MidPoint

Raegan Miller and Jen Cousins from the Florida Freedom to Read Project joined us to discuss the recent spate of book bans in public schools, and the impact of the Parental Rights in Education law.

MidPoint looks at the hostile takeover of Florida public education by DeSantis and Christian conservatives

the FDA approved U.S, pharmacies to fill prescriptions for abortion pills for home-based, self-managed abortions, but not in Florida where doing so is a crime. Meanwhile, anti-abortion forces are organizing protests outside the pharmacy chains to pressure these corporations to stop filling prescriptions for medication abortion pills. What's next for medication abortion access? My guests from Red State Access and Progress Florida represent abortion rights information services and they fill us in on the current state of affairs surrounding abortion pill access.

Michael Igel, Chair of the Florida Holocaust Museum discusses his family's own Holocaust experiences, the importance of Holocaust remembrance, Holocaust education in the age of "Stop Woke," the rise of anti-Semitism... again, how to address it, and more.

Florida Commission on Mental Health issued its interim report calling for major changes in the accessibility and delivery of mental health services and changes to legislation affecting the criminal justice system's response to arrestees with mental illness. Hon. Ron Ficarrotta, Chief Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit serves on the Commission and discusses the recommendations.

Hillsborough County schools' attendance boundaries are likely to change. Some schools may be repurposed and students reassigned to different schools and the public isn't happy with the proposed changes.

It is a "new" year and politicos and pundits are still on vacation, so MidPoint is talking about new beginnings, starting over, 2d acts, and making big life changes. Shelley's guests are Artist Laura Waller who, in 2012, decided to leave her career as a financial planner and be a full-time studio artist, and Rande Friedman, who went from selling Red Cross shoes to elderly people to being a realtor with a niche clientele of elderly people transitioning into assisted living or downsizing their homes, and helping their family members dealing with the estates of people who have passed on. The guests have some insights for those facing or considering making a big life change in the New Year.

Your mid-week, mid-morning source for local and statewide news and public affairs from a local perspective.

Dan Ruth is Back and He's got Some Things to Say!

Thad Bereday, host of the Redemption Radio podcast, a former lawyer and former prison inmate, and his pastor, Rev. Justin LaRosa of The Portico, a non-traditional, social justice-focused church in downtown Tampa, both join Shelley on MidPoint to discuss the meaning of "redemption" and the need for criminal justice reform.