90.7 WMFE's Intersection

The City Beautiful is one of the most dangerous places in the US to be a pedestrian. A study by the group Smart Growth America put Orlando Kissimmee and Sanford 3rd on the list of most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians. Orlando's new transportation director Billy Hattaway tells Intersection he wants to change that.

The City Beautiful is one of the most dangerous places in the US to be a pedestrian.

A study by the group Smart Growth America which analyzed data from 2005 to 2014 put Orlando, Kissimmee and Sanford  3rd on the list of most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians.

Billy Hattaway is the city of Orlando’s new transportation director. On today’s program Hattaway explains how he wants to improve pedestrian safety- and other transportation challenges he wants to take on- including parking and mass transit.

Then, 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.

And, 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.

The University of Central Florida’s Gospel and Cultural Choir’s been singing since 1979. Intersection visits a choir rehearsal and listens to them perform a couple songs.

At the Orange County Library’s tech hub in downtown Orlando, you can record a song, fly a simulator and build something with a 3D printer. As the Melrose Center gets ready for their creative expo Saturday, we tour the state of the art studios and talk about the library’s tech revolution with Melrose Center director Jim Myers.

Early education is important, but many low income families in Florida can’t afford to pay for early education for their kids, and there’s a long waiting list for subsidized programs. According to one recent study the average cost of childcare in Florida is $8,694 a year, which is more than in-state tuition and fees for a year at FSU. On today’s program we talk about the importance of early childhood education and ask what can be done to bring down the cost of childcare.

The shooting at Pulse nightclub last June focused the attention of the world’s media on Orlando and the city's LGBT community. The response to that mass shooting is one part of an exhibit at the Orange County History Center, which traces GLBT history in Central Florida from last century to the present day.

Daytona boasts America’s most famous beach. But as News Journal editor Pat Rice found while driving his son to work and back during his winter break, the beachfront property doesn’t always live up to the hype.

A spate of killings in Pine Hills last year prompted the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Orlando Police Department to launch Operation RISE, beefing up law enforcement patrols in the area.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says his plan to tackle violent crime in Pine Hills is working. After a rash of shootings, and the death of an Orlando police officer, there’s been more scrutiny on crime in this part of Orange County, but Demings says it’s not just a law enforcement issue and he says sometimes Pine Hills gets blamed for crime that doesn’t even happen there. On today’s program Demings talks about the impact of Operation RISE, and steering youth away from crime. Then, we head to the coast for a drive along A1A with Daytona Beach News Journal editor Pat Rice, who says this road isn’t living up to its potential. Facing America’s most famous beach are derelict ...

Friday night, Black Lives Matter holds a rally for the Pine Hills community and others in Orlando affected by crime. The sheriff’s office and Orlando police are working to tackle crime in Pine Hills after launching operation RISE, which they say has led to 187 arrests and taken dozens of guns off the streets.