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Top Features and Two Ways

WUSF •

From felt to finish: Florida man owns one of the only handmade hat shops in the state

Between two busy intersections on Nebraska Avenue in Ybor City sits a tiny, red brick shop called Til’ Death Hat Co.The shop looks squeezed into its surroundings, but inside its four walls are shelves lined with hats, shoes, felt and animal skin. Owner Ash Dudney is a milliner — one of the only makers of custom handmade hats in Florida. He said that his start in the industry was unconventional.“Getting into hat-making started as a joke, and it ended in spite because I've never been satisfied wit...
WUSF •

How one dance instructor is preserving the meaning and history of tap

In this project through Next Gen Radio - a collaboration between NPR and member stations - we highlight the experiences of people in the state of Florida. Kayla Kissel speaks with Josh Nixon about his passion for the art of tap dance and how he tries to keep the artform alive and preserve its African roots and history.





To Josh Nixon, everything in life has a rhythm, from the traffic on the street to a local barista steaming milk.

Nixon, who is 26 and lives in Davenport, said that he w...
Central Florida Public Media •

Striptease with a twist: Les Vixens dazzle Central Florida with queer burlesque troupe

In Central Florida, Les Vixens, one of the nation's largest and longest-running all-queer burlesque troupe, is transforming the queer space with what they said is their bold displays of sexuality, sensuality, and creativity.The group of 15 performers is led by Ivy Les Vixens, who started running the team 18 years ago after noticing the gay community was widely dominated by men.“When I first came out, and I started going out to the gay bars, it was all drag queens,” Ivy said. “I was raised by a w...
WUSF •

The heat is on. Central Florida food trucks cook in the summer sun

It has been a hot summer here in Central Florida, with heat indexes often reaching into the triple digits. When thinking about people who have to work in this heat like farmers or construction workers, there's a group that doesn't often make the list--people who work on food trucks.

Despite temperatures inside food trucks reaching triple digits, and the health risks that come with that, some food truck chefs said their passion outweighs the heat.

“With a full board of tickets and the sun out,...
Central Florida Public Media •

Fast fashion: A new fad alters fabric of Central Florida thrift shops

Real leather jackets used to be easy to find on the racks of Central Florida thrift stores, but in the wake of a new trend called fast fashion, only a plastic-feeling faux leather remains.Fast fashion is a business model based on mass-producing clothing items at a low cost. These items are often poorly made by underpaid workers and created using toxic textile dyes to fulfill an item’s demand before a trend fizzles out, according to Greenpeace International.Brands like Singapore-based SHEIN pump...
WUSF •

USF students take on the South Carolina presidential primary with Road to the White House course

Two dozen University of South Florida students packed their bags and stacked into vans to travel 500 miles away for the South Carolina presidential campaigns.The program, Road to the White House, is an internship weaved into a course. Every four years, USF students of any major read scholarly literature about presidential campaigns and travel to an early primary state to get hands-on experience.Judithanne McLauchlan is an associate professor of political science. She started the 6-credit course...
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StoryCorps One Small Step

Central Florida Public Media •

Two eras of history: 61 years apart, Janice Brodie and Noa Jerelds take One Small Step

When a woman who opened doors meets a girl now free to walk through them, what do they learn from each other?Central Florida Public Media and StoryCorps are bringing together strangers with differing views for guided One Small Step conversations.Janice Brodie was about the same age as the middle school girl sitting across from her, when she walked into a newly desegregated school for the first time.“I didn’t think it was going to be such a bad transition,” Brodie said. “Boy, did I have a very di...
Central Florida Public Media •

Friends talk politics for the first time: Alondra and Bailey take One Small Step

What happens when two friends finally decide to discuss the one topic they’ve always avoided: politics?Alondra Rivas-Jimenez, 20, and Bailey Newcomb, 21, met in the spring of 2024 while interning at an advertising agency. Since then, they’ve built a friendship through shared classes, student organizations, and swapping family stories.However, one topic Newcomb said they never spoke about was politics.Jimenez acknowledges there’s no question about which party she belongs to.“I'm registered as a D...
Central Florida Public Media •

On suburban life and self discovery: Shia Kirby and Allie Nichols Take One Small Step

Can stepping outside your own world teach empathy in a time when division feels inevitable?Central Florida Public Media and StoryCorps are bringing together strangers with differing political views for guided One Small Step conversations.Shia Kirby, 20, is liberal.Allie Nichols, 21, is conservative.The University of Central Florida students, who have only seen each other through Zoom calls with their classmates, had never met in person and never talked politics, but they sat down together to fin...
Central Florida Public Media •

On identity and immigration: Jonah and Jaydon Take One Small Step

What happens when someone who identifies as an all-American patriot sits down with a first-generation American who grew up in Brazil?Central Florida Public Media and StoryCorps are bringing together strangers with differing political views for guided One Small Step conversations.Jonah Scott, 21, said he’s “an American at heart,” a true patriot whose family roots trace back to the founding fathers. He said he holds traditional conservative values and wants what’s best for his country.Across from...
Central Florida Public Media •

'Power back to the people': On Palestine and changing beliefs, Sydney and Ethan Take One Small Step

When ideology builds barriers between neighbors what happens when empathy begins to break them down?Central Florida Public Media and StoryCorps are bringing together strangers with differing political views for guided One Small Step conversations.Sydney Kinne, 24, has long held conservative values, but said when the ICE raids began in January, she was forced to reconsider where she stands on certain issues.Ethan Elhajj, 22, also grew up with conservative values, but said after the events of Janu...
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Top Additional Audio

WUSF •

Butterfly battle: scientists disagree on how milkweed affects a parasitic spread in monarchs

A naturally-occurring parasite that has been spreading among monarch butterflies in Florida has kicked over a virtual hornet's nest in the monarch research community.According to Monarch Health at the University of Georgia, the parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha or OE, can cause deformations, small size, impaired mating, and decreased flight endurance in monarchs.This has caused controversy, as some researchers suggest removing milkweed entirely to prevent the spread, while others suggest tha...
WUSF •

Misinformation could cause Floridians to harm, not help, monarch butterflies, a scientist says

A research scientist from the University of Georgia wrote an open letter to Floridians, warning them about a life-threatening parasite spreading among monarch butterflies.But the urgent letter says residents themselves may be inadvertently contributing to the spread of this debilitating condition.According to Project Monarch Health, the parasite, known as ophryocystis elektroscirrha, can cause deformations, small size, impaired mating, and decreased flight endurance in monarchs.Andy Davis is the...
WUSF •

USF review urges doctors to take action on gun violence prevention

A recent review from University of South Florida researchers highlights the role of physicians when it comes to preventing gun violence.It was published in February in the journal Advances in Pediatrics and suggests that doctors can actually play an important role in promoting safety.The researchers encourage physicians to incorporate discussions about firearm safety in routine patient visits, including talking about safe storage and usage.Cameron Nereim works in the USF Health Department of Ped...
WUSF •

Tussock takeover: These fuzzy caterpillars native to Florida are bugging some residents

Have you seen those fuzzy little caterpillars all around town? Well there’s been a Tussock moth caterpillar takeover in the Tampa Bay area.These creatures are native to Florida and usually come from eggs laid on oak trees, which provide food for the caterpillars through their leaves.After hatching, these critters often fall or get swept away by the wind, which deposits them on sidewalks, buildings, cars, and sometimes even people.But don’t let their fuzz fool you, because those long hairs on the...
WUSF •

Florida gambling helpline is seeing a surge of calls after the launch of a sports betting app

If you've turned on the TV or opened social media lately, odds are you've seen a sports betting advertisement. And in the Sunshine State, the Seminole Tribe of Florida launched a sports betting app that went live last November. The Hard Rock Bet app originally made its debut in 2021, but shut down after court rulings and a spike in gambling helpline contacts.The app's Nov. 2023 relaunch has caused concern as the Florida gambling helpline said calls have nearly doubled since then.The Florida Counci...
WUSF •

The squeeze drought: Fresh orange juice is disappearing from Florida

The beloved morning glass of fresh squeezed orange juice has now become something of a memory as residents face an OJ drought. Tampa Bay area residents said they have been noticing the lack of fresh orange juice on the shelves of local stores and restaurants.Tony Yeoman was born and raised in the Rivergrove neighborhood of Tampa. He said he grew up surrounded by orange trees and the smell of sweet citrus at his grandmother’s house. “In the 1980s, everybody in the neighborhood had a fruit tree that...
WUSF •

Florida rideshare workers stage Valentine's Day strike at Tampa International Airport for fair pay

Uber and Lyft drivers said they are not feeling the love this Valentine’s Day and will be stepping out of their vehicles and into the street for a day-long strike in Tampa.The rally will be taking place at Tampa International Airport’s rideshare waiting lot from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.The strike, called by the Justice for App Workers coalition, has support from over 20 coalition partners nationwide. Strikes will be organized in nine other cities including Orlando, Miami, Chicago, and Newark...
WUSF •

USF St. Pete and Florida Holocaust Museum will use Elie Wiesel’s artifacts to fight antisemitism

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus and the Florida Holocaust Museum will soon be home to the artifacts and papers of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.Wiesel was a Jewish author, philosopher, and 1986 Nobel Peace Prize winner who was one of the world's leading spokesmen on the Holocaust.Some of his most notable pieces of literature include The Night Trilogy and The Jews of Silence.Thomas Smith is vice provost for academic affairs on the USF St. Petersburg campus.He said Wiesel’s...
WUSF •

Reversing gender identity on IDs is another slam on the transgender community, advocates say

Earlier this week, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration quietly changed a policy that allowed Floridians to receive driver's licenses and state identification cards that reflect their gender identity.The change comes after other state restrictions targeting transgender individuals, like a ban on Medicaid coverage for transgender people seeking hormone therapy and puberty blockers.Simone Chriss, director of the transgender rights initiative at Southern Legal Counsel said many in the LGBTQ community...
WUSF •

The impact of a Palestinian global strike echoes through Tampa Bay area

A global strike in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza has come to the Tampa Bay area.“There's a very large community that is very publicly pro-Palestinian, (and) unapologetic about it,” said Will Mleczko, president of the University of South Florida’s Students for Socialism chapter. “We've seen, sometimes, a couple thousand people meeting up for marches every weekend, as well as doing disruptions and staging demonstrations.”The global strike was called by Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda. The...
WUSF •

USF’s Salty Science claims first place among women in the ‘World’s Toughest Row’ across the Atlantic

The University of South Florida rowing team, Salty Science, etched their names in history by finishing first among women in the “World’s Toughest Row.”Winning wasn’t on their minds when they took home the title, but rather raising awareness for marine conservation and breaking stereotypes for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).The Salty Science team was put together by USF professor Chantale Bégin, who was joined by marine biologists Lauren Shea, Isabelle Côté, and Noelle...
WUSF •

Equality Florida encourages LGBTQ+ community to speak up about proposed laws

Equality Florida is speaking out against over 20 new proposed laws that the advocacy group says target the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.Hundreds of Floridians rallied at the Florida Capitol Tuesday to voice their opposition to the legislation, which includes bills that restrict the use of personal pronouns in government agencies (HB 599 / SB 1382) and place restrictions on critical care for transgender Floridians (HB 1233 and HB 1639).Equality Florida senior policy advisor, Carlos Guillermo Sm...