WSLR News

We will listen in to Republican and Democratic press conferences at the State Capitol after the filing of  HB1 also known as the School Choice Bill. This piece of legislation is expands voucher programs for students in K-12 education and is touted by proponents as a solution that will allow parents the freedom to customize education for their children. However, Democrats quickly  decried the bill as an attack on the public education system and a means to undercut funding and support for public schools.

In today’s program, Ryan Stanley talks with Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida  about their upcoming efforts to ensure access to abortion in the state; Basil Pusley updates us on how the superintendent search at the Sarasota County School Board is going; Arlene Sweeting gives us a taste of Monday’s Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Breakfast; Simon Valek hears about a new monument memorializing victims of racial violence; Paul Westfeeling discusses how the county deals with stormwater  runoff; and Kathleen Murray Brings us the activist Calendar.

In this program, we will listen in to excerpts from The 2023 Sarasota County Legislative Delegation meeting; Ryan Stanley reports on the One Book, One Community Program with the Sarasota County Library System; Paul Westpheling tells us about projects underway to help improve water quality around Siesta Key; Ryan Hartford Stanley will be back again to tell us about events related to Martin Luther King Day; and Bryce Bennett has the activist calendar.

Jesse Coleman looks at Governor Ron DeSantis’s crusade against Divesity, Equity and Inclusion efforts; Becca Hadwen lists new laws taking effect in the new year; Arlene Sweeting checks in with the Christmas Bird County; Ryan Hartford Stanley tells us about events related to Martin Luther King Day; former Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried looks back on her term in office; and Bryce Bennett has the activist calendar.

A look at local governments’ wish lists for the coming year. Peter Gentile starts with Sarasota County’s federal legislative program. Jesse Coleman and Basil Pursley look at Manatee County’s and the city of Sarasota’s priorities for the upcoming session of the Florida Legislature. Karthleen Murray has the Activist Calendar.

Jesus Arenas talks to a doctor about a “tripledemic”; Nickolas Steinig visits a toy donation event; Arlene Sweeting reports on the school superintendent’s departure; Peter Gentile has a report on the Legislature’s special session; Ishmael Katz reviews “Cabaret”; and Bryce Bennett has the Activist Calendar.

Nicolas Steinig looks into the blood plasma donation business; Basil Pursley hears about the statewide teacher shortage; Peter Gentile previews the final act in the Sarasota County school superintendent saga; Jesus Arenas looks at the numbers of working poor in Sarasota; Joshua Epstein describes plans for new performing arts venues in Sarasota; and Bryce Bennett has the Activist Calendar.

Basil Pursley takes us to a Sarasota County School Board meeting; Peter Gentile listens in at a meeting of the hospital board; Nic Steinig reports on a move to limit protests at the state capitol; Jesus Arenas looks into a delay in mental health funding; and Bryce Bennett presents the activist calendar.

Excerpts from the Nov. 29 special meeting of the Sarasota County School Board, where the newly seated board, now with a right-wing majority, got right to work getting rid of school superintendent Brennan Asplen.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Arroyo's state of the city address; incoming Mayor Kyle Battie; Vice Mayor Liz Alpert; newly elected commissioners Debbie Trice and Jen Ahearn-Koch.