90.7 WMFE's Intersection

The Everglades, Florida’s vast fresh water system that starts near Orlando and meanders South, is in trouble.

A lack of fresh water flowing into the everglades threatens the drinking water for a third of Florida’s population. And polluted water from Lake Okeechobee causes toxic algal blooms that clog the beaches.

For years environmental advocates and sugar growers have clashed over how to restore the river of grass, and billions of dollars in projects to do just that aren’t going anywhere.

90.7’s Amy Green and Kate Stein from our sister station WLRN have been digging into the problems and solutions surrounding the Everglades and we’re running their stories all week. Today they join us to talk about their series: River of Grass, Dying of Thirst.

Then, Nerdnite Orlando celebrates its 4th anniversary of the geeky meet up this week. Founder Ricardo Williams explains how nerd culture has gone mainstream with this ‘thinking and drinking’ event.

And, Elvis is synonymous with Vegas but long before the jumpsuits a young Elvis drove his pink Cadillac up and down the Sunshine State, performing dozens of concerts. Author Bob Kealing talks about his new book ‘Elvis Ignited- the rise of an icon in Florida.’

Florida’s legislative session kicks off next Tuesday  and gun bills feature prominently. Some lawmakers have filed bills to allow permit holders to carry their guns in more places like college campuses and airports.

Other bills require mental health checks for prospective gun buyers, and sharing information with the FDLE. What do you know about the rights of gun owners as they stand in Florida? What changes do you want to see? We’re joined by political analysts Dick Batchelor and Wade Vose.

Then, ever get the feeling you’re being watched? For former CIA agent T.L. Williams, after 30 years in the agency, checking for surveillance is a habit he can’t shake. Now Williams is writing novels. He stops by to talk about his latest- and chat about the uneasy relationship between the intelligence community and this new administration.

And George Grosman grew up in what used to be Czechoslovakia, listening to Beatles and Rolling Stones records. Now he’s a jazz musician, playing guitar inspired by Django Reinhardt. Grosman joins us for a performance.

It’s been five years since the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin. Sanford became the focal point for the world’s media as protesters demanded an arrest for the shooter, George Zimmerman, and the spotlight stayed on Sanford the following year as a jury found Zimmerman not guilty of murder.

The shooting and its aftermath put pressure on the city’s police department and highlighted tensions between the police and the historic African American community of Goldsboro.

On today’s program we’ll talk to mayor Jeff Triplett and the chief of police Cecil Smith about the work the city’s done to repair those divisions in the community. We’ll also talk to community, business and faith leaders about race relations in Sanford now.

Then, Malo Kingsley got his first saxophone when he was 11. Now 23, the young jazz musician joins us to perform a couple standards… and talk about his musical journey.

When you hear NASCAR you might think mostly white male fans and drivers. Well that’s an impression Dawn Harris is working to change.

Harris is the director of Multicultural Development for NASCAR, and over the last decade she says the sport’s been reaching out to more diverse audiences and to get drivers from different backgrounds behind the wheel.With just a week to go until the Daytona 500, we chat with Harris about the changing face of NASCAR.

Then, what can a bunch of asteroids flying around in deep space tell us about our origins? University of Central Florida physics professor Dan Britt is part of a NASA team that’s getting ready to launch a mission to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids – some of the oldest in the Solar System.

And, is the way to change hearts and minds through the stomach? We talk food and politics with Deland chef Hari Pulapaka as he prepares a meal highlighting cuisine from the seven countries named in president Trump’s travel ban.

Ed Smith is a lifelong record collector and musician. During the week he sells soul, funk, jazz and R&B records from his store in Parramore: ReRunz Records. On weekends his band rehearses at the store, which is across the street from the new Orlando City Soccer stadium.

The Orlando Union Rescue Mission is planning to move its homeless services into a renovated hotel on West Colonial Drive with more space. But a discrimination complaint filed by Save West Orlando says the city is stacking all its social services on one side of town and putting too much pressure on minority communities.

Florida has more miles of toll roads than any other state. Still more toll roads are planned including toll lanes on the I – 4 Ultimate expansion.

The Central Florida expressway authority voted this month to hold back on a 15 percent hike in tolls ushering in yearly increases of one point five per cent instead.  But what happens to tolls once the roads are payed off? How important are tolls to overall transportation funding in Florida. What effect do they have on traffic patterns and driving habits? And how much are you paying in tolls each week?

Then, a plan for a new homeless mission in West Orlando is raising hackles- and it’s triggered a complaint to Attorney General Pam Bondi. We talk to the director of the mission and former Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage who says residents don’t want a 200 bed center for the homeless there.

And, Ed Smith is a lifelong record collector and musician. During the week he sells soul, funk, jazz and R&B records from a store in Parramore. On weekends his band rehearses at the store. A visit to ReRunz Records.

So just how important are toll roads to the overall plan for Central Florida roadways? What effect do they have on traffic patterns and driving habits? And what happens to the tolls once a new toll road is paid off? Central Florida Expressway Authority vice chair Fred Hawkins and Transportation reporter Dan Tracy join the program to discuss the latest on tolls.

It’s Valentines Day, which means big business for restaurants. But some couples are opting to combine a date with an activity that gives back. Do-Good Date night founder Kristen Manieri joins Sasha Hausman from Second Harvest of Central Florida and quiz master Curtis Earth for a conversation about dates that include some volunteering.

Florida crime writer Tim Dorsey’s written 20 novels starring anti hero Serge Storms, and he’s not slowing down. Dorsey talks about his latest- Clownfish Blues- and why he’ll never run out of material writing about the state he loves.