90.7 WMFE's Intersection

More than two hundred thousand Puerto Ricans have left the island for Florida since Hurricane Maria. Their priorities are finding work and housing but politicos are already wondering how these new arrivals will affect the 2018 elections. Will Puerto Ricans, rebuilding their lives, be motivated to register and head to the polls in this purple-swing-battleground state?

A conversation with a UCF political science professor and a grassroots Latino voter advocate about the growing Puerto Rican vote.

Then, Students in Osceola County have a new, more convenient higher education option. Valencia College just dedicated its new Poinciana campus – a move the college thinks will affect the region.

And, we visit a hospital and sanctuary for injured wildlife.

The city of Orlando is leading the way when it comes to becoming a sustainable city from a downtown-wide recycling program to 5,000 backyard composters, cities across the state are looking to Orlando for guidance. But sustainability is more than just becoming environmentally friendly.

Today on Intersection, a conversation with sustainability leaders who work to make the world a better place by making it a bit greener and how other factors, like social equality, play into creating a better planet.

Then, by day he’s a healthcare executive but just about any other time he’s photographing the cosmos including launches from the space coast. Rocket photographer Michael Seeley joins the program to talk about his journey from amateur photographer to gracing the pages of National Geographic and Smithsonian.

And, grab a pint and rosin up your bow. A trip to the Harp & Celt Pub for a traditional Irish fiddle jam. How one couple has kept the spirit of Irish folk music alive here in central Florida for nearly two decades.

The legislative session kicks of next month, but lawmakers have already been moving bills through committees on their way to the floor of the legislature.

Today on Intersection — diving into the bills that are shaping the conversation in Tallahassee. WFSU’s Nick Evans joins the program to preview the legislative agenda ahead  which includes reforming Bright Futures, tackling education spending, healthcare and workers’ compensation.

Then, the documentary “Marching Forward” chronicles the rise of the segregated marching band at Jones High School. UCF Faculty and Filmmakers Robert Cassanello and Lisa Mills join the program to talk about the project and what it was like for Jones High School students to travel through the segregated south on the way to a performance at the 1964 World’s Fair.

And, as the space coast roars back to life thanks to commercial space companies, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is adding a host of new exhibits for space enthusiasts. Astronaut Jon McBride and the visitor complex spokesperson Rebecca Shireman stop by to talk about the holidays at KSC and the new training experience preparing the Mars generation for future endeavors.

A massive education law has left the governor’s desk but now it’s making its way through the court system. HB 7069 has stirred up controversy over how it handles charter schools and where funding for these schools comes from.

What’s the rub? And why have a handful of school districts taken the fight to both the circuit court and the state supreme court? And ultimately, how could HB 7069 affect the students of central Florida.

Then, a spotlight on the space coast workforce. Jean Wright left the candy business to become a seamstress for the space shuttle. We’ll talk about her time as a “Sew Sister” and how her job was to make blankets to keep the shuttle cool and what it was like working on the shuttle in the shadow of the Columbia disaster.

And, musicians Chris Blevin, Patty Kanoly & Caleb McGee are bringing the sounds of Tulsa, Oklahoma to central Florida this weekend.

Attorney John Morgan says he won’t seek the democratic nomination for Governor ending months of speculation. But does that mean he’s out of the race altogether?

And tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans are moving to Florida after hurricane Maria and candidates running for mid-term elections are setting their sights on the newest voters. Can the Puerto Rican vote swing the swing state?

A look at the upcoming race for the governor’s mansion and the changing temperature of the political climate here in central Florida with commentators Dick Batchelor and Chris Carmody.

Then, the simulation industry is booming along the I-4 corridor, but the workforce is aging out. So how do industry leaders plan to attract the next workforce? By bringing simulation tech to the middle and high school classroom.

And, a stop on the Ale Trail: A self-guided tour of the local breweries here in Central Florida.

Florida Blue will no longer fund OxyContin. The state’s biggest health insurer says it will instead fund a different painkiller that’s more difficult to crush and misuse.

It’s the latest twist in the opioid epidemic but what kind of impact will it have on chronic pain sufferers? And will it have the desired effect of curbing abuse of pain medication?

Then, SunTrax- broke ground last month. It’s an experimental test track for autonomous vehicles and connected vehicles that’s being developed in Polk County. We’ll revisit our tour of the site – and a conversation about how the technology could change the way we drive.

And a visit to a banjo factory in Cocoa.

Giving Tuesday follows the weekend that marks the start of the holiday shopping season. Whether it’s time, talent or treasure, it’s an opportunity to think about how to give back… and how to do it for more than just one day.

On this episode of Intersection we talk about cultivating the spirit of generosity with two Central Floridians who give back: Beth Hobart and Avani Desai.

Then: meet the man who talks to tigers.  Dr. K. ‘Simba’ Wiltz is sharing what he’s learned about these magnificent creatures with the public at the Central Florida Animal Reserve.

And we’ll hear from writers who are pushing back at the “Florida Man” cliche and digging something beautiful out of the swamp here in the Sunshine State. A conversation about the state of literature in Central Florida with Kristen Arnett, Ryan Rivas and Susan Lilley.

While online retail giants like Amazon have taken a bite out of the foot traffic at brick and mortar stores in recent years… Black Friday still marks the start of the holiday shopping season, and for shoppers who venture out, it’s an event.

Orlando Sentinel retail and restaurant reporter Kyle Arnold explains how some stores are doing new things to get customers away from their screens and in the doors. Plus- the view from behind the checkout counter. We revisit a conversation that first aired on Intersection in 2015: Hector Cordova and Taylor Durkin share stories of how they prepare for Black Friday. And a look at how small businesses are getting ready for the day after- Small Business Saturday. We check in with Betsy Gardner Eckbert, the president and CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

After the hurricane, thousands of Puerto Ricans are heading to the mainland, some for good. Non profits and local governments are trying to figure out how best to help house those evacuees who need a roof over their heads. Jeff Hayward from Heart of Florida United Way explains.

And we hear music from Irish duo The Bronx Boys: Dan Lowery and Andrew Murray, who performed on Intersection in September 2016. 

Customers who put money down on a new senior living development in Daytona Beach say it was like lining up for concert tickets.

The Jimmy Buffett themed Latitude Margaritaville may be tapping into a particular segment of the over 55 population… but there are plenty other communities aimed at seniors too, many offering the kinds of amenities you might find on a cruise ship. Today on Intersection: A look at communities built for seniors.

Then, a spate of fatalities is shining a harsh light on fraternity activities. John Hechinger, the author of True Gentlemen, the Broken Pledge of America’s Fraternities, explains how universities are trying to clamp down on hazing, and the influence these organizations have on college life.

And the golfer who’s still competing more than six decades after he first swung a golf club.

In a world where technology means you can strap on a headset and step into another world all from the comfort of your couch, how do attractions and amusement parks get customers through the turnstiles?

We’re looking at how theme park rides get made, how virtual reality is changing the way roller coasters are designed, and how companies in Central Florida are competing with the heavyweights in the world of attractions.

Then, from the latest in theme parks to what’s new in agriculture. A brand new hop yard, the first commercial hop yard in Orange County, takes shape, adding a local flavor to locally brewed beer.

And when his band split up, Nicholas Roberts moved from Nashville back to Florida. He joins us to perform songs from his upcoming EP.