Talking Central Florida

This week on Talking Central Florida, another new transportation plan aims to bring more rapid bus and rail options to some of Central Florida's busiest corridors. Host Steve Mort is joined by Ryan Gillespie from the Orlando Sentinel and Sarah Winkelmann from Spectrum News 13 to discuss the Sunshine Transit Advancement Resolution, or STAR Plan. Plus a look at how voters are currently assessing the...

This week on Talking Central Florida, should counties and municipalities have more power to decide how Tourist Development Taxes are spent? Host Steve Mort is joined by the editor of the Winter Park Voice Beth Kassab to discuss how local governments are pressing for greater flexibility in TDT spending. And as Florida competes with states including Alabama, Ohio and Louisiana to host the new U.S. S...

This week on Talking Central Florida, a conversation with the award-winning Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown. Host Steve Mort talks with Brown about her extensive reporting on the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, her ongoing coverage of the Epstein story, what survivors continue to tell her, and what she thinks future accountability might look like. Julie Brown will join the Orlando Sentinel's...

This week on Talking Central Florida, jurisdictions around the state face a deadline to remove automated license plate reader cameras along state roads, but many police officials lament the loss of a crime-fighting tool. Plus, a look at how the state has been spending emergency funds on immigration enforcement. Host Steve Mort is joined by Skyler Swisher from the Orlando Sentinel and Alexa Lorenzo...

This week on Talking Central Florida, as Orange County Public School leaders trim more from their district's budget, where is state education headed in Florida? Host Steve Mort is joined by Kayla Kissel, education reporter for Central Florida Public Media, and Massiel Leyva from Spectrum News 13 to look at why parents are increasingly choosing to pull their kids out of public schools and what offi...

This week on Talking Central Florida, a conversation about journalism: where the news industry is headed, and the role of independent media in telling overlooked stories. Central Florida reporter Mike Schneider discusses his former career at the Associated Press covering the Sunshine State, the challenges ahead for journalism, and why he's continuing to report on population change through a new in...

This week on Talking Central Florida, a look at the primary election and what the results might signal about how voters are feeling ahead of November's midterms. Christopher Heath from WKMG News 6, Sam Stockbridge from Central Florida Public Media, and Kimberly Leonard from Politico join host Steve Mort to break down the outcomes of the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries, a victory...

This week on Talking Central Florida, the second part of the News Collaborative of Central Florida's recent conversation with our region's supervisors of elections, recorded on July 14. In this episode, the officials discuss issues including outreach to Spanish-language voters, vote-by-mail, how Florida tabulates ballots, law enforcement agents at polling places, and the extent of non-citizen voti...

This week on Talking Central Florida, as law enforcement and firefighters' associations express concern over the proposed constitutional amendment that would reduce non-school homestead property taxes, a look at the rising cost of public safety services in some places, and what might happen to those services if voters approve the measure in November. And Lakeland City Commissioners pass a one-year...

This week on Talking Central Florida, the panel looks at some of the congressional and State House races around the region ahead of primary voting next month. Plus, a special prosecutor recommends pursuing articles of impeachment against the mayor of Kissimmee. Norine Dworkin from VoxPopuli, Abe Aboraya from the Oviedo Community News, and Ken Jackson from the Osceola News-Gazette join host Steve M...

This week on Talking Central Florida, new polling from the University of North Florida shows Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds leading Democrat David Jolly by five points in a potential November matchup, should both emerge from their primaries. Steven Lemongello from the Orlando Sentinel, Shannon Butler from WFTV Channel 9, and Jeff Allen from Spectrum News 13 join host Steve Mort t...

This week on Talking Central Florida, the first of two episodes featuring a conversation with six of the region's Supervisors of Elections ahead of primary voting next month. The News Collaborative of Central Florida hosts an in-depth discussion about recent changes to rules governing mail-in ballots in the state, concerns over security and election integrity, and the steps voters should be taking...

This week on Talking Central Florida, the Orlando Sentinel's Executive Editor Roger Simmons discusses the work of creating a comprehensive, in-depth voter guide ahead of elections this year. Host Steve Mort is also joined by Eduardo Gamarra, professor of politics and international relations at Florida International University, to discuss the tens of thousands of Haitians in Florida facing potentia...

This week on Talking Central Florida, Ryan Lynch from the Orlando Business Journal and Brendan O'Connor from The Orlando Shine join host Steve Mort to break down temporary changes to the development approval process in Orlando's Downtown Historic Preservation District. Plus, the panel discusses what the fight over the construction of a toll road that intersects Split Oak Forest tells us about cons...

This week on Talking Central Florida, Ryan Gillespie from the Orlando Sentinel and Sam Stockbridge from Central Florida Public Media join host Steve Mort to discuss projections for what cities and counties could lose if voters approve property tax cuts in November. Plus, the panel looks at the race for Orange County mayor and whether Governor Ron DeSantis may get to appoint a replacement for Distr...

Joe Mario Pedersen from Central Florida Public Media and Alexa Lorenzo from WFTV Channel 9 join Talking Central Florida to discuss the tenth anniversary of the shooting at Pulse and the lingering divisions over the process toward creating a permanent memorial. Plus, Alexa talks about her reporting on infrastructure investments at regional airports and the development of electric-powered air travel...

Gabrielle Russon from Florida Politics joins Talking Central Florida to discuss her recent piece, "The Untold Story of Ron DeSantis vs. Disney." Court depositions from a civil lawsuit related to the clash, obtained this year by Florida Politics, reveal the stakes during the political fight over Florida's 2022 Parental Rights in Education law. Russon discusses the eleventh-hour development agreemen...

Florida lawmakers are preparing to give final approval to the Florida budget before sending it to Governor DeSantis for his signature and likely line-item vetoes. Jason Delgado from Spectrum News joins Talking Central Florida to discuss the budget and the fight ahead in the legislature over homestead property taxes. Also, Romy Ellenbogen from the Tampa Bay Times joins the show to talk about her re...

Sam Stockbridge from Central Florida Public Media discusses how elections supervisors are working to meet tight deadlines following the recent redrawing of the state's congressional map, along with concerns over security at the polls. Then, Catherine Silver from WKMG News 6 and Abe Aboraya from Oviedo Community News break down staffing cuts at Seminole County Public Schools, and the contentious de...

As the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission temporarily halts sloth imports to Florida amid calls for changes to permitting rules, Molly Duerig from Central Florida Public Media joins Steve Mort to discuss the existing regulations surrounding exotic animals brought into the state. Plus, the latest on the condition of the sloths being treated at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gard...

Tristan Wood from WFSU Public Media in Tallahassee joins Talking Central Florida to discuss the legal fight ahead over Florida's new congressional map passed last week by the legislature. Then, Skyler Swisher from the Orlando Sentinel and Norine Dworkin join host Steve Mort to look at the impact of redistricting on Central Florida and other key congressional races in the region. Plus, why two judi...

Kimberly Leonard, author of Politico's Florida Playbook, joins Talking Central Florida to outline the DeSantis administration's defense of a redrawn congressional map that could net Republicans four more seats, and how opponents argue it runs afoul of Florida's "Fair Districts" amendments. Plus, the Florida House kills the governor's hopes of passing an AI "bill of rights" and expanding vaccine ex...

Amy Green from Inside Climate News and Molly Duerig from Central Florida Public Media join Talking Central Florida to discuss a recent report showing that utility company profit margins are driving customers' electricity bills higher. The panel breaks down what it means for Florida customers, along with concerns that growing demand from data centers could push costs even higher. Plus, a look at FE...

Gary Huttmann of MetroPlan Orlando joins Talking Central Florida to discuss the future of transportation across the region, including long-term planning efforts and the challenges of keeping up with rapid growth. The conversation focuses on SunRail expansion, improving road capacity, and addressing congestion across Central Florida. Plus, the discussion explores emerging solutions including microm...

Brendan Byrne from Central Florida Public Media joins Talking Central Florida host Steve Mort to discuss the history-making flight of Artemis II, the data collected by the crew as they passed the far side of the Moon, and plans for splashdown this week. Plus, a look at President Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget request for NASA. Then, Winter Park Voice Editor, Beth Kassab, talks about her reporting...