90.7 WMFE's Intersection

Is Tallahassee really the best place for Florida’s state capital? State Senator Kevin Rader wants to study the idea of moving the capital to Orlando,  partly to make it easier to get to.

So where’s the best place for the state capital… and would it really make sense to move it?

Miami already has an unofficial title of capital of Latin America, and the Miami metro area including West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale is home to more than five million people. So should Miami be the state capital?  What about Jacksonville or Tampa?

Joining Intersection to discuss the pros and cons of moving the capital are Orlando Weekly editor in chief Jessica Bryce Young, Republican political analyst Frank Torres and University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett.

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says he’s considering running for president. Schultz has been touring the country promoting his book From The Ground Up. 

Schultz tells Intersection he thinks the Democratic party has moved too far to the left, and what’s needed is a “centrist, common sense approach.”

Opera Orlando is rehearsing for its spring performance. The opera company is pairing Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci with Stravinsky’s Pulcinella in collaboration with the Orlando Philharmonic and Orlando Phantasmagoria.

Stage Director Octavio Cardenas and conductor Clinton Smith join Intersection for a conversation about how they are putting together this opera within an opera.

A group of activists and historians has been working to recognize the victims of the Ocoee massacre on election day in 1920.

The massacre wiped Ocoee’s African American community off the map, but the efforts of the Truth and Justice Project of Orange County aim to retell the history of that community.

It’s also part of a nationwide movement to create memorials to lynching victims and help the communities where those lynchings took place come to terms with the pain of the past.

On this episode of Intersection we’re joined by John Ashworth and Margaret Vandiver with the Memphis Lynching Sites project, and historian Joy Wallace Dickinson with the Orange County Truth & Justice Initiative for a conversation about making sure the history of these events is not lost.

Nerd Nite Orlando turns 6 this week. The monthly “thinking and drinking” event is designed to take learning out of the classroom.

Nerd Nite Orlando founder and host Ricardo Williams joins Intersection for a closer look at how this gathering satisfies a desire and need that everyone has to learn new, cool stuff.

 

A lack of affordable housing, rising rent and a growing population makes it hard for many Central Floridians to find a home to fit their budget.

The Sadowski fund- set aside for affordable housing- is typically used for other things. But governor Ron DeSantis is proposing to leave it alone this year, and affordable housing advocates are urging lawmakers to follow the Governor’s lead.

Leaving the Sadowski fund for housing alone is only one part of the solution. So what else can be done to alleviate the need for more housing?

On this episode of Intersection we talk affordable housing with Sarah ElBadri, special projects manager with the West Lakes Partnership; Amanda Gill, Government Affairs Director with the Florida Apartment Association and Shannon Nazworth, president and CEO of Ability Housing. 

The legislative session kicked off with Governor Ron DeSantis’s state of the state address Tuesday. We talk to Trimmel Gomes, the host of the Rotunda podcast about how DeSantis set the tone for the session, and how issues like immigration and criminal justice reform could play out over the next two months.

And we revisit a conversation with CeCe Teneal and Chris Baptiste, with Orlando blues and soul band CeCe Teneal and the Soul Kamotion.

The environment, the economy and education are just a few of the big issues Governor Ron DeSantis has focused on since taking office in January.

The governor delivers his first state of the state address Tuesday as the legislative session gets underway, laying out his goals for the session and his first year in office. 

On this episode of Intersection, political analysts Dick Batchelor and Frank Torres join host Matthew Peddie for a conversation about what appeals to political leaders from both sides of the aisle about Governor DeSantis and where they’re likely to diverge.

Then, late last year the Orlando Sentinel announced new editorial leadership. The newspaper said it was part of a renewed commitment to growing its audience and focusing on topic areas like the environment, politics and public health.

Editor in chief Julie Anderson and opinions editor Mike Lafferty join us to explain the new direction for the Sentinel – and why they think readers are hungry for watchdog journalism.

And Taylor Mali is a veteran of poetry slams. Mali talks to 90.7’s Brendan Byrne about his craft- and rolling what he calls “metaphor dice” to spark creativity in young poets. That’s ahead on Intersection- first the news.

SpaceX is preparing to launch its Crew Dragon to the International Space Station this weekend. The capsule won’t have astronauts on board for Saturday’s test run, but this is the spacecraft that will ferry astronauts into low earth orbit.

On this episode of Intersection- we’re taking a closer look at the impact of private business on what was once the domain of government- human spaceflight and what it means for America and for Florida.

NASA has been working with SpaceX and Boeing on the multi-billion dollar commercial crew program since 2011 when the shuttle flew its last mission.

It’s a point of pride for the United States- and more than that, it ushers in a new era of spaceflight, laying the foundation for human missions even deeper into space.

Space Florida’s Dale Ketcham joins Intersection to talk about the commercial crew program. And 90.7’s Brendan Byrne joins the program to discuss what the launch means for the space coast economy and NASA, along with the Orlando Sentinel’s Chabele Herrera and Laura Forczyk with Astralytical. 

And later in the program– Orlando based writer Brian Turner talks about the jazz album he recorded in tribute to his late wife, poet Ilyse Kuznetz. 

 

Few states in the US are more vulnerable to climate change than Florida, but without a statewide policy – cities and municipalities have been left to deal with the impacts on their own.

In a conversation recorded live at the WMFE studios, we discuss a year-long reporting project on climate change with 90.7 environmental reporter Amy Green, Trevor Aaronson with the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, journalist Tristram Korten and research professor Randall Parkinson.

UCF president Dale Whittaker resigned last week, following a legislative investigation into money that was misspent on construction at the university. 90.7’s Abe Aboraya and Orlando Sentinel reporter Annie Martin join Intersection to discuss what’s next for UCF and what the fallout could mean for other universities.

And an exhibition at the Museum of Art Deland is showcasing the work of African American painters, sculptors and other visual artists who were part of the Harlem Renaissance.  The museum’s education curator Pam Coffman highlights some of the key works.

The City of Orlando has been touted as a leader in the fight against climate change. This month Orlando was recognized by former New York City mayor and UN special envoy on climate change Michael Bloomberg for its use of climate friendly vehicles and solar arrays.

Working to reduce emissions is one thing… but what about working to reduce waste? To find out what happens to the stuff people in Orange County recycle- we took a trip last summer to the Orange County Materials Recycling Facility, and on this episode of Intersection we revisit a conversation about what goes into Central Florida recycling bins, and where that recycling goes next.

Then- companion animal trainers develop a special bond with their dogs. So what does it take to train a companion dog?

We meet a couple of the volunteer trainers and their dogs with Canine Companions for Independence.

And we revisit a conversation with one of the listener favorites from last year’s Tiny Desk contest at 90.7 News. Holy Human, who describe their sound as “Psychedelic punk with a bluesy stomp, holy harmonies, and an attitude.”

President Trump declared a National Emergency to free up more money to build a wall along the southern US border.

The president made the announcement last week after agreeing to a funding deal to avoid another government shutdown. So how’s the declaration of emergency playing with lawmakers in Central Florida?

On this episode of Intersection we dig into the ramifications of the state of emergency and plans for a border wall with political commentators Jason Henry and Frank Torres.

Opportunity rover was only meant to spend three months roaming the surface of Mars.  15 years later, NASA finally pulled the plug on the mission after a dust storm finally killed the robotic spacecraft’s batteries. Brendan Byrne chats with Dan Batcheldor of Florida Tech about what Opportunity taught us- and is still teaching us today.

And the Capitol Steps political comedy troupe rolls into town next week. Founding member Elaina Newport explains how they got started and how the team stays on their toes to respond to a fast changing news cycle. That’s ahead on Intersection, first the news.

The state attorney’s office for Orange and Osceola County completed a six month investigation into shots fired by law enforcement officers during the Pulse mass shooting in 2016. Their conclusion- none of the more than 180 shots fired by officers during the confrontation hit clubgoers.

Orange County sheriff John Mina- who was chief of police at the time of the shooting- says the findings are a relief for the officers involved.

The report also brings some closure to some victims family members. But for others- there are still questions. Joining us on Intersection to unpack the investigation: 90.7’s Abe Aboraya and Emily Lang, and Frank Straub,  Director of the Center for Mass Violence Response Studies at the National Police Foundation. 

Then- as the crisis in Venezuela deepens, Venezuelans in Orlando are holding out hope that president Maduro’s grip on power may be loosening. We’ll hear the hopes of Waleska Maderer for her home country. 

And- Hannah Harber and the Lionhearts released their debut album this year. Hannah Harber joins us to perform songs from the album  ‘Long Time Coming’.

This week, Parkland marks one year since the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. On this episode of Intersection we look at how the school community is coping, how law enforcement agencies are using a new law to help them act on potential threats, and the connection between two cities affected by the trauma of a mass shooting.

For nearly a year, Florida police and sheriff’s offices have had so-called red flag legislation at their disposal, which allows them to ask a judge to temporarily remove guns from the hands of people deemed a threat to themselves or others. WLRN’s Danny Rivero joins Intersection to explain the impact of the law.

AP politics teacher Jeff Foster tells us how his students at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School turned to political action after last February, and how life has changed for students and staff.  

And the onePulse Foundation is sending a banner with messages of support to Parkland, and it will honor victims of the shooting on Thursday. The foundation’s Nikole Parker joins Intersection to talk about community healing after a tragedy.