Danny Rivero and Rick Brunson with Central Florida Public Media (CFPM) (06:54). We also highlighted a new series from CFPM that examines how children with complex medical needs are faring after losing Medicaid coverage (20:00). Plus, another look at this week in the Florida Legislature with WUSF’s Douglas Soule (32:45). And later, a roundup of stories from the week including a virtual experience to Venezuela (37:28) and a bird-watching trip in Tampa (44:32).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a bill to study the impact if property taxes were eliminated with state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who sits on several committees slated to take up the legislation (04:04). Then, we spoke about a dip in consumer sentiment in Florida with Mihaela Pintea, chair of FIU’s economics department (22:00). Plus, we checked in with WUSF’s state government reporter Douglas Soule for an update on week 3 of the legislative session (33:43). And later, we bring you more news from the week including a federal judge’s ruling to deny a request to block Florida's social media ban (38:21), an update on defluoridation efforts (41:26), and the city of Fort Myers Council's vote to block city police from entering into a federal government agreement on immigration operations (44:01). And we open up our mailbag to share some listener emails (45:44).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we looked at how mass layoffs are impacting Florida’s federal workers with WLRN’s Jenny Staletovich (08:15). Then, we spoke with Sen. Ben Albritton, Florida’s Senate President, about his priorities for this legislative session (30:00). And later, we heard about some of the bills being considered with WUSF’s state government reporter Douglas Soule (31:03). And later, we bring you the latest from around the state including a proposal to repeal the pushback of school start times (37:22), an update on Milton recovery efforts in Polk County (40:33) and sounds from Key West’s annual “Conch Honk” competition (47:05).

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.

This week on The Florida Roundup, a previously unpublished study from 2022 found affiliates of Florida insurance companies paid out $680 million dollars to investors between 2017 and 2019 while claiming to be running out of money and filing for big rate increases for policyholders. We spoke with the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times’ investigative reporter Lawrence Mower who brought the study to light (00:08). Plus, we hear about the growing debate over whether or not to adding fluoride to public water supplies with Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey (20:45) and later Dr. Johnny Johnson, a former pediatric dentist and President of the American Fluoridation Society (33:45). And we also bring you the news of the week from Florida’s own DOGE efforts (39:40) and the start of turtle nesting season (47:24).

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).

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 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).

This week on The Florida Roundup, we spoke about a new immigration bill passed by the Florida legislature with its sponsor, Sen. Joe Gruters (01:24). Then, we heard from U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost about a slew of executive orders this week from the Trump administration (11:52). And later, we talked about a state mandate to push back school start times for middle and high schools with Jude Bruno, president-elect of the Florida PTA (27:41) and then Tampa Bay Times’ education reporter Jeff Solochek (32:28). Plus, more on immigration including Florida lawmakers push to end in-state tuition for DACA recipients (37:35) and we share some of your emails (44:42).