No one tells a better Florida story than the people who know this state intimately — either from living here or from engaging with Florida issues in a thoughtful way. As an annual tradition, our has team has compiled a list of stories for you, in no particular order, that highlights the most reflective and important reporting from Florida this year. We salute these hard-working journalists who endeavor to tell the critical stories of our beloved state.
2024
Posted inDispatches from a Sinking State
Florida Through a Butterfly’s Eyes
Conservation biologist and photographer Geena Hill shares rare photos of elusive butterflies and moths in their natural habitats, shedding light on the growing ‘insect apocalypse.’
Posted inWater Quality
Can You Replace the River in Your Backyard?
The Sulphur Springs Pool was formerly a mainstay for recreation in the Florida heat for residents of the community. But in May 2024, the city of Tampa announced that the pool would be closed indefinitely for repair. Now both the pool and the nearby spring are off limits to the community – one that was previously known for the healing qualities of its mineral-rich waters.
Posted inLessons from the Marjories
The Tonic of a River Trip
Rivers figured large in the lives of Florida’s three Marjories. Each found joy, direction, and purpose from different waterways. And we are the fortunate inheritors of works inspired by their riverine passions.
Posted inDispatches from a Sinking State
All the New Roads Home
Even as a child, CD Davidson-Hiers knew Molino was not forever. Like many rural towns in Florida, this small town in the Panhandle has, in recent years, been coveted for its suburban potential. As new development encroaches, Davidson-Hiers writes about the way of life that will be lost for the people and animals that share this rural habitat.
Posted inLessons from the Marjories
May Mann Jennings, Florida’s First ‘Marjorie’Â
May Mann Jennings was the state’s first female political powerhouse, championing topics that made the all-male legislature wince: equal suffrage, city beautification, improvements for the Seminole Tribe, better forestry practices, and Florida’s first state park. She didn’t always win, but at a time when women couldn’t vote, she put these issues (and many more) onto the state’s agenda.
