Critical Times

The Black Lives Matter Manasota Alliance hosts a Kwanzaa book drive. The drive is part of their literacy initiative and hopes to get books to children in underrepresented communities.

In a special meeting on November 19, Manatee County Commissioners voted 4-3 to discuss terminating their County Administrator, Cheri Coryea. Coryea has worked on the County government for over 30 years and recently received glowing evaluations. Commissioners in support of removing Coryea cited a 30 million dollar land deal, while commissioners opposed pointed toward the influence of developers.

Thanksgiving has a wide range of associations, going from family to settler colonialism to community service. Becca Hadwen spoke with Dr. Kristine Thomas Jones about the history of the holiday and its food.

Adam Cottillion shares an experience he had at a polling site in the City of Sarasota.

Omar Guerrero speaks to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and local immigration lawyer Steve Maggi regarding recent changes to the citizenship test and their impacts.

In the general election, Florida voters decided not to open up the state's closed primary election. Jacob Wentz digs deeper into Amendment 3 and the things that may have influenced voters' decisions.

Omar Guerrero recounts the House District 72 race, which pertains to Northern Sarasota County. Considered one of the few tight races in the area, and touted as a pivotal district given it's back-and-forth between Democratic and Republican, this election turned out to be another decisive win for the Republicans. Omar explains the context of the race and interviews its recently elected representative, Fiona McFarland, on the challenges and complexities of running for the seat.

Omar Guerrero recounts as recent controversial ICE policy, the scandalous 545 children with missing parents at the border, and the significance of these issue for the upcoming election.

The Sarasota County School board will address what they deem to be safety issues by implementing security wanding and bag checks for anyone entering the Building. Omar Guerrero recounts the meeting's discussion on the issue, and speaks to the School District's Chief of Police, Timothy Enos, on the meaning and purpose behind these measures.

Omar Guerrero recounts the recent controversy regarding the school board meeting last Tuesday where racial education was a hotly debated issue. He also spoke to Alaina Martinez, founder of the Leader Rights Organization, who played an important role in gathering voices in favor of racial education for the public hearing."