Florida is a deeply Republican state. It’s predominantly conservative politically. But it’s also the place where the Affordable Care Act – a.k.a. Obamacare – is incredibly popular. A tax credit that allows more people to affordably access Obamacare is set to expire. As Tristan Wood reports, that could place a big burden on many policyholders.
A bear hunt is set to take place this December—the first in Florida in about a decade. The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gave final approval for the plan at a meeting this week. But as Margie Menzel reports, many environmentalists say they’re concerned about what the hunt could mean for the state’s black bear population.
Governor DeSantis had planned a second immigrant detention facility for Clay County’s Camp Blanding. But now he’s decided a former state prison in Baker County would be better.
A group of military veterans opposed to the death penalty have been lobbying Governor DeSantis to consider clemency – and perhaps more flexibility – when it comes to the large number of vets occupying Florida’s Death Row.
Amid state and federal funding cuts to public media, the Deeper Dive with Dara Kam podcast went on the road to the 2025 Florida Media Conference. It featured editors and publishers discussing the state-of-the-state in journalism. Sergio Bustos, Vice President for News at WLRN in Miami, visited the podcast to talk about how public media stations like his highlight the experiences of people living in their communities. Here’s an excerpt.
That was WLRN’s Sergio Bustos 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.
Tampa has been named the best U.S. city for foreign businesses. The Financial Times and Nikkei [NEE-kay] ranked the city based on things like falling utility costs and a major reduction in crime. But WUSF’s Lily Belcher found Tampa’s resilience to trade issues is the main reason for the win.
Florida’s July jobless rate is the same as it’s been for the past several months.
The mermaid show at Weeki Wachee (WEE-kee WAH-chee) Springs State Park in Hernando County has been a tourist attraction since the 1940s. Women put on mermaid tails and perform plays underwater while an audience watches in an underground theatre. The performers are in a spring, not a pool, so they’re fighting the current. Recently, 5 women who were mermaids in the 1960s relived those days, thanks to Wish of a Lifetime from AARP. The mermaids – Arlene, Ruth, Mary Jo, Cheryl, and Donna – are all in their mid to late 70s.WUSF's Sky Lebron got to watch them pull their tails back on and hop back in the spring.