Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

FEMA has extended Hurricane Ian disaster relief to Polk, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, joining Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. We speak with FEMA spokesperson Shirley Tracey about how to apply for assistance, especially if the power's still out and you have no internet. (Please share with those affected by Ian!) See omnystudi...

Florida may experience a hurricane next week. What if you need gas to evacuate or run your generator? Mark Jenkins with AAA Auto Club Group in Tampa tells us what to expect at the pump and on the roads before and after a hurricane. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The parents of Andrew Joseph III, a 14-year-old killed in a traffic crash after being ejected from the Florida State Fair by Hillsborough deputies, are suing the Sheriff's Office, the Florida State Fair and at least one deputy. Supporters plan to rally outside the Tampa federal courthouse during the trial which begins Sept. 12. We speak with Dr. Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, Pa...

The Florida Department of Transportation is installing barriers to protect mangroves and cut down on litter at Gandy Beach, alongside the Gandy Bridge. We speak with FDOT's Kris Carson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parts of the Stop Woke Act are under a federal injunction after a judge in Tallahassee rejected many of the state's arguments about the law restricting the way racial issues are discussed in workplaces Thursday. We speak with Stetson University College of Law Professor Louis Virelli in Gulfport, about the judge's ruling and what reception it can expect on appeal. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

We (apparently) complete our series of interviews with School Board candidates with Damaris Allen, the challenger for Hillsborough School Board District 2. Incumbent Stacy Hahn did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 7,000 resident students are moving into dormitories at the University of South Florida campuses in Tampa and St. Petersburg starting Thursday (18). Rising rents may be one factor motivating students to live on campus. Ana Hernandez is assistant vice president of Housing and Residential Education. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa announces its first expansion since it opened in 1995. We talk with CEO Roger Germann about new sea creatures and new ways of exhibiting existing residents of the conservation-centered aquarium. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bronson Oudshoff, candidate for Pinellas School Board District 2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Cane is the incumbent in Pinellas School Board District 2, seeking a second term. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Army veteran and mom Alysha "Aly Marie" Legge is running for the Hillsborough County School Board in District 6. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roshaun Gendrett, who worked as a teacher in Los Angeles for two decades, is a candidate for Hillsborough School Board District 6. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karen Perez is an incumbent on the Hillsborough School Board running for another four year term in District 6. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday night (15) into Tuesday morning (16), one side of the Howard Frankland Bridge is closed for construction work. We speak with Kris Carson of the Florida Department of Transportation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patricia "Patti" Rendon, a parent of three current and former HCSD students, a former school advisory committee and PTA member and an advocate for children with disabilities, is running for the Hillsborough School Board in District 4 seat to succeed Melissa Snively. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Smalley, a career teacher, charter school principal, born and raised in east Hillsborough, is running for the District 4 seat to succeed Melissa Snively. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunter Gambrell, an employee with the Polk School District and fifth-generation resident of east Hillsborough, is running for the Hillsborough School Board District 4 seat to succeed Melissa Snively. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caprice Edmond was first elected to the school boar in 2020 to fill out an unexpired term. She's running for a full four years this time. Edmond started as a foster care advocate and guardian ad litem. She then worked as a teacher. She's concerned about improving low-performing schools in District 7. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria Solanki is a candidate for the Pinellas County School Board District 7 seat currently held by Caprice Edmond. Her experience with education began dealing with vision difficulties in the classroom. Now she's a mom. She's concerned about low-performing schools in the district and health and nutrition for students. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview with Stephanie Meyer, mother and school volunteer, running in Pinellas School Board District 6 to succeed the retiring Bill Dudley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Martin is a father of four who's running for the Pinellas County School Board in District 6 to succeed the retiring Bill Dudley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kimberly Works is a candidate for Pinellas County School Board District 6 to replace the retiring Bill Dudley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview with Dr. Keesha Benson, career educator and mom, running for the Pinellas County School Board district 3. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview with Dawn Peters, mother, business person and school volunteer, running for Pinellas School Board District 3. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview with Carl Zimmerman, teacher, former state lawmaker and candidate for Pinellas County School Board District 3. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.