Manatee released in Melbourne after rescue from storm drain and recovery "Melby" the adolescent manatee gained 105 pounds while in recovery, according to his caretakers at SeaWorld Orlando.

"Melby" the manatee is back in the wild, following his nearly two-month-long recovery after being rescued from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach.

An (endangered) species argument, CAIR-FL pushes back, moon beaming, sold on ChatGTP Floridians love their coastlines, but a federal move to weaken endangered species protections in the Gulf is sparking legal action and heated debate over energy security. "Florida Matters: Live & Loca...

Floridians love their coastlines, but a federal move to weaken endangered species protections in the Gulf is sparking legal action and heated debate over energy security. "Florida Matters: Live & Local explores the concerns.

Despite recent rain, officials say historic cold fronts through the winter, now coupled with an extreme drought, are increasing the risk of wildfires to Floridians.

Read more: www.wusf.org/environment/...

DeSantis pushes redistricting as Democratic wins shake GOP outlook Florida Republicans want to redraw congressional maps. Surprise Democratic wins could make that more complicated.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map, which could help the GOP take more seats in the midterms.

After hearing the concerns of environmental advocates, the city's planning commission approved a 20-year agreement with the developer of hyperscale AI data center. The city commission will have final say on Tuesday.

Read more: www.wusf.org/environment/...

Hiba Rahim, the group's executive director, said she does not believe CAIR-Florida meets the law's criteria to be designated as a terrorist organization. However, Rahim believes the law can be used to chill free speech.

Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

Plant City Commission elections will go to runoffs, slated for May 26 The top two vote-getters in Group 3 were Karen Kerr and Tony Smith. In Group 4, the top candidates were John Haney and Camryn Henry.

There will be two runoffs for city commission in Plant City. That's because no one got more than 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's elections.

U.S. and Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire As part of the agreement, set to take effect immediately, Trump said the U.S. and Israel would suspend bombing Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran following through on its commitment to reopen the Str...

The U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire deal on Tuesday, less than two hours before the deadline President Trump imposed for Iran to meet his demands or else face wide-scale destruction.

Photos: NASA releases first images from moon flyby During the mission's loop around the moon, the crew took geological observations of places of interest on the lunar surface using their own eyes and snapping thousands of photos of the surface.

During the mission's loop around the moon, the crew took geological observations of places of interest on the lunar surface with their own eyes and snapping thousands of photos of the surface.

Bondi’s sudden exit, bookworms crawling, TPS and caretaking, a Frosted Flakes bass, chef's kiss Pam Bondi was praised publicly, then fired weeks later. We unpack what led to her departure as attorney general, her record in Florida and how the Epstein case shadowed her time leading the DOJ.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," we unpack what led to Pam Bondi's departure as U.S. attorney general and more.

Environmental groups urge appeals court panel to lift halt on closing Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' The immigration detention center remains open due to arguments by Florida and the Trump administration. They claimed the state hadn't gotten federal reimbursement, so it wasn’t required to follow fede...

Environmental groups on Tuesday asked a federal appellate court panel to drop its temporary halt of a lower court's order instructing state officials to close an immigration detention center in the heart of the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that would allow the state to designate certain groups as “domestic terrorist organizations.”

Read more: www.wusf.org/politics-iss...

Study: Florida in the middle of the pack for child health, dragged down by dental care Analysts with the personal finance website compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using 33 metrics tied to cost, quality and access to care. Florida's low ranking in oral health reflects gaps in...

Florida ranks 24th in the nation for children’s health, according to a new WalletHub study, placing the state in the middle of the pack despite major weaknesses in key areas like oral care.

It was a sweet homecoming for the Tampa Bay Rays, as they returned to Tropicana Field after more than a year away from St. Petersburg.

Read more: www.wusf.org/sports/2026-...

Plant City elections Tuesday will send off two veteran commissioners The election will be held Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Two longtime city commissioners in Plant City are stepping down. And voters will get a chance to elect their replacements today.

Artemis II astronauts swung by the moon, broke an Apollo record, and saw an eclipse The NASA moon mission completed several key milestones as its crew looped around the lunar body. It's expected to splash down on Earth on Friday.

The four-astronaut crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is now on its way back to Earth after a record-breaking trip around the moon, traveling farther than any other humans have before.

What can Artemis II astronauts see that satellites haven't captured? The astronauts on Artemis II will observe parts of the moon rarely seen by human eyes. A NASA planetary scientist said it will offer a vital perspective for lunar research.

The four-person crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is seeing parts of the moon on Monday that human eyes have never seen before.

Taxis over Tampa, Florida voting changes, dangers of hot cars, playing ball indoors again It's the 100th episode of "Florida Matters: Live & Local." Here's what's on tap: Bay bridge gridlock could soon have a high-tech alternative. Plus, what listeners think about Florida’s SAVE law, and t...

It's the 100th episode of "Florida Matters: Live & Local." Here's what's on tap: Bay bridge gridlock could soon have a high-tech alternative. Plus, what listeners think about Florida’s SAVE law and more.

Pianist Dimitri Malignan and Soprano Lily Arbisser are sharing music of composers who died in the Holocaust.

Read more: www.wusf.org/arts-culture...

Former Google exec Mujica drops U.S. Senate bid to seek Florida seat in Congress Hector Mujica, a Venezuelan American who left his longtime job at Google to run for the U.S. Senate in Florida, will compete in the Democratic primary for the House seat held by Giménez.

Hector Mujica, a Venezuelan American who left his longtime job at Google to run for the U.S. Senate in Florida, will compete in the Democratic primary for the House seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez.

Hillsborough County commissioners want to help fund ZooTampa at Lowry Park's proposed new South American realm, along with other expansions.

Read more: www.wusf.org/economy-busi...

On "The Florida Roundup," Dungy gives his perspective on the "Rooney Rule," which requires NFL teams to interview diverse candidates.

Read more: www.wusf.org/the-florida-...

Central Florida will remain soggy this week; thunderstorms, flood risk Flash flood risk through the middle of the week across parts of Central Florida as storms could bring between 3 and 5 inches, with some isolated spots over 5 inches.

Florida is expected to receive some much-needed rainfall this week. The state is currently experiencing its worst drought since records began in 2000.

NASA's Artemis II crew readies for Monday's lunar flyby. Here's what you need to know At its closest point, the crew of Artemis II will loop about 4,000 miles from the lunar surface late Monday. The astronauts will also venture farther into space than any previous human mission.

The crew of NASA's Artemis II will make its closest approach to the moon Monday afternoon after launching from Kennedy Space Center last week.

Breakfast sausage to butternut squash. What's on the menu for the Artemis II crew? The Artemis II crewmembers are now on their mission to the moon with 189 food items to choose from. NASA and the crew worked together to develop a menu for the mission that includes a wide variety of ...

The Artemis II crewmembers are on their mission to the moon with 189 food items to choose from.

Florida transfers official flagship designation to Tampa-based S.S. American Victory Gov. DeSantis signed legislation changing the designation from the dry-docked Schooner Western Union in Key West to the Tampa-based S.S. American Victory.

Gov. DeSantis signed legislation changing the designation from the dry-docked Schooner Western Union in Key West to the Tampa-based S.S. American Victory.

A parcel of land with unmarked Black graves from the early 1900s is being given back to a group preserving Zion Cemetery in Tampa.

Read more: www.wusf.org/arts-culture...

How a cold front could impact Easter sunrise services Sunrise services, typically take place between 7 and 7:30 a.m. across the Peninsula and around 6:30 a.m. in the western Panhandle. Fog will be possible for some while rain could impact others.

Easter sunrise services across Florida may not go uninterrupted as a slow-moving cold front approaches the region late over the weekend.

Florida won’t enforce a plank of its constitution barring public funds from going to religious institutions, Attorney General James Uthmeier stated Thursday.

Read more: www.wusf.org/education/20...

Several environmental groups sued President Donald Trump's administration Thursday — days after it removed protections for endangered species in the Gulf. They fear it would allow oil and gas drilling to decimate threatened marine life.

Read more: www.wusf.org/environment/...