Florida Matters

Mass transit in Tampa Bay's densely populated big cities grabs the headlines. But there's a case to be made that transportation has even more of an impact on people living in rural areas.

With the population in the Tampa Bay area growing so has the traffic. Transportation leaders have proposed many ideas about how to help people get around faster.

This week on Florida Matters we talk about how some of our region’s airports are changing to make travel more convenient.

Florida is one of the top states in the country in honey production. It's also an important wintering ground for commercial beekeepers up north, with their "snow bees."

Over the next few weeks, WUSF will be sharing stories produced for One Small Step, the latest project from StoryCorps. Each segment features two strangers, with differing political beliefs, sitting down together and having a conversation.

Florida's coral reefs are in trouble. Scientists say they've been declining for decades. Researchers have very recently come up with some results that show promise in restoring these beautiful and important marine communities.

Historians and local old-timers say that once, Tampa Bay was overflowing with delicious oysters. And that some rivers, like the Manatee River, were once so full of mullet that they noisily roiled the water.

Leaky pipes, broken water mains, sewage spills. Tampa Bay's storm water infrastructure is aging, and it will be very expensive to fix it. Host Robin Sussingham discusses the state of our sewage system.

It might be one of the state's best kept secrets, but Florida wine making is a billion dollar industry! There are dozens of wineries across the state, employing nearly a hundred thousand people.

You see it being sold everywhere now. You saw it everywhere even before it became legal on July 1st.  Is it regulated? Is it safe? What does it do? If you're confused about CBD oil, you're not alone.