WSLR News

Florida voters just anchored the end of property taxes in their state constitution. That has a lot of ripples on local government. Today, we’re looking at the dimmed prospects for a $300 million performing arts center in Sarasota. Next: Despite a planned addition, the Sarasota jail is likely to reach an overcrowding milestone. Then: Tomorrow, a state panel will give its thumbs up or down to a borr...

Following the midterm elections, Florida is a red island in a blue sea, and Sarasota is one of the reddest dots on that island. We talked to the Sarasota party chiefs to get their take on the election outcome.  Then: Florida voters approved a big cut to the taxes that fund much of local government. Like many other municipalities, the City of Sarasota is now scrambling to adapt to constitutional Am...

Today, the Board of Trustees of New College met, to approve a request to take on millions of dollars of debt for the takeover of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. The proposal is not run-of-the-mill. Then: In the closing days of campaigning, the two leading candidates for Florida Governor were in Sarasota within 48 hours of each other. We have reports on both rallies.  Next: It’s Election Day, and...

The hyperscale data center plans in DeSoto County are dead. We’ll tell you how it happened. Then: Less than a week before the elections Sarasota School Board candidate Heidi Brandt talked to WSLR host Cathy Antunes about parental rights, about for-profit schools, about her Pleasure Texting business, and more.  Next: Will Sarasota County have the money to preserve more land? You will have a say on...

The foundation that is pushing to build a $300 million Sarasota Performing Arts Center is seeking alternative dispute resolution with the City of Sarasota. In a statement, the Performing Arts Foundation said this could end in a termination of the public-private partnership. Then: A court heard today from opponents to a teardown of the historic US Garage building. We have the details about the proc...

Polls indicate that the U.S. House race between Sydney Gruters and Kelly Kirschner will be a close call. But in fundraising, it’s lopsided. A look at the latest numbers shows why. Then: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Republican Jim DeNiro feels confident he’ll win. But Julie London, his Democratic opponent, is getting help from unexpected political corners. We’re catching up with h...

The Hope Florida scandal and the state’s legal efforts to shut down talk about it put a big, bright spotlight on the race for Florida Attorney. WSLR interviewed the Democratic contender for the job. Then: Angie Nixon plugged into the rock star status of Bernie Sanders, for a joint weekend whirlwind tour. Our reporter was at the U.S. Senate candidate’s first Angie and Bernie show Saturday in Tampa....

A couple of weeks before the elections, New College President Richard Corcoran offered a publicly funded stage to Erika Donalds, possibly Florida’s next First Lady, to talk about the need to privatize schools. Then: Sarasota Congressman Greg Steube has ignored his Democratic opponents while coasting to re-election twice. Matt Montavon believes he can change that pattern. Next: The Gaza hostage cri...

And there go another few thousand acres of farmland in east Sarasota County. We have a report from yesterday’s county commission discussion and vote on Hi Hat Ranch. Next: The state of Florida is pushing school superintendents to keep “inappropriate” books out of school libraries. But culture warrior Bridget Ziegler gave her seal of approval to the Sarasota school district’s handling of library bo...

The Sarasota school district responded to the Florida Attorney General’s demand to investigate a Pine View history teacher. We have the details. Next: An estimated 2,000 Haitians in this area lost their temporary protected status two months ago and have become deportable. An event in Sarasota put the spotlight on their situation. Next: The national Democratic Party put the Manatee County-centered...

The planning commission had recommended denial of two big rezone asks for the Lakewood Ranch Southeast megaproject. Even so, the Sarasota County Commission granted them. One commissioner said his hand was forced. Meanwhile, the developer behind Wellen Park is trying to get taxpayers to fund an expansion of Manasota Beach Road that would create a straight shot to beaches. One rural resident filed s...

Public schools in Sarasota are going through a bigger than expected drop in student enrollment. We bring you the numbers. Then: Florida’s attorney general just told the Sarasota school district to fire a teacher who allegedly bullied a conservative student. We have some reactions. Then: In the face of possible property tax cuts by the state, the City of Sarasota wants to make sure its parks get pr...

A documentary about embattled librarians just won an Emmy Award. We talk to one of the main protagonists. Then: Developer Carlos Beruff’s SeaSpray project in west Bradenton would erase one of the last natural stretches of Sarasota Bay’s coastline. We’re reporting on a regulatory hurdle the 2,000-home luxury project must clear. Then: Crossing party lines is becoming a thing in Florida and local pol...

The Sarasota African American Cultural Center project is taking the next step. We have the details. Then: Developer Pat Neal asked for, and got from the Sarasota County Commission, his Manasota Beach Road. But opponents will now have their day in court. Next: Do you want to save Florida black bears from being hunted? Buy a hunting license. That’s activists’ newest jiu-jitsu tactic. Then: Suncoast...

It was not surprising that the Sarasota County Commission approved yet another 5,000-plus home development. But the unanimous vote and the commissioners’ enthusiasm about the megaproject was. Then: Sarasota County’s possible purchase of a golf course has drawn the attention of the two contenders to replace Joe Neunder on the county commission. Next: In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Sarasota Cit...

It’s been 25 years since 9-11, a quarter century of endless wars. Our reporter talks to some who were second-graders at Emma E Booker Elementary when President George W Bush was at the school that morning. Next: In North Port, the probably most conservative area in this conservative county, hundreds showed up last week to speak out against data centers. Our reporter listened closely. . Then: A $10...

We are running excerpts of an interview with Angie Nixon who stopped at WSLR - again - yesterday. Her primary win was a big upset, and just two weeks later, the progressive U.S. Senate candidate was in Sarasota - where registered Democrats voted for her opponent in a landslide. Our reporter was at a meet-and-greet with Nixon and describes the atmosphere. Then: In a big win for transparency advocat...

The City of Sarasota is subsidizing its parking division, but it shouldn’t be that way. After it took back expanded paid parking, a workshop yesterday gave indications where the city might be headed. Then: Kyle Rittenhouse, who was in the national limelight after the 2020 Kenosha shootings, moved to - you guessed it - Sarasota. We have details. Next: Newtown Nation is trying to become a social ser...

A year and a half ago, it looked like Lakewood Ranch Southeast was a done deal. But last week, the 5,000-acre development plan hit a road block.  Then: On Monday, the U.S. Supreme partially sided with a Trump plan to rein in vote-by-mail. What does it mean to local voters? Finally: $30 million. That’s what Sarasota County decided to invest in flood resilience projects. We have the details.

Angie Nixon staged a big upset in the race for US Senate - but not in Sarasota, which was one of the major hubs of support for her primary opponent Alex Vindman. Our reporter Noah Bookstein talked to local Democrats. Then: Speaking of local Democrats, reporter Ramon Lopez interviewed the chair of the Sarasota Democratic Party about his reactions to the primary elections and expectations. Next: The...

On Tuesday, Jim DeNiro beat the incumbent for the Sarasota County Commission District 4 seat. Our reporter talked to the retired cop about what’s next. A new luxury condo building has gone up near downtown Sarasota. That’s not news. The news is, it has been built where it’s not supposed to be, and we have the story. Then: Florida’s immigrant dragnet is catching people that are not supposed to be c...

The Obsidian is probably the most controversial project in downtown Sarasota. It would be the tallest condo tower, planners sent it back to the drawing board, and the city commission rejected it repeatedly. Now, there’s a lawsuit. Ramon Lopez reports. A Sarasota City Commission candidate withdrew from the race this summer, citing reasons unrelated to her eligibility. But records show she wasn't el...

The Black Panthers are back - we have a report on the newly created Florida chapter.  Then: Republican primaries in this area feature the most heated battles this electoral cycle. Case in point: The two Republican candidates in the Sarasota County Commission District 4 race are whacking each other with PACs and cease-and-desist orders.  Then: We continue with candidate profiles in the crowded Dist...

The Sarasota County Commission District 4 race gets heated, as candidate Jim DeNiro faces questions about his residency.   Next: Candidates Allen Spence and Matthew Montavon face off in a forum ahead of the primary for Florida’s 17th Congressional District.  Then: We profile Tamika Lyles, who is running for Florida’s 16th Congressional District.  Finally: Manatee County has been under the microsco...

Sarasota County is facing a lawsuit from Laurel Meadows homeowners who say a decades-old, unrepaired breach in a county-maintained dike is to blame for the catastrophic flooding that filled their homes with up to two feet of water during Hurricane Debby.  Then: Booker High has a new football coach after the abrupt dismissal of its previous coach and an uproar in the community.  Next: The Sarasota...