90.7 WMFE's Intersection

Florida lawmakers have struck a deal on an $83 billion state budget. They weren’t able to get it done to finish the session in time so they’ll be back on Monday to vote. So who were the big winners and losers? What’s in it for environmental programs, healthcare, education? And what about the cut to the Orange – Osceola prosecutor’s funding?

Also, ending high-stakes testing, safeguarding the water and keeping squabbling lawmakers in line. Those are some of the goals of former Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Graham, who’s announced she’s running for Governor. We caught up with Graham on a stop in Orlando and we’ll hear from another potential Democratic candidate with a high profile: John Morgan.

And, where did comedian and banjo player Steve Martin get his banjo? We visit the Titusville factory that’s supplied instruments to Steve Martin, Kid Rock, Melissa Etheridge and other musicians.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs admits providing affordable housing is a challenge, but she says it’s one that can be met by building partnerships with neighboring counties, and with buy in from the private sector. On today’s program, Jacobs joins us to lay out her vision for affordable housing in Central Florida.

SunRail turned three this week. It opened to great fanfare in May 2014. Riders took advantage of free travel for the first two weeks and packed the trains. But since then, fewer people than expected have hopped aboard. We’ll hear from the Florida Department of Transportation’s Steve Olson and from transportation writer Dan Tracy about how the fledgling commuter rail is doing, three years on.

And the Orlando Ballet turns to the big band era for the last performance of the season with a 1950’s inspired take on Cinderella. We’ll hear how the show is put together.

Lake County’s animal shelter is moving towards no-kill status. What does a no-kill shelter entail and how does a shelter achieve that goal? On today’s program we’ll talk about Lake County’s approach to animal welfare and who’s pushing for the no-kill shelter. We’ll also look at the law enforcement side of animal welfare in Orange and Osceola Counties, where the state attorney’s office has prosecutors who specialize in pursuing these cases.

Florida’s ethics commission ruled attorney general Pam Bondi broke no rules by failing to investigate Trump University. That did not sit well with Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell who has pored over hundreds of pages of documents relating to the case after Bondi solicited a campaign donation from Trump’s charity and he weighs in on the latest twist in the saga.

And, Orlando band the Pauses grew up listening to 90’s rock, and some of their shows recreate the best of the music from that era. Next week they’re opening for 90’s heavyweights Weezer.

Florida’s black bears have been given a reprieve. A public outcry followed the 2015 bear hunt, the first in 20 years, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Management Conservation Commission says it won’t allow another hunt for two years.

Meanwhile FWC is looking at other ways to stop interaction between bears and humans. One homeowners association in Longwood bought bear proof trash cans for each of its residents. We visit Springs Landing where bear sightings are common, to see how they’re trying to get residents bear wise.

Then, Intersection’s Brendan Byrne checks out the Orlando Science Center’s astronaut exhibit and discovers the most popular display there. Oh the places you’ll go.

And, with temperatures in the 80s already, swimming pools are getting crowded. Talia Blake visits a pool where lifeguards are training for the summer. And we chat with former Olympic swimmer Rowdy Gaines about the YMCA’s swim lesson program.

House prices in Orlando are picking up and the supply of available homes is shrinking.

That’s good news for homeowners looking to sell. but what about first time home buyers, or homeowners looking for something a bit bigger? What’s driving real estate in Central Florida, and what does it takes to buy a home?

The housing market is heating up and so is the water. As swimmers and surfers hit the beach, there’s been a flurry of shark bites reported up and down the coast. George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida explains why more people get bitten here, and what decades of research has taught him about shark – human interaction.

And, what does it take to turn a music consumer into a music creator? We listen in on a rehearsal with the Jones High School marching band, and talk with director Jamaal Nicholas about how he’s teaching students to see music as more than a hobby.

Is Florida’s no-fault auto insurance on the way out? There’s legislation this year that could spell the end of Personal Injury Protection insurance. Advocates say rules for car insurance on the books now don’t help anyone but there are others warning that the replacement could end up costing motorists more in the long run.

Then, a company that finds new life for old car tires in Haiti and is attempting to disrupt the fashion world too. We chat with Julie Colombino about her label Deux Mains.

And, Orlando’s getting ready for the Florida Music Festival next week- three days of free music and dozens of bands. We’ll hear music from one of those bands- South Florida’s Yardij join us in the studio.

Orange and Osceola County State Attorney Aramis Ayala says Governor Rick Scott has gone too far. The governor has reassigned more than 20 cases away from Ayala after she said she would not seek the death penalty. Meanwhile some lawmakers say Governor Scott hasn’t gone far enough – they want her removed from office. Ahead on Intersection, political science professor Aubrey Jewett joins us to talk about the governor’s executive power and its limits.

Next time you take a road trip, think about the rest areas you’ll pull into along the way. Florida has 67 rest areas along its highways. What you might not think about is the architecture but that’s something historian Joanna Dowling has been documenting on her website rest area history dot org. Dowling joins us- along with Josh Carrasco from triple A- to talk about the convenience and cultural value of rest areas- and why they’re under threat.

And, the Orlando City Soccer club is riding high with back to back wins at home for the Lions- and Brazilian superstar Marta newly signed to the Pride. Orlando Sentinel soccer reporter Alicia DelGallo joins us to talk about what’s in store for the club and how the teams are settling into the new stadium.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has downlisted the West Indian Manatee from endangered to Threatened.

The Fish and Wildlife Service says the reclassification reflects an increase in population and improvements in habitat for the manatees. But conservation groups say it’s a backward step. They’re worried about the impact on the manatee. On today’s program we’ll take a look at the mix of manatees and boaters in Florida.

Then, Brad Jones used to be a firefighter. Now he’s switched gears and he’s teaching kids how to grow food in a 1500 square foot garden in Orlando. We visit the Edible Education Experience in College Park.

And after turning heads with their NPR tiny desk video, the ShBooms are about to embark on a US tour. The six piece band brings its brand of garage soul to WMFE.

Puerto Rican officials are warning the island’s healthcare system is heading for collapse.

Almost half of the island’s residents are covered by Medicaid, but unlike the states, Puerto Rico’s medicaid funding is capped and officials say the money’s running out. Puerto Rico’s secretary of state Luis Rivera Marin says one of the reasons residents have been leaving the island for states like Florida is to seek out better healthcare. If the healthcare system collapses, Florida will feel the impact.

Then, could Daytona Beach soon be getting a new homeless shelter? Father Phil Egitto from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church joins us to talk about how the faith community is spearheading efforts to create a shelter in Daytona Beach.

And, Andrew Rose says his new painting is bigger than his first apartment in San Francisco. We step onto the scaffolding at Florida Hospital where Rose is creating his mural.

Are you happy with Florida’s constitution? Or do you want some changes made?

Every 20 years a 37-person panel is appointed to review Florida’s constitution and recommend changes. A new constitution review commission was picked- and kicked off an 18 month review with a meeting in Orlando this week. Ahead on Intersection we’ll talk about how the commission could help shape the future of the state.

Then, the Everyday Astronaut makes self portraits wearing a bright orange- flight suit, mixing the magic of space with mundane daily routines.

Intersection’s Brendan Byrne hangs out with photographer Tim Dodd as he suits up and shoots a photograph at Kennedy Space Center’s Rocket Garden.

And Tanner Jones has been touring the US with his band You Blew It. Jones joins us to perform an acoustic set, and talk about where he gets ideas for songs, like premier league football.