The WMNF Song of the Day for September 15, 2026 is “Jesse Mae” by JP Soars.*

For over twenty years, South Florida-based musician JP Soars has been captivating audiences with his high-energy mix of blues, rock, country, and jazz. Inspired to play after meeting B.B. King as a teenager, Soars has earned top industry honors, including the International Blues Challenge and multiple Blues Music Award nominations. His latest project, Gypsy Blue Revue, pairs him with acclaimed fiddler Anne Harris and his longtime rhythm section (Chris Peet on drums and Cleveland Frederick on bass) to capture the raw, live-show magic that has made him a favorite across the roots music scene.

JP Soars will be taking the stage on Saturday, September 19th. in Bradenton, Fl. Known as much for its mouthwatering scratch-made Southern comfort cuisine as its unwavering commitment to live roots music, Cottonmouth Southern Soul Food has officially moved into its dynamic new home in Bradenton at 1910 14th Street West. Now partnering with Flamingo Bay Brewing Company, Cottonmouth continues to serve up its signature blend of tasty dishes, craft beer, and powerful local talent in a spacious new setting.

*Note that “Jesse Mae” was written by William “Billy C.” Wirtz, the beloved pianist, comedian, and legendary WMNF DJ. Wirtz penned the lyrics to “Jesse Mae,” infusing the tune with his distinct storytelling flair and deep reverence for blues lore.

For info go to J.P. Soars’ website.

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Episode description

71% of American adults say they’re running on empty — but is it real chronic fatigue syndrome, or something your doctor never tested for? Dr. Fred Harvey opens the phones for Ask Me Anything Monday.

Show notes

It’s Ask Me Anything Monday on Healthy Steps, and Dr. Fred Harvey opens with a deep dive into one of the internet’s most-searched health complaints: chronic fatigue. He separates true chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis) — a specific, diagnosis-of-exclusion condition affecting roughly 3.3 million Americans — from the garden-variety fatigue that 71% of adults now report.

Then it’s live caller Q&A: a listener’s low-histamine diet raises questions about DAO enzyme testing and why elimination diets shouldn’t become a lifetime sentence; a caller weighing chemotherapy after bladder cancer surgery gets a framework for the questions every oncologist should answer before you consent to treatment; another caller learns why his weeding-day scare was heat exhaustion, not dehydration — and what that means for how you recover. Dr. Harvey also breaks down why most fish oil bottles undersell their real omega-3 dose, walks a caller newly diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease through low-protein and plant-based options, and answers emailed questions on PFAS exposure after a house fire and what a borderline TSH and low ferritin really mean for a fatigue workup.

Topics Covered

• Chronic fatigue syndrome vs. everyday fatigue: symptoms, prevalence, and who’s most affected
• Low-histamine diets, DAO enzyme testing, and why elimination diets are meant to be temporary
• Questions to ask an oncologist before starting adjuvant chemotherapy
• Smoking, nicotine, and bladder cancer risk
• L-lysine for herpes simplex and viral symptoms — what the evidence actually shows
• Heat exhaustion vs. dehydration: symptoms and recovery
• Daily hydration guidelines (and how much more you need when exercising in heat)
• Reading fish oil labels correctly — why “1,000 mg” isn’t the active dose
• Anti-inflammatory options beyond NSAIDs (curcumin, fish oil, physical therapy, muscle activation technique)
• Stage 3 kidney disease: protein targets, plant-based protein sources, and keto-acid supplement claims
• Choosing an olive oil for its antioxidant content
• PFAS (“forever chemical”) exposure risk after a house fire

Time stamps:

03:53 – Dr Harvey discusses latest research on fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome

13:00 – George calls about itching and congestion with high histamine foods and histamine-releasing foods

22:48 – Michael has bladder cancer and is post-surgery. He has questions about chemotherapy

27:23 – Jerry wanted to know if L-lysine is an effective treatment or preventive for viruses. We discussed the evidence. He also feels that living in and near trees is better

31:51 – Beverly had an episode after weeding. Dehydration vs heat exhaustion

37:09 – Kathy has joint pain in back and hip and now knee. Discussed anti-inflammotory dose of omega 3 and physical interventions like rehab chiropractic, physical therapy and Muscle Activation Technique

44:48 – Gerry has stage 3 kidney disease. We discussed protein in diet

50:16 – emails – brittle thinning hair in primary biliary cholangiitis; questioning PFAS in fire truck water used to extinguish a house fire; ferritin and iron deficiency

The post Is it simple fatigue, heat exhaustion or chronic fatigue syndrome appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Sarasota Commissioners unanimously approve a controversial expansion of Palmer Ranch East

Sarasota County provided preliminary approval for new housing development in Palmer Ranch East. Supporters say it would improve housing availablity and job opportunities.

The Florida PSC votes against weakening a decades-old rule that passes on savings to Florida ratepayers

Florida’s Public Service Commission voted against an amendment that would have led to increased utility rates for Florida’s residential customers.

Polk County Public Schools unanimously approve an increase in teacher salary

Polk Schools will distribute $6.7 million to 2,700 classroom teachers who have worked for 10-plus years. Any remaining funds will be allocated to any remaining non-classroom teachers with that level of experience.

A federal judge freezes President Trump’s attempt to limit mail voting

The preliminary injunction pauses the president’s attempts to limit mail voting, which could have made it more difficult for many people from voting in the midterm elections.

The Scoop, produced by Jaila Harrigan

WMNF anchors Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli, Hannah Lau Gleciano, Megan Fair.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hannah Lau Gleciano, Joeniyah Carter, Jaelin Diehl.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

• Information from the News Service of Florida, the Associated Press, and Florida Public Media was used in this report

The post The Scoop: Mon. Sep. 14, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

FPREN | By Andrew Wulfeck

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring an area of disturbed weather in the central Atlantic, but the system is expected to remain more of a curiosity factor for weather observers than any type of threat to the United States.

At last check, NHC forecasters were calling for a low chance of tropical development over the next seven days, as environmental conditions are not currently favorable for tropical cyclone organization.

The area being monitored stretches from southeast of Bermuda into the open Atlantic, where water temperatures are warm enough to support tropical development.

For a tropical cyclone to form, thunderstorms would need to become more concentrated and persistent around an area of low pressure.

If thunderstorms are eventually able to coalesce around a center of circulation – a significant unknown still at this point – the disturbance could become the sixth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which would be Fay.

Even if the system manages to develop into a tropical depression or even a tropical storm, there is little indication that it would ever threaten the Lower 48.

A series of troughs are expected to be exiting the U.S. East Coast, which are expected to help keep any potential tropical system from approaching the U.S.

The most likely land-related impacts, if any, would be for the British territory of Bermuda.

Computer forecast guidance is not in complete agreement on whether the system will ever develop.

Some of the newer artificial intelligence-based forecast models have been more aggressive in suggesting development when compared to many of the older operational deterministic models.

The central Atlantic disturbance is not the only region where tropical development could occur over the next few weeks.

Another general area of interest is off the coast of Africa, where ocean temperatures remain warm enough to support tropical cyclone activity.

However, the Cabo Verde portion of the hurricane season typically becomes less active later in the season, making long-track tropical cyclones originating off Africa less common.

Another area to watch is in the Caribbean Sea, for activity associated with the Central American Gyre, or what is commonly referred to as the CAG.

The CAG is a broad area of low pressure that extends across parts of Central America, the western Caribbean Sea and into the eastern Pacific.

When favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions are at play, energy associated with the gyre can help produce tropical cyclones.

The early and later portions of the Atlantic basin hurricane season are particularly notable for tropical systems developing from energy associated with the CAG.

On average, the weather pattern produces a tropical cyclone about once every other year, with some of those systems eventually becoming significant hurricanes.

Hurricane Michael (2018) and Hurricane Milton (2024) are examples of powerful cyclones with origins that can be traced back to Central America.

Michael was a Category 5 hurricane when it made landfall along the Florida Panhandle, and Milton at one time had the potential to be one of the worst hurricanes to ever strike the Tampa Bay region.

Since 2000, roughly 25 systems have formed across the Atlantic basin with direct help from the CAG.

The formation of storm systems from the gyre tends to be more common when neutral or La Niña conditions are present.

These patterns are fairly different from the El Niño that is currently in place.

El Niño events typically produce environments that are less supportive of tropical cyclones, with increased wind shear and cooler water temperatures.

This broader pattern has been one of the factors limiting tropical activity during the 2026 season.

If the year were to end without another tropical cyclone forming, 2026 would become the quietest Atlantic hurricane season of the satellite era and the second-quietest season since reliable record keeping began in the 1800s.

The hurricane season officially runs through the end of November.

The post The National Hurricane Center monitors a disturbance in the Atlantic, but no U.S. threat is expected appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The Top 10 Spins on WMNF 88.5 FM highlights the most popular and influential tracks currently playing on the station. It showcases a curated list of the top 10 songs, representing a mix of genres from indie hits to emerging artists and chart-topping favorites. Updated weekly, this list brings you the freshest sounds and the latest music trends. Tune in to discover the best of what’s making waves on WMNF 88.5 FM, celebrated for its diverse and community-driven programming.

1. Alabama Shakes, “I Feel Hope Coming”

2. Fontaines D.C., “Marianne”

3. Mon Rovia, “Field Song.”

4. Thee Sacred Souls, “Any Old Fool”

5. Julia Jacklin, “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)”

6. The Womack Sisters, “If I Let You”

7. Leon Bridges, “Talk It Over”

8. Jungle, “Come Back to Me”

9. The Linda Lindas, “Everybody Told Me”

10. Baby Rose, “But, Nvm”

Want to discover more of WMNF’s favorite new music? Check out our Hot Box on Spotify!

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Monday, September 14

Plant City – City Commission Meeting | 302 W Reynolds St., Plant City | 6pm

• A meeting agenda has not yet been released.

Tuesday, September 15

Polk County Board of County Commissioners Meeting | 330 W Church St., Bartow | 9am

• The Commission will set a hearing date to approve the installation of speed humps on Johnson Road, Plymouth Road, and Luel Street.

Hillsborough County School Board Meeting | 901 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | 4pm

• The Board will conduct the final hearing for millage rates and the budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Sarasota County School Board Finance Meeting | 1980 Landings Blvd., Sarasota | 5pm

• The Board will conduct the final hearing for millage rates and the budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Manatee County School Board Meeting | 215 Manatee Ave W., Bradenton | 5:30pm

• The Board is set to approve a Salary Increase Allocation plan for teachers and other instructional personnel throughout the county.
  • The full allocation, to be divided among schools via the Florida Department of Education, is over $28 million.
  • With this SIA, the county hopes to attract and retain talented teachers to provide a quality education to students in the county. 

New Port Richey City Council Meeting | 5919 Main St., New Port Richey | 6pm

• The Council will conduct the first hearing of an ordinance that proposes a prohibition on open-container alcoholic beverages in the Railroad Square Area (RRSA) between 2:00am and 8:00am.
  • The ordinance details that the prohibition is both of possession and consumption of alcohol in open containers.
  • The aim of this proposal is to reduce late night alcohol-related incidents and intoxication in the RRSA.

Sarasota County School Board Meeting | 1980 Landings Blvd., Sarasota | 6pm

• The Board will review a proposal by the Sheriff to provide educational services to qualifying inmates. 

Temple Terrace City Council Meeting | 11250 N 56th St., Temple Terrace | 6pm

• A meeting agenda has not yet been released.

Wednesday, September 16

Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners Meeting | 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | 9am 

• The Commission is scheduled to hear and adopt an ordinance that will require registration and regulation of short-term vacation rentals in the county. 
  • Following the adoption of this ordinance, owners of a residence will need to apply for short-term vacation rental registration from Hillsborough County. 
  • The registration requires an annual renewal fee and a residence inspection by a Code Enforcement Officer. 

Thursday, September 17

Tampa City Council Meeting | 315 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | 9am

• A meeting agenda has not yet been released.

Pinellas Board of County Commissioners Work Session | 333 Chestnut St., Clearwater | 9:30am

• The Commission will discuss the budget in preparation for their September 24th meeting.

St. Petersburg City Council Meeting | 175 5th St N., St. Petersburg | 1pm 

• The Council will review the approval of an ordinance proposal to designate the Meinke House as a local historic landmark. 
  • The ordinance will register the property with the St. Petersburg Register of Historic Places.
  • The house was designed by Mark Dixon Dodd, a notable architect and artist who was based in St. Petersburg.
  • Pete Meinke, a Poet Laureate of Florida, and his wife, the artist and illustrator Jeanne Meinke, lived in the house for 56 years, and during those decades they developed and influenced the St. Petersburg art community.

Temple Terrace City Council Special Meeting | 11250 N 56th St., Temple Terrace | 5:05pm

• A meeting agenda has not yet been released.

Clearwater City Council Meeting | 100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater | 6pm

• The Board will conduct a hearing for millage rates and the budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

St. Petersburg City Council Budget Hearing | 175 5th St N., St. Petersburg | 6pm 

• The Council will hold its second reading of the 2027 fiscal year budget ordinance.
  • The ordinance will also adopt a millage rate for the year. 

Friday, September 18

The post Local Government – What’s Happening in Tampa Bay appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The WMNF Song of the Day for September 14, 2026 “Return to Sender” by Ibibio Sound Machine.

“Return to Sender” is off Ibibio Sound Machine’s latest album

The beat grabs you immediately, way before you even realize what the song is about. Listening to “Return to Sender” by Ibibio Sound Machine feels like stepping straight into a huge, upbeat party where traditional West African stories blend with energetic dance music, punchy synths, and catchy club rhythms. Led by singer Eno Williams’ powerful voice, the track keeps a steady, driving pulse going with brass horns, electronic beats, and live drums that practically force you to move. That mix of styles is what Ibibio Sound Machine does best. who sings in both English and the West African language Ibibio, the group blends traditional African guitar riffs, electronic synth sounds, and classic funk beats. “Return to Sender” is a great starting place if you’re new to their music, showing how a scary situation can be turned into something completely uplifting.

Behind that fun, danceable vibe lies a surprisingly intense origin story. The song came out of a terrifying moment when Williams survived a car crash after her steering wheel suddenly yanked out of her hands. In Nigerian tradition, saying “return to sender” is a way to push away bad luck or negative energy. Instead of staying shaken by the accident, the band turned that scary experience into an upbeat song about staying strong and pushing past fear.

For more on ISM:ibibiosoundmachine.com/

The post SOTD 9/14/26: Return to Sender by Ibibio Sound Machine appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Here is an unpopular opinion: I like music that is confusing.

I’ve always liked music that makes it difficult to figure out exactly what you’re listening to. Some say “challenging” is a better word, but in this case I really mean “confusing”. Music that makes you cask questions like:

• what instrument are we hearing?
• Is this the same song?
• What are these lyrics?
• Is this “jazz”?

That last one is the idea behind this week’s Vortex: Is It Jazz?

Of course, some of the answer is easy. Ella Fitzgerald? Yes. Dizzy Gillespie? Absolutely. But what about Frank Zappa? Phish? Pink Floyd? Stereolab? A video game soundtrack? Bluegrass? Electronic music?

I should add one thing right here. Genres as a concept are basically meaningless to musicians. Musicians just want to make the music that they want to make. Genres are for music executives to sell music and for music fans to try and find music they like.

So this whole exercise is, like music of The Vortex, pointless and ridiculous. It doesn’t matter if what we are listening to is “jazz” or not. But it does give an excusive to play some kick ass music.

This connects to an idea I’ve had for a very, very long time, that has origins in my Phish 1.0 days, that I have taken to calling “blent“. I use the word for music where different musical identities seem to melt together so much that it is confusing I’m not going to try to fully define that here. That deserves its own Vortex episode. But jazz seems like a particularly good place to start to introduce the concept.

The Vortex doesn’t provide any answers; it only asks questions. It present this collection of music less as a jazz show than as an exploration of the edges of jazz. There’s jazz-funk, jazz fusion, experimental jazz, jazz rap and contemporary jazz, but there’s also music that borrows some of the things we associate with jazz without necessarily calling itself jazz. There are musicians improvising, musicians interacting with each other in unusual ways, complicated rhythms, unexpected harmonies and plenty of genre mixing.

So: Is it jazz?

Maybe? Sometimes? Who knows? Who cares? Just listen to The Vortex Monday 3am to 6am on 88.5 FM and wmnf.org.

The post This week in the Vortex: Is it Jazz? appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

FPREN | By Leslie Hudson

Across Florida lots of people head to the sand and surf. But as summer winds down, Fall shark migration is just beginning — and this year, it coincides with a strengthening El Niño.

We know El Niño can reshape our weather from thousands of miles away. but a powerful El Niño can also reshuffle life beneath the ocean’s surface — including where sharks travel. So could this massive climate pattern alter shark behavior right off Florida’s coast? The answer is more complicated than you might think. Florida Storms meteorologist Leslie Hudson explains the science behind what marine experts are calling “Shark Nino”.

Beyond the atmosphere, a powerful El Niño can reshuffle life beneath the ocean’s surface, creating a phenomenon marine experts call “Shark Niño.” While the tropical Pacific feels the most direct impact—often pushing sharks into new northern territories as they follow shifting food sources—Florida’s coast experiences a more subtle, yet significant, ripple effect. As a potentially historic El Niño strengthens this season, meteorologist Leslie Hudson explores how these distant climate patterns can delay migrations and alter the timing of when sharks arrive in Florida waters, proving that even the ocean’s apex predators are subject to the reach of global climate cycles.

And this year’s El Niño could provide scientists with an extraordinary natural experiment. NOAA says there’s a 95-percent chance El Niño becomes very strong this Fall, with a 69-percent chance it becomes stronger than most El Niños observed since 1950.

The post Shark Niño: Does El Niño alter shark behavior in Florida? appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

FEMA’s new flood insurance rate maps will reflect changes to flood zones and base flood elevations in Clearwater’s Alligator Creek watershed.

Residents near the watershed area may need to change their flood insurance coverage based on the new maps, according to a news release from the City of Clearwater.

A search tool on the City’s website can help property owners find changes to their property’s flood map.

Comments and appeals for any impacted property can also be submitted there.

Three informational open houses are planned to see the maps and ask questions:

Sept. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., East Community Library, 2465 Drew St.

Sept. 30 from 4 to 7 p.m., Safety Harbor Public Library, 101 2nd St. N.

Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., East Community Library, 2465 Drew St.

The post New FEMA flood insurance rate maps to be released for Alligator Creek watershed area of Clearwater appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.