The first hurricane of this year’s season is heading for landfall somewhere in the area of Northwest Florida.
As Hurricane Isaias churns in the Gulf, many Mexico beach residents are remembering Hurricane Michael. The anniversary of the category five storm that crushed the Panhandle city happens this weekend. Randy Vuxta with WFSU’s rural news service tells us how that’s impacting the way some residents are preparing for this storm.
Law enforcement officials throughout Florida are lining up in opposition to Amendment 3, the high-stakes property tax proposal on the November ballot. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri joined the “Between the Lines with Dara Kam” podcast from State Affairs to warn that the measure could leave local governments facing steep budget cuts — a loss that would threaten essential public safety services. The proposed property-tax changes could trigger a $180 million drop in Pinellas County’s general fund in the first year alone, putting deputies, 911 dispatchers, EMS and community programs at risk. According to the sheriff, the measure lacks a clear plan for protecting the services residents depend on.
That was Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri on the “Between the Lines with Dara Kam” podcast from State Affairs. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Florida voters will determine the future of property taxes during the general election. With Amendment 3 homeowners could choose to pay less in property taxes, but a local referendum could confuse some voters. WFSU’s Alaijah Cross has the details.
Efforts to stop the spread of Dengue Fever have Lee County Mosquito Control on the front lines in Hillsborough County. Mosquito Control helicopter pilots and crews are joining forces with Manatee and Pasco Counties to help with aerial pesticide spraying. WGCU’s Jennifer Crawford talks with Jen McBride, communications director of Lee County Mosquito Control, about the work to prevent Dengue fever transmissions.
On Thursday, the Department of Health held a hearing in Orlando on its proposal to eliminate rules that require four vaccines for young children in daycare and schools. Florida's surgeon general Joseph Ladapo says people should be allowed to choose what shots they want for their children. One outspoken critic of that idea is Scott Rivkees He's a pediatrician who was appointed surgeon general of Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019, and served until 2021. WUSF's Kerry Sheridan spoke with him about what's at stake.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spent billions expanding operations, including at the facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Congress requested a Government Accountability Office review of the agency’s spending. WUSF’s Meghan Bowman spoke with the report's author, Director Heather MacLeod [Muh-CLOUD] about its urgent call for plans to avoid wasting more taxpayer money.