During a recent record-breaking cold snap that saw temperatures plummet below freezing on some nights, Sarasota’s homeless population faced life-or-death decisions unheard of this far south in the Sunshine State.

Tampa General Hospital leaders came together Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the organization’s new innovation center in Ybor City, as part of Innovation Week 2026.

Take a trip with us inside Tropicana Field as repair crews rush to finish work before Major League Baseball season begins. Plus, an update on cost estimates and reimbursements. Read more: www.wusf.org/sports/2026-...

The four are set to dock with the space station on Saturday, returning the orbital lab to its full complement of seven. NASA's last mission, Crew-11, left a month early due to an ill crew member.

Several bills coursing through Tallahassee have aroused the ire of many conservationists. But some bills also have their backing.

The bonus comes despite scrutiny about the college's spending, which nearly doubled from about $53 million in 2021 to about $93 million in 2025. Read more: www.wusf.org/education/20...

One of the most talked-about changes to growth regulation would tweak a law passed last year. It prohibited local governments from stopping redevelopment on properties that were hit by hurricanes in 2024.

The Florida Department of Health updated its measles case counts Thursday as scheduled. But even after the dashboard refresh, the totals do not align with reports from two college outbreaks.

Florida abortion rights advocates rallied at the Capitol, urging lawmakers to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act and roll back the state’s six-week abortion ban. It's not likely to happen anytime soon. Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

A Polk County planning group on Thursday rejected a planned truck refueling stop at the location of a key wildlife corridor crossing over Interstate 4.

After posting an infamous photo mocking President Trump, comedian Kathy Griffin lost jobs and was put on a no-fly list. Several years later, she's again mining her life for laughs. Read more: www.wusf.org/arts-culture...

The Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research estimates the elimination would result in a combined $18.3 billion annual loss in revenue for local governments. Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

Florida's House voted late Wednesday to establish the American flamingo as the new state bird, a step toward knocking the mockingbird off its perch after nearly a century. It wasn't immediately clear whether the Senate will go along with the plan.

The Florida Senate has voted to renew a fund that has given Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration billions of dollars in recent years to respond to emergencies.

Van Der Beek played Dawson Leery on the hit show Dawson's Creek. He announced his colon cancer diagnosis in 2024.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," we get the latest on New College's quest to take over the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus and more.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," musician Don Was described working with the greats like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. He also talks about his current tour with his group, Don Was and the Pan Detroit Ensemble. Read more: www.wusf.org/arts-culture...

New dog parks have opened along Tampa's Riverwalk — providing another step toward the Tampa Museum of Art's Centennial Expansion project.

Some environmentalists want to hit the brakes on a proposed truck refueling stop around a wildlife overpass under construction on Interstate 4. Read more: www.wusf.org/environment/...

The Tampa Bay Rays will retire the number of Evan Longoria and enshrine him in the team’s Hall of Fame during a summer weekend set aside to honor their longtime third baseman.

Florida Education officials cautioned districts against supporting protests, some of which occurred during school hours. A legal expert says students may face discipline, but it cannot be based on ideology. Read more: www.wusf.org/education/20...

Nike's battery-powered footwear system, which propels wearers forward, is part of a broader push to help humans move farther and faster.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," we discuss the past and future of St. Petersburg's Historic Gas Plant District, examine student walkouts and more.

In an update Jan. 27, the county said the dredging of high spots began in December and is going well, but the next stage could be delayed until the end of this year as it seeks more environmental permits. Read more: www.wusf.org/environment/...

While the proportion of international migrants jumped, the total number plunged, as did the number of people moving from other states.

According to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Florida produces about 15% of the country’s strawberries grown during the winter, but some of that share could be eaten up by foreign imports. Read more: www.wusf.org/economy-busi...

Fellow Puerto Ricans say reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was a lush tribute to their island — and to the Latino community in general, at a moment when it feels like a special target of U.S. discrimination.

A new Florida law making it harder to get citizen-led amendments on the ballot faces a federal court challenge. The trial began Monday. Here’s what’s at stake. Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

Giancarlo Guerrero is the first classical musician to be featured in the big game's halftime concert since Gustavo Dudamel and the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles performed with rock band Coldplay in 2016.

Will the state's English-only driver's tests make roads safer? We look into the rule change on "Florida Matters Live & Local."

The North American Tour of “&Juliet” is coming to Tampa’s Straz Center for a five-day run beginning on Feb. 10. Read more: www.wusf.org/arts-culture...

Law, who announced she was stepping down a year ago, says successor Moez Limayem will bring a "deep commitment" to the university when he steps into the leadership role next week.

New cases of measles are popping up across Florida, with 15 illnesses confirmed statewide, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. Read more: www.wusf.org/health-news-...

A fact sheet posted Friday showed that all but six of the 172 permits purchased were by Florida residents, and nearly half of the 52 bears killed during the 23-day hunt that started Dec. 6 were female.

We took a trip with oyster farmers to see how their business, and the water quality of the Tampa Bay, could be affected by a proposed port in Manatee County. Read more: www.wusf.org/environment/...

Months after federal officials publicly committed to awarding Florida more than half a billion dollars to cover immigration enforcement costs, attorneys for the federal government appear to be backtracking on the grant award.

Athletes from around the world attended the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan. Here are the highlights.

The Government Operations Committee unanimously backed the measure (HB 841), which would have registration renewals recorded electronically.

Eight proposals are being considered to renovate the Historic Gas Plant District, which currently includes Tropicana Field. The proposals focus mainly on creating mixed-use developments with an emphasis on affordable and senior housing.

The Tampa Bay Museum of Metal Historic Florida Metal Exhibition will feature relics from death metal's rich history on Saturday in Seminole Heights. Read more: www.wusf.org/arts-culture...

The Florida Education Association says state leaders are undermining the constitutional promise of a “high-quality system of free public schools.” Here are the K-12 education bills they support and oppose.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors approved the final design for Airside D. It's Tampa International Airport's first new Airside in nearly 20 years. Read more: www.wusf.org/transportati...

I've written several times about Tampa's death metal history, and now my @wusf.org colleague Sky has! Check out his interview with two of the folks dedicated to documenting it since the beginning - and learn more about the pop-up exhibit tomorrow that showcases that history.

Members of the St. Petersburg City Council want to pause negotiations over the redevelopment of Tropicana Field. They're concerned the city has no updated plan for the 84-acre Historic Gas Plant district.

When Super Bowl 60 gets underway, there will be one photographer on the sidelines who has snapped shots at every Super Bowl game. John Biever was 15 when he took photos at the first Super Bowl; he says this one will likely be his last.

A decade ago, the SeaFlower development in west Bradenton got special zoning permission for accessory dwelling units, also known as "granny flats." Now, lawmakers are considering a bill that would make these floor plans more common in Florida. Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

Starting Friday, Feb. 6, Florida will offer driver license exams in just English, raising questions and concern from both officials and advocates. Read more: www.wusf.org/transportati...

Florida’s minimum wage is $14 and will soon be a dollar more. But Florida lawmakers want some employees to make less, even though voters placed minimum wage requirements in the state Constitution in 2020.

Student leaders at USF passed a resolution opposing the governor's proposal to transfer the Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida, saying the school adds value to the local community, and eliminating it would pose a hardship to students. Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

The speedskater from Ocala, a flag bearer for Friday's parade of athletes in Italy, is the first Black woman to win an individual gold in any Winter Games sport. She wants to make sure she is not the last.