Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

Water skiing is 100 years old this year, and a major international water skiing tournament is taking place in Winter Haven this weekend. Gordon Byrd speaks with Polk County tourism and marketing director Mark Jackson about Winter Haven's history with water skiing and what's going on there this weekend.

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A group pushing for a transportation sales tax in Hillsborough just released a list of the county's most dangerous intersections. They argue that passing the tax in November will provide money for safety improvements. The top three are all on U.S. 301 (Gibsonton Drive, Big Bend Road and SR 674). One (Florida and Waters) is in the city of Tampa. Five out of the other six are in the Riverview, Brandon and Bloomingdale areas, including another on U.S. 301. One is in north county. We speak with Christina Barker of All for Transportation and Emily Hinsdale, local road safety activist.

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A dozen post offices are closed temporarily and many people in Southwest Florida have lost mail service because of Hurricane Ian. David Walton with USPS talks about how to get caught up.

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FEMA has extended Hurricane Ian disaster relief to Polk, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, joining Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. We speak with FEMA spokesperson Shirley Tracey about how to apply for assistance, especially if the power's still out and you have no internet. (Please share with those affected by Ian!)

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Florida may experience a hurricane next week. What if you need gas to evacuate or run your generator? Mark Jenkins with AAA Auto Club Group in Tampa tells us what to expect at the pump and on the roads before and after a hurricane.

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The parents of Andrew Joseph III, a 14-year-old killed in a traffic crash after being ejected from the Florida State Fair by Hillsborough deputies, are suing the Sheriff's Office, the Florida State Fair and at least one deputy. Supporters plan to rally outside the Tampa federal courthouse during the trial which begins Sept. 12. We speak with Dr. Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter Grassroots, Pastor Carl Soto of Black Lives Matter Restoration Polk, and Angel D'Angelo of the Restorative Justice Coalition.

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The Florida Department of Transportation is installing barriers to protect mangroves and cut down on litter at Gandy Beach, alongside the Gandy Bridge. We speak with FDOT's Kris Carson.

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Parts of the Stop Woke Act are under a federal injunction after a judge in Tallahassee rejected many of the state's arguments about the law restricting the way racial issues are discussed in workplaces Thursday. We speak with Stetson University College of Law Professor Louis Virelli in Gulfport, about the judge's ruling and what reception it can expect on appeal.

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We (apparently) complete our series of interviews with School Board candidates with Damaris Allen, the challenger for Hillsborough School Board District 2. Incumbent Stacy Hahn did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

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More than 7,000 resident students are moving into dormitories at the University of South Florida campuses in Tampa and St. Petersburg starting Thursday (18). Rising rents may be one factor motivating students to live on campus. Ana Hernandez is assistant vice president of Housing and Residential Education.

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