NewsNight
132 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 20 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsNewsNight is a weekly, taped 30-minute segment, featuring a team of journalists in radio, tv, newspaper, and blogs across Central Florida. The show is a weekly round-table discussion that highlights local journalism around important community topics. It is the story behind the story. The panel will break down the big story or stories of the week and discuss what and how they’ll impact the community.
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Episodes
NewsNight | Insurance consumer protections for Florida homeowners
May 13, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe panel discusses Florida’s new “Insurer Accountability” Act aimed at protecting insurance customers and expanding the authority of state insurance regulators. Supporters say it’s key to reining-in “bad actors” but others say the legislation doesn’t go far enough towards balancing recent industry-backed reforms passed by lawmakers.
2023 Florida Legislative Session Comes to an End
May 06, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThis week on NewsNight; as the 2023 legislative session comes to an end, lots of big wins for the republican controlled senate. DeSantis signed the 6-week abortion ban into law and house bill 899 would now allow parents to surrender their newborns up to 30 days. Growing restrictions on education involving LGBTQ and banning post-secondary majors about women and gender studies And permit less carry will become legal.
Flood Mitigation Efforts Underway in Orlo Vista
April 29, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBWork is underway to build flood defenses and mitigation infrastructure in Orlo Vista, an Orange County community regularly inundated in the wake of major storms. And the panel discusses the pressures of economic development in Central Florida as some residents push back on plans for a green technology park in Kissimmee.
DeSantis announces new measures targeting Disney
April 22, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe panel discusses an announcement by Governor Ron DeSantis that Florida lawmakers will take up legislation as early as next week to revoke the recent development agreements between Disney and the former Reedy Creek Improvement District board, and strip the theme park giant of its power to self-inspect its monorail and rides. Plus, Florida’s six-week abortion ban is signed into law.
Crosley Green Ordered Back to Prison
April 15, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBAn in-depth look at the case of Crosley Green, a Titusville man released from prison two years ago after his murder conviction was overturned, but now ordered to resume his sentence. Plus, the panel discusses what might happen now to the former Hungerford school site in Eatonville after a property developer pulled out of an agreement to buy the land from Orange County Public Schools.
NewsNight | Florida could adopt strict measures on immigration
April 08, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBFlorida lawmakers are debating a broad suite of immigration measures including a requirement for private businesses to verify the employment eligibility of their staff or face stiff penalties. Under the proposals, Florida would also stop recognizing out-of-state licenses issued to undocumented immigrants
Florida’s tightening of abortion restrictions could reverberate throughout the South
April 01, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBAs Florida lawmakers prepare to pass legislation that will ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy with limited exceptions, NewsNight looks at the impact such a move might have on residents in surrounding states. Plus, likely changes coming to K-12 education in Florida.
Pine Hills community addresses issues after recent violence
March 25, 2023 00:30 - 28 minutes - 38.6 MBIn the wake of a recent shooting spree that left three people dead, including a nine-year-old girl and a TV news reporter, leaders in Pine Hills look to dispel their community’s reputation for crime and violence. NewsNight takes an in-depth look at issues facing Pine Hills and steps being taken to improve security and youth prospects.
Brightline to begin services to Orlando soon
March 18, 2023 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBTesting continues on rail track between Orlando and West Palm Beach as Brightline prepares to begin passenger services between OIA and South Florida within months. And State Attorney Monique Worrell announces charges against Pine Hills shooting suspect Keith Moses amid continuing tensions with the Governor’s office.
The big issues in the Florida legislative session
March 11, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBAs the Florida legislative session gets underway, the panel looks at some of the issues up for debate in Tallahassee including school choice, treatment for transgender minors, “woke ideology” in higher education, and permitless carry. Plus a look at the contentious relationship between Florida’s political leaders and the news media amid legislative proposals that would affect the press.
Florida policymakers look to tackle affordable housing
March 04, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBLawmakers in Tallahassee are set to pass a bill that would offer incentives and remove restrictions to allow the development of affordable housing. But some critics worry it takes away the power of local governments and voters to impose rent controls during housing emergencies.
Central Florida marks one year since the Ukraine invasion
February 25, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBUkrainians in Central Florida adjust to their lives in the United States as they reflect on the Russian invasion of their country one year on. Plus the College Board responds to the state’s rejection of a new AP African American Studies course. The panel discusses what might change in Florida which has one of the highest Advanced Placement course participation rates in the country.
Local agencies battle increasingly powerful fentanyl
February 18, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBIncreasingly powerful fentanyl-laced drugs remain the leading cause of overdose fatalities in Central Florida. But deaths from the synthetic opioid dipped slightly last year as local agencies distribute higher doses of the reversal drug naloxone. And Governor DeSantis, while criticizing anonymous source reporting, floats an idea make it easier to sue news organizations for defamation.
Manatees Need Double Supplemental Food vs Last Year
February 11, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 37.6 MBIndian River Lagoon to receive 20 million to restore water quality increasing sea grass for wildlife like manatees which need twice as much supplemental feeding compared to last year, new projected numbers about the space industry economic impact and governor announces initiative for covid anti mandate legislation.
NewsNight | Universities Required to Report cost of diversity programs
February 04, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBUniversities Required to Report cost of diversity programs schools fear those programs will be cut, also athletic cardiograms provide insight to potential heart problems and United Faculty of Florida speak out about New College newly appointed board of trustees
Social injustice issues involving school punishment
January 28, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe panel discusses the power the sheriff has over implementing new rules and policies at public schools. Starting this year there is an insulin price cap for those who have Medicare thanks to the inflation reduction act and panel discusses Orlando approving funds to help homeless displaced after hurricane Ian.
Florida Governor Desantis steps up pressure on higher education institutions over perceived woke ideology
January 21, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBA move to reshape the board of a Florida liberal arts college signals a renewed effort by the DeSantis administration to transform the state’s higher education institutions and target diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Plus two members of Florida’s delegation are appointed to lead a Congressional panel on gun violence as legislators in Tallahassee mull a potential loosening of the state’s firearms laws.
Florida Republicans and the fight over U.S. House Speaker
January 14, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe panel looks at the prominent role played by Florida’s Congressional Republicans in the battle to elect a Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. And the U.S. Supreme Court weights whether to take-up Florida’s Big Tech law which lower courts have ruled violates the First Amendment.
A look at the economic prospects for Florida in 2023
January 07, 2023 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBA look at the economic prospects for Florida in 2023 as fears of a U.S. recession this year grow and COVID cases surge following the holidays. Plus, as Ron DeSantis is sworn in for a second term, the panel discusses his inauguration and the Florida Governor’s priorities for the coming year. And some firefighters struggle to get benefits under a 2019 Florida law designed to help those diagnosed with cancer.
NewsNight Top Stories of 2022 in Central Florida Part 2
December 31, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBNewsNight closes out the year with a look back at the top stories of 2022. From an active hurricane season to political battles over LGBTQ issues, abortion and parental rights, NewsNight presents some of the most engaging conversations from the program over the last twelve months.
NewsNight Top Stories of 2022 in Central Florida
December 24, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBNewsNight closes out the year with a look back at the top stories of 2022. From an active hurricane season to political battles over LGBTQ issues, abortion and parental rights, NewsNight presents some of the most engaging conversations from the program over the last twelve months.
The year in the arts in Central Florida
December 17, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBNewsNight takes a look back and the biggest developments of 2022 in Central Florida’s arts community, from the official opening of the Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to the FBI seizure of works at the Orlando Museum of Art. The panel discusses the year in the arts and looks ahead at what’s to come in 2023.
NewsNight | December 9, 2022
December 10, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBFlorida legislators are reportedly discussing a potential compromise to allow Disney to keep its Reedy Creek Improvement District and special tax privileges. And as lawmakers prepare to meet to discuss more reforms to Florida’s insurance market, we’ll look at what’s being done to help coastal communities rebuild after the 2022 hurricane season.
NewsNight | December 2, 2022
December 03, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBPulse survivors and the LGBTQ community in Central Florida react to the mass shooting at a bar in Colorado Springs. And as 2023 fast approaches, how close is Brightline to starting its planned train service to Orlando?
NewsNight | November 25, 2022
November 26, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBAn encore presentation of a discussion at the Orlando Science Center on NASA’s new program to get back to the Moon, hosted by WUCF and public media partner WMFE. A panel looks at what goes into launching the SLS, the science behind the Artemis program, and what it all means for the future of exploration and Florida’s Space Coast.
NewsNight | November 18, 2022
November 19, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBA look at the cleanup taking place in coastal areas of Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties in the wake of Hurricane Nicole. Plus the panel discusses the fallout from the midterms including possible next steps for Governor DeSantis, and how the GOP may use its new supermajority in Tallahassee.
NewsNight | November 11, 2022
November 12, 2022 01:30 - 26 minutes - 37.7 MBThe outcome of the midterm elections in Florida and what it might mean for the politics of the Sunshine State going forward. And as Nicole brings more rain to Florida, a look at the state’s vulnerability to flooding.
NewsNight | November 4, 2022
November 05, 2022 00:30 - 56 minutes - 78 MBHurricane Ian was a storm of unprecedented scale, changing the face of communities across the state, destroying homes and uprooting lives. NewsNight takes an in-depth look at the storm’s impact, the challenges going forward, and the lessons learned.
NewsNight | October 28, 2022
October 29, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBA look ahead at the key midterm contests in Florida as election day draws closer. Plus the panel discusses Governor DeSantis’s decision to call a special legislative session to address Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis in the wake of Hurricane Ian. And could Florida’s death penalty laws be reformed following the sentencing of the Parkland school shooter?
NewsNight | October 21, 2022
October 22, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBHurricane Ian’s aftermath highlights inequalities in disaster recovery and infrastructure preparedness. Plus the panel looks at transparency issues around the process for hiring a new president at the University of Florida.
NewsNight | October 14, 2022
October 15, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe record flooding in Central Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian raises questions over infrastructure resiliency in inland communities while coastal cities continue to fortify their defenses. Plus the panel discusses the environmental impacts of the storm.
NewsNight | October 7, 2022
October 08, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBAs communities clean up after historic flooding caused by Hurricane Ian, NewsNight looks at the destruction caused by the storm in Central Florida and around the state. And the panel discusses what the storm might mean for Florida’s homeowners insurance market.
NewsNight | September 23, 2022
September 24, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBThe DeSantis administration’s funding of flights to transport mainly Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Massachusetts has put Florida’s policy on immigration under the spotlight, teeing up a clash with the White House. And the panel discusses the latest in Florida’s U.S. Senate race.
NewsNight | September 16, 2022
September 17, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBThe panel discusses the progress made in Puerto Rico five years after Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island, and the problems that remain. And as hurricane season kicks into high gear, is Florida ready for the next big storm?
NewsNight | September 9, 2022
September 10, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 39.6 MBWUCF and public media partner WMFE host a discussion at the Orlando Science Center on NASA’s new program to get back to the Moon. A panel looks at what goes into launching the SLS, the science behind the Artemis program, and what it all means for the future of exploration and Florida’s Space Coast.
NewsNight | September 2, 2022
September 03, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBHealth officials in Central Florida are offering monkeypox vaccinations to people believed to be at high risk of contracting the virus as cases rise in the region. The panel also discusses efforts to ease the teacher shortage and improve school security in the state. And a look at a historic milestone for the Space Coast.
NewsNight | August 26, 2022
August 27, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 61.2 MBCentral Florida’s leading politics reporters analyze the results of the primary election in our region and statewide. And the DeSantis administration announces several arrests for election fraud as part of an ongoing investigation.
NewsNight | August 19, 2022
August 20, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBThis week on NewsNight, The Florida Board of Medicine discusses rules for restricting transgender care - including gender dysphoria treatments for children - following a request from the state Surgeon General. And as schools return after the summer break, a look at the guidance for teachers on implementing new Florida laws governing classroom instruction on race, gender, and sexual orientation.
NewsNight | August 12, 2022
August 13, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBNewsNight looks at how “dark money” influences elections and sways political power in Florida following recent reporting on utility giant Florida Power & Light. And as Governor DeSantis suspends a State Attorney for refusing to enforce Florida’s new abortion law, the panel discusses the Governor’s doubling down on culture war issues.
NewsNight | August 5, 2022
August 06, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBAs Central Florida rents skyrocket, what steps might policy makers take to halt the rise? NewsNight looks at a new notice period for rent-increases in Orange County, and an expected Board of Commissioners vote on controversial proposals for rent stabilization. Plus, the federal government throws in funding for the Sunshine Corridor rail plan but Disney’s participation remains unclear.
NewsNight | July 29, 2022
July 30, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBFederal and local officials warn of a sharp increase in fentanyl overdoses in Florida. The panel discusses efforts on the state and county level to tackle the crisis in our region. Plus, a look at how mail-in voting will work in next month’s primaries in Florida following the passage of two controversial election laws.
NewsNight | July 22, 2022
July 23, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBFlorida works on rules to clean up sites contaminated with “forever chemicals” amid new warnings from the EPA. And a judge strikes down an Orange County charter amendment, ruling it’s preempted by state law that prevents local governments from granting legal rights to any part of the natural environment. The panel discusses what the ruling might mean for development in Central Florida.
NewsNight | July 15, 2022
July 16, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBFlorida’s educational institutions face questions over how they will implement the state’s new “Stop WOKE Act” which governs how issues around race can be discussed in classrooms and businesses. And, amid reports that former President Donald Trump may make an early announcement on a 2024 White House run, what might such a move mean for Governor DeSantis’s political ambitions? wucf.org/newsnight
NewsNight | July 8, 2022
July 09, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBCentral Florida school districts are preparing for a new academic year amid the implementation of controversial new legislation governing how LGBTQ issues and race can be addressed in the classroom. And as Congress passes a package of gun reforms, the panel looks at how they compare to Florida’s existing laws. Plus, the court battle over Florida’s 15-week abortion ban.
NewsNight | July 1, 2022
July 02, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBNewsNight gathers Central Florida reaction to the overturn of Roe V Wade and takes a look at what might happen next in our state as a 15-week abortion law comes into force on July 1st.
NewsNight | June 24, 2022
June 25, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBDisney says it will delay plans to relocate some 2,000 jobs to Lake Nona by more than three years. The announcement follows its spat with Governor DeSantis over a law restricting how LGBTQ issues are discussed in schools. Plus, the panel discusses condo safety as Florida marks the first anniversary of the Surfside collapse in which 98 people died. wucf.org/newsnight
NewsNight | June 17, 2022
June 18, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBAs the CDC raises its community COVID-19 transmission level to “high” across Central Florida, what will a new pandemic wave look like in our region, and what impact could it have on the economy? And with Florida the top state for people charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, a look at the local reaction to the start of public hearings by the January 6th Committee.
NewsNight | June 10, 2022
June 11, 2022 00:30 - 27 minutes - 37.4 MBFlorida lawmakers and activists are calling on the Biden administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans who fear returning to the conditions in their country under Nicolás Maduro. And the U.S. government shifts its policy on Cuba, lifting some Trump-era restrictions. The panel looks at the potential impact for Florida.
NewsNight | June 2, 2022
June 04, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBThe politics of gun control in Florida. Following the elementary school shooting in Texas, will political leaders in the Sunshine State push ahead with plans to pass what supporters call a constitutional carry law? And legislators pass reforms to help stabilize Florida’s homeowners' insurance market as hurricane season begins.
NewsNight | May 27, 2022
May 28, 2022 00:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBGovernor DeSantis says the state is likely to assume control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and that taxpayers will not foot the bill for Disney’s debt. The panel breaks down how the plan might work. The legislature meets for a special session to tackle a crisis in the state’s property insurance market. Plus, the challenge of creating green spaces amid relentless growth and construction.