Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

The U.S.-Israeli joint military operation against Iran has left Americans stranded in various locations across the Middle East that are targets or potential targets. A Tampa-based nonprofit funded by private donations is moving to assist those who say they need to get out. We speak again with Bryan Stern, an Army and Navy veteran with Special Operations experience, founder and chairman of Grey Bull Rescue. 

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Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Tampa attorney Ashley Harris about an important deadline for any homeowner who has recently discovered damage caused by Hurricane Milton.

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Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Anna Maria mayor Mark Short about the reconstruction of the city pier, which was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017, and then again by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

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The Florida Strawberry Festival opens Thursday (February 26th) for an 11-day run in Plant City. The event draws hundreds of thousands each year for live entertainment, including top musical acts, and of course for every possible way to serve strawberries. We speak with festival president Kyle Robinson. 

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A cold front has brought very low humidity to much of Florida and heightened the wildfire risk. We speak with Hillsborough County fire marshall Tammy Zurla. 

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The third annual Florida Man Games take place Saturday (21st) at Freedom Factory, the racetrack owned by driver and YouTuber Cleetus McFarland near Bradenton. Events include the Evading Arrest Obstacle Games, the Grocery Aisle Brawl, and Taser Tag. We speak with founder and organizer, Pete Melfi.

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A couple of weeks ago, much of Florida saw its coldest weather in many years, with teens in North Florida and 20s in Central Florida even before wind chills. Now many homeowners have fruit trees, hedges and tropicals with freeze damage. We speak with Sally Scalera, an extension agent with the University of Florida's Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, on how to help your garden bounce back.

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Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota is nursing three manatees and several green sea turtles who fell victim to Florida's recent cold snap -- the worst in some sixteen years. We speak with Mote's Kathryn Gentile about the rehab process and what to do if you find a sea creature affected by cold. 

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of Medicare and Medicaid Services, is urging people to make sure they and their young children have gotten the measles vaccine. That follows an outbreak of as many as seven hundred cases nationwide this year. We speak with Dr. Patrick Mularoni, a pediatric emergency physician at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, about vaccine hesitancy and additional precautions during this outbreak. 

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The 2026 Florida State Fair opens Thursday (Feb. 5) and runs through Monday (Feb. 16/ President's Day). Executive director Cheryl Flood joins us to talk about events, attractions, a very big wheel, and of course, fair food. 

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