WSLR News

Following the midterm elections, Florida is a red island in a blue sea, and Sarasota is one of the reddest dots on that island. We talked to the Sarasota party chiefs to get their take on the election outcome. 

Then: Florida voters approved a big cut to the taxes that fund much of local government. Like many other municipalities, the City of Sarasota is now scrambling to adapt to constitutional Amendment 3.

Next: For the third time, the City of Sarasota Commission rejected a controversial proposal to build the tallest tower yet in downtown.

Next: A Sarasota judge dealt a blow to the county commission’s effort to push back against a Florida law that enables construction in some rural areas.

Then: A Newtown educator gets honored with a portrait.

Today, the Board of Trustees of New College met, to approve a request to take on millions of dollars of debt for the takeover of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. The proposal is not run-of-the-mill.

Then: In the closing days of campaigning, the two leading candidates for Florida Governor were in Sarasota within 48 hours of each other. We have reports on both rallies. 

Next: It’s Election Day, and the polls will close in less than an hour. We have impressions from a polling station.

Finally: A Día de los Muertos event in Sarasota focused on immigrants who have died during Florida’s deportation sweeps.

The hyperscale data center plans in DeSoto County are dead. We’ll tell you how it happened.

Then: Less than a week before the elections Sarasota School Board candidate Heidi Brandt talked to WSLR host Cathy Antunes about parental rights, about for-profit schools, about her Pleasure Texting business, and more. 

Next: Will Sarasota County have the money to preserve more land? You will have a say on this, and we have the details. 

Then: The Obsidian tall tower project is back on the City of Sarasota Commission agenda.

Then: Will there be a divorce in the partnership to build a Sarasota Performing Arts Center? Three city commission candidates weigh in.

The foundation that is pushing to build a $300 million Sarasota Performing Arts Center is seeking alternative dispute resolution with the City of Sarasota. In a statement, the Performing Arts Foundation said this could end in a termination of the public-private partnership.

Then: A court heard today from opponents to a teardown of the historic US Garage building. We have the details about the process that led the city to agree to a demolition, and the questions it has raised. 

Next: Carl Abbott was the last living member of the Sarasota School of Architecture. After his passing, we have a tribute. 

Then: The new City of Sarasota manager presented her 100-day report and some recommendations. A few of them raised eyebrows.

Then: You have probably heard about Amendment 3. But also on the ballot are two other state-initiated constitutional amendments.

Finally: Donald Trump attacked Kelly Kirschner. The Democrat running for Congress turned it into a fundraising opportunity.

Polls indicate that the U.S. House race between Sydney Gruters and Kelly Kirschner will be a close call. But in fundraising, it’s lopsided. A look at the latest numbers shows why.

Then: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Republican Jim DeNiro feels confident he’ll win. But Julie London, his Democratic opponent, is getting help from unexpected political corners. We’re catching up with her campaign. 

Next: The Charter Review Board is the beholder of Sarasota County’s QUOTE-UNQUOTE “constitution”. It has been 100 percent Republican for many years, and - deserved or not - it has a reputation of rubber stamping developer interests.  Who is running for how many open seats? 

Finally: Even though it’s been told by the county it should stop serving homeless people, a Sarasota church is back at it - and this could turn into a legal test case about zoning vs religious freedom.

The Hope Florida scandal and the state’s legal efforts to shut down talk about it put a big, bright spotlight on the race for Florida Attorney. WSLR interviewed the Democratic contender for the job.

Then: Angie Nixon plugged into the rock star status of Bernie Sanders, for a joint weekend whirlwind tour. Our reporter was at the U.S. Senate candidate’s first Angie and Bernie show Saturday in Tampa.

Then: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Republican Jim DeNiro feels comfortable about his chances. But how will he navigate conflicts of interest, with his brother-in-law running one of the largest construction companies in the area? Our reporter asked the question. 

Finally: A hard-to-control Dengue outbreak in the Tampa Bay area and the deadly crash of a pesticide spraying helicopter are putting the spotlight on the growing threat of mosquito-borne disease in the area. 

A couple of weeks before the elections, New College President Richard Corcoran offered a publicly funded stage to Erika Donalds, possibly Florida’s next First Lady, to talk about the need to privatize schools.

Then: Sarasota Congressman Greg Steube has ignored his Democratic opponents while coasting to re-election twice. Matt Montavon believes he can change that pattern.

Next: The Gaza hostage crisis continues to make ripples in Sarasota, and we have a report about it.

Finally: Ringling College of Art was an early adopter and hotbed of 3D animation. Now it’s going back to good-old 2D, frame-by-frame. 

And there go another few thousand acres of farmland in east Sarasota County. We have a report from yesterday’s county commission discussion and vote on Hi Hat Ranch.

Next: The state of Florida is pushing school superintendents to keep “inappropriate” books out of school libraries. But culture warrior Bridget Ziegler gave her seal of approval to the Sarasota school district’s handling of library books.

Finally: Yesterday at Fogartyville Community Center, a book author explained the impact of mass deportation and the  “Border Industrial Complex”. The biggest takeaway from the event, though, were the stories of three local immigrant activists. Ramon Lopez was there.

The Sarasota school district responded to the Florida Attorney General’s demand to investigate a Pine View history teacher. We have the details.

Next: An estimated 2,000 Haitians in this area lost their temporary protected status two months ago and have become deportable. An event in Sarasota put the spotlight on their situation.

Next: The national Democratic Party put the Manatee County-centered Congressional District 16 into the “in play” category. But campaign money tells a different story.

Finally: Just as Banned Book Week begins, the DeSantis administration puts more pressure on school districts to remove books from their libraries.

The planning commission had recommended denial of two big rezone asks for the Lakewood Ranch Southeast megaproject. Even so, the Sarasota County Commission granted them. One commissioner said his hand was forced.

Meanwhile, the developer behind Wellen Park is trying to get taxpayers to fund an expansion of Manasota Beach Road that would create a straight shot to beaches. One rural resident filed suit, but then dropped it. We find out what’s next for the resistance in and around historic Englewood.

Then: The contenders for the U.S. House District 16 seat faced off in the first - and possibly only - debate. Our reporter watched closely.

Finally: How to go about investing in a community that has been underinvested for decades? Clinton Engelberger with Suncoast Searchlight asked long-time boosters of Newtown, the minority-majority district covering the north of Sarasota.