His troubling past further challenges how little the Department of Homeland Security has vetted recruits as it went on a hiring spree to help carry out President Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The city received two million dollars in state funding for storm damage improvement projects.

St. Pete is the first local government in the state to adopt this provision.

Since the start of the year, the state has averaged 5,990 claims a week.

The Scoop, produced by Maeleigh Fricke

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Sofia Caballero, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hanna Lau, Joeniyah Carter, Jaelin Diehl.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

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The post The Scoop: Fri. July 17, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

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Fishermen now face new requirements when fishing in the US Atlantic.

Last summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed a new rule aimed to protect mobulid rays in the country.

Manta and devil rays are collectively known as mobulid rays.

They are a cartilaginous, filter-feeding fish that live in the tropical and sub-tropical oceans. 

Swordfish and tuna fisherman were accidentally catching rays and there was no rule that said they needed to release them.

Now the rule says the rays need to be back into the water as safely and quickly as possible.

Gib Brogan is the senior campaign director at Oceana.

“So this rule is good for the rays and will help their international conservation and hopefully their recovery,” Brogan said. 

“These rays need to be treated carefully, and that will prevent anyone from keeping one, or it will put that additional emphasis on the need to conserve this species,” Brogan said. 

There are still methods to capture the large rays for display and research purposes, but that goes through a different process that isn’t changed by this rule.

Brogan said he is hoping that, over time, the rule will decrease the deaths of these large rays in commercial fisheries.

“We’re hopeful that the regulations will improve the recovery of these species, that it will put an additional emphasis on the need to carefully release them,” Brogan said.

The rays now join a number of shark species under the Endangered Species Act with similar protections. 

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, and plants to prevent their extinction and protect their habitats.

This new rule is specific to the accidental catch of these large rays in commercial fishing boats.

The rule went into effect on June 22 and Brogan said they are a great first step to conservation.

“We’re looking forward to the Fisheries Service continuing to do its job to protect species like meta rays,” Brogan said.

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Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis has scheduled two executions to take place on the same day, marking an unprecedented move in Florida. The decision has drawn national attention as the state prepares for the back-to-back executions.

Additionally, extreme summer heat is causing widespread coral bleaching in the Florida Keys. Scientists warn that rising ocean temperatures are placing more stress on fragile reef ecosystems.

Starting now, Florida fishermen must follow new regulations designed to better protect manta rays. Officials say the updated requirements aim to reduce accidental harm to the vulnerable species.

The Clearwater City Council will vote on whether to continue its partnership with Duke Energy. The decision could shape the city’s future approach to providing electricity for residents.

The Scoop, produced by Demaria Green

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Sofia Caballero, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hanna Lau, Joeniyah Carter, Jaelin Diehl.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

The post The Scoop: Thurs. July 16, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

A man was fatally hit by a truck as he fled from an ICE encounter in St. Augustine. He is the third person to die following an ICE encounter this week.

Sochor was 74 years old.

The push for environmental policies will prioritize concerns such as habitat protection and water quality.

Both candidates spoke about current tensions between local government and Florida legislation.

The Scoop, produced by Maeleigh Fricke

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Sofia Caballero, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hanna Lau, Joeniyah Carter, Jaelin Diehl.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

The post The Scoop: Wed. July 15, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez reported a net worth of more than $3.5 million. Additionally, his latest financial disclosure shows a significant increase in his personal wealth

The City of Dunedin is considering a shoreline stability project to address coastal concerns. As a result, city officials are reviewing plans for the proposed project.

Immigrant rights activists continue to hold a weekly vigil in Clearwater. Through these demonstrations, activists bring attention to immigration enforcement and local immigrant communities.

President Donald Trump is reducing the size of two national monuments in Utah. Consequently, the decision is renewing debate over public lands and environmental protections.

Federal ICE agents killed another person during an incident in Maine. Therefore, the death is raising further concerns about federal immigration enforcement actions.

The Scoop, produced by Demaria Green

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Sofia Caballero, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hanna Lau, Joeniyah Carter, Jaelin Diehl.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

The post The Scoop: Tues. July 14, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The Center for Biological Diversity filled the suit on Wednesday against the National Marine Fisheries Service over protections for the Queen Conch.

The lawsuit is a step towards getting the Queen Conch’s home recognized as a critical protection habitat.

That recognition usually happens simultaneously or within a year of a species getting labeled as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

“But to date we still don’t have a critical habitat designation for the Queen Conch,” said Alex Muir, an associate attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity’s Florida and Caribbean program. “Because of that, we’re missing out on important protection for the Conch as a result of projects like the dredging that is going on for the Sand by Bypass projects off of Broward County’s coast.”

The project she’s referring to in Broward County involves offshore construction to create a sand pit that will be later dredged up and reused to replenish beaches.

Usually for that type of project, the Army Corps of Engineers would be required to check for critical protection habitats and make sure no threatened species would be affected. 

“And so that that failure of the of the Army Corps to designate critical habitat for the Queen Conch is just one example where their failure to meet these deadlines are jeopardizing the continued existence of species that are in need and really entitled to that protection under the act,” said Muir.

Especially since these large snails need high population numbers in order to keep healthy reproductive rates.

It also faces other challenges like recreational harvest, illegal fishing and habitat destruction due to hurricanes or construction.

In the U.S., the Queen Conch is mostly found off the coast of Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, but its territory extends throughout the Caribbean.

The post Center for Biological Diversity sues over protections for queen conch. appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

TAMPA ( WMNF ) – Panamanian Golden Frogs were critically endangered before eventually becoming extinct in the wild around 2009 due to habitat loss and the deadly chytrid fungus.

This waterborne fungus greatly impacts amphibians by causing a deadly skin disease.

According to the National Zoo, the fungus disrupts its electrolyte balance, leading to death. The fungal spores can swim through water and hitch a ride on other wildlife and even on people’s shoes.

After suffering catastrophic declines, ZooTampa hatched these amphibians to help save the species from extinction. They utilized the Species Survival Plan. This program ensures that a species population does not become functionally extinct in its natural habitat.

“The species survival plan, which is basically like a dating app for endangered species to make sure that we’re preserving those genetics and we’re breeding individuals with purpose, not just to do it to do it, and as long as we’re doing it under the species survival plan, we’re gonna continue to give back to their populations and keep them here on Earth,” said Jasmin Pierola, animal care professional on the reptile and amphibian team.

ZooTampa plans to utilize the process to support other endangered species.

“Here in Florida, we have a lot of amphibians that are struggling and a few invasive amphibians as well, but they are going through a large extinction event that not a lot of people know about. So just learn about your local amphibians, your local reptiles, and that can really change the way that you see these animals and help you want to protect them,” said Pierola.

Helping to save some of our local endangered species can help to sustain and enhance our ecosystem.

The post ZooTampa hatches critically endangered Panamanian Golden Frogs appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

It is the latest city in Tampa Bay to consider a one-year moratorium on any type of data center development.

WMNF’s Hannah Lau Gleciano reports on what the upgrades are and some concerns regarding the use of AI in policing.

The city emailed her regarding purchases made with city funds, to which she replied claiming city leadership has discriminated against older employees in the past, illegally tracked them and rejected disability accommodations.

The county is still waiting for reimbursement from the state.

Seven of those are from Tampa Bay alone and, according to Tampa Bay Times, these are likely underreported numbers.

The Scoop, produced by Maeleigh Fricke

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Sofia Caballero, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hanna Lau, Joeniyah Carter, Jaelin Diehl.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

The post The Scoop: Mon. June 22, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

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Summer is almost here and so is intense heat.

Last Saturday, eight local organizations held an event to educate Tampa residents on how to stay safe amid rising temperatures.

The day began with a presentation looking at heat over the last six decades in Tampa.

It showed that during the 2020s, the number of days with temperatures feeling above a hundred degrees were four times more than during the 1960s. 

Karen Liller is the chair for the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health and she warned about the potential risks of underestimating the heat.

“The evidence is there. We are getting warmer, the earth is getting warmer, the states are getting warmer,” Liller said. “Florida is definitely getting warmer.”

Heat exhaustion comes with symptoms like excessive sweating, dizziness, cool pale skin, and risk of fainting.

In worse scenarios, a heat stroke can be deadly.

It starts as a rapid strong pulse, no sweating and soon after the person might lose their consciousness. 

“Whom I really worry about is not so much people who can get to air conditioning or can get to fluids, but for people where that’s hard, that’s hard to have air conditioning or that is hard because they work outside,” Liller said. 

Florida still doesn’t have a heat ordinance requiring shading or water breaks and workload adjustments for outdoor workers. 

Construction and agricultural workers, gardeners and roofers are at higher risks.

In the same presentation, a meteorologist showed that in Tampa during the 2020s the number of 90 degree days per year were a hundred and twenty.

Double the number of 90 degree days per year during the 1970s. 

In order to hold back the heat, panelists suggested things like switching to solar energy, using electric vehicles and getting involved with local governments.

However, all of those things take funding and resources.

Liller said those things are not realistic for everybody. 

“I’m a big believer in making it affordable for everyone, making it a mandate so everyone can get this, not just people who are in positions of power or have a higher income,” Liller said.

The post Tampa groups host heat safety sessions as temperatures raise appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

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Google’s Debug team requested federal approval to release 32 million sterilized male mosquitos in Florida and California.

The project aims to decrease the number of Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which transmits multiple diseases like dengue, zika and yellow fever.

Debug uses the Sterile Insect Technique which consists of releasing sterile male mosquitoes to mate with females.

The sterilized male mosquitoes carry a bacteria called Wolbachia, which prevents the female eggs from hatching.

Wolbachia is a common bacterium that half of insect species carry, and is not harmful to the environment or to humans, according to the World Mosquito Program.

Chris Meindl, an associate professor of geography at USF, said the project has some benefits.

“I think the good news is it’s not like we’re spraying chemicals that kills not just the target species, but that ends up killing lots of other things,” Meindl said.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are an invasive species.

Meindl said he is “suspicious” of the project risks of decreasing the amount of mosquitoes.

“I’m not sure how long they’ve been here, but I think they’ve been here a long time,” Meindl said. “I think our native animals have probably grown to depend on eating them.”

Even with this risk, Google is not the only one working on pest control methods.

Mendil said this initiative is not new and is already happening in several counties in Florida.

“At the end of the day, this technology has been around for a long time and there are ongoing efforts to make use of it even here in Florida, irrespective of Google,” Mindl said. 

They have been preparing to launch a similar trial project, but they might face setbacks next year.

There is a new property tax measure proposed by Governor Ron DeSantis that may lead to the district losing one fifth of its budget.

The measure will be voted at the ballot box in November.

For Google, the project is still pending approval from the Environmental Protection Agency who is reviewing the application.

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