WSLR News

The firing of federal employees is happening not only in Washington. It’s making ripples here on the Suncoast, as Gretchen Cochran found.

Speaking of DOGE: There is also pushback, in the shape of protests, against what many decry as executive overreach. There were 17 protests on President’s Day in Florida, including one in Bradenton and two in Sarasota. We have reports on those.

Finally: New College hosted an academic with rock star status in the LGBTQ community. Judith Butler called on the newly conservative college to reinstate its gender studies program, to big applause from the audience. 

The project to build a super tall and super exclusive condo tower in downtown Sarasota for the super rich survived one challenge. But it has to clear one more hurdle. We have that story.

Then: There was a small earthquake in Sarasota County politics this week. Ramon Lopez puts the spotlight on two “no” votes that make a dent in the seemingly unstoppable suburban sprawl machine.

Speaking of sprawl: In the middle of a decades-old suburb in Sarasota, a three-acre showcase for urban agriculture and composting is thriving. Sera Deniz put on her boots for this report.

You could call it a political earthquake. Sarasota County Commissioners voted yesterday AND today against two major suburban development projects, both with 5-0 votes. Ramon Lopez has that report.

Then: Tuesday was also a big day for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center project - the costliest undertaking yet in the history of the city. Gretchen Cochran is following it closely.

Next: A St. Petersburg Republican filed a bill that could defund the public arts programs of Florida cities - including that of the City of Sarasota. 

Finally: A pro-immigrant protest brought hundreds of people to downtown Sarasota this weekend. And more is to come, including tracking of deportation action in the region, according to one of the organizers. 

Donald Trump decreed that immigration enforcers can now enter churches, hospitals and schools. Sarasota School Board members and the superintendent discussed their response this week.

Then: It’s Black History Month, and a photo exhibit at the Fogartyville celebrates the struggles of civil rights activists.

Finally: Florida used to be the nation’s leading cattle state. Not anymore, as Florida’s head count of cows keeps shrinking. A new book puts the spotlight on the Great Florida Cattle Drive, and we have a report about that.

New College is land-hungry. But the administrators’ efforts to expand the small campus have yielded mixed results. This week they seem to have scored one win and one loss.

Then: Cell-phone use at school is a thorny subject. The Sarasota school district waded into the controversy by polling students and parents. Ramon Lopez reports about the survey’s results.

Next: The federal spending freeze this week affected at least one local program. We tell you how.

Finally: The developer of Lakewood Ranch scored a major victory last week in a Tampa appeals court for their massive expansion plans in Sarasota County. We had an in-depth interview with the plaintiff about what’s next, and what this all means. 

It was not what many in the community - and two men on the dais - wanted: This week, the Sarasota County Commission voted for what looks pretty much like the beginning of the end for the last volunteer fire district in the county. Ramon Lopez reports.
 
Then: The news desert keeps growing, but new wells are springing up. We report about the second version of a million-dollar news project on the Suncoast a non-profit is about to launch.
 
Next: Progress dies in isolation. Preventing that is what an event about coalition building this week in Sarasota was about, and we have a report with hands-on advice.

Finally: You have a chance this weekend to see John Lennon up close. WMNF tells you how.

Sarasota County was ground zero for flooding in Florida this storm season. Yesterday, the Sarasota County Commission held a workshop on stormwater management, and Ramon Lopez was there.

Then: Yesterday, three appellate judges heard arguments in a lawsuit that tries to stop the Lakewood Ranch Southeast mega-development. We listened closely to the judges’ questions.

Next: Light pollution is getting worse at Myakka River State Park. The Our Changing Environment show on WSLR put the spotlight on that problem.

Finally: Between the second Trump inauguration, Jimmy Carter’s passing, and marches, it was a weekend of contrasts. We bring you a few impressions from the streets of Sarasota.

Were you under water during this epic storm season? This Tuesday, the Sarasota County Commissioners will discuss stormwater management lessons learned from the recent flooding. 

Then: The state legislature is providing heat protections unequally. Surreal News interviewed a Florida farmworker advocate about a heat bill that may be back in the upcoming session in Tallahassee, after it died repeatedly in committee.

Next: Coalition building is needed to achieve positive change, but the culture wars have divided us. How can we overcome that? We interviewed an expert who will be in Sarasota next week to moderate a panel of coalition builders representing very diverse grassroots movements.

Finally: MLK Day is coming, and Ishmael Katz has a roundup of the celebrations in Sarasota.

How much will it cost to keep the recently flooded Van Wezel Performing Arts Center? A fraction of what building a new one would cost. That's according to the latest engineering report, and Gretchen Cochran has the details.

Then: The Sarasota County Fire Department wants to expand its coverage area. But its proposal to cut back the county's last volunteer fire department increasingly feels like it's too hot to handle. Ramon Lopez reports. 

Next: This Saturday - two days ahead of Donald Trump's second inauguration, women will march again.

Finally: With mass deportations looming, the League of Women Voters Manatee hosted a panel on immigration. The panelists painted a dark picture.

Sarasota County announced another $200 million-plus federal grant to help with storm recovery. The HUD funds will bail out many distressed homeowners here, and most of the money is supposed to help low- and moderate income households.

Then: The first fully bilingual school in the region is expanding, and Dayana Melendez has the details.

Next: The Manatee County Commission has a new chairman who wants to be transparent. He took his aspirations for a test-run in the first meeting under his gavel.

Next: Immigration and immigrants have become a political and emotional punching bag. A forum in Sarasota wants to bring back the human angle.