MidPoint

The FL legislature's proposed education funding bill threatens to reduce college and career readiness programs, including AP and IB, by up to 50%, and reduce funding for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs. Our guests are Hillsb. Co. School Bd Member Jessica Vaughn, Dr. Norin Dollard, Sr. Policy Analyst, FL Policy Institute, & Ellen Koehler Lyons, VP Operations, Hillsb. Co. PTA.

If a tree falls in Florida, who is responsible? Could shifting liability for falling trees impact the region's urban canopy? MidPoint looks at the proposed Fallen Tree Act (HB 599/SB 724) which would make the owner always liable for its falling trees or limbs, even if they were not visibly prone to fall. This could negatively impact our urban tree canopy if tree owners are disincentivized to plant or retain trees on their properties.

Meteorologists say DOGE cuts to NOAA impact weather forecasting and hurricane readiness and may damage national and international commerce.

Trump attacks Big Law firms to settle his political grievances. Some firms capitulate and others go on the defensive.

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

Psychologists offer some advice and coping strategies for how to deal with the anxiety caused by the Trump agenda.

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

DOGE is destroying USAID, firing its employees, and leaving the US vulnerable throughout the world.

Environmental lawyers are challenging Mosaic Phosphate company's plans for their hazardous waste disposal in Florida

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

Gulf Coast JFCS refugee resettlement department discussed the effect of the Trump Stop Order on refugees admissions and funding.

Dr. John Licato, Prof. of Computer Science gives us an introduction to artificial intelligence, Open AI, machine learning, and why the financial markets dived on the release of the Chinese AI platform Deep Seek.

What to do about our sewage spills, leaky septic tanks & stinky beaches. Solving the problem of poop.

Urbanist Gil Penalosa advises communities on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone. His focus is on the design and use of parks and streets as great public places, as well as sustainable mobility.

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

The FL Public Service Commission voted to hike electricity rates despite sustained opposition from the public and against the recommendation of its own staff.

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

Christmas Day is also the 1st night of Chanukah. It's Chrismukkah! We celebrate the Chanukah story, that victory over tyranny, and bring you some Chanukah gifts & music with Rande Friedman, former host of the Sunday Simcha.

The holidays are not a happy time for everyone. If you've suffered a loss, get some coping tools to help you get through the happy season.

Nationally syndicated columnist, Stephanie Hayes of the Tampa Bay Times joins us for a Year in Review across the spectrum of Florida news from the important to the absurd and the mundane.

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

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

MidPoint explored genetics testing and the challenges of receiving a medical diagnosis of a genetic condition, along with legal concerns over the privacy of genetic health information.

The Democratic Socialists of America have some thoughts on why Amendment 4 for abortion access failed and what to do next.

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

Two local Democrats, Whitney Fox and Pat Kemp, are running for Congress in competitive races in Pinellas and Northeast Hillsborough, parts of Polk and Pasco Counties. They joined us on MidPoint one week before the election.

FL House Democratic Leader Representative Fentrice Driskell joined us on MidPoint. We discussed the insurance crisis, affordable housing, climate change, busting the GOP super-majority, DeSantis vs. Amendments 3 & 4, and her political future.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period is now. A trained Florida SHINE counselor can help you evaluate available Medicare plans and select the best option for your needs. Award-winning SHINE counselor Fran Oberne helps our listeners with some of their Medicare questions

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

Jeffrey Chernoff of Insurance and Trust Co., an insurance claims expert, and Paul Hauzer, CEO of VetCor, a recovery & restoration company, to discussed what to do and not do in the immediate aftermath of a disaster like so many in our community have experienced from Hurricane Helene. They provided us with valuable insights into the disaster recovery process.

A federal First Amendment lawsuit was filed last month by major book publishers, authors, parents, and students challenging Florida's book bans. Dan Novack, lawyer for lead plaintiff, Penguin Random House publishers, and Judi Hayes, an Orange County, FL parent plaintiff joined MidPoint to discuss it.

Shelley and guest commenter Lakeland's civic journalist, Billy Townsend opened the phone lines and held a Talk Back Town Hall, letting our listeners guide our discussion on State Politics, DeSantis' cronyism and grifting, Richard Corcoran's "bust out" job on New College, Polk County, and more..

James Gaddis, the FL State Parks whistleblower, foiled DeSantis's secret plan to pillage our state parks with golf and pickleball for his friends' profits. Tampa Bay Times journalist Max Chesnes who broke the story and Anders Croy of the DeSantis Watch accountability project also join us to discuss.

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

The plague of mosquito borne viruses threaten us in Florida all year round, and bird flu is rising through our poultry and dairy industries. Are we in danger? Join us and find out from our health experts.

There is a new law Florida banning the homeless from sleeping in public. We discuss what can be done to get people off the streets with my guests, homeless advocates Antoinette Hayes-Triplett of Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative, advocate Rev. Christian Frazier and Dr. Joe Bohn of the USF College of Public Health.

Early voting in the August Primary is going on right now and Craig Latimer, the elected Hillsborough Co. Supervisor of Elections is with us to explain everything you need to know about voting.

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

Anders Croy, Communications Director of DeSantis Watch explains how Florida is the laboratory of the Project 2025 agenda.

The Hillsborough County school board is suing the county commission over the commission's decision to delay a vote on the school board-approved referendum to increase the property tax millage to increase pay for teachers and staff from the November ballot to 2026.

MidPoint takes on transportation. Why can't we have robust public transportation in Hillsborough Co.? Where is our transportation tax money? Are we getting it back? Streetcar extension? Is it happening? What are we doing on I275 & I4? Tune in and find out from our transpo advocates

Today, our MidPoint talk-back Town Hall invited the listeners to chime in with their thoughts on the news and public affairs.