Issues - A Production of WPBT2

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Due to technical problems we will not have the video of this week's Issues program up until at least sometime on Monday.  Please check back then or catch Issues over-the-air on WPBT2 Friday night at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm.

Thank you.

This Week on Issues - 02/26 & 02/28

Friday, February 26 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 28 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: 2010 Florida Legislative Preview
The Florida Legislature convenes next week in Tallahassee for the 2010 session.  With a $3.2 billion dollar hole in the state budget, how will legislators fill the gap in this critical election year?

Guests:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University
J.C. Hernandez, Miami-Dade Republican Party
Derek Newton, The November Group

 

ISSUE TWO: Obama’s Healthcare Summit
On Thursday, President Barack Obama held a bipartisan summit on healthcare reform at the Blair House in full view of the cameras.  How much, if anything, was accomplished and how much can be described as “politics-as-usual” grandstanding?

Guest:
Carlos Curbelo, Office of U.S. Sen. George LeMieux

 

Miami-Dade State of the County 2010

"Take a look around. What is happening is unprecedented in Miami-Dade County's history. Together with public and private partners, we are investing in infrastructure at a pace not seen in decades."

- Mayor Carlos Alvarez

To read Mayor Alvarez's full speech, click here.
Watch the speech here.

Watch This Week's Issues

Here are the links to watch this week's program on uVu.

Friday, February 19  @ 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 21 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Democratic Panel: Can Bipartisanship Exist?
ISSUE TWO: Virtual Ethics

This Week on Issues - 2/19 & 2/21

Friday, February 19 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 21 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Democratic Panel:  Can Bipartisanship Exist?
U.S. Senator Evan Bayh announced on Monday that he was not seeking re-election, delivering a blow to the Democratic Party and to President Barack Obama, who reportedly considered Bayh for the vice presidency.  We gathered a panel of Democrats to discuss the state of their party today.

Guests:
Elaine Bloom, Former State Representative
Mitch Ceasar, Broward Democratic Party
Raul L. Martinez, Former City of Hialeah Mayor
Brian May, Floridian Partners
 

ISSUE TWO: Virtual Ethics
Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled in favor of a young woman who was suspended as a high school student for making a Facebook page complaining about her teacher, declaring her writings were protected under the First Amendment.  But is it smart to rant online?  When should personal and societal ethics enter the realm of social media?

Guests:
Fred Blevens, Ph.D., Florida International University
Sam Terilli, J.D., University of Miami

Watch This Week's Issues

Here are the links to watch this week's program on uVu.

Friday, February 5 @ 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 7 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Interview with Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson
ISSUE TWO: Republican Round-up: Diaz-Balart Announcement and State Party Finances

This Week on Issues - 02/12 & 02/14

Friday, February 12 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 14 @ 12:30 PM
 

ISSUE ONE: Interview with Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson
After 16 years in office, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson recently announced she would not seek reelection in the fall.  She joins us on program to discuss her decision and her future goals.

Guest:
Katy Sorenson, Miami-Dade County Commission, District 8

ISSUE TWO: Republican Round-up: Diaz-Balart Announcement and State Party Finances
On Thursday, U.S. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart announced he would not seek reelection this November, vacating a seat he held for nearly two decades.  At the state level, the Florida Republican party is looking at whether its funds were improperly managed by former chair Jim Greer.  How strong is the G.O.P. in Florida?

Guests:
Hugo Arza, Hugo P. Arza, P.A.
Rudy Fernandez, University of Miami
Ana Navarro, Political Consultant
Joseph Uscinski, Ph.D., University of Miami

Watch This Week's Issues

Here are the links to watch this week's program on uVu.

Friday, February 5 @ 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 7 @ 12:30 PM

ISSUE ONE: Current Status of Haiti
ISSUE TWO: Broward Ethics Investigations
ISSUE THREE: Crist as Independent?

This Week on Issues - 2/05 & 2/07

Friday, February 5 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 7 @ 12:30 PM

 

ISSUE ONE: Current Status of Haiti
Despite international assistance, Haiti's recovery from last month's earthquake will be painfully slow.  Consul General Ralph Latortue joins us to discuss the current relief situation, the country’s long rebuilding effort, and how the Haitian court system might view the case surrounding the ten American Baptists in custody charged with child kidnapping.

Guest:
Ralph Latortue, Consulate General of Haiti

 

ISSUE TWO: Broward Ethics Investigations
A Broward County ethics task force is trying to address the ongoing corruption scandals by drafting a new code that would bar commissioners from also being lobbyists.  We discuss this and other Broward news this week such as the special primary election and the property tax increase to build a new courthouse.

Guest:
Michael Mayo, SunSentinel

 

ISSUE THREE: Crist as Independent?
The gap between Republicans Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist is becoming larger in the battle for the U.S. Senate.  One pollster suggested Crist should run as an independent to avoid a primary race with Rubio.  Should Crist consider leaving the GOP?

Guest:
Sean Foreman, Ph.D., Barry University

Broward Historical Museum Grand Opening

From uVu:

On February 4, 2010, a Grand Opening was held for the Broward County Historical Commission and Museum's new home on the former site of the West Side Grade School at Sailboat Bend, which was the second elementary school built in the Fort Lauderdale School District.  The original school opened for classes on September 21, 1923.

On hand to commemorate the event and cut the ribbon welcoming guests were Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist; Ken Keechl, Mayor of Broward County; John Rodstrom, Jr., Broward County Commissioner, District 7; John P. "Jack" Seiler, Mayor for the City of Fort Lauderdale and Helen Landers, County Historian.

David Baber, Administrator and Historic Preservation Officer was the Master of Ceremonies and America, The Beautiful was performed by the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theatre.

Click here to view part 1 on uVu
Click here to view part 2 on uVu