Listen:

University of South Florida Health researchers found a possible path for a malaria vaccine.

Malaria is a serious disease that can be deadly if it’s not diagnosed and treated quickly.

The disease comes from an infected mosquito bite.

But University of South Florida researchers have identified a specific region of a malaria parasite.

This region can be recognized and targeted by antibodies.

Noah Sather is the senior author of the research.

He describes antibodies as the things your immune system uses to fight infections and diseases.

“Every time you go to develop a vaccine, you’re trying to use some part of the bug to generate an immune response,” Sather said. “And what we found is that the parts of the bug that had been previously used for vaccine design for the last 40 or so years. It’s been ineffective.”

The research is still in its early stages as vaccine development is a long process.

“If there’s 1000 steps, we maybe got through the first 200,” Sather said.

But, he also said that it is a well-defined process that people know how to do and they know what steps to take forward.

“Sometimes the hardest part is just getting proof of concept that it works,” Sather said. “And now we have that. And so, the steps are relatively well laid out in front of us.”

Sather said this discovery was possible thanks to his team’s expertise in lab-created antibodies.

“The reality is that most science makes small gains and those small gains add up. This is one of those cases where we got to make a big leap and make a big discovery,” Sather said. “And it’s a discovery that has the potential to save millions of lives. And that’s both a privilege and extraordinarily rare for any scientist.” 

Sather says it could take 5 to 7 years before they start to test small trials in humans and another 8 to 10 years for the vaccine to be available to the public.

The post USF Health researchers found a path for a malaria vaccine. appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Listen:

University of Florida Health researchers developed a device to quickly identify virus-borne diseases.

The goal is to make it easier to distinguish between viruses.

The researchers wanted to create a diagnostic test that was relatively quick, cheap and didn’t require expensive instrumentation or a lot of training. 

Their solution accelerates the process of diagnosing virus-related diseases.

Researchers say it will be especially useful for less developed and rural areas.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, Chikungunya, Mayaro and four types of Dengue viruses all share common symptoms like fever, joint pain and rash.

Through traditional methods, it may take a long time to find which disease the patient has.

Doctors must wait to treat infected patients until the specific virus has been identified.

This is because each viral infection requires different clinical management.

John Lednicky is a virologist in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions.

He said that for a lot of the mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and chikungunya, there are no medications.

“But it’s very helpful for the doctor to know whether they should give you aspirin, no aspirin. Whether you need to be laying down in bed and need to give you intravenous fluids,” Lednicky said.

The diagnostic test works by taking a sample from the patient that can be blood, urine or saliva.

Then, the researcher will put the sample into the device’s compartments.

“When you get done with that, you get a small square where all the chemicals have flowed in,” Lednicky said. “And you just let it sit out at a given temperature for 20 to 30 minutes, and you’ll get a colour change.” 

The color change indicates which virus the sample contains.

The device was initially developed looking first at viral mosquito-borne infections.

But Lednicky said it could be used to identify other viral diseases such as influenza. 

“We have a test specific for influenza virus. We have a test specific for the virus that causes COVID, so that is coronavirus two,” Lednicky said. “So literally, depending on the type of virus, we could probably come up with a test for it.”

The National Institute of Health funded the team’s latest research focused on testing for seven viruses that circulate in Haiti and other countries in the Americas.

Lednicky said he has been working on the research for more than ten years, but that the project has been underway for even longer.

Now, Lednicky said the research team needs to form a company and find investors to be able to produce more devices they can provide or sell to clinics.

“My whole purpose is to come up with things that help sick people in one way or another,” Lednicky said.

The post UF researchers build a device for testing mosquito-borne viruses appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Listen:

The student radio station at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg was recently named the fourth best in the country by The Princeton Review.

When I visited the small studio on a rainy October afternoon, I was a bit surprised to hear “Daytripper” by The Beatles on the studio monitors.

“My parents in general really did shape the music that I listen to,” said Vivian Codiga, a co-general manager of WECX – pronounced “wex.”

Codiga is a senior majoring in business management with minors in interdisciplinary arts and psychology.

“My dad grew up in the 70s and so I really like — I love classic rock,” she told me. “And that’s also primarily what I play. And I feel like there’s also been a bit of a resurgence in it. And so a lot of Eckerd students also really enjoy classic rock and that like Beatles, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, especially.”

The station’s other co-general manager, Taj Sorensen says WECX has been around since the 1980s, but nobody’s sure of the exact year it started.

She says there are 84 DJs and it’s the biggest club on campus.

Ranked #4 by The Princeton Review

The number four ranking by The Princeton Review came as a surprise.

“Apparently a bunch of emails were sent to random students and they all voted on their favorite things about their college and Eckerd really loves WECX.” Sorensen said. “Especially, last year we redid the entire station and made it more of what it is today, and we got a lot more DJs from that. We got a record-breaking amount of DJs. We had to add Saturday shows. So the number four Princeton Review was a good reflection of that impact.”

Sorensen is a senior majoring in marine science with minors in environmental studies and music. She DJs “Taj’s Punk Happy Hour” on Sunday nights.

“Punk is a genre that’s really, embedded in my family,” Sorensen said. “My Dad raised me growing up on the Sex Pistols and random different punk things. Music connects my family more than anything in my family. So when coming to Eckerd, I went up to our general manager at that time, Jordan, and I was like: I really want to do a punk show. And so for four years, I’ve been on the board and doing a punk show on Sundays.”

New music on WECX

WECX programmers also play new music, of course.

Bergen Hembree is assistant manager at WECX. She’s a junior anthropology major with a minor in public health.

“We actually do this fun thing where we follow albums that are going to be released. We have someone on our board and the whole board will watch for new releases. We’ll have a fun listening party with the club, so that That’s something that we do just to kind of keep up with current music,” Hembree said. “But then, like I said earlier, there are so many styles of music that are played throughout WECX. I think we cover everything. There’s not a genre or style that isn’t coming out of WECX, which is really cool.”

Their most recent listening party was for a new Harry Styles album.

Sorensen said WECX lost its ability to broadcast over FM when their antenna was destroyed by a hurricane. So Eckerd College students listen on the web at WECX.org. They hope to have an app soon.

In the same Princeton Review list, the University of South Florida’s student radio station was ranked 25.

The post Eckerd College’s WECX is ranked the fourth best US college radio station appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Tampa City Council will vote on a controversial AI police software today

The software, called Peregrine, connects police databases together, and uses AI to draw conclusions based on the data.
Critics say it can amplify biases that already exist in AI models, resulting in greater surveillance and data extraction of people who are not criminal suspects.

Another nationwide “No Kings Day of Action” planned for this weekend

The rallies are called “No Kings: Vote Early.” Organizers say these nonpartisan protests aim to emphasize the importance of voting early, making a voting plan and supporting election-protection efforts.

A controversial Clearwater sports complex is a step closer to becoming reality

The future of The Landings Golf Course moved a step closer to a major transformation yesterday. Clearwater City Council voted unanimously to proceed with negotiations for a controversial sports and entertainment complex on the 77-acre property owned by the city.

USF Health researchers have found a possible path for a malaria vaccine

University of South Florida researchers identified a specific region of a malaria parasite that can be targeted by antibodies. It comes after 40 years of targeting the wrong areas.

The Scoop, produced by Seán Kinane

WMNF anchors Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli, Hannah Lau Gleciano, Megan Fair.
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Valerie Smith, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hannah Lau Gleciano, Maeleigh Fricke, Samantha Whiskeyman, Kayleigh Fuller, Amelia Yean, Jaila Harrigan and Alyssa Fraser.
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: Thurs. Oct. 15, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

So much is happening at WMNF!

Oct. 16 — WMNF Halloween Ball

Nov. 7 — WMNF’s Annual Record & CD Sale

Dec. 6 — Light the Wire House Concert

Dec. 12 — Sonora Tukukuy with McKinley James

April 24, 2027 — Tropical Heatwave

Looking for more? Explore our Events Calendar.

Looking for something to do around Tampa Bay this weekend? Whether you’re planning a night of live music, cheering on your favorite hometown teams, celebrating Halloween a little early, or spending the day enjoying one of the area’s signature festivals, there’s no shortage of events happening across the region. From the return of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday to concerts, community gatherings, and plenty of sports action, here are some of the best ways to make the most of your weekend.

Thursday

Clearwater Jazz Holiday | Coachman Park, Clearwater

One of Tampa Bay’s favorite music traditions returns as the Clearwater Jazz Holiday kicks off at Coachman Park. The four-day festival brings together nationally recognized jazz artists alongside a variety of blues, funk, soul, and contemporary performers, all set against the scenic Clearwater waterfront. Whether you’re a longtime jazz fan or simply looking for a relaxing evening outdoors, this annual event offers an unforgettable way to start the weekend.

Details

Friday

WMNF’s Halloween Ball 2026 | New World Tampa

Get your costume ready and celebrate Halloween early with WMNF’s Halloween Ball 2026 at New World Tampa. This annual fundraiser brings together local music lovers, creative costumes, dancing, and live performances while supporting community-powered independent radio. Whether you’re competing for the best costume or just looking for a festive night out, it’s one of WMNF’s signature events of the year.

Details

Cavetown – Running With Scissors Tour | Jannus Live | 7:00 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Cavetown brings the Running With Scissors Tour to downtown St. Petersburg for an evening of heartfelt indie-pop and fan favorites. Joined by Chloe Moriondo, the show promises an intimate atmosphere inside the iconic open-air courtyard of Jannus Live.

Tickets

Quinn Sullivan | Safety Harbor Art & Music Center | 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Blues guitarist and vocalist Quinn Sullivan takes the stage at the Safety Harbor Art & Music Center for a night of powerful musicianship and soulful songwriting. Sullivan has built an impressive reputation on the national blues scene, making this an excellent opportunity to catch a rising talent in an intimate venue.

More Info

Clearwater Jazz Holiday | Coachman Park | 7:30 p.m.

The music continues on Friday evening as Clearwater Jazz Holiday welcomes another lineup of acclaimed performers to Coachman Park. Grab a lawn chair, enjoy the waterfront atmosphere, and experience one of Florida’s premier live music festivals under the stars.

Details

Saturday

Toadies – The Charmer Tour | Jannus Live | 6:00 p.m.

Alternative rock favorites Toadies return to Jannus Live with The Charmer Tour, joined by Local H and Emily Wolfe. Fans can expect an energetic evening featuring classic hits alongside newer material at one of downtown St. Pete’s most beloved concert venues.

Tickets

John Németh | Safety Harbor Art & Music Center | 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Award-winning blues artist John Németh brings his signature blend of blues, soul, and rhythm & blues to the Safety Harbor Art & Music Center. His dynamic performances and powerful vocals have earned him recognition as one of today’s leading contemporary blues musicians.

More Info

Clearwater Jazz Holiday | Coachman Park

Spend another day exploring Clearwater Jazz Holiday as live performances continue throughout the festival. The event offers a diverse lineup of artists, local food vendors, and a beautiful waterfront setting that makes it one of the region’s can’t-miss annual celebrations.

Details

USF Bulls vs. Kent State | Raymond James Stadium | 7:00 p.m.

The USF Bulls return home to face Kent State under the lights at Raymond James Stadium. Whether you’re a longtime Bulls supporter or simply looking to enjoy college football on a Saturday night, this matchup offers plenty of excitement for Tampa sports fans.

Tickets

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks | Benchmark International Arena | 4:00 p.m.

The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their early-season schedule with an afternoon matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. Cheer on the Bolts as they defend home ice in what promises to be another exciting NHL showdown.

Tickets

Rides by the River — Evening Edition | Armature Works | 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss Rides by the River, where hundreds of classic cars, muscle cars, imports, exotics, and custom builds line the streets surrounding Armature Works. Best of all, the free event benefits Metropolitan Ministries, making it a fun evening that also supports a great local cause.

More Info

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Detroit City FC | Al Lang Stadium | 7:30 p.m.

Head to St. Petersburg as the Tampa Bay Rowdies host Detroit City FC during Ruff and Rowdies Night. Fans can enjoy an exciting USL Championship match, and a limited number of dog-friendly tickets allow four-legged supporters to join the fun.

Tickets

Sunday

Clearwater Jazz Holiday | Coachman Park

Wrap up the weekend with the final day of Clearwater Jazz Holiday. It’s your last opportunity to experience this year’s performances, enjoy great food, and take in one of the Tampa Bay area’s premier outdoor music festivals.

Details

The Smashing Pumpkins | Benchmark International Arena | 8:00 p.m.

Alternative rock legends The Smashing Pumpkins return to Tampa Bay for an evening featuring decades of iconic music. Expect a setlist packed with fan favorites along with songs from the band’s expansive catalog.

Tickets

Snail Mail & Soccer Mommy | The Orpheum | 6:00 p.m.

Indie favorites Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy team up for a highly anticipated co-headlining performance at The Orpheum. Fans of thoughtful songwriting and modern indie rock will find plenty to enjoy during this memorable night of live music.

Tickets

Sauce Boss | Safety Harbor Art & Music Center | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Blending blues music with his famous live cooking demonstrations, Sauce Boss delivers a concert experience unlike any other. Expect outstanding musicianship, plenty of laughs, and maybe even a bowl of gumbo before the evening is over.

More Info

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | Raymond James Stadium | 1:00 p.m.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers return home to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers after earning their first victory of the season. Looking to build momentum, the Bucs will count on the home crowd as they face one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises in a key early-season matchup.

Tickets

Whether you’re spending the weekend discovering live music, supporting local events, cheering on Tampa Bay’s hometown teams, or celebrating Halloween with WMNF, there’s something happening throughout the region for every interest. Get out, explore the community, and enjoy another exciting weekend across Tampa Bay!

The post Halloween comes early! WMNF’s Halloween Ball and more Tampa Bay weekend fun appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

A political cartoon by Bob Whitmore.

Bob Whitmore produces a weekly political cartoon and shares it with WMNF.

This week’s cartoon is “Truckin’4Putin.”

He also created a design for a WMNF t-shirt and poster. You can find out more about that here, where it also says:

“Bob brings a sharp eye, quick wit, and unmistakable style to the issues shaping our city. His work blends humor and commentary, often shining a light on local politics, culture, and the wonderfully quirky personalities that make Tampa, well… Tampa.

“And while his weekly cartoons lean into political commentary, Bob also knows how to celebrate community. For the 2026 Spring Fund Drive (Feb. 18–25), he created a lively illustration featuring WMNF volunteers, staff, and programmers, past and present, capturing the energy, diversity, and heart of the station in his signature playful style.”

Bob’s cartoons were the subject of controversy in 2025, which you can read more about here. Here’s part of the story:

A political cartoonist at Creative Loafing is out of a job because of criticisms the paper got after it published his cartoon of a starving child in Gaza.

Bob Whitmore tells WMNF that even though the cartoon seems to be a political statement about the famine and war in Gaza, the corporate parent company of CL considers it to be antisemitic.

“The cartoon was in reference to the starvation that is happening to children in Gaza at the moment. It depicted a small child standing at one of the walls of Gaza. There’s barbed wire at the top, strung across the top. And in the distance, the Israeli flag is fluttering. And then the caption says, ”Wailing wall.’ The child is crying out, ‘Please give me food.’ And that is it in a nutshell,” Whitmore said.

Whitmore continued, “Dissent against Israel’s actions in Gaza should not be considered antisemitism.”

The post Truckin’4Putin appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

On Oct. 7, 2023, 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin attended the Nova Music Festival in Israel, an event advertised to celebrate peace and freedom.

That morning, Hamas-led militants launched a coordinated attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 others hostage in Gaza, including Hersh. Hundreds of those killed were attending the music festival. 

Hersh and other hostages were eventually shot and killed 328 days later, after being starved and isolated. 

Their campaign to secure their only son’s release made Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin prominent faces of the hostage crisis. Goldberg-Polin spoke at the United Nations, met with Pope Francis and former U.S. President Joe Biden, and published her book, “When We See You Again,” in April.

Now, Goldberg-Polin and her husband are coming to Sarasota for a Nov. 17 speaking event organized by six local volunteers. The event is free and has generated such immense interest that organizers had to move it to a bigger venue after all 800 seats at the original location were claimed in just four hours.

“I thought it was going to sell out, but not in four hours,” said Gisele Pintchuck, co-founder of TheSixSRQ, a local Jewish group of six volunteers that puts on annual speaker events to uplift the Jewish community.

More than 1,300 people registered after signups opened in September, prompting organizers to move the event to the 1,700-seat Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. 

Additional registrations will open on Oct. 12. Those who already secured a ticket do not need a new one; existing tickets will be transferred over to the new venue.

Pulling off an event of that scale — and keeping it free — has required an extensive fundraising effort, partnerships with local organizations and the determination of six volunteers who have no paid staff. 

“It’s different when you’re putting something together for a company and have all that structure behind you, and if something goes wrong you have something to fall back on,” Pintchuck said. “We are just six individuals putting this together based on pure determination of the commitment to tell a story.”

The event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of community organizations like the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, multiple local Chabad groups and American Jewish Committee West Coast Florida, Pintchuck said. They helped TheSixSRQ handle financial challenges, venue changes, security planning and advertising.

TheSixSRQ may be small, but Marty Katz, who recently joined as the group’s marketing consultant, said bringing such prominent voices to Sarasota is a testament to the group’s large community footprint.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Katz said. “Just so beautiful.”

A family’s story of loss and advocacy

Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin are both Chicago natives who moved to Israel in 2008 with their three children. Their son, Hersh, born in Berkeley, California, was 7 when the family settled in Jerusalem.

During the nearly 11 months Hersh was held hostage by militants, his parents became prominent advocates for the release of their son and the other hostages. Their campaign took them around the world, where they met political and religious leaders and appealed publicly for the hostages’ freedom.

Their campaign to bring their son home ended in tragedy when Hersh and five other hostages were killed in August 2024. 

In April, Goldberg-Polin published “When We See You Again,” a book chronicling her family’s grief, their efforts to bring Hersh home and their lives in the aftermath of his death.

The couple will be discussing the book and their experiences dealing with grief and trauma during that time at the Van Wezel.

Delivering their story to Sarasota is something Katz said is essential in bringing the community together.

“American Jews have felt really horrified and scared [since Oct. 7],” Katz said. “We grew up very much supporting Israel, and so it’s been like ‘Where do we go with these feelings?’ We don’t want this to be a whole political thing, so [it’s about] how we do that in a place where we can be together with the community.”

Requests to interview the family were unsuccessful.

TheSixSRQ’s efforts to bring those stories to Sarasota began with another family affected by the Oct. 7 attacks. 

More than two years ago, during the height of the Hamas hostage crisis, Pintchuck received a message from the cousin of Omer Shem Tov, who was also kidnapped during the Nova Music Festival and being held hostage. His cousin, Leat Corinne Unger, was a vocal advocate for the release of hostages, and asked Pintchuck to help arrange a speaking engagement in Sarasota to bring awareness to the movement.

Pintchuck got approval from leaders at her synagogue for Unger to speak and, with the help of five other people who eventually became TheSixSRQ, Unger spoke to over 300 people. At the end of her speech, Unger said the next time she returned to Sarasota, Shem Tov would be with her.

Sure enough, after being released in February 2025 following 505 days of captivity, Shem Tov came to Sarasota to speak with the help of TheSixSRQ and their partners.

The October 2025 event at The Ora sold out in less than a week with no marketing budget — advertised only through social media and word of mouth. The community response affirmed TheSixSRQ’s commitment to bringing speakers annually to uplift the Jewish community and pay tribute to the Oct. 7 victims.

The group started with six volunteers — Pintchuck, along with Richard Bergman, Ilene Fox, Jessi Sheslow, Anne Spindel and Howard Tevlowitz. But the six in TheSixSRQ isn’t a reference to its founding members. The name, adopted after Shem Tov’s event, represents the six points on the Star of David.

At the time, the group considered becoming an official, nonprofit organization but dismissed the idea as unsustainable since they all have other jobs or are in retirement. 

As long as they could continue to put on events like Unger’s and Shem Tov’s, Pintchuck said, there wasn’t pressure for them to put a label on the work they do.

“We said, ‘Why don’t we continue doing what we are doing?’” Pintchuck said. “We can put an event together, bring the community together, maybe sell out again, and go from there every year.”

Bringing global voices to Sarasota

When the opportunity came around to book Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin in Sarasota, TheSixSRQ raised the funds to do so in less than a week.

Partners like the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee chipped in to make the event a reality.

“Even when I was a professional fundraiser, gifts didn’t come this fast,” Pintchuck said. “I’ve been very fortunate that people respond to my passion. That to me is better than any job I have ever performed in my life.” 

Julie Green, who is co-chairing the event with her husband and was a former Jewish Federation board member, reached out to a friend who was Goldberg-Polin’s college roommate. The friend, Alison Lebovitz, who is also moderating the event, helped connect Green and TheSixSRQ to Goldberg-Polin’s agent. 

That kickstarted what would eventually lead to the family’s upcoming visit and shines light on how everything surrounding the event was made possible — through community connection.

“We have a small but mighty Jewish community here, and we also have a lot of support from Jewish neighbors here,” Green said. “So many of my friends who aren’t Jewish are coming to this event and have been talking about it. To have someone at that caliber in our community speak is a huge win for everybody.”

Securing the couple’s appearance was one challenge, but activating the community to show up is another. 

TheSixSRQ fueled a powerful community response with a grassroots approach. They advertised on social media, fundraised to cover high costs like speaker honorariums and security, and partnered with organizations, churches and synagogues that helped them spread the word.

Overall, 41 individuals and local businesses helped fund or advertise the event.

Pintchuck said a committee of 11 additional people were brought on to help TheSixSRQ coordinate the event in whatever capacity they could, and most are the same people who helped with Shem Tov’s speaking engagement.

Making the event free was a priority from the beginning, even as organizers faced the costs of speaker fees, venue rental and security.

Tickets to Goldberg-Polin and her husband speak elsewhere can range anywhere from $18 to thousands of dollars, Katz said. But TheSixSRQ wanted to ensure the cost wouldn’t prevent anyone in Sarasota from attending.

“We can’t ever have Oct. 7 happen again. Just like the Holocaust, we can’t have it happen again,” Katz said. “So people need to hear this story. There’s no [financial] barrier, it’s really about community and being together.” 

When it became clear the event would have to move to the Van Wezel, there were more factors to consider.

Pintchuck said they had to coordinate with the Sarasota Police Department and the Jewish Federation’s security director to ensure the event at the Van Wezel was safe. This year’s event will have double the security presence as last year’s with Shem Tov, as well as nearly double the attendees.

Pintchuck said the group also realized their budget was going to come up short.

TheSixSRQ got together and made a list of people to call. In just a few hours, they were able to raise the money needed.

“That’s the power of what this group has been able to do,” Pintchuck said. “It’s not mechanical. It’s not transactional. It’s personal, from the heart.”

For Pintchuck, putting this event on is a commitment — one rooted in the power of connection through storytelling.

“We are storytellers at this point, and it’s our commitment to make sure that we have what it takes to bring a community together and give the stage to a family to tell their story,” Pintchuck said. “I feel it’s our moral responsibility to keep telling these stories.”

This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org.

The post Grassroots effort brings parents of slain American-Israeli hostage to Sarasota appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The WMNF Song of the Day for October 15, 2026 is “Metal” by The Beths

Okay, are you still riding high on that post concert energy from last week at Home – The RITZ Ybor? Can we just take a second to collectively obsess over The Beths? Because honestly, everything the crew touch turns absolute indie-rock gold. If you aren’t completely hooked on their razor-sharp lyricism, massive hooks, and that glorious, guitar-driven crunch, what are you even doing?

Formed in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2014, The Beths—fronted by singer-songwriter/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes alongside guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck—grew out of a collective of university jazz majors. They built an international following with acclaimed albums like Future Me Hates Me and Expert in a Dying Field before cementing their reputation for razor-sharp lyricism and massive melodies.

Their track “Metal” (off their fourth studio album Straight Line Was a Lie) is pure, unadulterated genius. The track showcases the band’s signature mix of anxious, high-energy rhythm and sweet, soaring vocal harmonies. Lyrically and conceptually, the album dives into themes of personal growth, the non-linear nature of healing, and finding resilience.

Ready to put it on repeat yet?

For info: Tour — The Beths

The post SOTD 10/15/26: Metal by The Beths appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Uhuru Movement is investigating a hanging death as homicide

Syriah Henderson, a 29-year-old Black woman, was found hanging from a tree behind a St. Petersburg Dollar Tree this past July. The St. Petersburg Police Department and medical examiner said the death was a suicide. Yet, The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement announced at a press conference yesterday that it is investigating the local death as a homicide, starting with what the police department might have missed.

Polk County Schools plans a community farm in Homeland

Polk County Public Schools is moving forward with plans for a community farm in Homeland. The proposed facility would be on a 180-acre site between Bartow and Fort Meade. It would include row crop fields, a teaching kitchen, a greenhouse, some cattle and outdoor learning space. The district is currently looking for funding.

Solar Energy Loan Fund helps finance affordable energy

The Solar and Energy Loan Fund, or SELF, is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing low-cost home repairs. These sustainable home improvements include critical storm repairs, cleaner alternatives for energy, and lower energy bills. SELF reports that it has provided sustainable property improvements to over 500 residences in Pinellas County.

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: Wed. Oct. 14, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Hillsborough County agencies are receiving thousands of dollars from Florida’s government to support immigration enforcement. It might not be paying off.

Tampa and Plant City’s police departments got a combined $700,000 in state funds to conduct arrests on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. So far, neither agency has reported any immigration arrests to the state.

Florida’s State Board of Immigration Enforcement—made up of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his cabinet—awards grants to agencies that train their officers to enforce federal immigration law under the 287(g) program.

The board approved $430,000 for the Tampa Police Department and $270,000 dollars for Plant City.

The approvals often take place with no discussion between members of the board. The board’s Oct. 28, 2025, meeting lasted two minutes, with grant approval taking less than a minute.

DeSantis concluded the meeting by saying, “Thanks for all your hard work, guys.”

Both departments recorded a small number of “suspected unauthorized alien encounters,” which they are required to report to the state. That could be any situation where an officer is unable to verify the immigration status of a stopped individual.

Of those encounters, 32 in Tampa and 24 in Plant City ended in arrests. But those were arrests on state criminal charges that would have been made regardless of the 287(g) agreement.

Anyone arrested on criminal charges with an ICE detainer will be reported to ICE when they’re booked in jail whether or not the local police are signed on to 287(g) agreements.

Neither department recorded any arrests under federal immigration authority.

They aren’t the only police departments in the state getting big bucks for small figures. A recent report from the Wall Street Journal showed the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office was eligible for nearly $15 million in federal funding—separate from the state grants—for just seven immigration arrests.

The money went to overtime and controversial AI software

TPD used their funding for bonuses and overtime.

The Plant City Police Department used the state immigration enforcement grant to purchase Peregrine, a controversial AI-powered policing software. They said it would streamline their operations, enabling better collaboration with ICE.

Peregrine combines multiple police databases and uses AI to draw connections between the data, often advertising itself as “supercharging” ordinary police work. Critics say the technology could amplify biases and violate privacy.

The nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice released a report on Peregrine and similar tools that says robust safeguards are needed for any AI software used to link databases.

“While these data sharing capabilities may be a boon to police departments, the easy access to massive troves of data and ability to repurpose sensitive information far beyond the purpose for which it was initially collected can also facilitate intrusive searches and misuse of data for non–law enforcement purposes,” the report reads.

Peregrine was started by a former employee of Palantir, a company that creates software for ICE and other military and law enforcement purposes. 

Tampa City Council will consider accepting a grant for the software this Thursday.

At the September 17, 2026, meeting, council member Luis Viera asked if Peregrine would be connected to ICE at all. When a police representative said no, council member Alan Clendenin said he didn’t think that was accurate.

“If this is data compilation, and we are obligated through 287(g) for cooperation, how can you honestly say that it’s not a possibility?” Clendenin said.

The post Hillsborough cops got $700k for immigration enforcement, but reported no immigration arrests appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.