Attorneys argue an 80-year-old death row inmate is too old and sick to be executed. Meanwhile, the case raises new questions about elderly inmates on death row.

Tampa is introducing new water treatment technology to reduce PFAS chemicals. As a result, officials hope to improve long-term drinking water quality.

The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the National Marine Fisheries Service. However the lawsuit argues stronger protections are needed for vuluenerable species.

Madeira Beach leaders are addressing a local issue that could impact residents and visitors. Meanwhile, officials say they are working to find a long-term solution.

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 9, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Tampa residents could see improved drinking water quality in the coming years as the city moves forward with an advanced water treatment system designed to reduce PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

At a recent press conference, the Tampa Water Department announced progress on its Suspended Ion Exchange (SIX) treatment technology. Testing confirmed the system successfully removed about 30% of PFAS compounds from the city’s source water.

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used in many consumer and industrial products. They are often called “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly. They can also accumulate in the environment and the human body.

City officials say the SIX system will improve drinking water quality. They also expect it to lower future construction, treatment and operating costs.

The project will be built at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility in East Tampa. Once completed, officials say it will be the largest SIX installation in the world. They say the project will position Tampa as a global leader in advanced drinking water treatment.

“What makes SIX unique is that it helps us accomplish multiple objectives at once,” said Sarah Burns, the city’s Water Planning Manager for the project. “SIX is not a technology that every utility is implementing today, but our responsibility is not to do what everyone else is doing. Our responsibility is to evaluate the best available options and determine what provides the greatest value for our customers.”

The Tampa Water Department is partnering with several companies, including Carollo Engineers, to design and construct the new system.

Vincent Hart, executive vice president of Carollo Engineers, said the technology addresses challenges faced by water utilities across Florida while helping reduce emerging contaminants.

“It is a technology that fills a longstanding gap in the water industry,” Hart said. “Better water quality, lower PFAS, more consistent operations, reductions in chemical use and residuals generation, and the ability to expand the plant within the existing site footprint are just a few features of this technology.”

Construction of the SIX facility is expected to be completed in 2032.

The post Tampa advances new water treatment technology to reduce PFAS appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Also, the state Board of Education will discuss similar bans for Florida’s 24 state colleges next week, plus rules barring undocumented students from GED programs. Neither rule has been approved.

A three-year-old boy in Riverview died over the weekend after he was left in a hot car. There have been 8 hot car deaths across the United States this year.

Residents in Hillsborough County can now take a closer look into the quality of their water.

The Board of Governors allowed the New College of Florida to use $2.5 million dollars from its housing auxiliary fund to pay for the baseball stadium.

The new ordinance aims to create housing options across Gulfport.

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: Fri. June 26, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Residents in Hillsborough County can now take a closer look at the quality of their water.

The county’s annual water quality reports are now available to the public.

The report, mandated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, tested the water quality in 2025. 

Hillsborough County manages 11 water systems, creating 11 different reports spanning 750 thousand customers. 

In August of 2025, the South Central water system, which covers areas west of Thonotasassa to the north, all the way South towards Ruskin, was flagged for a Maximum Contaminant Level violation.

The levels of bacteria E. coli exceeded the highest allowable amount of a contaminant set by the EPA.

Valerie Harwood, a professor at the University of South Florida, says these occasional violations are common. 

“In other words, if the utility was seeing E. coli contamination every week or every month, they would definitely have a severe problem, but it’s not uncommon to see it once a year,” Harwood said.

Hillsborough County said it sent a public notice regarding the contaminant.

Frank Fulghum is the manager for the environmental services section at Hillsborough County.

This report comes the same week as the Southwest Florida Water Management District  Governing Board voted to extend the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage through Oct. 1, 2026, due to ongoing drought.

Residents are encouraged to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours.

The post Hillsborough County water quality reports for 2025 are out appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The People’s Pride Coalition is calling on St. Pete Pride to return to its roots in liberation and resistance to oppression.

Last week, the League of Women Voters of St. Petersburg held a candidate forum. WMNF’s Daria Mironova reports on candidates running for the District 6 City Council seat.

The decision came at the council meeting last week, Chris Young reports.

The EPA requires the city to meet stricter limits on harmful PFAS chemicals by 2031. More answers regarding solutions are expected at the next City Council meeting.

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 8, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

One group is using a nearly 2 million dollar grant to help reduce the impact of flooding on Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is working on a Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan. 

The planning council is using a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to reduce flood risks in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

Alana Todd, the planning council’s principal environmental planner, said residents recognize that flooding isn’t going away. 

“The risks, the impacts we face from flooding will likely only worsen as our climate is changing, and so people are eager to get involved and really learn how they can support the plan,” Todd told WMNF.

Todd has worked with the community and got people involved in the making of the plan.  

“You know, flooding doesn’t stop at, you know, our county or city borders. So having a plan like this is really, you know, spurring that kind of collaboration and coordination that we need, because right now, you know, flood projects are pretty disparate and small scale.” Todd said.

Now, Todd said they are in their risk assessment phase, which involves flood mapping and identifying vulnerabilities around the region. 

They estimate the four-year plan will be completed by the end of 2028, after which they will put together a comprehensive plan for local governments to use to reduce the risk of flooding. 

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is also providing training on how small businesses can react in a Category 5 hurricane scenario.

For more information on the Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan, click here.

For information on the hurricane program, Project Phoenix, click here. 

The post Regional plan aims to curb flooding across seven Tampa Bay counties appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Anni was joined by expert guest Jim Peterson on this week’s Sustainable Living show to discuss how to care for our bodies of water. Jim is the Ocklawaha River Basin Strategic Planning Basin Coordinator for the St. Johns River Water Management District. He has more than 31 years of service with the agency in a variety of roles. A biologist by training, Jim holds degrees in Aquaculture and Environmental Sciences and has spent his career focused on protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems. Throughout his time at the District, Jim has been involved in research, monitoring, and restoration efforts on Lake Apopka, as well as other lakes and wetlands across Florida. His work has helped guide long-term, science-based strategies to improve water quality, restore habitats, and support sustainable water resource management.

Topics discussed include:

-Florida wetland and waterway history

-how dams and agriculture affect wetlands

-alternative sources of water 

-Jim’s projects on Lake Apopka and the Ocklawaha River

-current conservation and restoration projects

-sustainable practices to benefit Florida’s lakes and rivers

-balancing restoration with development and recreation

and more!

You can email Jim at [email protected] or visit the District website at sjrwmd.com. Also, follow St. Johns River Water Management District on social media. We have Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

If you love the Sustainable Living Show, make sure to tune in every Monday at 11am on 88.5fm or listen to past episodes in the archives here. You can also stay up to date with show happenings on our Facebook page. Head over to the tip jar and direct your donation to Sustainable Living to show your monetary support. Remember, it takes a community to build a community.

The post Caring for our bodies of water with Jim Peterson appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

As Tampa Bay faces historic drought conditions, Hillsborough County and the University of Florida are providing an option for Hillsborough residents to save water. 

But there’s  way people can be eligible for a financial incentive if they take steps to reduce outdoor irrigation. 

The Florida Friendly Landscaping Incentives program, or FLIP, is a 3-part program with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 

Hillsborough residents will learn how to reduce outdoor irrigation by converting part of their lawn to a “water wise landscape” – replacing regular turf with mulch, drought-tolerant plants, and tree cover.

After making the changes to their lawns, they would be eligible to apply for a rebate.

Anthony Halcyon is Hillsborough County’s Senior Environmental Scientist of Water Conservation.

“There’s several principles that are ‘Florida Friendly’. And there there are things like, you know, introducing pollinators into the lawn and being water conservation friendly, using native or non native adaptive plants for droughts.” Halcyon told WMNF.

He says it couldn’t come at a more crucial time. 

“We do have a seasonal drought in Florida. In fact, we’re approaching the peak of it in April. So it’s kind of addressing the seasonality of Florida in a natural way that perhaps turf grass doesn’t do as well.” Halcyon said.

The 3-part workshop occurs one Saturday a month in March, April and May.

You’d need to be using Hillsborough or Tampa’s potable water to apply for the rebate.

The post University of Florida, Hillsborough workshop incentivizes ‘water-wise’ lawns amid drought appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Listen:

The water shortage in our region is worsening right as the driest months begin.

On Friday, Tampa Bay Water announced a stage three drought. Chief science officer for the organization, Warren Hogg, says the drought is one of the worst the state has seen in 50 years.

“We now have no river water to use in our regional system” Hogg said. “We are now relying on groundwater, desalinated seawater and water stored in our regional reservoir.”

He is urging the public to increase conservation efforts. According to him, the reservoir levels projections for the next three months are showing concerning numbers.

Hogg recalls two years ago when another water shortage could have been critical without residents pitching in.

He says the effort can come in small steps: knowing your watering day, turning the water off when brushing your teeth, and reducing shower times. These actions can add up to 80 gallons of water saved per week.

There are no new restrictions yet, but Hogg says they are likely to come if the drought becomes more extreme.

Water demand continues to increase. Last month water usage was 4% higher than February of 2025.

The post The water shortage in our region is worsening appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Listen:

Tampa Bay Water announced a Stage 2 drought warning last week after the region recorded an average rainfall deficit of 10.84 inches over the past 12 months. That’s more than 10 million gallons per day.

The warning triggered the Water Shortage Mitigation Plan, which imposes watering restrictions to reduce regional demand and conserve drinking water. It includes a one-day-per-week lawn watering restriction that began Sunday, Feb. 8.

“This time of the year grass is dormant,” Chief Science Officer Warren Hogg said. “If it rains, skip a week of watering. Your yard really only needs water every 10 to 14 days.”

An earlier dry season, increased water demand and the rainfall deficit caused the shortage.

Without rainfall, river flow levels remain too low for water harvesting. The region is now relying on the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir, desalination plant, aquifer storage wells and groundwater.

Since January, the plant has produced an average of 12.17 million gallons per day. The reservoir is holding 8.77 billion gallons, about 56.6 percent of its 15.5-billion-gallon capacity.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District urges the public to practice water conservation year-round, as water sources remain limited despite higher levels during the summer and fall.

“The public really helped us out two years ago when we were in a similar situation,” Tampa Bay Water’s Hogg said. “Their actions helped us save about 30% of the water that’s used. Each person saving a little bit of water really adds up and helps extend our water supplies.”

If the reservoir reaches a critical depletion level before summer rains resume and river flows return to harvestable levels, officials could impose a complete ban on outdoor watering or more severe restrictions.

The watering restrictions affect Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as the cities of St. Petersburg, New Port Richey and Tampa. Residents can check their watering day by zip code at MyWaterDay.org or find more information by calling the Southwest Florida Water Management District at 1-800-423-1476.

The post Increased watering restrictions as drought worsens appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.