An open letter to Floridians about a parasite in monarch butterflies has become controversial as some researchers suggest removing milkweed entirely will prevent the spread; others suggest that people should plant more.
The Latest From NPR
In this episode, we’re talking about Bob Graham’s environmental legacy - including his efforts to protect wild places like the Everglades and other waterways - and wildlife, like the manatee.
The top statewide stories of the week.
Politics / Issues
-
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Biden administration rule that will require more gun sellers to be licensed and run background checks on buyers.
-
As a Florida law took effect Wednesday preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in Jacksonville — another sign of the political importance of abortion issues in the 2024 elections.
WUSF wants to hear from you about what topics you want the candidates for public office to talk about this year.
Members of the community can nominate their favorite "queer elders."
Local / State
-
Florida has been a major access point for abortion in the South. Now its residents, along with thousands more in the region, will have to seek abortion care elsewhere after six weeks of pregnancy.
-
With rising water temperatures threatening Florida’s coral reefs, scientists have worked to relocate the animals in order to save them. But one rescue operation run in part by Disney and Sea World in Orlando has been doing this for years - even before the latest bout of extreme heat.
-
While most algae blooms are beneficial, some can be harmful. These cyanobacterial blooms can look like foam, scum or mats on the surface of water — and they come with an unpleasant odor.
-
Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration urged the state Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of a congressional redistricting plan that DeSantis pushed through the Legislature in 2022, saying it properly prevented a racially gerrymandered North Florida district.
-
An estimated 100 protesters gathered for a second straight day. After they erected tents and officials "determined the protest was no longer peaceful," participants were warned it was an unlawful assembly.
An eclectic mix of contemporary classical music.
Health News Florida
-
In addition to the clinics, the company is taking down its virtual health service after concluding “there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue.”
-
Florida’s ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy has gone into effect, and some doctors are concerned that women in the state will no longer have access to needed health care.
News from our coverage partners and WUSF.
Students from John Hopkins Middle School in St. Petersburg recently produced a podcast that looked at the historic Gas Plant neighborhood, a historically Black community razed in the 1980s. The students focused on the childhoods of the residents.
How guns can endanger kids' lives and futures.
Featured On WUSF
WUSF, in collaboration with the Florida Climate Reporting Network, tells how climate change is affecting you.
Video series hosted in the WUSF Performance Studio highlights local Florida jazz musicians.
More from NPR
-
With Harvey Weinstein's 2020 sex crimes conviction being recently overturned in New York, sexual abuse hotlines are seeing a surge in calls.
-
San Antonio's immigrant resource center aids hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers with food, shelter and legal help. Without immigration reform, officials worry the challenges will continue.
-
Tesla laid off hundreds of people. The company's supercharger network has been a striking success. So why did Elon Musk hit that team with devastating layoffs?
Florida Matters explores how the state's population boom affects key issues.
Environment
Education
USF journalists receive 18 statewide awards.
WUSF is recognized in three radio categories.