Julio Ochoa
Editorial DirectorNewspapers were my first love, but public radio stole my heart from the moment I tuned in during college.
We made it official in 2016 when WUSF came calling for a Health News Florida editor. Since then, I’ve worked hard to figure out what makes some radio stories sound so great — and how to produce stories about complicated health care subjects that sound that good.
It isn’t always easy but we know to do it right, we need to talk to real people, like you. For years, you’ve been telling us you want the system to work well for everyone but also not cost an arm and a leg. We’ve tried to focus our coverage on topics that matter most to you.
Before joining WUSF, I worked at the Tampa Tribune where I started as a web producer and held several editing roles, including my final stint as Deputy Metro Editor. I made the switch to radio just one week before the paper was sold and permanently shut down.
I’ve also reported and edited at papers in Naples and Greeley, Colorado.
Other than the seven years that I spent in Colorado after my undergrad — first as a ski bum and then earning my master’s degree from the University of Colorado — I’ve lived in Florida. I was born and raised in south St. Petersburg and received a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
As a native, I know a thing or two about the natural spaces that make this state great, and you can usually find me there when I’m not working. I love the salt water and spend lots of time on it with my wife and three kids, usually holding a paddle, a fishing pole or a cold beer in my hand.
If you have a story idea, give me a call at 813-974-8633, email me at julioochoa@wusf.org or find me on Twitter @julioochoa.
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Mayors will be elected in Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar and Belleair Beach. -
Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties are now considered medium risk for COVID-19 transmission, along with Pinellas, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties. -
The company told the state on Monday that it is closing four offices in the Tampa Bay area. The layoffs are effective April 1. -
The site, along with the other three sites that Hillsborough operates, will offer Antigen rapid tests, which provides results in about three hours, and PCR tests, which provide results in 48 hours. -
Coronavirus cases are up by 430,297, but Florida's positivity rate drops for the first time in weeksMore than 430,000 people tested positive for coronavirus last week; at the same time, new case positivity rate dropped for the first time since early November.
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The 76,887 new coronavirus cases brought the state's seven-day daily average to 56,759. -
Between Sunday and Thursday, hospitalizations rose 55% to 8,406 people. Nearly 1,000 people were in intensive care beds.
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The incorporation bill first needed support from the local delegation to advance to the full Legislature where Governor Ron DeSantis would have to authorize a vote. -
The state is nowhere near its peak of about 17,000 coronavirus hospitalizations during the delta surge.
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The state reported 31,758 new cases Friday and 32,850 Saturday, a 320% surge in weekly numbers. The surge has come with a rush to get tested ahead of the holidays, and that trend continued after Christmas.
