Formerly segregated housing, affordable senior living complex opens in Newtown

Decades ago, a site in one of Sarasota’s oldest African American communities was segregated housing. Now, it's a new affordable housing complex for seniors. Sarasota contributed more than $1.3 million in penny sales tax funds to make it happen. 

Tampa teen wins right to abortion without parental consent

A Tampa teen has won her appeal in district court for the right to talk to a doctor about, and ultimately have a medical abortion without parental consent. Her original request was denied by a judge, based partially on "either a lack of intelligence or credibility."

Home carrying legacy of Sarasota's first Black community to be relocated, transformed for cultural center

A home in Sarasota's Rosemary District will soon carry the legacy of the city’s first Black community. Plans are in the works to transform it into an African American cultural arts center and history museum, but first the home has to be relocated.

This MLK Day comes with calls for progress on voting rights

Dr. King's children fear new voting laws enacted since the 2020 election are stripping away the very rights their father fought to attain.

Tampa leaders seek to protect historical burial sites from being developed

The city of Tampa announced new protections that are likely coming for forgotten and vulnerable cemeteries, many of which of historic African American burial sites.

State considers establishing department to find, honor lost cemeteries

Lawmakers in Florida are moving the state another step toward grappling with its history of racial segregation, specifically regarding Black-only cemeteries that were covered over or otherwise ignored.

Army veteran wore a wire, risked his life for 10 years to expose Florida's KKK

For nearly 10 years, U.S. Army veteran Joseph Moore lived a double life -- attending secret meetings and participating in cross burnings while donning a white robe and hood with the Ku Klux Klan in north Florida. But he also wore something else: a wire for the FBI. He helped foil at least two murder plots and exposed Klan members working as law enforcement officers throughout Florida. And his efforts nearly got him killed.

Bartow honors groundbreaking golfer who's still giving back

A Bartow man never thought he would live to see the day that he would get such a prestigious accolade bestowed upon him. At 102, local golf icon Herbert Dixon just had the driving range at the Bartow Golf Course named after him.

'A Doll Like Me': Helping children with disabilities feel seen through personalized dolls

The doll maker behind “A Doll Like Me” makes dolls for children who don't see themselves on store shelves. The dolls resemble their owners: children with a variety of disabilities, so that every child feels seen.

Racism is a 'public health threat,' Biden says in new HIV/AIDS strategy

In its new HIV/AIDS strategy released Wednesday on the annual commemoration of World AIDS Day, the Biden administration is calling racism “a public health threat” that must be fully recognized as the world looks to end the epidemic.

Racial justice program at USF gives students tools to advocate for equity

Students are often at the helm of social change, and that’s what some Tampa Bay universities want to tap into through a new racial justice fellowship at the University of South Florida.

ACLU challenges how courts in Manatee and Sarasota counties set bail

Some people are sitting in jail with bail amounts they just cannot pay, so the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida is fighting to get those bail amounts lowered.

Metro Ministries urgently needs 500 Spanish-speaking volunteers

Thanksgiving is coming, and this time, it's Metro Ministries that is in need. The organization says the need for bilingual volunteers has exploded.

'FUNDAMENTAL JUSTICE': After 56 years, 2 men cleared in murder of Malcolm X

Two men who for decades steadfastly maintained their innocence in the 1965 assassination of civil rights icon Malcolm X were exonerated on Thursday, after a nearly two-year-long re-investigation.

Plessy v. Ferguson: Man at center of landmark case on verge of pardon

The state Board of Pardons' unanimous decision to clear theHomer Plessy’s record of a conviction now goes to Gov. John Bel Edwards, who has final say over the pardon.

Officials target undoing racial divides created by Florida highways, interstates

Historians say Tampa Bay is among the areas with highway designs that displaced minorities and created racial inequity. Instead of connecting communities, highways were used to racially divide neighborhoods.