On Sunday, April 7th, Florida will celebrate its first official “Everglades Day.” Established by the Florida Legislature, Everglades Day honors South Florida’s unique wetland ecosystem, the wild inhabitants who live there and all the passionate Floridians working to conserve this magical place.
As a tribute, WLRN will run a month-long TV and radio series entitled, "Guardians of the Everglades" which will profile people from a variety of different backgrounds but who are bound by a common desire to save our state's national treasure for future generations.
Every year, 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in America’s shelters.
“Shelter Me” is an inspiring series that celebrates shelter pets with positive and uplifting stories.
“Shelter Me” focuses on the success stories to bring more people into the shelters to give these incredible animals a second chance.
With stories ranging from adopted shelter dogs now volunteering at local hospitals to a family choosing a new feline friend to join their lives, “Shelter Me” emphasizes all of the positive work these animals contribute to the world.
Redistricting, property insurance, Medicaid expansion and political transparency were among the topics covered during this week’s Town Hall event on Session 2013 of the Florida Legislature hosted by WLRN and the Miami Herald. The second annual forum marks the beginning of WLRN's coverage of Session 2013, which convenes March 5 and continues through May 3.
The Marketplace Morning Report is broadcasting this week from WLRN's studios in the city it thinks typifies the evolution of America: Miami.
In its first segment this morning, host Jeremy Hobson discussed the region's "inferiority complex" with Miami Herald economy reporter Doug Hanks and how that might drive spending on sports arenas.
Also, WLRN's Kenny Malone explored Broward County's gigantic Sawgrass Mills, which is an international tourist destination as well as a shopping mall, and lost his car in the parking lot.
Continuing its search for the New American Dream in Miami, the Marketplace Morning Report goes to one of the city's poorest neighborhoods: Liberty City. Host Jeremy Hobson interviews local residents and takes a driving tour.
In the second segment, Hobson's panel of Miami journalists, including WLRN news director Dan Grech, returns for a discussion of what each panel member considers South Florida's worst economic problem.
The Marketplace Morning Report continues its week in Miami with a look at the growing Hispanic influence in Miami-Dade County and what it predicts for the country as a whole.
Host Jeremy Hobson visits the studios of Spanish-language broadcasting giant Univision to compare the media preferences and cultures of Hispanic and Anglo audiences.
And, in the second half, a roundtable of journalists, including WLRN news director Dan Grech, measures the growth of Hispanic influence and how it changes the path to success for everyone.
CONDO KING: Asked if ordinary Americans can still aspire to home ownership, billinaire chairman George Perez of the Related Group says, sure they can. They may not get it, but they can always aspire.
In the Marketplace Morning Report's second Wednesday segment, host Jeremy Hobson wonders if home ownership is still part of the American Dream. He speaks with Miami's billionaire condo king, chairman George Perez of the Related Group, and introduces WLRN's Karen Burkett with a story about the challenges that home buying poses to normal-income people competing with investors for the same properties.
Richard Blanco wasn't the only poet to pen a line for President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Last week, our partners at The Takeaway asked for your help writing a poem for the inauguration.
Poet Kwame Dawes wrote the first line--"Say 'nation.' In the Wake of quarrels, say 'hope'"--and the audience tweeted the rest of the lines.
Our partners at The Takeaway have been following responses across the country to last year's string of mass shootings.
Their last stop, Texas, focused on the story and activism of Suzanna Gratia Hupp, who said that a mass shooting she witnessed in Texas would have turned out differently had she been allowed to carry a gun.
All this week we've been bringing you the story of Fabienne Jean, a dancer who lost her right leg three years ago in the earthquake in Haiti.
Fabienne’s right leg was crushed and had to be amputated. When she danced again, she was hailed as a symbol of Haiti’s post-earthquake recovery.
But as reporter Jacob Kushner discovered during the year he spent reporting on this story, the quest to rebuild one woman’s life would take much more than that.
Which is part of why WLRN is proud to present Weird Florida: On The Road Again. This latest hour-long documentary is the follow-up to the tremendous success of the first television special Weird Florida: Roads Less Traveled, which has aired on PBS stations from Miami, Fla. to Juneau, Alaska.
WLRN producer Mia Laurenzo says she wanted to take viewers on a TV tour of seldom-seen attractions.
"I like it when viewers say, 'Wow, I really didn't know that' — especially people who live here,'' says Laurenzo, who traveled with Carlson, the dog and a cameraman for several weeks beginning in May.
The Hollywood resident got the idea for the documentaries after spotting Carlson's 2005 book, "Weird Florida: Your Travel Guide to Florida's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets." Taking a cue from the classic series "Ripley's Believe It or Not!," the WLRN show also has segments on creepy legends such as a lake monster in the city of Frostproof and a "skunk-ape" north of Lakeland.
"It's not your typical PBS travel show which tells you about the types of food, the culture, the area and [has] these beautiful sweeping aerial pans,'' Laurenzo says. "'Weird Florida' is campy. We take a look at these roadside attractions."
Posted at 11:46 a.m. Friday, December 21:
WLRN takes viewers on a trip through Florida in search of weird places and whacky people, with its new documentary Weird Florida: On the Road Again ! This exciting new documentary was produced due to the tremendous success of the first television special Weird Florida: Roads Less Traveled, which has aired on PBS stations from Miami, Florida to Juneau, Alaska. To fulfill the desires of weird fans everywhere, the bizarre journey to Florida’s zaniest places will continue in this all new Weird Florida: On the Road Again.
A survey by Quinnipiac University finds voters are "dead-set" against a series of proposed school reforms by Gov. Rick Scott.
The worst offender is a plan to set different achievement goals for students based on their race. 71 percent of those surveyed think it's a bad idea, with just 7 percent saying they like it.
Both Broward and Palm Beach County school chiefs say the deadly shootings last week in Connecticut have sparked a number of phony threats against district schools.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that hoaxes have surfaced in Davie, Pompano Beach and Coral Springs. Palm Beach County school officials say they've been dealing with similar threats circulating on social media websites.
That's what former Governor Charlie Crist says Florida became after new voting regulations put into place by his successor Governor Rick Scott.
During a U.S. Senate committee hearing today looking into problems at the polls during the 2012 elections, Crist criticized Governor Scott for signing a new law reducing early voting days.
The shootings in Connecticut have sparked many debates in Florida about gun control.
Meanwhile, one state leader is stepping back from comments about guns in schools.
State House Judiciary Chairman Dennis Baxley of Ocala told the Associated Press Monday gun-free zones like schools are targets for deranged people and it might be wise for teachers and principals to carry guns.
Hear what he's saying now in WLRN Miami Herald News:
Just as last week’s tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut reignite the national debate over gun control, Florida will soon issue its one-millionth concealed weapons permit. And that has gun control advocates worried that what happened in Connecticut could more easily happen in the Sunshine State.
Some Florida politicians are calling for bans on assault weapons. Others want to see more people armed.
Governor Rick Scott is talking about the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut last week that took the lives of twenty children and six adults at an elementary school.
Scott told the Herald/Times Tallahassee bureau his job includes taking care of 19 million people in the state, and he wants to keep them safe.
"You stop and say, 'Why do these things happen? What is the logical thing to do?' But I think right now the biggest thing is to be caring about all these families."
Scott is caring about these families because of his own personal reasons.
From left, sisters Sara, 12, Jessica, 6, and Kaitlyn Gerckens, 10, gather Sunday night during a vigil to remember the lives lost during Friday’s shooting at Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School.
John McAfee, the anti-virus software founder wanted for questioning in connection with a murder in Belize, landed at Miami International Airport last night for what he called some rest and relaxation in South Beach.
