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Julia Cooper
Monroe County Bureau ReporterJulia Cooper reports on all things Florida Keys and South Dade for WLRN.
Before joining the team full-time, she was WLRN’s Fall 2023 Intern and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in Journalism and minor in Women’s Studies.
During her time at UF, she served as an audio producer and multimedia journalist for WUFT News, North Central Florida’s NPR-affiliate. She also served as a photojournalist for The Independent Florida Alligator and the Gainesville Sun, and reported for the statewide Fresh Take Florida news desk — you can see some of her reporting here.
Cooper also contributed to the award-winning project, which was a collaboration between journalists from the University of Florida and University of Missouri. That project was funded by a grant from the Pulitzer Center’s nationwide Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.
Her contributions to the audio news documentary were recognized with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she won first place in general assignment reporting from the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists and placed in the Hearst Journalism Awards for the Audio News and Features category.
Julia can be reached at jcooper@wlrnnews.org.
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Several stations used by boaters, divers, researchers and meteorologists as a critical tool to understand sea surface conditions are becoming derelict and decommissioned, leaving those who rely on them, in the dark.
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Florida Keys food pantries are struggling to stay stocked up at a time when they’re seeing demand for food nearly double. “The bottom line is Monroe is really starving right now,” said the CEO of the largest food pantry operator in the Keys.
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WLRN’s reporters were out on the field across South Florida covering primary election day — from the polls to the parties. Here are some of the key results from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, and the Florida Keys.
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As voters arrived at the polls in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach County and the Florida Keys — many at the wrong location — they told WLRN issues like affordability, education and the environment were top of mind, as well as simply exercising the right to vote.
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For the first time, Lagrimas y Flores by Feliciano Castro is being translated into English, offering a glimpse into a rich literary archive of the early 20th century Cuban émigré community in Florida.
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Andy Newman, whose company provides public relations services to the Florida Keys' Tourist Development Council, faces 14 counts each of perjury and issuing false statements — both misdemeanors that could mean jail time — following allegations of financial mismanagement at the tourism agency.
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The surprise "microburst" weather event— uncommon in the Florida Keys — left significant tree damage in a Plantation Key neighborhood that took several days to clean up. “I lived here all my life and I’ve never seen anything like it," said one resident.
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The latest ALICE / United Way report shows more than 4 million households are straining to survive financially amid higher costs for food and housing as the affordability crisis continues to bite. Miami-Dade households fared worse, followed by Broward and Palm Beach County. The Florida Keys fared slightly better.
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Two cases of locally-contracted dengue fever were confirmed by health officials in Monroe County this week. Here’s how health and mosquito control officials say you can better avoid being bitten by potentially disease-carrying mosquitoes.
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After a public outcry not to fire Key West City Manager Al Childress, the city commission voted 4-3 Wednesday to terminate Childress’ work contract without cause.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more investments into Florida’s artificial reefs and an extra day added to the spiny lobster mini season this year – exclusively for Florida residents.
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The nonprofit Key West Wildlife Center this month began the long-awaited work to revitalize its aviary and clinic building to withstand hurricane damage and provide more space for wildlife patients.