Some Florida Democrats are looking for who to blame after struggling during the 2024 elections, continuing a downward slide for the party in the state. Tristan Wood reports
Karen Woodall, a legend in the Capitol, has devoted more than 40 years advocating for people from marginalized communities, including immigrants, farmworkers, children, and the poor. On the Deeper Dive with Dara (DARE-uh) Kam (Cam) podcast from The News Service of Florida, Woodall shares insight about challenges facing Democrats and offers this advice: don't write off rural Florida. Here’s an excerpt.
That was Karen Woodall, Executive Director of the Florida People's Advocacy Center, on the Deeper Dive with Dara Kam podcast. Hear the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
The Florida Department of Children and Families is taking issue with Franklin County Sheriff A. J. Smith, who is calling for the agency to do more for abused and neglected kids in his jurisdiction. The back-and-forth has been years in the making. As Margie Menzel reports, an expert in Florida’s child welfare system says the numbers show Smith has a case.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is recommending that municipalities stop adding fluoride to their water. He calls doing so “public health malpractice.” But public health organizations, such as the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, say fluoride serves an important purpose and they stand by its use. Regan McCarthy reports Ladapos’s recommendation follows discussions taking place on a national level.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be playing at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa next year and some Pinellas County lawmakers don't like that. In his recent, Tampa Bay Times sports columnist John Romano said it's possible that this could be the beginning of the end for the team on that side of the Bay.
The end of November marks the end of hurricane season. The impact of climate change on hurricanes is getting a lot of attention these days as global air and water temperatures continue to rise. But Dr. Christopher Landsea at the National Hurricane Center says the data is mixed as far as direct links go. He talked with WGCU’s Mike Kiniry (kin-EYE-ree) in Fort Myers.