Central Florida Public Media

Central Florida Public Media Central Florida’s source for trustworthy, independent journalism that’s grounded in listening to our community, plus national news and programs from NPR.

Central Florida Public Media, previously named WMFE, is a nonprofit, public media news organization based in Orlando, Fla., dedicated to delivering trustworthy, independent journalism to nine counties across Central Florida. Community owned and independently operated, Central Florida Public Media is primarily supported by generous individual donors, foundations and corporate sponsors. The organiza

tion operates 90.7, metro Orlando’s primary provider of NPR programming; 90.7-2 HD Classical; and 89.5 WMFV, public radio for The Villages, Leesburg and The Golden Triangle. Additionally, Central Florida Public Media’s programming can be enjoyed on multiple platforms including all podcast platforms, smart speakers and the Central Florida Public Media app and website. To learn more, visit cfpublic.org. Vision
Our vision is to lead Central Florida’s community conversation, based on substantiated facts and respect for diverse perspectives. We aim to be the essential source for distinctive journalism, grounded in listening and committed to creating a safe but challenging space to broaden our understanding of each other and the world. We strive to be a model workplace that embraces risk, innovation, and authenticity. Mission
Central Florida Public Media provides Central Florida with journalism and fact-based content that empower the community to better understand and participate in our diverse and complex world

Problems We Solve
Central Florida Public Media addresses four key community challenges:
● Misinformation & Disinformation
In a time when information is plentiful but not always factual, we are fiercely committed to accuracy and context in all our content.
● Shrinking Journalism Ecosystem
In a time of declining investment in professional journalism across the nation and in Central Florida, we are committed to preserving and bolstering the critical role of a free press in our democratic society.
● Division
In a time of extreme discord in our nation and our community, we are committed to providing a space for civil, thoughtful dialogue that creates a sense of community by building understanding of diverse perspectives, experiences, and realities.
● Uncertainty
In a time of constant change and anxiety about the future, we are committed to providing clarity without sensationalism, in order to empower our audience to make informed decisions. How We’re Funded
Central Florida Public Media is community-owned and operated and is supported by generous individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors. A small portion of our revenue comes from state and federal funding sources.

NPR Music is looking for the next great undiscovered musician to play the Tiny Desk. Could it be you? Submit your song t...
01/26/2025

NPR Music is looking for the next great undiscovered musician to play the Tiny Desk. Could it be you? Submit your song to the 11th annual Tiny Desk Contest from Jan. 14 to Feb. 10 at https://npr.org/tinydeskcontest

Parents and residents are free to say pretty much anything they’d like at school board meetings in Brevard County after ...
01/24/2025

Parents and residents are free to say pretty much anything they’d like at school board meetings in Brevard County after a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in Orlando bans the Brevard County School Board from enforcing public comment policies at meetings.

In October, a circuit court judge found the school board’s policy which restricts people from naming board members or using “abusive” or “obscene” speech in public comments was a violation of the First Amendment.

The Brevard County School District has not yet responded to a request for comment about the ruling.

Here's the full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/education/2025-01-23/brevard-county-school-board-cannot-enforce-public-comment-policy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising faster flu testing to help identify possible bird flu cases h...
01/24/2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising faster flu testing to help identify possible bird flu cases hiding in the flock of rising flu diagnoses around the country.

Last week, the CDC issued new guidance to hospitals and labs to test for flu subtypes within 24 hours, especially for patients in the ICU. Most physicians and hospitals do not have the specific test required to identify bird flu, referred to by medical experts as influenza A(H5).

Instead, they look for other subtypes they can check for. Currently, no bird flu cases have been identified in Florida residents, birds, or dairy animals.

https://www.cfpublic.org/health/2025-01-23/florida-flu-cases-spike-cdc-new-bird-flu-guidance

✍️️: Joe Mario Pedersen
📰: Central Florida Public Media

About 30 students from a Melbourne charter school filed through a replica of the home of slain civil-rights activists Ha...
01/23/2025

About 30 students from a Melbourne charter school filed through a replica of the home of slain civil-rights activists Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore on a recent Friday morning at Moore Memorial Park and Museum in Mims.

The museum docent leads them past the Moores’ bedroom, where the couple slept on Christmas night 1951 – also their wedding anniversary – as three suspected Klansmen crept under the floorboards below and lit the fuse of a dynamite bomb that destroyed the house, killed the Moores and touched off international outrage over their murder.

It’s Black history. It’s American history. And what happened that night 73 years ago continues to impact young people today who come to the museum to learn about the sacrifices for freedom made by the Moores and other civil-rights icons such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Here's more: https://www.cfpublic.org/education/2025-01-21/forerunners-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-lived-died-in-central-florida

✍️️: Rick Brunson
📰: Central Florida Public Media

Last year, about 1 in 3 students in Volusia County Schools were chronically absent, which means they missed about 10% of...
01/23/2025

Last year, about 1 in 3 students in Volusia County Schools were chronically absent, which means they missed about 10% of the school year, or about 18 to 20 days. They’re not alone. Chronic absenteeism has ballooned across the country since the COVID pandemic, when some schools closed down, or went online.

About 30% of students or 14.7 million kids nationwide were chronically absent during the 2021-2022 school year.

Now, roughly 170 students will be gifted district-provided bikes to get to school through the Volusia County Schools program.

A local hospital, AdventHealth Daytona Beach and the East Volusia Market, donated the money which the district used to purchase the 168 bikes and helmets.

https://www.cfpublic.org/education/2025-01-22/central-florida-school-district-uses-bikes-combat-chronic-absenteeism

✍️️: Danielle Prieur
📰: Central Florida Public Media

In Volusia County, about a third of students were chronically absent last year.

Communities across Central Florida, in recent months, have taken up the question of whether or not to fluoridate drinkin...
01/23/2025

Communities across Central Florida, in recent months, have taken up the question of whether or not to fluoridate drinking water. Earlier this month, Melbourne joined a growing list of Florida jurisdictions voting to end the practice of fluoridation.

More than 70% of Floridians who get water from community water systems receive fluoridated water, per the Florida Department of Health, and more Central Florida communities are expected to take up the fluoride issue.

But what does it mean to fluoridate water? How long has the practice been around? And why does adding fluoride to water concern some communities?

https://www.cfpublic.org/health/2025-01-22/more-florida-communities-pulling-back-fluoride-heres-why

✍️️: Molly Duerig, Joe Mario Pedersen
📰: Central Florida Public Media

At least 28 of the nearly 1,600 pardons and commutations that President Donald Trump granted to January 6 rioters have t...
01/23/2025

At least 28 of the nearly 1,600 pardons and commutations that President Donald Trump granted to January 6 rioters have ties to Central Florida.

The most prominent of the Central Florida rioters is 56-year-old Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon, who led the Florida chapter of the far-right group Oath Keepers.

Trump commuted his sentence along with those of 13 other members of that group and the Proud Boys.

In the four years since the violent attack on Congress, the Justice Department charged 1,583 individuals. Six hundred were accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

https://www.cfpublic.org/2025-01-21/dozens-of-trumps-jan-6-pardons-have-central-florida-connections

✍️️: Joe Byrnes
📰: Central Florida Public Media

01/21/2025

At his inauguration on Monday, President Donald Trump announced an immediate and aggressive plan to crack down on illegal immigration.

🌟 Yesterday, we proudly sponsored, participated in and co-hosted the MLK Day of Service Million Meal Pack, an awe-inspir...
01/21/2025

🌟 Yesterday, we proudly sponsored, participated in and co-hosted the MLK Day of Service Million Meal Pack, an awe-inspiring event where thousands of volunteers united to pack ONE MILLION meals for Central Floridians in need! This impactful initiative, organized by both the Orlando Mayor’s MLK Commission and the Orange County Mayor's MLK Initiative (Orange County, Florida Government) alongside U.S. Hunger, showcased the power of community and the timeless spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Together, we are making a difference and carrying forward a legacy of unity and service. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!


Millions of Americans are bracing for a major blast of Arctic air, and some of the most historic weather will be in the ...
01/21/2025

Millions of Americans are bracing for a major blast of Arctic air, and some of the most historic weather will be in the Gulf coast. Florida Storms digital meteorologist Leslie Hudson has an update.

Millions of Americans are bracing for a major blast of Arctic air, and some of the most historic weather will be in the Gulf coast. Florida Storms digital me...

Watch live special coverage, including Trump's swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address, beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
01/20/2025

Watch live special coverage, including Trump's swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address, beginning at 11 a.m. ET.

Watch NPR's live special coverage, including Trump's swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address, beginning at 11 a.m. ET.

Being prepared for severe winter weather can make all the difference in staying safe if caught in hazardous wintery cond...
01/20/2025

Being prepared for severe winter weather can make all the difference in staying safe if caught in hazardous wintery conditions.

As Florida braces for a brutal Arctic blast, here are some safety tips that could help if you get caught in a winter storm this season

Florida is on track to have one of the coldest winters in 15 years according to the National Weather Service. Another po...
01/19/2025

Florida is on track to have one of the coldest winters in 15 years according to the National Weather Service. Another polar plunge is taking grip across the state this week. A wintery mix of freezing rain, snow, and ice are all in play. Leslie Hudson has more.

Florida is bracing for another polar plunge this week as bitterly cold weather returns to the State with a wintery mix of possible freezing rain, snow, and more.

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Videos

Spotlight: Central Florida Vocal Arts gets nod for community work. It’s already a great year for Central Florida Vocal Arts. It's been named Community Organization of the Year by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. Here's the full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/spotlight/2025-01-23/spotlight-central-florida-vocal-arts-gets-nod-for-community-work

More Florida communities are pulling back from fluoride. Some recent studies found fluoride exposure is associated with cognitive impacts in children, but the research isn’t conclusive. Still, many Central Floridians say there’s enough evidence to warrant concern. Full story https://www.cfpublic.org/health/2025-01-22/more-florida-communities-pulling-back-fluoride-heres-why

Crack down on illegal immigration
Crack down on illegal immigration

At his inauguration on Monday, President Donald Trump announced an immediate and aggressive plan to crack down on illegal immigration. #floridaminute

TikTok Ban Bad for Some Business
TikTok Ban Bad for Some Business

TikTok Ban Bad for Some Business Here's the show podcast: https://bit.ly/3PGrKck Pew research shows that one third of adults in America use TikTok. Just based on the volume of users, there is the potential to reach millions of people on that platform where people share short videos. The Supreme Court appears unlikely to block a law that requires TikTok to either be divested from its China-based parent company or shut down in the United States Sunday, January 19. Samantha Longton is a full-time content creator and social media manager living in Orlando with well over 100,000 followers and millions of likes on TikTok. In addition to her personal brand, she also assists businesses with building theirs. Longton joins Engage to discuss the potential impact of the possible ban.

Senator Fine files bill banning undocumented students from attending some universities
Senator Fine files bill banning undocumented students from attending some universities

Senator Randy Fine filed a bill on Tuesday that would not only stop undocumented students from getting in-state tuition, but attending some public universities in Florida. “At Florida's highly competitive colleges and universities, aka those that cannot serve everyone who wishes to go to them, they no longer can accept illegal immigrants to attend at all, and must exclusively be for Americans, Floridians or people from other countries who apply and are able to go legally,” said Fine. Here's the full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/education/2025-01-15/senator-fine-files-bill-banning-undocumented-students-attending-some-universities #floridaminute

Mental Health care is costing Floridians peace of mind. Florida ranks
Mental Health care is costing Floridians peace of mind. Florida ranks

Mental Health care is costing Floridians peace of mind. Florida ranks near the bottom when it comes to accessing mental health care. #floridaminute Here's the full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/economy/2025-01-14/mental-health-care-costing-floridians-peace-of-mind

Spotlight: One more FESTN4 at Fringe ArtSpace before it closes
Spotlight: One more FESTN4 at Fringe ArtSpace before it closes

Spotlight: The Orlando Fringe has a lot going on behind the curtain, including the upcoming closure of its downtown ArtSpace location. The facility goes out with a bang, the FESTN4. Get Spotlight episodes: https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/spotlight

Drug deaths in FL declined by 10%
Drug deaths in FL declined by 10%

Drug deaths in FL declined by 10% in 2023 according to a new report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. #floridaminute

How Gators Adapt to a Cold Snap
How Gators Adapt to a Cold Snap

This is where snowbirds come to escape winter, but it doesn’t feel very “Florida” this week. This stretch of cold made us wonder how it affects not only the families here on vacation, but the wildlife that lives here as well. For the answer, we turned to the alligator, an animal that’s part of Florida’s ecosystem. Brandon Fisher is the gator expert at Gatorland in Orlando. He joins Engage for an informative chat about how the reptiles adapt to the cold. Here's the full Engage episode: https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/engage/2025-01-07/cold-weather-shelters-expanding-a-postcards-place-in-central-florida-tourism-how-gators-adapt-to-cold-snap

Trump’s mass deportation plans could be a major blow to Florida’s economy
Trump’s mass deportation plans could be a major blow to Florida’s economy

President elect Trump has announced mass deportation plans for when he takes office on January 20. A report by the American Immigration Council shows Florida is among the top 3 states that will feel the effects. Here's the story: https://www.cfpublic.org/economy/2025-01-08/trumps-mass-deportation-plans-could-be-major-blow-floridas-economy

Spotlight: One more holiday weekend of Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens
Spotlight: One more holiday weekend of Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens

Spotlight: One more holiday weekend of Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens. If you’re not quite ready for the holiday vibes to end this year, you can still take one more walk through Central Florida’s version of a winter wonderland. https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/spotlight

Tavares Florida to stop adding fluoride to water, immediately.
Tavares Florida to stop adding fluoride to water, immediately.

After decades of adding fluoride to its drinking water, the city of Tavares on Wednesday voted to stop, citing public feedback and health concerns. Both President Elect Trump's nominee to lead the department of Health and Human Services and the Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have spoken out against fluoridating water helping to reignite local debates. Ladapo was at the meeting and came forward to suggest the harmful impacts of fluoride in Tavares including things like lower IQ levels and higher ADHD levels in children. The move came after dentists during public comment defended fluoridation, claiming the element helps maintain healthy teeth among children and adults, the majority of comments were against fluoride in the city’s water supply. Here's the story: https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2024-12-19/tavares-city-leaders-vote-to-immediately-stop-adding-fluoride-to-water

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