Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

The city of St. Petersburg announced four developers submitted proposals for redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site, also known as the historically black Gas Plant neighborhood. We speak with one of the developers, the Sugar Hill Community Partners group. (We hope to speak with the others too!) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The supply chain is in better shape than last year but China's COVID lockdowns are still causing logistical nightmares for retailers. We speak with USF Professor Seckin Ozkul about supply chain problems and whether rail troubles will affect holiday retail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are inflation and recession fears affecting the way Americans are shopping and spending for the holidays? We put that to Michael Snipes, PhD, associate professor of economics at the University of South Florida. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social distancing is relaxing, two and a half years into the COVID pandemic, and this may be the first time some people get to spend extended time with elderly relatives. If you see signs of cognitive decline or other issues, how should you address them? We speak with Dale Dalbey in the Destin office of Synergy Home Care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forecasters say this Thanksgiving travel season could set records. We speak with Emily Nipps of Tampa International Airport about what to expect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts expect a record-breaking week of travel around Thanksgiving. St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport (PIE) says it may run out of parking. We speak with Public Relations Director Michele Routh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pinellas County's rental housing shortage is affecting recruitment and imposing long commutes on teachers. The school district is responding by asking developers to come up with proposals to turn an almost 100-year-old school building, Tomlinson Adult School, into apartments for teachers and staff. We speak with Clint Herbic, Associate Superintendent for Operational Services. See omnystudio.com/li...

Daylight saving time ends Sunday (6), meaning drivers will see dark afternoon commutes. A few safety tips from Mark Jenkins with AAA Auto Club Group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida placed several cities in the latest Best Places to Retire list by US News, but the top spot went to two areas in south central Pennsylvania. Find out why with US News senior editor Emily Brandon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trick or treating can be especially challenging for children with food allergies. Shari Bresin, an extension agent in Pasco County with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, talks about the teal pumpkin movement, with houses telling parents of children with allergies that non-food treats are available. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ghost and goblin costumes aren't real but there are real dangers for trick or treaters on Halloween. We speak with Dr. Danielle Mercurio, DO, who's a pediatric physician in the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the November 8th midterm elections, Clearwater residents will decide on a referendum to sell the old City Hall site and other parcels to developers who promise a hotel, retail and apartments in the Bluffs area. We speak with Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, who says it offers voters a chance to overcome two lost decades in downtown revitalization. (Efforts to find organized opposition have been...

Tampa International Airport is holding a job fair Tuesday (10-25), originally postponed by Hurricane Ian. Some 400 positions are listed with the Aviation Authority and more than a dozen vendors, including FedEx, the TSA and Southwest Airlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vincent Nowicki, a St. Petersburg real estate developer who ran for mayor in 2021, started the ball rolling that led to Lisa Wheeler-Bowman's resignation and called attention to new council appointee Brother John Muhammad's support of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Water skiing is 100 years old this year, and a major international water skiing tournament is taking place in Winter Haven this weekend. Gordon Byrd speaks with Polk County tourism and marketing director Mark Jackson about Winter Haven's history with water skiing and what's going on there this weekend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group pushing for a transportation sales tax in Hillsborough just released a list of the county's most dangerous intersections. They argue that passing the tax in November will provide money for safety improvements. The top three are all on U.S. 301 (Gibsonton Drive, Big Bend Road and SR 674). One (Florida and Waters) is in the city of Tampa. Five out of the other six are in the Riverview, Brand...

A dozen post offices are closed temporarily and many people in Southwest Florida have lost mail service because of Hurricane Ian. David Walton with USPS talks about how to get caught up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.