The Biden Administration announced earlier this week it will be removing Cuba from its state sponsors of terrorism list. The action came a day before Wednesday's Senate confirmation hearings for Sen. Marco Rubio’s Secretary of State nomination. Rubio has worked in the past to prevent Biden from removing Cuba from the list. Tristan Wood reports on how Rubio’s roots - both as a Miami native and Cuban American, could influence his approach if confirmed to be the nation’s top diplomat.
Governor Ron DeSantis wants lawmakers to come back to Tallahassee for a special session before the end of this month. He wants them to pass laws that would support President-elect Trump’s immigration policies. Adrian Andrews sought the opinion of a prominent Tallahassee-based immigration attorney Elizabeth Ricci. Her law firm, Rambana and Ricci, is a regular supporter of WFSU Public Media.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, has been a lifeline for thousands who arrived in the U.S. as children. Even though it doesn’t grant citizenship, for many it provides a safety net ... but not without its own set of challenges and uncertainties. WGCU’s Culture and Connections Reporter Elizabeth Andarge (ANN-dar-gee) takes us through one woman’s journey.
Americans are watching in horror as wildfires devastate southern California. At least 27 people have died. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes. And thousands of emergency personnel are battling desperately to contain the flames. As Margie Menzel reports, the events have Floridians thinking about the courage of their own first responders here at home.
Lately, so much of the news has focused on the wildfires threatening Los Angeles. But in Florida, the threat is more often coming from water. Homes, cars, and streets were flooded with rainwater for days - even weeks - after major Hurricane Milton pummeled parts of Florida in October. The rainfall overwhelmed stormwater systems. Scientists blame human-induced global warming for contributing to the increased rainfall. It means flooding is not just a coastal problem for Floridians ... it's an everywhere problem. WUSF's Jessica Meszaros reports on what’s being done to adapt old stormwater infrastructure to the new climate reality.
Former Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins last year launched “Educated We Stand.” She says it’s aimed at protecting public schools from right-wing extremism. Jenkins talks about that on The Deeper Dive with Dara (DARE-uh) Kam (Cam) podcast. Here’s an excerpt.
That was Educated We Stand chairwoman Jennifer Jenkins on the Deeper Dive with Dara Kam podcast, a product of The News Service of Florida. Hear the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.
Buddy MacKay served the people of Florida for decades as a Democratic state legislator, congressman, lieutenant governor and governor. He died on New Year's Eve at the age of 91 and was remembered this week at a spirited funeral service in Ocala -- his birthplace. Steve Bousquet was there.