Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland burnishes its reputation on the cutting edge of technology. Florida Poly's university police department says it's the first in the nation to use an electric vertical takeoff and landing (E-VTOL) patrol vehicle. Flying car technology is already being tested nearby at the SunTrax site in Auburndale. We speak with University Police Chief Aaron Murray about how the aircraft will be used in law enforcement and education.  (Photo: Florida Polytechnic University.)

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Pinellas County is the latest Tampa Bay area to go to helicopter spraying targeting larvae of the mosquito species implicated in the recent outbreak of locally transmitted dengue fever. Spraying could begin as soon as Friday (10-23), depending on aviation and weather factors, using a helicopter from Lee County. County public information officer Brian Pellerin explains why they use that type of helicopter, how to find out if your neighborhood is being sprayed, and why the solution they're spraying isn't harmful to adults, children or pets but very damaging to the skeeters. 

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Early voting begins Monday (19th) in many Florida counties. Others begin on the 22ndand by law they could start as late as the 24th. Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer has advice for those voting early in person, by mail, or on Election Day. 

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Pope Leo XIV is recovering after surgery to remove a tumor from his lung. What's the outlook for the 71-year-old American-born pontiff? We speak with Dr. Lary Robinson, who heads the Lung Cancer Early Detection Center at Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center. 

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An important finding as Florida and the Tampa Bay area deal with a locally transmitted dengue fever outbreak. Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) used an app to track mosquito bites in a part of Indian River County. They found that a type of mosquito that spreads dengue was more common in a suburban area than they assumed. Items collecting standing water may be the reason. We speak with Professor Panpim Thongsripong at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. 

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Forecasters say a strong El Niño could bring much more rain and even some severe weather this winter, which is normally Florida's dry season. Local officials are preparing for unusual events such as winter flooding. We speak with CK Moore, Planning Section Chief for the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management. 

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A very strong El Niño weather pattern is forecast through the winter. El Niño keeps hurricanes away in the Atlantic during summer, but it also brings the winter jet stream over Florida, meaning more storms. We speak with National Weather Service Tampa Bay office senior forecaster Paul Close about what to expect. 

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The Tampa Bay area, especially Hillsborough County, is facing one of its biggest dengue fever outbreaks in years - with 90 cases reported in Hillsborough alone, along with several in Pinellas and Pasco. How does dengue spread, and how do you know you have it and what should you do if you get it? We get answers from Dr Evelyn Huang, MD, an emergency physician with Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. 

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There's a three thousand mile bicycle relay, from Oregon to New Jersey, to raise funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. C2C4C United States is taking place from September 10th to October 7th. About a hundred Bristol Myers Squibb employees are taking part. One of them is Stephen White, who works in the company's Tampa office. He explains why the cause is personal for him and his family. He also talks about his first hardcore cycling experience and how you can support him, at https://cancerbikeride.org

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Point Park University in Pittsburgh is exploring the possibility of placing satellite programs in downtown Bradenton. Officials have been visiting and looking at potential sites. The two cities have been tied together for decades by Pittsburgh Pirates spring training. The university has a number of programs and schools focused on the performing arts, which can tie together with local employers including Feld Entertainment and IMG. We speak with Point Park University president Chris Brussalis and Bradenton mayor Gene Brown. 

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