WSLR News

The Florida legislature is in overtime this week, negotiating a budget for next year. Driving the delay is a fight over what taxes to cut, and the governor’s proposal to cut property taxes worries a lot of people. Noah Vinsky has a closer look.

Next: Meanwhile in Manatee County, the all-Republican county commission was discussing how to shrink an already lean local government. Spoiler alert: It ain’t easy, and some commissioners are expressing frustration. 

Then: FPL is asking state regulators to give it the biggest base rate hike in Florida history, if not U.S. history. We are looking at some of the grassroots pushback.

Finally: As the next storm season looms, our reporter Ramon Lopez caught up with hurricane hunters.

Sarasota residents who were flooded last year are putting pressure on the county commissioners. But is Sarasota ready for the next storm season?

Next: When it comes to sewage spills, Bradenton has been the worst offender in the region. Now that the city has outsourced its wastewater management, it is trying to get a sense of what all of this will cost. 

Then: In a meeting last week, the new chair ended the Mike Moran era in the Sarasota County Commission - at least when it comes to the former chair’s makeover of social service funding. We have more on that.

The 3,000 signatures didn’t make a dent. If it’s up to the panel that makes recommendations to the City of Sarasota about the future of the Van Wezel, the historic performing arts center will be history soon.

Then: A special board meeting at New College of Florida gave a glimpse of the retention and recruitment problems the movers and shakers behind the conservative makeover are facing. 

Next: Many legislators keep saying there won’t be any cuts to public school programs as a result of the state’s voucher program. Two local school board members beg to differ, as Tamara Solum found.

Finally: Amid the devastation that will come with big new development, Sarasota County’s oldest rural community celebrated a small victory.

More felony charges are piling up against the former communications director of New College. Suncoast Searchlight and The Florida Trident report.

Then: The Sarasota County Commission wants developers to go back to holding in-person community workshops for neighbors. At least in part, as Ramon Lopez reports. 

Next: Cuts to the NOAA could impact the fishing industry and Red Tide research in the region. Suncoast Searchlight brings us this report.

Finally: It was Alt Graduation Thursday night, an event where New College students are in charge. WSLR News intern Farah Vallecillo - herself a New College student - was there.

The Manatee County School Board is not boring anymore. Yesterday, in a tight 3-2 vote, the elected panel suddenly fired the district superintendent. Sunshine Law violations may have happened in the run-up to that vote, one critic says.

Then: In its ongoing session, the state legislature could ban counties’ use of tourism taxes for tourism promotion. Sarasota’s boosters are worried. Sera Deniz has more on that.

Next: 104,000 bucks. That’s the annual income it takes for a family of four to make it here in Sarasota, and that amount keeps rising fast. We have a Suncoast Searchlight report on the United Way’s annual ALICE survey.

Finally: A state law that bans camping on public property has put Florida counties in a bind. Half a year after this anti-homeless law went into effect, Alex Lieberman is looking at its effects.

The panel that will make recommendations on what to do with the Van Wezel seems to have reached consensus: The performing arts center function has to move out of the historic building. But grassroots activists are pushing back.

Next: Buyer beware! We have a follow-up to the Suncoast Searchlight report on developer-run mini governments.

Then: Operation Tidal Wave, the dragnet that caught more than a 1,000 immigrants in Florida is expanding. WSLR News’ Ramon Lopez reports.

Finally: A young researcher and fish farmer from Manatee County is sailing through the Caribbean to document aquaculture practices in the region. Farah Vallecillo caught up with her.

Grassroots organizers celebrated a rare victory against a high-profile development project in Sarasota Tuesday. Johannes Werner reports.

Next: A Suncoast Searchlight investigation describes the high cost of challenging development in the courts. Derek Gilliam brings us that story.

Then: An empty seat on the Venice city council was filled Tuesday. WSLR News’ Ramon Lopez reports.

Next: A Democratic senator from Connecticut and the nation’s youngest U.S. representative came to Sarasota. More than 1,000 flocked to their town hall, and WSLR News reporter Tamara Solum tried to find out why, and whether this experience may turn into movement.

Dozens of new governments have popped up in Sarasota and Manatee, and they are run by private corporations. Suncoast Searchlight has that report.

Next: More than 1,000 migrants in Florida got caught up in the ICE dragnet a week ago, and Ramon Lopez looked at the few facts known about Operation Tidal Wave.

Next: If and when MCR Health - the local non-profit that provides healthcare for 100,000 low-income patients - re-emerges from bankruptcy, it may face the next tough challenge: Medicaid cuts currently discussed by Republicans in the US Congress.

City of Sarasota commissioners voted to pay the attorney fees of a former colleague, after he defended himself against a conflict of interest complaint.

Next: Employers in this area are scrambling to help employees with childcare. New College of Florida seems to be going in the opposite direction.

Then: On Saturday, the youngest Congressman ever will be returning to Sarasota, where he worked for a year. WSLR interviewed Max Frost before his visit.

Then: Lakewood Ranch Southeast is a done deal now. But the bulldozers could start moving on the mega-development just when the worst real estate slump in years is beginning to impact this area.

Finally: Sarasota County commissioners are sending mixed messages on transit. 

What should happen to Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall? The climate change expert on the panel that will make recommendations to the city commission issued what looks like a death penalty.

Then: How did Fred Piccolo Jr. avoid arrest and get hired for a high-profile job at a public university? Suncoast Searchlight reporter Alice Herman offers more details.

Finally: Synia Carroll passed away in March. Ramon Lopez watched and listened at the jazz musician’s recent memorial service.