90.7 WMFE's Intersection

On Saturday, Orange and Osceola County public defender Robert Wesley holds his annual clothing drive- seeking business clothes to help defendants look presentable in court. Wesley explains why appearance makes a big difference to defendants, and he talks about the progress made in keeping kids out of the court system.

The two chambers of Florida’s government often clash with each other- and with the Governor. Next year looks set for a showdown too, with the Senate president lining up big spending projects, facing a house speaker committed to small government and cracking down on lobbyists. Lynn Hatter is news director at WUSF, the public radio station in Tallahassee, and she has a ringside seat to the legislative action. She joins us to preview the budget battle to come in 2017.

Then, a driver’s license or state ID is essential for things like cashing a paycheck, housing and jobs- even getting a library card. But if you’re homeless, getting that ID, and the documents you need  to establish your identity, can be incredibly difficult.

Orlando resident Michael Dippy took on the challenge of helping the homeless get IDs eight years ago. Dippy explains what he’s learned since he starting his non-profit IDignity, and how he wants to grow the organization.

And Science Friday host Ira Flatow is watching and waiting to see what a Trump administration means for science in this country. Flatow joins us for a conversation about facts, fake news and what TV shows like the Big Bang Theory reveal about the public’s appetite for science.

Science Friday host Ira Flatow is watching and waiting to see what a Trump administration means for science in this country. Flatow joins us for a conversation about facts, fake news and what TV shows like the Big Bang Theory reveal about the public’s appetite for science.

If you’re homeless, getting a drivers license or birth certificate and the documents you need to establish your identity can be incredibly difficult. Michael Dippy took on the challenge of helping the homeless get IDs eight years ago. Dippy explains what he’s learned since he started IDignity and how he wants to grow the non-profit organization.

The two chambers of Florida’s government often clash with each other- and with the Governor. 2017 looks set for a showdown too with the Senate President lining up big spending projects, facing a House Speaker committed to small government and cracking down on lobbyists. WUSF news director Lynn Hatter previews the budget battle to come in 2017.

It’s nearly six months since the shooting at Pulse Nightclub, the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

90.7 News has been reporting on the story from day one- and on today’s program, we’re taking a look at the narrative that’s emerged from that night from the viewpoint of those who listened to the tragedy unfold: the 911 dispatchers.

How do the people on the other end of the 911 call train for a mass casualty event on this scale, and how they cope with the aftermath. We’re joined by a veteran dispatcher, and a 911 dispatch trainer.

In the six months since the shooting, Orlando residents reached out to one another for support. New political movements were started and new alliances formed. Terry DiCarlo joins us from The Center- the focal point for Orlando’s LGBT residents in the aftermath of the shooting. And we’re taking your calls. How do you think the city’s changed in the last 6 months?

And we’re bringing you an encore presentation of a performance by the Opera Realtor- D’Andrea Pelletier, performing a couple of her favorite holiday arias.

How do the people on the other end of the 911 call train for a mass casualty event on the scale of the shooting at Pulse, and how they cope with the aftermath? A veteran dispatcher, and a 911 dispatch trainer join Intersection to explain.

On Monday it will be six months since the shooting at Pulse Nightclub. 90.7 News has been reporting this story since day one, and today we took a look at how the city rallied after the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

Last year D’Andrea Pelletier joined us to perform some of her favorite holiday arias. This is an encore performance. Pelletier sings "Ave Maria" by Bach / Gounod and "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin.

On January 1, Mike Chitwood takes over as Volusia County sheriff.

He’s been the chief of police in Daytona Beach for 10 years. As sheriff he’ll oversee law enforcement in a growing, and increasingly diverse county and he says he wants his deputies to reflect that diversity.

Chitwood sits down with Intersection to talk about how he plans to engage with the community and back up deputies as they answer calls.

Then, we take a look at the Orlando Science Center’s revamped Kids Town: the interactive exhibit for toddlers to elementary school kids that wraps up science in a theme-park style entertainment package. Science Center president JoAnn Newman and vice president of education Heather Norton chat about overcoming obstacles to STEM education.

And the Orlando Ballet’s getting ready for its annual performance of the Nutcracker. Artistic Director Robert Hill explains what keeps the crowds coming back to this holiday favorite and the kinds of performances he sees in the ballet’s future.