90.7 WMFE's Intersection

Governor Rick Scott wanted more money for public schools than he got from lawmakers in the budget. School District superintendents aren’t happy with the education bill either. Who likes the education bill, who doesn’t and what it means for public schools?

Then, the Everglades has been at the heart of Florida environmental politics for decades but it still remains a bit of a mystery to many residents of the Sunshine State. 90.7’s environmental reporter explains her fascination with the River of Grass and novelist Jeff Vandermeer talks about how environmental concerns inform the detailed, terrifying apocalyptic worlds of his books.

And, Who doesn’t want a cannon? Don Price gives us a guided tour of the confederate veterans section of Greenwood Cemetery where a statue of Johnny Reb could soon join the civil war cannon.

After the Pulse nightclub shooting- mental health organizations mobilized to provide counseling. The mental health association of Central Florida brought in extra staff and created a new program with free counseling. Who has that program helped and where will they find the money to continue?

Today on Intersection, we talk to the Orlando United counseling service, and Hispanic Family Counseling about the help they’re providing after Pulse, and the ongoing need that could last for years.

Central Florida is a designated testing area for driverless cars. But how soon can you expect a driverless car to take the kids to school by itself, or a car that will let you catch up on emails while you commute to work? Find out what’s around the corner for automotive autonomy.

And the Call of Duty World Championships heads to Orlando. We’ll take a look E Sports: who’s playing, who’s watching, and what this industry’s worth.

On the shore of Lake Eola in Orlando there’s a statue of Johnny Reb. It commemorates the soldiers who fought on the confederate side during the civil war. Now, like other civil war monuments around the south, there are plans to move it. But not everyone agrees, like protesters who showed up at City Hall on Monday. Is the statue, as mayor Buddy Dyer says, a monument to the soldiers who died, a relic of history, or is it a symbol of white supremacy?

Then, first amendment foundation president Barbara Peterson says Governor Rick Scott should veto the budget because of how it was crafted. In secret. Just how much sunshine beams down on the capitol in Tallahassee, and is it enough?

And Beth McKee and Renee Arozqueta serenade us ahead of their concert at the Swamp Sistas La La at Orlando Fringe.

As a hurricane approaches, most people are putting up storm shutters and making plans to get out of the way. But there are some who head straight into the storm. Today on Intersection, we’ll check out one of the Air Force’s hurricane hunter planes.

Hurricane season is just a few weeks away and Rick Knabb has some advice on how to prepare. Knabb spent 5 years at the head of the national hurricane center in Miami, and he says people need to be more scared of water hazards after a hurricane.

From chasing hurricanes to hunting jobs. Intersection’s Talia Blake chats with some new graduates who are starting their job search. And economist Hank Fishkind talks to 90.7’s Brendan Byrne about what the job market looks like for those new graduates.

And Orlando’s Fringe festival turns 26. Producer Mike Marinaccio and performer Peter Michael Marino reflects on how Fringe has become part of the cultural landscape, and how the festival keeps its edge.

Orange and Osceola County state attorney Aramis Ayala is suing Governor Rick Scott to get her murder cases back. In court documents filed this week, Ayala argued the governor said in the past that he “had no power to forcibly intrude on state attorneys”. So why is Governor Scott intruding on her cases? Lawyers, human rights organizations, lawmakers and retired judges have filed briefs in support of both the state prosecutor and the governor in this case.

Later in this hour, with lawmakers unable to roll out a plan to implement medical marijuana. What’s next for patients and doctors? We’ll hear from a father who wants the rules sorted out for the sake of his daughter, who suffers from seizures.

And Bao Le Huu’s beat at the Orlando Weekly is the city’s music scene. He previews some upcoming shows: bands from as far away as Brazil to our own backyard.

Florida lawmakers have struck a deal on an $83 billion state budget. They weren’t able to get it done to finish the session in time so they’ll be back on Monday to vote. So who were the big winners and losers? What’s in it for environmental programs, healthcare, education? And what about the cut to the Orange – Osceola prosecutor’s funding?

Also, ending high-stakes testing, safeguarding the water and keeping squabbling lawmakers in line. Those are some of the goals of former Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Graham, who’s announced she’s running for Governor. We caught up with Graham on a stop in Orlando and we’ll hear from another potential Democratic candidate with a high profile: John Morgan.

And, where did comedian and banjo player Steve Martin get his banjo? We visit the Titusville factory that’s supplied instruments to Steve Martin, Kid Rock, Melissa Etheridge and other musicians.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs admits providing affordable housing is a challenge, but she says it’s one that can be met by building partnerships with neighboring counties, and with buy in from the private sector. On today’s program, Jacobs joins us to lay out her vision for affordable housing in Central Florida.

SunRail turned three this week. It opened to great fanfare in May 2014. Riders took advantage of free travel for the first two weeks and packed the trains. But since then, fewer people than expected have hopped aboard. We’ll hear from the Florida Department of Transportation’s Steve Olson and from transportation writer Dan Tracy about how the fledgling commuter rail is doing, three years on.

And the Orlando Ballet turns to the big band era for the last performance of the season with a 1950’s inspired take on Cinderella. We’ll hear how the show is put together.

Lake County’s animal shelter is moving towards no-kill status. What does a no-kill shelter entail and how does a shelter achieve that goal? On today’s program we’ll talk about Lake County’s approach to animal welfare and who’s pushing for the no-kill shelter. We’ll also look at the law enforcement side of animal welfare in Orange and Osceola Counties, where the state attorney’s office has prosecutors who specialize in pursuing these cases.

Florida’s ethics commission ruled attorney general Pam Bondi broke no rules by failing to investigate Trump University. That did not sit well with Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell who has pored over hundreds of pages of documents relating to the case after Bondi solicited a campaign donation from Trump’s charity and he weighs in on the latest twist in the saga.

And, Orlando band the Pauses grew up listening to 90’s rock, and some of their shows recreate the best of the music from that era. Next week they’re opening for 90’s heavyweights Weezer.

Florida’s black bears have been given a reprieve. A public outcry followed the 2015 bear hunt, the first in 20 years, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Management Conservation Commission says it won’t allow another hunt for two years.

Meanwhile FWC is looking at other ways to stop interaction between bears and humans. One homeowners association in Longwood bought bear proof trash cans for each of its residents. We visit Springs Landing where bear sightings are common, to see how they’re trying to get residents bear wise.

Then, Intersection’s Brendan Byrne checks out the Orlando Science Center’s astronaut exhibit and discovers the most popular display there. Oh the places you’ll go.

And, with temperatures in the 80s already, swimming pools are getting crowded. Talia Blake visits a pool where lifeguards are training for the summer. And we chat with former Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines about the YMCA’s swim lesson program.

House prices in Orlando are picking up and the supply of available homes is shrinking.

That’s good news for homeowners looking to sell. but what about first time home buyers, or homeowners looking for something a bit bigger? What’s driving real estate in Central Florida, and what does it takes to buy a home?

The housing market is heating up and so is the water. As swimmers and surfers hit the beach, there’s been a flurry of shark bites reported up and down the coast. George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida explains why more people get bitten here, and what decades of research has taught him about shark – human interaction.

And, what does it take to turn a music consumer into a music creator? We listen in on a rehearsal with the Jones High School marching band, and talk with director Jamaal Nicholas about how he’s teaching students to see music as more than a hobby.