90.7 WMFE's Intersection

As funerals are held for the 17 people killed in the Parkland school shooting, students march on Tallahassee demanding a law change.

But where some are calling for a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, the shooting has prompted a different response from others. Some law enforcement officers say it’s time to arm and train teachers to respond to a shooter.

Then, America’s most influential evangelical preacher, Billy Graham, died Wednesday at the age of 99. Religion writer Mark Pinsky reflects on his impact on the sacred- and the secular- in American life.

And, it looks like a UFO and sounds otherworldly. Hear the music of the handpan.

After the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, there are calls for tighter restrictions on guns, and more emphasis on mental health services.

In Central Florida, educators and healthcare professionals are collaborating on a plan to intervene with troubled or traumatized students before it’s too late.

On this episode of Intersection- we’ll talk to Dr. Lisa Spector about what it means to be a trauma informed school and what exposure to trauma does to young minds. And, how you talk to children about school shootings and other traumatic events.

A comprehensive education bill is drawing the ire of teachers unions. Joanne McCall, president of the Florida Education Association weighs in on House Bill 7055. And we hear from State Rep. Scott Plakon about a bill that could force some unions to reapply for certification.

And Florida Today’s John A. Torres tackles a cold case, and attempts to solve the mystery of Palm Bay firefighter Brandy Hall’s disappearance, in the newest season of his podcast Murder On The Space Coast.

Just over five months ago Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, knocking out power and crippling infrastructure on the island.

Now, power and access to basics like clean water remain an issue for residents there, while many others decided to leave for the mainland United States, Florida in particular.

Does the pace of the recovery make Puerto Ricans who left the island less likely to return? And for those who’ve made the move to Central Florida, how has that adjustment been? What’s the process of finding somewhere to live, jobs and enrolling in schools been like?

Then, the Daytona 500 revs up this Sunday. The sport’s gotten a lot safer in the last 15 years, and NASCAR is paying more attention to concussions suffered by drivers when they crash. We’ll hear from sports columnist Ken Willis about NASCAR drivers’ hidden injuries.

And, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park launches into 3 weeks of music and cultural events tonight. We’ll hear from artistic director John Sinclair.

The first silver spurs rodeo was held in the 1940s as a fundraiser for the war effort. The landscape around Kissimmee is a lot different now, with development eating up much of the pasture. But Dusty Holley, a rancher whose family’s been raising cattle for generations, says the rodeo remains strong. Silver Spurs big boss Dusty Holley shares stories from the rodeo

Then, legacy of Anne Frank lives on today at schools around the world which bear her name. Rollins College professor James McLaughlin is embarking on a research project about how her image and meaning are kept alive at these schools.

And, Brian Turner, who made his name as a war poet, turns his focus to love, with a new anthology called The Kiss.

A federal judge ruled that Florida’s system for restoring the voting rights of some felons who have served their time is unconstitutional. US district Judge Mark Walker made the ruling in a lawsuit brought by 9 people who served prison sentences but were deemed ineligible to vote. He wrote that quote “partisan officials have extraordinary authority to grant or withhold the right to vote from hundreds of thousands of people without any constraints, guidelines or standards.”

Is automatic rights restoration the way to go? Is there a downside? What are the political implications of one point five million Floridians getting back the right to vote? And what does the ruling from judge Walker mean for a ballot initiative set to go before voters in November?

Then, hazing is back in the headlines after the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments from lawyers for one of the band members sentenced in the death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion. And UCF suspended a fraternity after a pledge’s mother complained that he was forced to drink. We revisit a conversation with John Hechinger, author of True Gentlemen, The Broken Pledge of America’s Fraternities.

And Orlando based Handmade Amigo join us in the studio to perform songs from their new album.

For long time Titusville residents, the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket will evoke memories of the shuttle blasting off into space, and even launches from an earlier time in the space program.

On this episode of Intersection, we hear from the manager of Titusville’s Dixie Crossroads restaurant, Greg Holladay, about what Falcon Heavy means for the space coast. And 90.7’s space reporter Brendan Byrne joins Embry Riddle professor Dr. Eric Seedhouse  to discuss what this rocket launch signifies for the space program and aspirations for exploration of the moon and beyond. 

The Central Florida Commission on homelessness tackles a tough housing market in a bid to place 129 people in permanent homes. Hear from the CEO of the commission Shelley Lauten and from Andrew Williams, who spent seven years on the streets before finally getting the keys to his own home through the commission’s Welcome Home project. 

And a discussion with photographer Shawn Theodore, who documents disappearing African American communities, creating works that evoke and re-interpret classical works of art.

Theodore’s photos are on display in Orlando for the first time.

A controversial ad highlighting sanctuary cities brings immigration front and center to the Gubernatorial race. Democratic Candidate Andrew Gillum says he’ll debate the issue with Republican speaker of the house and potential candidate Richard Corcoran.

How important is immigration to you in the race for the governor’s mansion? Today on Intersection we’ll unpack this and other legislative stories from Tallahassee.

Then, a fresh look at Walt Disney and the role of food at his theme parks. And Disney’s influence on dining. A conversation with the author of Eat Like Walt.

And, young singer songwriter Zoya Zafar is a fairly new face on the Orlando music scene but she’s garnering critical praise. She joins us in studio to perform songs from her upcoming album.

The Orlando Regional Realtors Association says the lack of affordable housing is a real concern. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs admits providing affordable housing is a challenge. But she says it’s one that can be met by partnering with other counties and with buy in from the private sector. On this episode of Intersection, we revisit a conversation with Mayor Jacobs about the vision for affordable housing in Central Florida.

Then- is there anyone out there who wants to go fast? Jet dragster driver Elaine Larsen explains what it takes to power a 280 mile per hour race car. And we hear from interns Kat Redner and Paige Sanchez about the Florida Tech Jet dragster racing team.  

E Sports is big business. CEO Gaming director Alex Jebailey and Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy executive director Ben Noel give us a glimpse into the high stakes world of competitive computer gaming, and the Orlando training hub for the E-Sports economy. 

The Florida court system has been on the forefront of transparency including a step it took back in the 1990’s when it became the first state supreme court to stream oral arguments online. Now, the courts are expanding into the world of podcasts.

Today on Intersection we’ll take a look at the court’s efforts to increase transparency across the state. What does greater access to the courts mean for justice for all? And how do judges manage the deluge of information in the age of social media?

Then, what does it take to live on Mars? A recent experiment called HI-SEAS sent six test subjects to a simulated Martian base on Hawaii and kept them there for eight months. We’ll talk to one of those test subjects about what it was like participating in the study…and just what impacts does isolation have on people.

And, what’s the secret to a 62 year marriage? Authors Rachel and Jim Shipley join the program to talk about their news book “The Fundamentals: A Conversation about a Sixty Year Partnership” about what they learned after six decades of marriage and successful business ventures along the way.

For years Orange County lead the state in juvenile arrests. Black boys made up a majority of the arrests that resulted in felony charges. New numbers show Florida is at 42-year low in juvenile arrests with Orange County leading the way. 90.7’s Catherine Welch caught up with Frederick Lauten, chief judge of the 9th judicial circuit to talk about whether civil citations are working in central Florida.

The Orlando Sentinel’s Red Huber has seen some of the biggest stories unfold through his camera lens. From hurricanes to the Pulse shooting, he’s been capturing pictures for the paper for 45 years.  Meet Red Huber, find out what’s behind the picture, and why photojournalists matter in the age of digital journalism.

There is no shortage of musical talent in Orlando. From the opera to the symphony to rock and punk and folk. Orlando Weekly recently ran a comprehensive list of artists worth listening to. Music critic Bao Le Hu stopped by the studio to highlight a handful of his favorites.