90.7 WMFE's Intersection

Law enforcement agencies are adding narcan- the opioid overdose reversal drug- to their tool kit as more deadly drugs like fentanyl are hitting the street along with heroin.

Meanwhile some law enforcement officials are embracing a tough on crime approach, like Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell, who produced a facebook video a couple months ago warning drug dealers to look out.

Then, July 4th – a chance for fireworks and barbeque. We’ll fire up the grill with Thomas Ward at Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa.

And Blue Bamboo center for the arts is nearly a year old. We’ll chat with founder and guitarist Chris Cortez about building the kind of performance venue he wishes he had access to as an up and coming musician.

The tug-of-war over the death penalty will land in the Florida Supreme Court Wednesday. When the Orange and Osceola County State Attorney Araymis Ayala announced she would not seek the death penalty, Gov. Rick Scott took her death penalty cases away. Now she wants them back.

So what’s at stake?Ad what about the political fallout after the legislature moved to cut more than a million dollars in funding and staff from Ayala’s office?

Then, how do you keep a boatload of passengers entertained? We look at how cruise companies are building bigger & better ships and outfitting them with things like skydiving and surfing simulators and what the booming cruise industry means for Florida.

And the red planet’s a long way away, but the reality of a mission to mars is getting closer. A look at how NASA and commercial space companies are developing the rockets and other technology to get humans to mars and sustain a colony there.

The clock is running out for the Florida Department of Health to figure out the rules on medical marijuana use.

Lawmakers approved a bill in special session to implement the constitutional amendment, and the deadline for those rules is July 3rd.

On today’s program we talk about the road ahead for medical marijuana- what it means for patients and growers in the Sunshine state. Joining the program: 90.7 health reporter Abe Aboraya, lobbyist Louis Rotundo and Pahandle resident Felicia Duncan, whose 7 year old daughter takes medical marijuana to help control seizures. 

Attorney John Morgan isn’t happy with the decision the legislature took on medical marijuana.  He says he’ll sue. Political commentators Dick Batchelor and Frank Torres weight in on Morgan’s stance on medical marijuana, turmoil in the Florida democratic party, and more. 

And TEDx Orlando returns after a year off. Ron Ben Zeev and Melissa Koch join us to outline the themes for this weekend’s conference- growth, conflict, identity and the power of ideas. 

In the wake of tumultuous town halls as lawmakers prepare to dismantle the Affordable Care Act- the US House of Representatives has passed its version of a new plan for health care.

Now it’s up to the Senate to pass its version of the American Health Care Act.

On this episode of Intersection we hear from Congressman Daniel Webster from Florida’s 11th district about healthcare, and the mood on Capitol Hill where lawmakers are still rattled by last week’s shooting at a baseball practice.

Eatonville’s community garden is flourishing. The challenge for the gardeners in this historic black town is finding the funding to keep it going- and keep supplying the community with organic veges.

We tour the plot where master gardener Ruford Shepherd grows okra, corn, squash and more..

And United Against Poverty in Orlando offers a grocery program for people struggling to pay the bills. Executive Director Eric Gray explains how the program works and who it serves.

Puerto Rico voted for statehood- but not everyone took part in the referendum. Less than a quarter of the population cast a vote.

Is statehood the best option for the economically struggling island? What’s in it for the rest of the US? 

Florida International University’s Cuban Research Institute director Jorge Duany joins the program, along with orlandolatino.org founder Maria Padilla, tecnetico.com founder Wilton Vargas & Ronald Morales who moved to Florida from Puerto Rico in 2015. 

John Gihon spent years working as an attorney for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He says the immigration system is “dysfunctional and messed up” and now he defends clients facing deportation. John Gihon gives us the attorney’s perspective of  how immigration law is applied.

And what’s the difference between art and performance? Patrick Green bridges the gap at the Gallery at Avalon Island with his in between series. We visit the gallery and talk to Green about building a smart community art space, and making challenging art accessible.

On Orlando United day, one year after the shooting at Pulse, the community gathered at events across the city to mourn the 49 victims, pay tribute to the first responders, and comfort the survivors and their families.

We’re joined by Reverend Bryan Fulwider, Imam Muhammad Musri, and Rabbi Steve Engel, for a conversation about how the faith community responded to the tragedy.

Later in the show we’ll hear from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Teresa Jacobs, who helped steer Orlando through the tragedy, and who reflect on how the city’s darkest hour showed the community at its best.

But first we’ll hear from a club promoter and activist who says there’s still a lot of work to do for the city to be truly united.

After a workplace shooting in Orlando that left five people and the shooter dead, the Orange County Sheriff ruled out terrorism and called on the community to help prevent further fatal shootings.

On today’s program we’ll talk about crime, terrorism and the public’s role in prevention. What are the differences in how law enforcement, the community, and the media respond to violent crimes that are classified as terrorism- and crimes that aren’t?

Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum launched his campaign for governor back in March. At 37 he’s a rising star in the Democratic party, and if elected- he’d be the state’s first African American Governor. We’ll hear from Gillum about what sets him apart from his rivals.

And Violectric play classical stringed instruments- with a twist. They play classic rock riffs like Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. Violectric join us in studio to perform some songs, and chat with 90.7’s Brendan Byrne about putting the classical into classic rock.

The White House wants to slash spending on food stamps by tens of billions of dollars over the next ten years. On this episode of Intersection, Second Harvest of Central Florida CEO Dave Krepcho explains why he’s worried about the impact on food banks.

From the federal budget to Florida’s budget: lawmakers reached a deal with Governor Rick Scott and they head into a special session to hammer out the details. Political analysts Dick Batchelor and Michelle Ertel weigh in on the budget, the governor’s race and more.

And how do you beat congestion on the roads in Central Florida? Lynx CEO Edward Johnson says the bus may be the answer. Johnson talks about transit system improvements like dedicated bus lanes on busy roads, making sure the bus service keeps pace with a growing population, and working with commercial transportation providers like Uber to fill in the transit gaps.

Has greyhound racing in Florida run its course? A spate of bad news stories in recent weeks has focused new attention on greyhound racing: a dog died and 72 got sick after eating bad meat at the Orlando Sanford Kennel Club. And in another case a greyhound racer’s license was revoked after five dogs were found to have cocaine in their system.

On this episode of Intersection we talk to a lobbyist with the greyhound racing association, and Grey2K, an organization pushing to end racing in the sunshine state. What does the future of Greyhound racing look like in Florida?

As a kid, Andy Aldrin watched his dad make history, walking on the moon. Now he runs the Buzz Aldrin space institute- focused on getting humans to Mars. Andy Aldrin talks to 90.7’s Brendan Byrne about the next frontier in space exploration.

And- Dear World has been interviewing- and photographing people affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting. The producers explain the combination of words and imagery that make the Dear World project unique.

For veterans returning to civilian life- the transition can be a challenge. Back in December, UCF’s business incubation center launched a program to help veteran entrepreneurs hit the ground running.

On this episode of Intersection we’ll check back in with UCF’s Ricardo Garcia, and talk to retired Air Force veteran Derick Bugg, who’s developing a business to help children and adults with intellectual  disabilities.

From veteran entrepreneurs to the business of space- in Brevard County commercial space exploration is driving business development. Troy Post with the North Brevard Economic Development Zone explains what’s new on the space coast.

Hurricane season starts in a couple days. Just how prepared are you? Seminole County Emergency Manager Alan Harris is hoping for rain to ease the drought- just not too much of it. And he reveals the secrets of the best hurricane preparedness kit in the county.

And: check out a book, chat with a social worker? Orange County Public Libraries now has a social worker on staff. We chat with Dr. Stem Mahlatini about her work, and why the library is an ideal place for a social worker.