WSLR News

The first affordable housing opportunity strictly for veterans ever in Sarasota opened this morning. But not everyone likes it. 

Next: A forum on school privatization warned participants about defunding and state deficits, and called for teachers’ support. 

Then: The Suncoast Searchlight calls attention to funding challenges for mental health in public education. 

Finally: May 1st is tomorrow, and protesters will hold local Congressmen’s feet to the fire over their support for the Trump agenda. At least nine protests are set to occur tomorrow and Saturday in Sarasota and the region. 

And then, it was back to normal. On Wednesday, developer Pat Neal told the Sarasota County Commission why a road should be built in the south county that happens to benefit mostly residents of one of his developments. The commissioners obliged, unanimously.

Next: The United States and Canada are in a tiff like not seen since the 18th century. WSLR’s Peace & Justice Report interviewed a Canadian diplomat who also happens to be a snowbird with a condo on Longboat Key.

Then: A veterans’ group on the Suncoast is planting microforests. What gives? The Our Changing Environment hosts on WSLR bring us the details.

Next: Four hundred people crowded into a town hall organized by opponents of a takeover of the Ringling Museum of Art by New College. Farah Vallecillo was there.

This ain’t the Moran commission anymore: The Sarasota County commissioners yesterday voted to strip builders of funding for an education program.

Next: Homeowners in a posh subdivision near North Port are learning the hard way that developers wield a lot of power - even after they sold you the home they built. Suncoast Searchlight brings us this story.

Then: How did New College hire a politically connected figure after he appeared in three local police reports? Suncoast Searchlight is trying to find out.

Next: Four hundred people crowded into a town hall organized by opponents of a takeover of the Ringling Museum of Art by New College. Farah Vallecillo was there.

Next: It took Venice city councilmembers barely five minutes to decide how to fill the seat abandoned by Joan Farrell two weeks ago. Ramon Lopez reports.

Finally: A decision on a controversial skyscraper project has been delayed - because of a missing green-yellow sign. Gretchen Cochran explains.

The shooting inside the student union of the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee Thursday impacted hundreds of students, teachers and staffers. We interviewed a witness. 

Next: New College let go its marketing director, after he was arrested by Manatee County deputies Tuesday for exposure of sexual organs. The Suncoast Searchlight and Florida Trident investigated, and we have their report.

Then: New College fired a Chinese professor, citing a new Florida law, and that is making ripples. The Suncoast Searchlight has that report.

Finally: It’s unprecedented - bankers in Florida are joining unions. Five bank tellers in Bradenton are now bargaining with Wells Fargo, and Sera Deniz talked to a union organizer.

A Venice City Council member made ripples last week when she resigned in protest against peers seemingly favoring developer Pat Neal. WSLR’s Ramon Lopez interviewed Joan Farrell and Ron Smith, who was elected by landslide after he said Neal had asked him to drop out. 

Next: The culture wars flared up again on Monday when Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke to more than 3,000 people in Sarasota.

Then: Real estate prices in Southwest Florida are tumbling. We have a report from the Suncoast Searchlight.

Next: Trump’s executive measures will translate to hard times for our local economy and the finances of cities and counties on the Suncoast. That’s according to one of the leading bond experts in the country who happens to live in Sarasota.

Finally: Canadian snowbirds are upset - to the point where they stay away and sell their Florida homes. WSLR’s Jennifer Johnston talked to two of them.

Developer Pat Neal got his way in Venice, overcoming well-organized opposition - and prompting the resignation of a frustrated city council member. Ramon Lopez reports.

Next: The words “climate change” very rarely pop up in the official vocabulary of Sarasota County. But it just launched its first voluntary buyout program for repeatedly flooded homeowners. Farah Vallecillo has more on that.

Then: The biggest suburban development ever in the history of Sarasota overcame a hurdle this week - but barely. 

Finally: The affordable housing gap keeps growing in Sarasota. This week, one advocate urged Sarasota County commissioners to adopt a set of measures.

A recent news report revealed that New College President Richard Corcoran produced an outline for the takeover of the neighboring USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. USF administrators are now telling their faculty that nothing is imminent, but WSLR News reporter Alex Lieberman talked to one USF professor who continues to worry.

Next: New College is welcoming yet another controversial figure to its “Socratic Stage” series, triggering a protest and apparent distancing by the Sarasota Film Festival.

Then: Developer Pat Neal hopes he will be getting his way at a Venice Council meeting going on right now. We have the latest.

Then: Thousands of people in the region were on the streets Saturday for not just one, but six Hands-Off protests.

Next: Sarasota Schools are set to end a mental health program for elementary school kids. We have this report from the Suncoast Searchlight.

Finally: Did you know there’s a cattle drive in Florida? Ramon Lopez recently put on his boots and hat, and he has more on that. 

The race for height is on when it comes to construction in downtown Sarasota, and some architects and urban planners don’t like it. Gretchen Cochran listened to the critics.

Then: Manatee County Commissioners are re-writing the master plan for new development. This week they discussed transportation, particularly alternatives to the automobile. But in the same meeting, one of the region’s biggest developers pleaded for more roads he says are needed for more cars. WSLR News intern Sera Deniz watched and listened.

Next: The Sarasota Film Festival is launching today, and WSLR News intern Farah Vallecillo has a preview.

A new Florida law makes interaction with China difficult. Citing that law, New College fired a teacher who is actually seeking political asylum here. We’ll have this report brought to you by the Suncoast Searchlight.

Then: Staying with New College: After 16 months of planning, the student-made Catalyst newspaper is back, but it’s now off-campus.

Next: Sarasota County wants to return stormwater management within city limits back to the city of Sarasota. Ramon Lopez explains what’s behind this move.

Finally: Elon Musk’s cut-and-shut operations in Washington caused another ripple in Sarasota. Alex Lieberman reports. 

What to do with the Van Wezel? The committee that will make recommendations on the historic performing arts hall got a good look at the elephant in the room: Rising sea levels and intensifying storms.

Then: The race for height continues in downtown Sarasota. Ramon Lopez gives us updates on two twin-tower proposals: the Hyatt Hotel makeover and the Mira Mar luxury condo project.

Next: The current political atmosphere is tough for immigrant farmworkers. Even so - or maybe because of it - the Coalition of Immokalee Workers just started a tour of Florida to find new allies.

Finally: “Women of Resistance” started as a series of paintings. Now it is morphing into a series of dances you will be able to see in Bradenton next week.