WSLR News

It was supposed to be a moment of robust discussion about the Sarasota County Commission's efforts to defund basic social services and turn them over to charities. But the discussion was cut short by an unexpected twist. Our news team was there.

Then: Richard Corcoran has big plans for the small college in Sarasota. But, for now, he's arm wrestling with professors at New College who feel he's not including them in his planning. Arianna Lockman has a report about a grievance filed by the faculty union.

Next: A former Republican state senator and the Republican public defender in Sarasota teamed up to discuss justice reform on today's Peace & Justice Report on WSLR. A dysfunctional local and state prison system are in deep need of reform, if you ask them.

New College faculty recently voted 25-1 to censure administrators for not involving them in the creation of a new online program. Florence Fahringer interviewed the faculty member the college recently put in charge of the launch of that distance learning program.

Then: Mote Marine is participating in a Sarasota County program for aspiring farmers. What can landlubbers learn from one of the foremost marine science institutions in the country? Arianna Lockman explains.

Next: Sarasota Democrats last weekend staged a one-ring circus event for their candidates. Literally. Our news team took advantage of the event to ask officials and candidates about their approaches to the affordable housing crisis.

It was a rare moment of harmony yesterday at the Manatee County Commission, when commissioners decided to take a major step towards the purchase of what could be the crown jewel of protected lands in the county.

Then: Dying shopping malls are low-hanging fruit for conversion to mixed-use properties with affordable housing. Sarasota Square Mall is one of the biggest low-hanging fruit in the county. But at a hearing last week, affordable housing was not mentioned. Ramon Lopez reports.

Next: Transit ridership has been recovering very slowly from the pandemic hole in some of the biggest metro areas. Not so in Manatee County, where passenger numbers have shot up 50% since rides have been made free. Yesterday, the commission took a step to cement these gains.

Yet another luxury development is going up near downtown Sarasota. It's facing a park, and it's in walking distance from movie theaters, an organic grocery store and other upscale stores, cafés, and fine dining. But the developer hopes to get a fat federal tax break for building in what the city has identified as a blighted neighborhood. Puzzled? Ramon Lopez explains.

Then: Discussion of racism is now off-limits in Florida schools or businesses. But public spaces remain open and available. An anti-racism coalition has put together a packed 10-day series of events in Manasota that begins this Monday. Florence Fahringer raises the curtain.

Finally: An agreement with a developer for Warm Mineral Springs fell apart last month. Now, the City of North Port is trying to figure out what to do with the popular attraction that was wrecked by Hurricane Ian. Our news team has the details.

Workers at a wholesale food distributor in Sarasota filed to hold a vote for joining a union. That came after their employer told them they will be replaced by the employees of a contractor. We have the details.

Then: Yesterday, the Sarasota School Board voted on the application of a for-profit charter school. This application by an affiliate of Charter Schools USA triggered a protest, and 57 members of the public lined up to speak. Bernadette Estrada-Brown was there.

Next: A helpline that connects callers in Sarasota County to emergency housing, crisis support and other services may close this month. ... Jim DeLa (de-LAW) of the Community News Collaborative says the local United Way is blaming county commissioners. 

Finally: Yesterday may have been the unceremonious end of a thirty-four year old institution in Sarasota: The Florida House. The Sarasota County Commission voted to hand this showcase of green and sustainable building to a non-profit run by the local builders' association.

We'll start with a hyperlocal story - what happens when there are two rivaling neighborhood associations, each claiming to be the "original" one? Ramon Lopez has a close look at one such case in Sarasota.

Then: The arrival of three "medical freedom" activists last year on the elected board of the public hospital in Sarasota caught the attention of the Washington Post and New York Times. This November, four of the nine board seats will be up for grabs. Florence Fahringer presents the crowded field of candidates.

Next: The worst bill so far for LGBTQ Floridians apparently won't pass muster in the state senate. Meanwhile, activists with Equality Florida staged a lively protest in Tallahassee.

Finally: There will be teacher protests in Florida this week, and New College will figure prominently in those. Our news team has the details.

On Nov. 2, a Palmetto man died after he was wrestled down and tasered by city police officers. It took state investigators more than three months to come up with conclusions. WSLR News has been following the case, and Bernadette Estrada-Brown has the story about the findings of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the community’s reactions.

Then: Last week, a judge in Washington issued a ruling that has the potential of slowing new development in Florida. That ruling was brought up at the North Port City Commission yesterday during a hearing about a big construction project. We'll tell you what happened.

Next: A countywide coalition of grassroots anti-development organizations in Sarasota invited a former county commissioner to talk about overdevelopment and politics. Ramon Lopez reports. 

Finally: You may know who represents us in the state legislature, but do you know what  they're up to in Tallahassee? As this year's session nears its end, WSLR reporter Ariana Lockman has a summary of the most impactful bills sponsored and co-sponsored by the four legislators representing Sarasota County.

The biggest commercial workforce housing project yet in Sarasota got a green light from county commissioners. But residents of the historic Newtown neighborhood next door aren't happy, as Florence Fahringer reports.

NEXT: This week the Sarasota city police chief reported a big Zero: Not a single homicide in 2023 in the entire city. This, while drug-related arrests more than doubled. Bernadette Estrada-Brown is trying to make sense of these apparent contradictions. In her quest, she ran across a mother and community organizer who is very concerned.

THEN: After months of foot-dragging, the developer-friendly Manatee County Commission voted to raise impact fees by 50%. Our news team has the story.

 
FINALLY: A new state law is taking a big bite out of public employee union membership in Manasota. But it also energized teachers' unions. Our news team reports.

There was more culture war noise at the Sarasota School Board meeting yesterday evening. Meanwhile something substantial was going down in the morning work session. Naomi Nerlien has the story about a for-profit charter school application.

THEN: That school board work session also saw the first discussion about declining student enrollment. In light of the state push for privatization via voucher programs, late-2023 data in Sarasota set off alarm bells.

NEXT: Talking about noise: The Sarasota City Commission yesterday voted on controversial new regulations defining bars and night clubs. Ramon Lopez reports.

THEN: A Tampa legislator is pushing legislation that makes offshore wind energy more difficult, and fossil fuel terminals easier to build. That's from partner station WMNF.

FINALLY: A memorial for the victims of six lynchings in Manasota will be unveiled this weekend. We have the details.

2023 was the first year since 1967 without a homicide in the City of Sarasota. Other violent crime was on the decline as well, but arrests and charges, particularly drug-related ones, were way up. We're having a close look at the police chief's annual report and what those numbers mean.

THEN: A bill to dismantle police citizen review boards moved forward in the state senate on Wednesday, but critics say the bill would end a program that builds trust between police and the community. Partner station WMNF has the story.

NEXT: After the City of Venice was sued by homeowners over new development, the council is trying to straighten out the process. But that's controversial, too. Ramon Lopez reports.

THEN: Next Tuesday, the Sarasota School Board will discuss the controversial charter school application of a for-profit business. But the decision may be out of its hands anyway.

NEXT: The New College president channels Caesar after faculty and students drop their lawsuit.

FINALLY: Last year, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping anti-immigration bill into law. Immigration advocates and lawmakers gathered in the state capitol Thursday to speak on a bill that would reverse a lot of those policies. Chris Young with partner station WMNF reports.