We check in on the Florida Legislature as lawmakers reach the midway mark of the 60-day session in Tallahassee. Among the issues being considered this year, redistricting, abortion, education, voting and pre-emption are the most contentious.

Florida Matters

Florida Matters breaks down the midway point of Florida's 2022 legislative session

An update on Florida's Stand Your Ground law as the trial of Curtis Reeves starts on February 7. Reeves attempted to use the law as a defense after a 2014 shooting in a Pasco County movie theater left a man dead. But a judge ruled against his request for immunity.

As the Curtis Reeves trial nears, Florida Matters explores Florida's Stand Your Ground law

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2022-01-25/rising-housing-costs-are-prompting-protests-and-possible-solution-from-lawmakers-across-tampa-bay

Rising housing costs are prompting protests and possible solution from lawmakers across Tampa Bay

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2022-01-18/racism-study-authors-talk-highlighting-the-past-and-making-suggestions-for-the-future

Racism study authors talk highlighting the past and making suggestions for the future

We recap and break down Gov. Ron DeSantis's State of the State address earlier on Tuesday. His speech marks the beginning of this year's 60-day Florida Legislative session. Host Steve Newborn talks with longtime political jounalist William March about the governor's overall message, his priorities going into the session and his ambitions for re-election later this year.

Florida Matters recaps the 2022 State of the State address

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2022-01-04/florida-matters-explores-the-most-important-issues-before-floridas-2022-legislative-session

Florida Matters explores the most important issues before Florida’s 2022 legislative session

We recap COVID-19 in 2021

We examine local, state and Congressional redistricting as Florida lawmakers prepare for their once-in-a decade responsibility of drafting electoral maps. The process will be an important part of the legislative session that starts next month, especially because Florida gained one new congressional district due to population growth.

We look at the impact of redistricting before Florida lawmakers meet next month

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2021-12-07/months-after-the-major-piney-point-spill-the-phosphate-industrys-impact-stills-looms-large

Months after the major Piney Point spill, the phosphate industry's impact stills looms large

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2021-11-30/we-highlight-the-latest-unequal-shots-story-on-african-americans-and-mental-health-during-the-pandemic

We highlight the latest Unequal Shots story on African Americans and mental health during the pandemic

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2021-11-23/the-tampa-bay-region-is-becoming-a-major-destination-for-technology-companies

The Tampa Bay region is becoming a major destination for technology companies

Full story: https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/show/florida-matters/2021-11-16/as-mental-health-effects-of-the-pandemic-linger-a-local-211-center-still-sees-high-call-volumes

As mental health effects of the pandemic linger, a local 211 center still sees high call volumes

We have a wide ranging conversation with outgoing St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman about his time in office as he wraps up leading Florida's fifth largest city. Kriseman and host Steve Newborn discuss what's next for Kriseman, what he think his legacy will be and the accomplishments he wasn't able to achieve during his tenure.

With a new mayor decided for St. Pete, Rick Kriseman reflects on eight years in office

This week, we take a deeper look at food insecurity - and the growing demand for help in the greater Tampa Bay region. Host Steve Newborn talks with Thomas Mantz, president and CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay, one of the largest food banks in the region. It provided more than 95 million meals to residents in 10 West Central Florida counties last year. Later on in the show, Steve talks with Dr. Catherine Campbell, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor who specializes in community food systems.

Food Insecurity Is Still An Issue in Tampa Bay, Even As The Pandemic Seems to Wane

We reflect on the 100th anniversary of the Tarpon Springs hurricane, the last major hurricane to directly hit the Tampa Bay region. Host Steve Newborn talks about the impact of that storm with Brad Massey, a historian at the Tampa Bay History Center. In addition to revisiting the history, Florida Matters looks ahead and asks: is Tampa Bay better prepared now for a major hurricane? Is storm preparedness being overlooked by government officials and residents?

We explore Tampa Bay's hurricane preparedness, 100 years after the Tarpon Springs Hurricane

Florida Matters is WUSF's weekly current affairs show that explores the events, ideas, politics and issues and that matter to Floridians.