WUSF July News Stories – Q3 2020

Florida's moratorium on evictions and foreclosures has been extended to August 1st. Girls under the age of 18 will have to get a parent's permission before having an abortion under a bill signed by Gov.DeSantis. Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills Tuesday at a Juno Beach sea turtle hospital that he says will clean up polluted water across the stat According to the Florida Department of Health's daily report, the Tampa Bay area recorded its highest daily increase in deaths Tuesday.
7/1/2020 5:30, 7:30 7/1/2020 5:30, 7:30
News Spot News Spot News Spot News Spot
Public Safety Public Safety Environment Health

7-1 Eviction RDR

Bradley George

AP

7-1 Abortion RDR

7/1/2020 7/1/2020

5:30, 7:30 6:04, 8:04
7-1 DeSantis Water CC 6-30 Tue Numbers RDR
Jenny Staletovich Lisa Peakes
Members of Black Lives Matter Tampa are demanding that the Tampa Police Department provide more evidence in the case of a Black man killed in April by officers.

7/1/2020

6:04 News Spot

Under-Served Communities

Environment

7-1 BLM CC

Daylina Miller

Jessica Meszaros Lisa Peakes NSF
Researchers with the state and University of South Florida are teaming up to document concentrations of different metals in the Gulf of Mexico. St Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is once again asking people to comply with the

city’s mask ordinance.

Governor Ron DeSantis late Monday signed 28 bills into law, including a controversial meas

7/1/2020

6:04, 8:04

News Spot

News Spot
7-1 Gulf Metals WRAP 6-30 Kriseman COVID WR 6-30 Sunscreen Bill RDR

7/1/2020 6:30, 8:04

Public Safety

7/1/2020

6:30 News Spot

Environment

Florida's rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases is derailing plans for some businesses to reopen.

7/1/2020

7:04 News Spot

Business

7-1 TSWI Bars CC1

Mary Shedden

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that would require state-financed coastal developments to account for sea level rise and storm surge.

7/1/2020 7/1/2020

7/1/2020

7:04 News Spot

Environment

Public Safety Business
7-1 DeSantis Sea Level CC 6-30 Kriseman COVID CC 7-1 TSWI Bars CC2
Brendan Rivers Lisa Peakes
St Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is once again asking people to comply with the

It's been four months since the coronavirus pandemic shut down businesses across Florida. The recent marches against systemic racism and police brutality in the Tampa Bay

area aren’t as large as they previously had been

7:04, 8:30

News Spot

8:30 News Spot

Mary Shedden

Daylina Miller

7:45 Interview (2-way) Under-Served Communities

7-1 BLM What's Next TW

Herd immunity happens when a majority of the population becomes immune to a disease -- either by getting sick and recovering or through a vaccine.

7/1/2020

8:45 Feature Report

Health

7-1 Herd Immunity FEA

Julio Ochoa

Florida's rapid rise in the number of coronavirus cases is derailing plans for some businesses to reopen.
7/1/2020

7/1/2020
12 News Spot 12 News Spot

Business

7-1 TSWI Bars CC1

Mary Shedden

Lisa Peakes
Pinellas County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday not to close beaches

for the Fourth of July holiday.

Public Safety

7-1 Pinellas Beaches CC

According to the Florida Department of Health's Wednesday report, one hundred fifty-eight thousand nine hundred ninety-seven [158,997] people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the state - an increase of sixty-five hundred sixtythree [6,563] positive tests since Tuesday Researchers with the state and University of South Florida are teaming up to document concentrations of different metals in the Gulf of Mexico. St Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is once again asking people to comply with the

7/1/2020 7/1/2020 7/1/2020 7/1/2020
2 News Spot 2 News Spot 3 News Spot 3 News Spot

Health

7-1 Wed Numbers RDR

7-1 Gulf Metals WRAP 6-30 Kriseman COVID CC 7-1 New Laws WEB
Lisa Peakes
Environment Public Safety Public Safety
Jessica Meszaros Lisa Peakes
More than a hundred new laws hit the books today [Wednesday] in Florida

following the 20-20 legislative session.

Carl Lisciandrello

Due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Hillsborough County Public

Schools officials say they will hold graduations for the Class of 2020 virtually

7/1/2020

3 News Spot

Education

7-1 Hillsborough Grads RD

Mark Schreiner

Vice President Mike Pence will be in Tampa tomorrow to discuss the state’s

response to the coronavirus pandemic. Pinellas Beaches will be open this weekend for the holiday, after a unanimous vote by Pinellas County Commissioners. Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills Tuesday at a Juno Beach sea turtle hospital that he says will clean up polluted water across the state. Florida's surge in coronavirus cases is derailing some businesses plans for reopening.

7/1/2020 1604 & 1830 News Spot

Politics

7-1 Pence Tampa RDR

Pinellas Beaches CC 7-1 DeSantis Water CC 7-1 TSWI Bars CC1
Carl Lisciandrello

Lisa Peakes

7/1/2020

7/1/2020 7/1/2020
1604 News Spot 1604 News Spot 1630 News Spot
Environment Environment Business
Jenny Staletovich Mary Shedden
Due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Hillsborough County Public

School officials say graduations for the Class of 2020 will be held virtually.

7/1/2020

7/1/2020 7/1/2020 7/1/2020
Environment Politics
7-1 Hillsborough Grads RD 7-1 New Laws WEB 7-1 Gulf Metals WR 7-1 BLM CC1
Mark Schreiner Carl Lisciandrello Jessica Meszaros Daylina Miller
More than a hundred new laws hit the books today [Wednesday] in Florida Researchers with the state and University of South Florida are teaming up to document concentrations of different metals Members of Black Lives Matter Tampa are demanding the Tampa Police Department provide more evidence in the case of a Black man The Florida Department of Health is reporting 15-thousand 997 positive cases of coronavirus in the state. The recent marches against systemic racism and police Herd immunity happens when a majority of the population becomes immune to a disease Pinellas Beaches will be open for this Fourth of July weekend. Pinellas County Commissioners voted unanimously not to close them. Governor Ron DeSantis has extended Florida's moratorium on evictions and foreclosures to August 1st.
Environment Public Safety
7/1/2020 7/1/2020
1730 News Spot 1744 Feature Report
Health Public Safety
7-1 Wed Numbers + PinCo mention 7-1-2020 BLM What's Next TW
Lisa Peakes Daylina Miller

7/1/2020 7/1/2020 7/1/2020
1830 Feature Report 1730 News Spot 1730 News Spot

Health

7-1 Herd Immunity FEA

7-1 Pinellas EMS Cut 1 7-1 Eviction RDR
Julio Ochoa

Environment

Lisa Peakes

Bradley George

Abortion Rights Advocates in Florida are weighing whether to challenge a new law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. When Governor Ron DeSantis cut one billion dollars from the state's budget earlier this week

response to the coronavirus pandemic. A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a major voting rights decision in Florida Pinellas Beaches will be open this weekend for the holiday, after a unanimous vote by Pinellas County Commissioners. As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida, many communities have cancelled their Fourth of July fireworks displays
7/2/2020 5:30, 7:30 7/2/2020 5:30, 7:30 7/2/2020 6:04, 8:04 7/2/2020 6:04, 8:04 7/2/2020 6:04, 8:04 7/2/2020 6:04, 8:04
News Spot News Spot News Spot News Spot News Spot News Spot

Politics

7-2 Abortion Rights WRAP

7-2 USF Vetoes CC1
Robbie Gaffney Mark Schreiner Carl Lisciandrello Danny Rivero Lisa Peakes
Education

Politics

7-1 Pence Tampa RDR

7-2 Felon Voting VCR

Environment Public Safety
7-1 Pinellas Beaches CC

7-2 Fireworks Tampa Bay WRAP

Alysia Cruz

Due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, Hillsborough County Public School officials say graduations for the Class of 2020 will be held virtually.

Leaders of Florida’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities are celebrating a

funding increase. The Florida Department of Health is reporting 15-thousand 997 positive cases of coronavirus in the state.
7/2/2020 6:30, 8:30 7/2/2020 6:30, 8:30
News Spot News Spot
Education Education Health
7-1 Hillsborough Grads RD 7-2 HBCUs Funding CC
Mark Schreiner Matthew Peddie

Lisa Peakes

7/2/2020

7/2/2020
7:04 News Spot 7:04 News Spot
7-1 Wed Numbers + PinCo mention 7-1 Pinellas EMS Cut 1
Pinellas Beaches will be open for this Fourth of July weekend. Pinellas County

Commissioners voted unanimously not to close them.

Environment

Lisa Peakes

7/2/2020 7/2/2020
7:04 News Spot 7:04 News Spot 7:50 Feature Report
Business Public Safety Health

7-2 E-Verify Reax CC

With no major announcement or press conference to announce its signing

As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida, many communities have cancelled their Fourth of July fireworks displays A majority of nurses across the country are NOT responsible for treating Coronavirus patients.
Ryan Dailey

Alysia Cruz

7-2 Fireworks Tampa Bay CC

7/2/2020 7/2/2020
7-2 Nurse Diary FEA 7-2 TZ MelsHotDogsTW
Chris Remington

Dalia Colon

8:45 Interview (2-way) Food

It's the quintessential Fourth of July food: the hot dog!

7/2/2020 7/2/2020 7/2/2020
12 News Spot 12 News Spot 12 News Spot

Politics

7-2 Pence Tampa VCR

7-2 Felon Voting VCR
Vice president Mike pence will travel to Florida today A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a major voting rights decision in Florida As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida, many communities have cancelled their Fourth of July fireworks displays
Daylina Miller Danny Rivero Alysia Cruz

Public Safety

7-2 Fireworks Tampa Bay CC

Today [Thursday] marks the first time more than 10 thousand [10,000] people in Florida have tested positive for the coronavirus in a 24-hour period.

response to the coronavirus pandemic. When Governor Ron DeSantis cut one billion dollars from the state's budget earlier this week As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida, many communities have cancelled their Fourth of July fireworks displays Governor Ron DeSantis cut about 83 million dollars in environmental projects from the budget Monday.
7/2/2020 7/2/2020 7/2/2020 7/2/2020 7/2/2020
2 News Spot 2 News Spot 2 News Spot 3 News Spot 3 News Spot

Health

7-2 Thu Numbers RDR

7-1 Pence Tampa RDR 7-2 USF Vetoes CC1
Lisa Peakes

Politics

Carl Lisciandrello

Mark Schreiner Alysia Cruz
Education Public Safety Environment
7-2 Fireworks Tampa Bay WRAP

7-1 Environ Cuts CC

Blaise Gainey

Today [Thursday] marks the first time more than 10 thousand [10,000] people in Florida have tested positive for the coronavirus in a 24-hour period. With July 4th approaching, Governor Ron DeSantis says people at higher risk for COVID-19 should minimize contact with others.
7/2/2020 7/2/2020
Public Safety Health

7-2 Thu Numbers RDR

Lisa Peakes

7-2DeSantisCloseContactcc

Sue Wantuck

Three University of South Florida projects were slashed from the state's budget for the new fiscal year when Governor Ron DeSantis announced his vetoes earlier

this week.

7/2/2020

7/2/2020 7/2/2020 7/2/2020

Education

7-2 USF Vetoes CC2

Mark Schreiner

Ryan Dailey Danny Rivero Alysia Cruz

Business

7-2 E-Verify - Reax CC

7-2 Felon Voting VCR 7-2 Fireworks TampaBay CC
With no major announcement or press conference to announce its signing A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a major voting rights decision in Florida As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida, many communities have cancelled their Fourth of July fireworks displays
Under-Served Communities Public Safety
Today [Thursday] marks the first time more than 10 thousand [10,000] people in Florida have tested positive for the coronavirus in a 24-hour period. Hillsborough County health officials are concerned about a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations . Dr. Douglas Holt with the health department says the rolling average for the past week is 294, up more than 40 percent from the previous week.

7/2/2020

1704 News Spot

Public Safety

7-2 Thu Numbers RDR

Lisa Peakes

7/2/2020 7/2/2020
Public Safety Health

7-2 Hills EPG CC

Stephanie Colombini

Robbie Gaffney
Abortion Rights Advocates in Florida are weighing whether to challenge a new law

signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

7-2 Abortion Rights WR

Vice President Mike Pence was in Tampa today [Thursday] to meet with Florida's

governor and discuss the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

7/2/2020

1732 News Spot

Politics

7-2 Pence Tampa CC1

Alysia Cruz

As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in Florida, many communities have cancelled their Fourth of July fireworks displays A majority of nurses across the country are NOT responsible for treating Coronavirus patients.
7/2/2020 7/2/2020

1732 News Spot

Public Safety

Health
7-2 Fireworks Tampa Bay WRAP 7-2 Nurse Diary FEA
Alysia Cruz

1750 Feature Report

Chris Remington

Today [Thursday] marks the first time more than 10 thousand [10,000] people in Florida have tested positive for the coronavirus in a 24-hour period. Hillsborough County health officials are concerned about a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations . Dr. Douglas Holt with the health department says the rolling average for the past week is 294, up more than 40 percent from the previous week. Governor Ron DeSantis met with Vice President Mike Pence this afternoon in Tampa [Thursday] as more than 10 thousand people in Florida tested positive for COVID-19.

7/2/2020

1828 News Spot

1828 News Spot
Public Safety Public Safety

7-2 Thu Numbers RDR

Lisa Peakes

7/2/2020 7/2/2020
7-2 Pence Tampa CC2 7-2 TZ MelsHotDogsTW 7-6 Pier Opening RDR
Stephanie Colombini

Dalia Colon

1828 Interview (2-way) Business

The long awaited reopening of the Pier District in St. Petersburg is here. The

official unveiling takes place later this [Monday] afternoon.

7/6/2020 continuity

7/6/2020 continuity
News Spot News Spot

Business

Carl Lisciandrello

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring an area of low pressure over the Florida Panhandle early this morning for tropical development later this week. Two people are recovering after being struck by lightning on Clearwater Beach Sunday.
Public Safety Public Safety
7-6 Gulf Disturbance CC 7-6 Clearwtr Lightning RD 7-6 Felon Vote TW
FPREN

Mark

7/6/2020 5:31&7:31 News Spot

7/6/2020

6:45 AM Interview (2-way) Under-Served Communities

The future of Florida's Amendment Four is in the hands of an appellate court.

WLRN

As Florida and other states face a spike in coronavirus cases - the challenge for health departments is how to keep cases to a manageable leve Florida surpassed the two hundred thousand [200,000] mark of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday as Pinellas County reported fourteen [14]

coronavirus-related deaths – the highest one-day amount for the county since the

pandemic began. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners on Wednesday has canceled in-person exams scheduled for late this month and said the tests will be administered online in August.

7/6/2020 6:31&8:31 News Spot

Health

7-6 COVID Health Dept CC

WMFE

7/6/2020 6:04&8:04 News Spot 7/6/2020 5:31&7:31 News Spot

Health

7-5 Sun Numbers RDR

7-6 Bar Exams RDR
Mark Schreiner

NSF

Education

Even as cases of coronavirus in Florida surge to new heights, local school districts

are working on their plans to reopen. As WUSF’s Kerry Sheridan reports, many are

considering both in-person instruction and virtual learning option As schools work on plans to reopen next month, some teachers are increasingly concerned about their safety in the midst of the fast-growing coronavirus pandemic.

7/6/2020

7:45 AM Feature Report

Education

Education
7-6 Schools ReOpen FEAT 7-6 Teacher Concerns CC
Kerry Sheridan

Kerry Sheridan

7/6/2020 6:04&8:04 News Spot

BayCare Health System is cutting back on elective surgeries in its Pinellas County hospitals to ensure there is capacity for a growing number of severely-ill COVID-19 patients. Dozens of additional protesters face felony charges after demonstrations against police brutality in Tampa turned violent in late May
7/6/2020 6:31&8:31 News Spot 7/6/2020 6:31&8:31 News Spot

Health

7-6 BayCare RDR

Stephanie Colombini

Stephanie Colombini Jessica Meszaros

Politics

7-6 Protest Charges RDR

7-6 Enviro Laws CC
Fines for violating Florida's environmental laws have increased -- many by up to

50 percent.

7/6/2020

7:04 AM News Spot

Environment

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed multiple environmental bills into law.

8:45 AM Interview (2-way) Environment

7-6 Enviro Laws TW

Jessica Meszaros

As cases of the coronavirus surge in Florida, some health experts are calling on government officials to roll back measures that reopened the state. When Gov. Ron DeSantis was making the case to reopen the state at the end of April, he pointed to data that showed the number of coronavirus cases were trending in the right direction.