Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

Tampa recorded its hottest July since records began around 1890. So did several other locations on Florida's west coast. We speak with National Weather Service meteorologist Jen Hubbard in Ruskin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tributes are pouring in for Paul Reubens. The actor best known as "Pee-wee Herman" died at age 70. The former mayor of the town Reubens grew up in remembers him as a longtime friend and a "soldier" for human rights. Fredd Atkins was Sarasota's first African-American mayor, and remembers Reubens as a high school classmate and lifelong friend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group described as the largest African-American motorcycle club is holding its annual convention in Tampa this week. Kenneth Thomas, a former police officer, founded the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Club in 1987. He and current national president Nathan Mack talk about how the club and some three thousand attendees will be doing charity work during their stay....

An early morning fire devastated the Alligator and Wildlife Recovery Center at John's Pass in Madeira Beach. The center housed more than two hundred animals, many of which are feared dead in the fire. The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is holding a fundraiser to help the center. We speak with chamber CEO Robin Miller. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarasota County reported six malaria cases to the state health department in May and June, prompting a stepped up effort to control mosquitoes. We speak with Wade Brennan, manager of Sarasota County Mosquito Management Services. How long will it take to break the chain of transmission? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we celebrate Independence Day, the peak of hurricane season is just a few weeks away. We talk with Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis about what you need to know about supplies and dealings with insurance companies. In other words, the basics of hurricane survival and resiliency. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Kondek, a Tarpon Springs police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2014, was also a regular blood donor. One Blood blood bank honors his legacy of service by holding an annual blood drive. It's taking place this year at a Publix supermarket in Tarpon Springs. We speak with Pat Michaels of One Blood about the event and how it honors Kondek's legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The state of Florida is targeting one group known for aggressive driving as it tries to get to zero highway fatalities. But it's not just through enforcement. They're also trying to change the culture and influence behavior. We speak with Kris Carson of the Florida Department of Transportation's District 7 (Tampa Bay). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the 911 call from the incident in which a Dunedin man unintentionally shot a pool cleaner who showed up after dark to work, without letting him know. Redactions and bleeps for language. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida's new human trafficking law takes effect July 1st. It ups certain penalties, especially when minors are trafficked in adult establishments. The bill also creates a statewide database to track human trafficking trenda at the local level. USF criminology professor Joan Reid will run the database. We speak with her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee and Sarasota counties has posted a mosquito alert after two cases of malaria have appeared in the same area. Malaria is spread solely by the anopheles mosquito. We speak with FDOH spokesperson Steve Huard about ways to lessen the chance of getting bitten and possibly acquiring a mosquito-borne illness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with Hillsborough school board member Karen Perez on the resignation of Superintendent Addison Davis and the search for a new leader for the district. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with Tampa International's (TPA) Vice President of Airport Operations John Tiliacos on two stories. First, the airport stands to benefit after the FAA reduces an exclusion zone during space launches that has been cutting off a prime approach route for flights to the Northeast. Second, we talk about the Airport Bear that wandered the property for a day. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Clearwater shows off its transformation of Coachman Park with a grand opening June 28th, kicking off a week of events. Additions include a playground, bike trails and a 4,000-seat amphitheater called The Sound. It'll be inaugurated with a Cheap Trick concert that night. We speak with Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst about Coachman Park and The Sound. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

The owners of an aquaculture project about 40 miles off Sarasota in the gulf have filed with the EPA to change the species being farmed as well as caging requirements. That has environmental activists calling on the feds to restart the permitting process. They say aquaculture in that area of the gulf has the potential to feed red tide algae blooms. We speak with Cris Costello, senior organizing di...

St. Petersburg is seeing a wave of extortion cases using nudes aka sextortion. The criminals are meeting victims on social media or dating apps, encouraging them to send nude pictures, then demanding money to keep those photos out of friends' and family's inboxes. It's double the rate from a year ago, and worse yet, many of the victims are minors. We speak with St. Petersburg Police Detective Henr...

Groundbreaking June 6th on a new hydrogen plant near Mulberry in Polk County. Its operators say it uses natural gas but also captures more than 90 percent of carbon dioxide produced, making it a clean process. They hope to become part of a regional hydrogen hub that the federal government is forming to encourage use of the fuel. We speak with Hani Banoub, a VP for one of the companies involved, Oc...

Thursday, June 1st is the beginning of hurricane season. St. Petersburg is holding its annual Hurricane Expo from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Campbell Park. We speak with city emergency manager Amber Boulding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American Association of University Professors declares in a preliminary report that Florida's public colleges and universities are "under assault" by recent efforts such as the ban on DEI courses and the overhaul at New College in Sarasota. We speak with Professor Henry Reichman, professor emeritus at Cal State - East Bay. He chairs the AAUP's committee on academic freedom. See omnystudio.com/...

The period from Memorial Day to Labor Day is called the 100 Deadliest Days of the year for teen drivers. School is out for summer and teens learning to drive can be distracted by friends, phones, and simple inexperience. Driving impaired is also an issue. We speak with Mark Jenkins of AAA Auto Club Group on how parents can help teens survive the 100 Days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Saturday, May 13th is Stamp Out Hunger Saturday. It's the day postal employees represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers pick up non-perishable foods (and sometimes other items) to distribute to local food banks. We speak with Al Friedman of NALC, who coordinates Stamp Out Hunger for postal workers in several southeastern states. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

This week (8th-11th), Tampa is observing Special Operations Forces Week, or SOF Week, with events and presentations aimed at the Special Operators in all branches of the service and their families. Around 15,000 are expected and downtown Tampa is expecting an influx of traffic. No surprise as U.S. Special Operations Command is based at MacDill. We speak with Meaghan Keeler of the Global Special Op...

The Florida Legislature has sent Govenor DeSantis a bill that expands the Move Over Law to include any disabled vehicle with flashing lights or emergency displays on. Right now it only applies to first responders, emergency and tow truck workers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain crowns King Charles III Saturday. Some British expatriates and American royalty fans plan to watch the ceremonies from this side of the Atlantic. We speak with David Palermiti, manager of the Pub Tampa, a British-themed establishment that plans to open at 6 a.m. Saturday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business and government leaders are getting together Thursday and Friday for the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Leadership Summit at the Clearwater Beach Hilton. They'll talk about preparing for hurricanes and related challenges including property insurance and housing. We speak with Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council executive director Sean Sullivan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...