90.7 WMFE's Intersection

Republicans have controlled the legislative and executive branches of the Federal government for nearly two years. The mid-term election gave control of the house to the Democrats, but one goal the Republicans have had is to repeal the affordable care act.

So what kind of shape is the affordable care act in right now? Funding’s been cut for navigators to help people get insurance, so what does that mean for people signing up? And what kind of coverage can they get from the plans on offer?

90.7’s Brendan Byrne joins WUSF’s Julio Ochoa, the editor of Health News Florida, Cynthia Cox with the Kaiser Family Foundation and Anne Packham, a healthcare navigator in Orlando to wade through some of the complexity of the Affordable Care Act as the open enrollment period comes to an end.

A funeral service was held in Orlando for James W. Chief Wilson, who died last week at the age of 90.

Wilson was the director of the Jones High School band from 1950 to 1990. Starting with hand me down instruments and uniforms, Wilson took the band to the national stage, including a performance of the World’s Fair in New York in 1964.

One of the band members at that performance was a young Carl Maultsby. He joined Intersection to talk about Chief’s influence on the musical lives of Jones High School students and beyond.

Violectric go by the label ‘classic musicians who rock.’ They’ve been rehearsing for their 6th annual holiday show at the Lake Eola Walt Disney amphitheater in Downtown Orlando this evening.

Violectric join Intersection for a conversation and to perform a mashup of Sweet Dreams and Hanukkah, O Hanukkah.

The UCF Knights are riding high on a 25 game winning streak, but that wasn’t enough for the college football playoff semifinals. The Orlando Magic are off to a solid start this season… can they keep it up? And Orlando City failed to make the playoffs once more- what does the future for the soccer club look like?

On this episode of Intersection, we take stock of the state of sports in the city beautiful, with Jeff Sharon, managing editor of the Black & Gold Banneret, Phillip Rossman- Reich, editor at Orlando Magic Daily and Jordan Culver, staff writer at Pro Soccer USA. 

Pediatricians are worried about what they say is a rise in vaping among young people. As the US Food and Drug Administration moves to restrict the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products to teens, we talk to Orlando pediatrician, Dr. Candice Jones, about what she’s hearing from her young patients, and how she’s trying to educate them on the risks.

And singer songwriter Marc with a C returns to Intersection for a conversation about heading to the Canadian countryside to record his latest album- Obscurity- and how one of his music videos is a contender for a grammy nomination.

When it comes to religion, there’s been a rise of the nones: those who consider themselves atheists, agnostic or non affiliated with a religion.

So what’s going on? On this episode of Intersection, 90.7’s Brendan Byrne takes a dive into the state of faith with the three wise guys from “Friends Talking Faith.”

Of the women entering STEM careers today, 45 percent of them will be gone from the STEM field by the time they turn 40. We’ll revisit a conversation from 90.7’s Sunshine Week series about the gender and race disparity in engineering faculty in Florida.

And Albert Manero, who co-founded the non-profit Limbitless Solutions while still a student at the UCF, spoke to the United Nations this week.

Manero was part of a panel for International Day of Persons With Disabilities. We listen back to an interview with Manero and Dr. Albert Chi about a clinical trial to test the next generation of 3D printed arms.

Saturday is world AIDS day. The annual public health campaign began in 1988 as a way to draw attention to AIDS.

In the last three decades, treatments for HIV infection have improved. What was almost always a fatal disease is now, with proper care, a manageable condition. But millions of people worldwide still live with HIV and last year one point eight million were newly infected.

The latest in the battle against HIV – AIDs and the task still ahead for advocates and health workers and here in the sunshine state, what efforts are being taken to expand needle exchange programs to cut down the infection rate.

Then, a U.S. Supreme Court decision over the summer opened the door to legalized sports betting.

Some states have introduced legislation to allow sports betting but Florida isn’t one of them. An update on the state of gaming in Florida and what amendment 3 means for gaming in the Sunshine State.

And local musician and entertainment lawyer Kris Nichols talks about how he writes songs and how catchy riffs can sometimes catch out the songwriter and lead to lawsuits.

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York as a way to focus on charitable giving after the commercialism of black Friday and cyber Monday.  So what kind of an impact does Giving Tuesday really have? What is compassion fatigue, and how does that translate into people’s charitable giving habits?

On this episode of Intersection we’re joined by Mark Brewer, CEO of the Central Florida Foundation, for a conversation about how non-profits approach the end of year giving season, and how Giving Tuesday factors into the charitable giving strategy.

Floridians in the Panhandle are rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Michael. But some residents of the Sunshine State are still trying to fix the damage from the 2017 storm season. We talk to Erin Gillespie with the Department of Economic Opportunity about help available to rebuild and repair homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma.

And Orlando publisher Ryan Rivas joins the show to talk about the Burrow Press’s recent visit to the Miami Book Fair, and what he’s publishing in 2019.

The dust has settled after a gruelling mid term election and litigious recount. So what does the prospect of two Republican Senators from Florida mean for the sunshine state? How will Ron De Santis govern Florida? And what does the political landscape look like for Florida Democrats?

On this episode of Intersection, we take stock of the mid-term elections.

Democratic political analyst Dick Batchelor says it all comes down to turn out for the Democrats as they look towards 2020. And Republican political analyst Frank Torres says the transition team that governor elect Ron DeSantis is assembling gives the first real glimpse of how he’ll govern the sunshine state.

Theme parks draw tourists to Orlando, but they aren’t the only attractions in the city beautiful. You can step off the beaten path and visit a jam factory, feed alligators, or even try skiing indoors. We chat to Jon Busdeker, co-author of the new edition of 100 things to do in Orlando before you die.

And, grab a pint and rosin up your bow. A trip to the Harp & Celt Pub for a traditional Irish fiddle jam. 90.7’s Brendan Byrne discovers how one couple has kept the spirit of Irish folk music alive here in central Florida for nearly two decades.

Florida’s mid-term election is finally over. The closely watched recounts in the race for Senate, governor and agriculture commissioner ended last Sunday and the results certified Tuesday.

Rick Scott will be Florida’s next senator, and his fellow Republican Ron DeSantis heads to the Governor’s mansion, while Democrat Nikki Fried held onto a slim margin to win the race for agriculture commissioner.

The last couple weeks have been closely watched by the national media, lawyers and Florida residents, but they’ve also been an opportunity for civics teachers to show their students how the election process works in real time.

On this episode of Intersection, lessons learned from the recount.

Then- what’s Thanksgiving without the turkey? We take a closer look at the traditional thanksgiving feast in a conversation with Hari Pulapaka, the executive chef of Cress Restaurant in Deland.

And the commander of the 45th Space Wing has an ambitious goal- ramping up rocket launches from the space coast. 90.7’s Brendan Byrne talks with Brigadier General Douglas Schiess about 45th’s plans. 

The machine recount in Florida’s mid-term election has ended- but the drama continues in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Brenda Snipes, the supervisor of elections in Broward, has been under fire over how her office handled the election.

After more than a week of mounting frustrations- and lawsuits- Broward finished its recount but missed the three o clock deadline to upload the results for the Senate, Governor and Agriculture Commissioner’s races by two minutes.

Meanwhile Palm Beach County also missed its deadline.  Supervisor of elections Susan Bucher said her staff gave a heroic effort and blamed outdated machines, vowing to buy new equipment.

Of the three statewide races, the Governor’s race appears all but decided,with a hand recount in the race for Senate and Agriculture Commission. And the election’s still being litigated,even as the front runners begin their transition to power.

Joining Intersection for the latest on the recount are 90.7’s Amy Green, WLRN reporter Caitie Switalski, Democratic analyst Jason Henry, Stetson University professor of law Ciara Torres-Spelliscy and Republican political analyst Frank Torres.

One of the winners in last tuesday’s mid-term elections wasn’t a candidate- but an amendment. Amendment four will restore the right to vote for people with felony convictions on completion of their sentences.

Previous constitutional amendments approved by Florida voters have not been implemented by the legislature but supporters of this amendment say they worked hard to make sure it will be rolled out as intended.

On this episode of Intersection, a closer look at what amendment four means for those who will be most affected by it. We’re joined by Paul Heroux, an advocate for restoring the voting rights of former felons, and Neil Volz, with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. 

The world’s largest amusement park and attractions trade show is underway at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

More than ten miles of aisles display everything from water slides to virtual reality headsets and the machines that make the food that keeps amusement park patrons fueled up.

Intersection;s Brendan Byrne takes a walk through the future of the theme park industry.

And- a new off broadway musical opens this week- The Hello Girls tells the story of the women of the US Army Signal Corps in World War One. We revisit a conversation with Historian Elizabeth Cobbs about the Hello Girls and their struggle for recognition as veterans.

Three days after the mid term election and three races look headed for a recount. So what would a recount mean in the race for Senate, Governor and Agriculture commissioner?

For Floridians who lived through the 2000 presidential election- this may bring back memories of the Bush v Gore recount dispute which ended up in the hands of the US Supreme Court.

On this episode of Intersection, a discussion about what triggers a statewide recount, why it’s taking so long to get an accurate tally of votes, and what happens next. Joining Intersection are 90.7’s Amy Green who’s been covering the story, University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett, and Michael T Morley, professor of law at Florida State University who specializes in election law, constitutional law, remedies and the federal courts.

The UCF college of nursing is launching a fundraising drive- with proceeds supporting scholarships for nursing students, research and medical mission trips.

The college of nursing is approaching its 40th anniversary, and from the education desk this week we’re joined by Mary Lou Sole and Christina Gonzalez, for a closer look at the changing face of nursing education.

Orlando’s Maker Faire kicks off at the Central Florida Fair Grounds this weekend. It’s billed as the greatest show- and tell- on earth- a family friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness.

The event started out at the Orlando Science Center, a venue it’s now outgrown. We talked to a couple of the makers helping make it happen. Nick Georgoudiou and Allen Paschel say there’s something for everyone at this year’s event– from battle bots to chocolate making.