Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

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Interviews conducted by the WFLA Radio newsroom in Tampa Florida, with local and national newsmakers.

970 WFLA (WFLA-AM)


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 9m AVG DURATION
    • 611 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Beyond the News WFLA Interviews

    Last Year's Storms and This Year's Mosquitoes - Adriane Rogers Pasco Mosquito Control

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 9:26 Transcription Available


    Last year's hurricanes could mean more mosquitoes this year, or perhaps years in the future, for Pasco County. We speak with Pasco Mosquito Control Director Adriane Rogers. 

    Tampa Councilman Luis Viera - Inland Flooding From Hurricanes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 8:36 Transcription Available


    As another hurricane season approaches, residents of one part of Tampa are still dealing with damage in the aftermath of flooding during Hurricane Milton. They live in the section of the city that's actually farthest away from the water, and many didn't have flood insurance. We speak with Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera about what led to the unexpcted floodwaters, and how residents are moving forward. 

    Florida Lionfish Festival - Tony Hart FWC

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 5:33 Transcription Available


    Lionfish are an invasive species in Florida. They arrived in our waters as early as the 1980s and efforts to control the population are ongoing. Lionfish eat just about every creature they see in the sea, and can devastate ecosystems. Destin is holding a Lionfish Festival this weekend (17-18) to encourage people to catch the weird-looking fish and make a meal out of it. We speak with Tony Hart, Lionfish Outreach Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

    Pope Leo XIV - Dr Stephen Okey St Leo University

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 8:26 Transcription Available


    In a move that caught most off-guard, Roman Catholic cardinals have chosen the first American-born pope. But while he was born and raised in Chicago, the new Pope Leo XIV has spent more of his life outside the U.S. than in it. We speak with St. Leo University associate professor of theology and religion, Dr. Stephen Okey, about the new pontiff.  (Photo: Getty Images and Canva) 

    Sterile Mosquitoes Deployed - Adriane Rogers Pasco Mosquito Control

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 6:52 Transcription Available


    Pasco County is trying to deal with a spike in its mosquito population by stifling reproduction. We speak with the mosquito control district's executive director, Adriane Rogers, about a pilot program to use sterile male mosquitoes to prevent females from breeding the next generation of bloodsuckers. 

    Tampa State of the City - Poet and Professor Gianna Russo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 13:57 Transcription Available


    Tampa Mayor Jane Castor presents her State of the City address Monday (28th). St. Leo University professor Gianna Russo, who has formerly served as the city's official Wordsmith, will read a poem she composed for the occasion. She'll preview the themes in this year's message. 

    Mourning One Pope and Choosing Another - Dr Stephen Okey St Leo University

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 12:10 Transcription Available


    Pope Francis died early Monday. After nine days of mourning, the process of choosing a new pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church will begin. We speak with Dr. Stephen Okey, head of the Doctor of Theology program at St. Leo University near Tampa, to explain what's ahead. 

    Hurricane Recovery Money - Matthew Spoor Pinellas Asst County Administrator

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 9:04 Transcription Available


    Pinellas County is holding in-person and virtual meetings to get public input on how to spend an $813-million grant from HUD to support recovery from Hurricanes Idalia, Helene and Milton. Gordon Byrd speaks with Deputy County Administrator Matthew Spoor. 

    Meredith Censullo - Bradenton Police Looking for Tesla Vandal Suspect

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 5:14 Transcription Available


    Bradenton police are looking for a man in connection with an incident in which three Teslas were vandalized in the parking lot of the Pinebrook Commons shopping center. Detectives think he was driving a dark Chevy crossover or SUV. We get more information from police spokesperson Meredith Censullo. 

    Ivy Lupco - Tampa Downtown Partnership - River O' Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 4:24 Transcription Available


    Tampa celebrates St. Patrick's Day by dyeing the Hillsborough River green. It's the centerpiece of a daylong festival Saturday (15th). We speak with Ivy Lupco of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, which stages the event. 

    green irish tampa tampa downtown partnership
    Gulfport Mayor's Race - Sam Henderson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 6:17 Transcription Available


    Several Pinellas County towns are holding city elections March 11th (Tuesday) for the first time since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We focus in on the Gulfport mayor's election as that city was particularly hard-hit by the storms. This isn't just about an election but about a city's recovery from last year's history-making storms. In this podcast we interview candidate Sam Henderson, the incumbent Mayor, 

    Gulfport Mayor's Race - Karen Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 6:53 Transcription Available


    Several Pinellas County towns are holding city elections March 11th (Tuesday) for the first time since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We focus in on the Gulfport mayor's election as that city was particularly hard-hit by the storms. This isn't just about an election but about a city's recovery from last year's history-making storms. In this podcast we interview candidate Karen Love. 

    Gulfport Mayor's Race - John Liccione

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 11:04 Transcription Available


    Several Pinellas County towns are holding city elections March 11th (Tuesday) for the first time since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We focus in on the Gulfport mayor's election as that city was particularly hard-hit by the storms. This isn't just about an election but about a city's recovery from last year's history-making storms. In this podcast we interview candidate John Liccione. 

    Back to the Beach - Jason Beisel City of Treasure Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 4:29 Transcription Available


    The Pinellas beach city of Treasure Island is celebrating its ongoing recovery from last year's hurricanes with a "Back to the Beach" event Saturday and Sunday, inviting people from all over to join in. We speak with the city's Jason Beisel about the event and ongoing recovery. 

    Hillsborough County Shredfest 2025 - Eric Olsen

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 4:50 Transcription Available


    Your old documents, your old computers, your old phones, and even your old gaming consoles could leave you vulnerable to identity theft. Hillsborough County is giving residents the chance to destroy that information Saturday morning. Listen to Consumer and Veterans Services director Eric Olsen to find out more about Shred Fest. 

    Hillsborough Co Neighborhoods Expo - Stephanie Agliano

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 5:54 Transcription Available


    Hillsborough County holds its annual Neighborhoods Expo Saturday morning (March 1st). It gives county residents the chance to meet with county departments and services. We speak with county neighborhood liaison Stephanie Agliano. 

    Tampa's Zion Cemetery Marker - Fred Hearns

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 16:53 Transcription Available


    City of Tampa and Hillsborough County officials will be on hand Wednesday morning as a historic marker is dedicated to Zion Cemetery. The first cemetery for Tampa's Black residents during the segregation era was sold and erased from maps and public knowledge, even though bodies were found at the site decades later. Part of the graveyard was incorporated into the Robles Park Village public housing complex. Its rediscovery in 2019 led to a campaign to uncover the area's hidden Black gravesites of the 20th century. We speak with Fred Hearns, Black History Curator at the Tampa Bay History Center, and president of the Zion Cemetery's preservation society about the site's past and future. 

    Spring Training - Jennifer Grondahl Baltimore Orioles

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 4:38 Transcription Available


    The Grapefruit League plays its first game Friday, and major league baseball teams that spend spring training in Florida are starting games over this weekend. Teams on Florida's west coast include the Yankees, Pirates, Orioles, Braves, Rays and Red Sox. We speak with Jennifer Grondahl, VP of Communications with the Baltimore Orioles, about spring at Ed Smith Stadium and how the O's bring year-round economic impact to Sarasota. 

    Ocean Liner Becomes Florida Reef - Alex Fogg Okaloosa County

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 9:46 Transcription Available


    The SS United States, formerly the world's fastest transatlantic passenger liner, is about to become the world's biggest artificial reef. Later this week, the liner will be towed on its last voyage from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, where it'll be stripped of fuel and other biohazards. Then it will be towed to waters off Okaloosa County, which bought the ship to give both sea creatures and divers a refuge. The county also plans a land-based museum honoring the ship's legacy. We speak with Alex Fogg, who's in charge of natural resources for the county. 

    National Organ Donor Day - Dr Pranjal Jain TGH

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 9:06 Transcription Available


    February 14th is a day for the heart, Valentine's Day, but it's also a day for other organs as well. It's National Organ Donor Day. We talk with Tampa General Hospital nephrologist Dr. Pranjal Jain about becoming a living organ donor. You may be eligible even if you think you aren't. 

    Hurricane Open House For Snowbirds - Jodie Fiske Manatee County

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 10:05 Transcription Available


    Last year many seasonal residents of Manatee County watched helplessly from their summer homes as Tropical Storm Debby, and Hurricanes Helene and Milton did a number on their properties. Many snowbirds aren't sure how much hurricane prep they're allowed to do before heading north. Manatee County is holding a Q-and-A sessionFriday (2-14) aimed at those folks. We speak with Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske. 

    Florida State Fair 2025 - Cheryl Flood

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 8:52 Transcription Available


    The Florida State Fair opens its 12-day run Thursday (6th) in Tampa. We speak with Fair CEO Cheryl Floodabout what to expect. 

    Tampa Bay's Home Shopping Heritage - Bob Circosta

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 11:49 Transcription Available


    It's sort of like the day the steel mill closed in Allentown. HSN, once one of the Tampa Bay area's largest employers, is closing its St. Petersburg studios and moving operations to Pennsylvania. Home shopping on TV was born in Pinellas County (on the radio), then went nationwide and worldwide. We speak with the first salesman-host, Bob Circosta, about HSN and its legacy in the region. 

    Pinellas Flu Outbreak - Dr Eric Shamas Orl Health Bayfront

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 6:19 Transcription Available


    Pinellas is among Florida counties seeing a spike in flu cases as the season nears peak. We speak with Dr. Eric Shamas, an emergency room physician at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg. 

    Patient Oozes Cholesterol After Adopting Carnivore Diet - Dr Kostas Marmagkiolis - TGH

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 8:46 Transcription Available


    A case so unusual it made it to the medical journals. Dr. Kostas Marmagkiolis, a cardiologist with Tampa Heart and Vascular who's affiliated with Tampa General Hospital, co-wrote an article for JAMA Cardiology about a local patient. The man had a yellow rash on his hands and feet that the doctor identified as a sign of extremely high cholesterol. Listen to find out what drove his levels so high.

    Property Mgmt Ripoff - Det Joe Ioppolo NPR PD

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 5:23 Transcription Available


    A 63-year-old who runs a property management company in New Port Richey is accused of ripping off absentee property owners by depleting escrow accounts. We speak with New Port Richey police detective Joe Ioppolo. 

    Airport Celebrates National PIE Day - Michele Routh

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 6:20 Transcription Available


    St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport is celebrating National PIE Day Thursday. Spokesperson Michele Routh explains why and talks about other events at the airport. 

    Scholarship Deadline - Angie Anthony Hillsborough Education Foundation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 7:47 Transcription Available


    The end of January is the deadline for Hillsborough County high school seniors to apply for a wide range of college and vocational scholarships offered through the Hillsborough Education Foundation. We speak with the foundation's Angie Anthony about what's available. 

    North Florida Winter Storm - Patrick Maddox - Okaloosa County

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 9:31 Transcription Available


    BREAKING NEWS: Governor DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in North Florida ahead of a winter storm bringing snow and sleet and more. We recorded an interview Monday with Okaloosa County Emergency Management Director Patrick Maddox. 

    St Pete Hurricane Housing Fair - Avery Slyker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 5:35 Transcription Available


    St. Petersburg city officials and the Bay Area Apartment Association are staging a Hurricane Recovery Rental Housing Fair Wednesday (22nd) to help people displaced by the hurricanes find a permanent residence. We speak with the city's Housing and Community Development Director, Dr. Avery Slyker. 

    Whit Blanton-Forward Pinellas-Two-Way Streets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 7:07 Transcription Available


    Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to Whit Blanton, Executive Director of Forward Pinellas, about plans and a grant to design 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King St as two-way in downtown St. Petersburg.

    Pam Bondi Nomination - Prof Stephanie Vaughan Stetson Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 5:09 Transcription Available


    The Tampa Bay area law school that graduated incoming President Trump's nominee for Attorney General is looking forward to a bump in prestige pending her confirmation. We speak with Stephanie Vaughan, Stetson College of Law alumna and law professor, about another Stetson Law alum, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi., who appears before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday (15th)  (Photo Credit: Getty Images/Canva)

    Ragan Whitlock-Center for Biological Diversity-Manatees

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 8:48 Transcription Available


    Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks with Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.  He's reacting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's decision to deny "endangered" status for the Florida manatee, and keep the status as "threatened."

    Helene and Milton Hotel Vouchers - Wesley Thompson FEMA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 5:42 Transcription Available


    FEMA officials have been renewing (and non-renewing) temporary housing assistance for people who can't live in their homes because of damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We speak with FEMA's Wesley Thompson about what recipients need to know whether their vouchers have been renewed or not. 

    Girl Scout Cookies - Mary Pat King

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 5:20 Transcription Available


    It's Girl Scout cookie season again. Some flavors are being retired but others are still strong. We speak with West Central Florida Council CEO Mary Pat King about how to buy cookies, how cookie sales help the Girl Scouts, and how best to help your child sell and market her product.

    Lauren Gomez-Manatee Viewing Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 4:37 Transcription Available


    Newsradio WFLA's Read Shepherd talks to LaurenGomez, an Environmental Specialist at TECO's Manatee Viewing Center about the impact of our cold snap on the manatees in the discharge canal.

    Tropical Fish Farms and Cold - Sandy Moore Segrest Farms

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 8:06 Transcription Available


    The Tampa Bay area is home to much of the nation's tropical fish farm industry. Farmers are rushing to protect their fish ponds by covering them in plastic. We speak with Sandy Moore, President of New Business Development for Segrest Farms, a tropical fish wholesaler based in Gibsonton, Florida. 

    Company Sours on Florida Citrus - Dr Robert Kryger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 5:55 Transcription Available


    A firm that's been part of Florida's citrus industry for the better part of a century, ALICO, says it's going to "wind down" citrus operations. Crop output has been devastated by greening disease and hurricanes. We speak with Dr. Robert Kryger, Ph D, with Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, about the impact of that move. 

    Tarpon Springs Epiphany - Johanna Gatzoulis

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 9:35 Transcription Available


    The annual commemoration of Epiphany takes place Monday (January 6) in Tarpon Springs. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, the day commemorates the baptism of Jesus, and features more than 60 divers hoping to retrieve a cross from Spring Bayou. We speak with Johanna Gatzoulis with St. Nicholas' Cathedral, which organizes the event. 

    Deadline for Helene Milton Assistance - Troy York FEMA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 8:27


    Tuesday (January 7th) is the deadline to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance if you suffered losses in Hurricanes Helene or Milton. We speak with Troy York of FEMA about what you need to know to apply.

    Plant City NYE Strawberry Drop - Dawn Hyatt

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 5:40 Transcription Available


    In New York, they drop the ball. In Atlanta, they drop the beach. In Las Cruces, New Mexico, they drop a chili pepper. Plant City is starting its own New Year's Eve tradition to welcome in 2025 and can you guess what they're using as a symbol? We speak with Dawn Hyatt, executive director of Plant City Main Street. 

    Post-Holiday Waste - Danny Gallagher -Hillsborough Co

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 6:46 Transcription Available


    Once the holidays are finished, we deal with all that post-holiday waste, perhaps including a tree. Danny Gallagher with Hillsborough County Solid Waste talks about how to dispose of trees, tinsel and other trash of the season. 

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