WSLR News

As the Florida legislature is moving towards dismantling environmental protections, Manatee County commissioners seem to be in a hurry to outdo Tallahassee. After receiving a list of suggestions from a builders' association, the county commission is now moving towards dismantling local wetlands protections. Zachary Fahringer reports. Also: news on a de facto abortion ban, a state bill that would allow individuals and businesses to sue cities and counties over ordinances, student protest fallout at USF, a no-swim advisory in Sarasota, and about an upcoming film festival. For news from Southwest Florida, tune in to Critical Times!

Local news from Southwest Florida: Sarasota County commission may cut mental health programs; USF student  arrests; record Red Tide; New College parents speak out.

Your grassroots news from Southwest Florida: Johannes Werner delves into what looks like yet another record Red Tide bloom, and Florida's blind spot in research and policymaking. Arlene Sweeting reports about a local initiative to counter the Republican legislature's and the governor's privatization plans for K-12 schools. And we feature an interview with a finance expert who is skeptical about the biggest project ever by the City of Sarasota.

Your news from deep Southwest Florida. This week: Manatee County commissioners want to make sure public library patrons get to read the right stuff; an African-American education program in Sarasota pushes back against the governor's agenda; Manatee County imposes parking garage on small barrier island community; and the DEI bureaucracy at New College of Florida turns out to be disappointingly small for the governor's culture crusaders.

Nickolas Steinig reports on ongoing demonstrations promoting educational freedom in the wake of Governor Ron DeSantis's siege on public education; Zachary Fahringer discusses on the planned rollback of Medicaid eligibility put in place during the pandemic,  and speaks with a Floridian who stands to lose coverage with the changes; Joshua Epstein gives an update on the legal status of the laws that were passed by the Florida Legislature in 2021 as part of HB1, dubbed the ant-riot act, and have since been working their way through the court system;  Simon Valek gives us the details on the Voter Expo that is happening this Saturday at the Betty Johnson Library in Newtown; We will hear an editorial from the WSLR Board of Directors; and Bryce Bennett has the Activist Calendar

The Sarasota Public Hospital Board is a tougher nut to crack for right-wing activists than the local school board. Yesterday, the board's quality committee presented the results of an internal investigation into Sarasota Memorial Hospital's COVID protocols demanded by the three new "health freedom" board members. One key finding: the hospital's mortality rate was 20% lower than in the state - which earned the standing applause of the crowd in a packed auditorium. Also: The Sarasota school board approves one of the first pure for-profit schools in the county. FInally: The president of Florida's largest faculty union believes the state's universities will lose their competitive eddge if the governor's radical makeover plans materialize.

The newly conservative board of New College of Florida bungled the first round in their effort to hire Richard Corcoran as interim president. The trustees pushed the "reset" button and called for yet another special meeting next week to re-ratify the hiring of DeSantis' former education commissioner. Outrageous pay aside, there are questions about financial ripple effects, ethics, and potential Sunshine Law violations. Also: New College students get a morale boost with a statewide walkout of college and high school students planned for next Thursday. We also visit an elementary school in Sarasota during Black History Week, to gauge how DeSantis' War on Woke plays out among teachers, students and parents. Finally, we have a look at the race to lead the Republican Party of Florida.

In today’s program, Nic Steinig looks into a recent attempt to ban a book on anti-racism in Sarasota; Ryan Stanley catches us up on Florida’s black leaders’ efforts at the capitol to “Stop the Attack” on African American history; Johannes Verner discusses the potential local impact on education if HB1 passes in the legislature;  Zachary Faringer breaks down the race to lead Florida’s Democratic Party; Simon Valek looks back at the life of local artist and activist John Sims before his memorial next week; and Bryce Bennet has the Activist Calendar.

Joshua Epstein reports on the first board meeting with the new appointees of  Board of trustees at New College of Florida; Nic Steinig digs in to the Sarasota County Commission’s rollback of grand tree protections in the county; Ryan Stanley discusses the new rules on classroom books and how Manatee County teachers are dealing with changes; Simon Valek Tells us about legislation that allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit without a permit in the state; and Bryce Bennet has the Activist Calendar.

Basil Pursley takes us to the scene of Wednesday’s meeting with new appointees of  Board of trustees at New College of Florida, Simon Valek gives us the run down on the other efforts at the Capitol that threaten public education in the State; Ryan Stanley discusses the Manatee County Commission’s moves to bring back a Confederate Monument; Paul Westfeeling is back for part 2 of his story on how Sarasota County manages the storm water System.; and Bryce Bennet has the Activist Calendar.