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Radio Work

Featured Radio Work

Each radio piece is accompanied with a web story. I have recorded the nat sound and interviews, wrote the narration, tracked the narration, and edited together each story.

WUSF •

The STD surge: Florida hits record high rates, surpassing pre-pandemic levels

Sexually transmitted disease rates in Florida have skyrocketed by 42% in the last decade.These numbers are surpassing pre-pandemic levels, hitting its highest since 1990.Hillsborough County is the greater Tampa Bay area's STD hotspot. The region has 932 cases per 100,000 residents.The highest rate in Florida belongs to Leon County with 1,760 per 100,000 people, which is more than twice the state average.Jason Salemi is an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida Co...
WUSF •

Pinellas County School District offers affordable day care services for employees

Pinellas County School district employees with young children can benefit from a new, more affordable day care option for children aged 12 to 48 months.The district plans to set up the service in unused space at Pinellas Secondary School in Pinellas Park, with costs expected to be about half of the average child care expenses in the county.Laura Hine is the school board chair for Pinellas County schools.She told a recent school board meeting that the plan will help them recruit employees.“The No...
WUSF •

Florida College Access Network looks to expand dual enrollment chances for underrepresented students

Community college enrollment rates have dipped 25% nationwide since 2011. That’s according to a new report released by the Florida College Access Network (FCAN).The network is making a case to expand dual enrollment classes to all eligible middle and high schools statewide. This lets students take college-level courses — sometimes for credit — while they’re still in middle or high school.Dave Sobush is the network’s director of research and policy. He said that students sometimes push back again...
WUSF •

Survivors of Hurricane Ian still in FEMA housing in Sarasota County are offered financial relief

Survivors of Hurricane Ian currently using the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary housing program will be charged rent after March 29.This fee comes after FEMA announced a six-month extension of the program until September 29.The county’s Long Term Recovery Group, overseen by United Way, has announced a waiver that helps those who can’t afford to pay.Chris Johnson is the United Way of South Sarasota County’s Vice President of Community Impact.He said that the waivers are open to any...
WUSF •

Tampa Bay Water urges residents to continue conserving amid dry season

A call for conservation from Tampa Bay Water continues.As we head further into the spring dry season, residents are being asked to cut their water usage by 5%.Brandon Moore is public communications manager for Tampa Bay Water. He said the cut is very attainable — and pretty simple as well.“Simply turning off the tap while you're brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day,” Moore said. “For most families, that's probably about 5% of your daily water use.”According to Tampa Bay Water,...
Central Florida Public Media •

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, it c...
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 •

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 satisfi
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
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
WUSF •

USF alumnus will be taking home a Kente Award after helping start more than 1,000 businesses

For more than 20 years, the Joyce Russell Kente Awards have celebrated the academic excellence and achievements of University of South Florida students and community leaders.Inez Long is president and CEO of the Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF), and will be taking home the 2024 USF Kente Alumni Award Thursday.Long said she wondered why she was chosen this year, but once she fully understood what the award meant, she was honored.“It was very exciting, because it was coming from my alma mater...
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 •

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 cou
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 W
WUSF •

From Tampa roots to Hollywood: Ali Scher debuts her feature film, 'Popular Theory'

Tampa native Ali Scher took her hometown pride to Hollywood by writing, directing, and producing a feature film called “Popular Theory."The film is about a young girl who flips the high school hierarchy on its head after creating a chemical that makes her classmates popular.Scher, who was born and raised in the Davis Islands neighborhood, said she had been trying to make the film for over 11 years.After finding the right production company, crew, and cast, she was able to officially start produc...
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 commun
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.
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 No
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 Guillerm
NextGenRadio Florida Newsroom 2024 •

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

“ 1, 2, a 3, and a 1,2,3,4…” Tap, 3-5 secs, tapers off low but remains

I believe that there’s a rhythm to life from the moment of creation, inception, the first thing we hear or feel is our mother’s heartbeat and that’s a very consistent rhythm. We’re born with rhythm. Your job is to find where your rhythm sits.

My name is Josh Nixon, and I am a tap dancer, choreographer, performer, and instructor.

My home for me has always been where my tap shoes are because that’s what’s consistently gotten
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