Stephanie Colombini

Tampa is hosting the annual Medal of Honor convention this week, with festivities kicking off Tuesday.

It brings together 46 of the 70 living recipients of the nation’s highest military honor, given to those who risked their lives during service.

Michael Drejka was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday for the fatal shooting of Markeis McGlockton over a handicapped parking spot in Clearwater last year - a sentence that McGlockton's family praised.

This week on Florida Matters we talk about how some of our region’s airports are changing to make travel more convenient.

Sixty-five submarines have been lost since the U.S. Navy created an undersea force in 1900.

A new artificial reef recently opened off the coast of Sarasota honoring these boats and the more than 4,000 crew members who never made it home.

Florida is one of the nation's largest producers of honey and is a hub for beekeeping, both commercially and as a hobby.

In a special reporting collaboration, WUSF News and the Zest Podcast are taking a closer look at honey bees over the next few weeks.

One of the main units that operates at MacDill Air Force Base celebrated its 100th anniversary Monday. It also got a new name.

A growing number of programs try to treat PTSD by getting veterans into nature, even deep under the sea. 

Airmen at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa are taking a break from their normal duties Friday. Instead, they will reflect on mental health.

Over the next few weeks, WUSF will be sharing stories produced for One Small Step, the latest project from StoryCorps. Each segment features two strangers, with completely different political beliefs, sitting down together and having a conversation. 

Low-income patients in Hillsborough County are losing an option for receiving free family-planning care at the end of this month.  As of Sept. 30, Tampa Family Health Centers will no longer offer Title X services.

Most Floridians are breathing easier now that Hurricane Dorian has moved away from the state and up the coast. But the work is not done for NOAA's Hurricane Hunters in Lakeland.

It’s been an all hands on deck situation for Hurricane Hunter crews since Dorian became a threat in the Caribbean.

These air crews fly into the storm to gather data they can share instantly with the National Hurricane Center and other weather experts.

Florida's coral reefs are in trouble. Scientists say they've been declining for decades.

But researchers have very recently come up with some exciting results that they say show promise in restoring these beautiful and important marine communities.

A new mental health clinic opened in Tampa that provides free or low-cost care to post-9/11 veterans and military families.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is working with USF Health to train providers to better care for women patients.

Tyndall Air Force in the Panhandle is making progress in a massive effort to rebuild after it was devastated by Hurricane Michael last fall. But the need for housing and sufficient funds to complete the repairs are still critical issues.

This week on Florida Matters we talk about what communities are doing to keep from releasing sewage and other contaminants into our local waterways. Part of the problem comes from aging wastewater and stormwater systems. 

The Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg runs a program that teaches glassblowing to veterans. Researchers at the University of South Florida recently evaluated the program, known as Operation Art of Valor.

Monday is the first day of school in Hillsborough County and teachers are preparing for the new year. For teachers at Tinker K-8 on MacDill Air Force Base, that includes learning about military culture at an orientation program the base hosted Thursday.

Many people may not realize that wine making in Florida is a billion-dollar industry. There are dozens of wineries across the state employing nearly 100,000 people, and university research departments dedicated to viticulture.

Scuba divers took the first official plunge to explore the new Circle of Heroes memorial in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday. 

The new certificate recognizes as many as 550,000 veterans who were exposed to nuclear weapons tests between 1945 and 1992. But the certificates leave a lot of atomic veterans underwhelmed.

LISTEN:

The Tampa Bay area is becoming a hub for craft beer both statewide and nationally, with the highest density of breweries in Florida.

This week on Florida Matters, we take another listen to our show about beer.

St. Petersburg city officials have announced a ten-year plan to create more affordable housing as rents rise across the region.

CBD is showing up more and more in Florida, from gas stations to grocery stories. It was being sold long before it became legal in the state on July 1. But there is a lot of confusion about whether it’s safe and what is legitimate.

By Stephanie Colombini

Veterans and members of the military seeking jobs as they transition to civilian life can connect with potential employers at a job fair Thursday at Amalie Arena in Tampa.

Fair organizers are also welcoming military spouses, who often struggle to find steady work.

By Robin Sussingham, Stephanie Colombini, Steve Newborn and Cathy Carter.

They’ve had to battle shark attacks, pollution, massive beach developments and confusing light sources, but sea turtles are bouncing back.

With nesting season well underway, Florida Matters host Robin Sussingham speaks with experts about how sea turtles are faring and efforts to protect them in our state.