Donald Trump was expected to sign the big budget reconciliation bill on Fourth of July, and its Medicaid cuts are not good news for an already troubled MCR Health. That’s the biggest local provider of healthcare services to low-income and underinsured patients. Then: In Manatee County, tensions are rising between big developers and a new set of county commissioners elected to rein in their power. Noah Vinsky reports. Next: The state legislature and governor just passed major restrictions on citi...
Jul 04, 2025•31 min•Ep. 362
The damage to hundreds of homes in Sarasota after Tropical Storm Debby was not just the result of an epic natural disaster, but of neglect. That’s according to a joint investigation by Suncoast Searchlight and the Florida Trident. Then: It’s reshuffle time for Sarasota County stormwater management, after last year’s flooding. Ramon Lopez is keeping track. Next: Lulu Martinez is a danger to her community, a judge ruled, and that’s why she continues to be stuck in an ICE detention camp in Texas, r...
Jul 02, 2025•31 min•Ep. 361
The board of New College met on Thursday to talk about finances, amid growing enrollment. There was no discussion about murky accounting at the foundation that supports the college. Then: Martin Hyde is a gadfly or worse to some. But few people doubt that he is an astute observer of local politics, a fiscal conservative, and a Republican. In an interview on WSLR’s The Detail, he made some observations about New College. Next: Turning Point USA, the conservative student group, will hold its natio...
Jun 27, 2025•31 min•Ep. 360
For the first time, Sarasota Schools are recognizing the district is facing a financial crisis. In an email to employees, the superintendent announced a hiring freeze. WSLR reporter Noah Vinsky has the details. Next: Local politics are not going Pat Neal’s way. The Manatee County Commission gave the heavyweight of local developers a red light on a project that’s at the core of Neal’s new business strategy. Then: Street protests are not exactly a long-standing tradition for the 105-year old Leagu...
Jun 25, 2025•31 min•Ep. 359
For tens of thousands of homeowners in Sarasota and Manatee their annual tax bill includes more assessments by developers and their homeowners association than taxes to local governments. A Suncoast Searchlight report sheds light on these hidden costs of living in Florida. Then: In the wake of the Minnesota assassinations, our reporter Kylee Worth interviewed anti-abortion picketers in Sarasota. Next: Only four percent of Planned Parenthood’s services are abortions. WSLR News reporter Ishmael Ka...
Jun 20, 2025•30 min•Ep. 358
The Florida Legislature agreed on a budget Monday. Among the losers: The governor’s property tax cuts, New College’s expansion plans, and land preservation. Then: The No Kings demonstrations in this area were the biggest this year. But one speaker at the Sarasota protest said the real work lies ahead. Klaus Obermeit has that story. Next: An immigrants’ rights protest in Bradenton on Monday was followed by a picket at the Sarasota-Bradenton airport early Wednesday. Mason Chambless reports. Finall...
Jun 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 357
Florida Highway Patrol is using a mass surveillance tool to catch undocumented immigrants, according to a Suncoast Searchlight investigation. Then: A Sarasota activist spent some days helping protesters in Los Angeles. In an interview with WSLR’s Surreal News, Sarah Parker wants to set the record straight on what’s going on. Next: Have you heard of the Bradenton Nine Devils? You will learn about the history of this Negro League team if you go to LECOM Park, the baseball stadium near downtown Bra...
Jun 13, 2025•32 min•Ep. 356
Lulu Martinez is a recent college graduate. She was arrested after a wrong U-turn in North Port and is now at an ICE detention center in Texas. Ramon Lopez has her story. Then: The events in Los Angeles after ICE raids, protests and rioting, are making ripples here, too. A local immigrant rights advocate has scheduled a march across the bridge in Bradenton this Monday in response. This is the second immigrants’ rights protest in this region within a week, and Mason Chambless has more on that. Ne...
Jun 11, 2025•31 min•Ep. 355
Two former officers at the New College Foundation are alleging administrators may have tried to cover up misuse of donation. Suncoast Searchlight has that report. Then: Sarasota County seems headed towards creating an entire new department in charge of stormwater management. It comes after public despair over lack of clarity and urgency in the wake of massive flooding last year. Next: Get ready for the storm season, local officials urge. Ramon Lopez has more. Then: Manatee County Commissioners s...
Jun 06, 2025•35 min•Ep. 354
The Florida legislature is in overtime this week, negotiating a budget for next year. Driving the delay is a fight over what taxes to cut, and the governor’s proposal to cut property taxes worries a lot of people. Noah Vinsky has a closer look. Next: Meanwhile in Manatee County, the all-Republican county commission was discussing how to shrink an already lean local government. Spoiler alert: It ain’t easy, and some commissioners are expressing frustration. Then: FPL is asking state regulators to...
Jun 04, 2025•31 min•Ep. 353
Sarasota residents who were flooded last year are putting pressure on the county commissioners. But is Sarasota ready for the next storm season? Next: When it comes to sewage spills, Bradenton has been the worst offender in the region. Now that the city has outsourced its wastewater management, it is trying to get a sense of what all of this will cost. Then: In a meeting last week, the new chair ended the Mike Moran era in the Sarasota County Commission - at least when it comes to the former cha...
May 30, 2025•31 min•Ep. 352
The 3,000 signatures didn’t make a dent. If it’s up to the panel that makes recommendations to the City of Sarasota about the future of the Van Wezel, the historic performing arts center will be history soon. Then: A special board meeting at New College of Florida gave a glimpse of the retention and recruitment problems the movers and shakers behind the conservative makeover are facing. Next: Many legislators keep saying there won’t be any cuts to public school programs as a result of the state’...
May 28, 2025•30 min•Ep. 351
More felony charges are piling up against the former communications director of New College. Suncoast Searchlight and The Florida Trident report. Then: The Sarasota County Commission wants developers to go back to holding in-person community workshops for neighbors. At least in part, as Ramon Lopez reports. Next: Cuts to the NOAA could impact the fishing industry and Red Tide research in the region. Suncoast Searchlight brings us this report. Finally: It was Alt Graduation Thursday night, an eve...
May 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 350
The Manatee County School Board is not boring anymore. Yesterday, in a tight 3-2 vote, the elected panel suddenly fired the district superintendent. Sunshine Law violations may have happened in the run-up to that vote, one critic says. Then: In its ongoing session, the state legislature could ban counties’ use of tourism taxes for tourism promotion. Sarasota’s boosters are worried. Sera Deniz has more on that. Next: 104,000 bucks. That’s the annual income it takes for a family of four to make it...
May 21, 2025•31 min•Ep. 349
The panel that will make recommendations on what to do with the Van Wezel seems to have reached consensus: The performing arts center function has to move out of the historic building. But grassroots activists are pushing back. Next: Buyer beware! We have a follow-up to the Suncoast Searchlight report on developer-run mini governments. Then: Operation Tidal Wave, the dragnet that caught more than a 1,000 immigrants in Florida is expanding. WSLR News’ Ramon Lopez reports. Finally: A young researc...
May 16, 2025•31 min•Ep. 348
Grassroots organizers celebrated a rare victory against a high-profile development project in Sarasota Tuesday. Johannes Werner reports. Next: A Suncoast Searchlight investigation describes the high cost of challenging development in the courts. Derek Gilliam brings us that story. Then: An empty seat on the Venice city council was filled Tuesday. WSLR News’ Ramon Lopez reports. Next: A Democratic senator from Connecticut and the nation’s youngest U.S. representative came to Sarasota. More than 1...
May 14, 2025•31 min•Ep. 347
Dozens of new governments have popped up in Sarasota and Manatee, and they are run by private corporations. Suncoast Searchlight has that report. Next: More than 1,000 migrants in Florida got caught up in the ICE dragnet a week ago, and Ramon Lopez looked at the few facts known about Operation Tidal Wave. Next: If and when MCR Health - the local non-profit that provides healthcare for 100,000 low-income patients - re-emerges from bankruptcy, it may face the next tough challenge: Medicaid cuts cu...
May 09, 2025•31 min•Ep. 346
City of Sarasota commissioners voted to pay the attorney fees of a former colleague, after he defended himself against a conflict of interest complaint. Next: Employers in this area are scrambling to help employees with childcare. New College of Florida seems to be going in the opposite direction. Then: On Saturday, the youngest Congressman ever will be returning to Sarasota, where he worked for a year. WSLR interviewed Max Frost before his visit. Then: Lakewood Ranch Southeast is a done deal no...
May 07, 2025•30 min•Ep. 345
What should happen to Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall? The climate change expert on the panel that will make recommendations to the city commission issued what looks like a death penalty. Then: How did Fred Piccolo Jr. avoid arrest and get hired for a high-profile job at a public university? Suncoast Searchlight reporter Alice Herman offers more details. Finally: Synia Carroll passed away in March. Ramon Lopez watched and listened at the jazz musician’s recent memorial service....
May 02, 2025•30 min•Ep. 344
The first affordable housing opportunity strictly for veterans ever in Sarasota opened this morning. But not everyone likes it. Next: A forum on school privatization warned participants about defunding and state deficits, and called for teachers’ support. Then: The Suncoast Searchlight calls attention to funding challenges for mental health in public education. Finally: May 1st is tomorrow, and protesters will hold local Congressmen’s feet to the fire over their support for the Trump agenda. At ...
Apr 30, 2025•32 min•Ep. 343
And then, it was back to normal. On Wednesday, developer Pat Neal told the Sarasota County Commission why a road should be built in the south county that happens to benefit mostly residents of one of his developments. The commissioners obliged, unanimously. Next: The United States and Canada are in a tiff like not seen since the 18th century. WSLR’s Peace & Justice Report interviewed a Canadian diplomat who also happens to be a snowbird with a condo on Longboat Key. Then: A veterans’ group o...
Apr 25, 2025•31 min•Ep. 342
This ain’t the Moran commission anymore: The Sarasota County commissioners yesterday voted to strip builders of funding for an education program. Next: Homeowners in a posh subdivision near North Port are learning the hard way that developers wield a lot of power - even after they sold you the home they built. Suncoast Searchlight brings us this story. Then: How did New College hire a politically connected figure after he appeared in three local police reports? Suncoast Searchlight is trying to ...
Apr 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 341
The shooting inside the student union of the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee Thursday impacted hundreds of students, teachers and staffers. We interviewed a witness. Next: New College let go its marketing director, after he was arrested by Manatee County deputies Tuesday for exposure of sexual organs. The Suncoast Searchlight and Florida Trident investigated, and we have their report. Then: New College fired a Chinese professor, citing a new Florida law, and that is making ripples...
Apr 18, 2025•32 min•Ep. 340
A Venice City Council member made ripples last week when she resigned in protest against peers seemingly favoring developer Pat Neal. WSLR’s Ramon Lopez interviewed Joan Farrell and Ron Smith, who was elected by landslide after he said Neal had asked him to drop out. Next: The culture wars flared up again on Monday when Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke to more than 3,000 people in Sarasota. Then: Real estate prices in Southwest Florida are tumbling. We have a report from the Suncoast Searchlight. Next: T...
Apr 16, 2025•31 min•Ep. 339
Developer Pat Neal got his way in Venice, overcoming well-organized opposition - and prompting the resignation of a frustrated city council member. Ramon Lopez reports. Next: The words “climate change” very rarely pop up in the official vocabulary of Sarasota County. But it just launched its first voluntary buyout program for repeatedly flooded homeowners. Farah Vallecillo has more on that. Then: The biggest suburban development ever in the history of Sarasota overcame a hurdle this week - but b...
Apr 11, 2025•31 min•Ep. 338
A recent news report revealed that New College President Richard Corcoran produced an outline for the takeover of the neighboring USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. USF administrators are now telling their faculty that nothing is imminent, but WSLR News reporter Alex Lieberman talked to one USF professor who continues to worry. Next: New College is welcoming yet another controversial figure to its “Socratic Stage” series, triggering a protest and apparent distancing by the Sarasota Film Festival. Then...
Apr 09, 2025•31 min•Ep. 337
The race for height is on when it comes to construction in downtown Sarasota, and some architects and urban planners don’t like it. Gretchen Cochran listened to the critics. Then: Manatee County Commissioners are re-writing the master plan for new development. This week they discussed transportation, particularly alternatives to the automobile. But in the same meeting, one of the region’s biggest developers pleaded for more roads he says are needed for more cars. WSLR News intern Sera Deniz watc...
Apr 04, 2025•32 min•Ep. 336
A new Florida law makes interaction with China difficult. Citing that law, New College fired a teacher who is actually seeking political asylum here. We’ll have this report brought to you by the Suncoast Searchlight. Then: Staying with New College: After 16 months of planning, the student-made Catalyst newspaper is back, but it’s now off-campus. Next: Sarasota County wants to return stormwater management within city limits back to the city of Sarasota. Ramon Lopez explains what’s behind this mov...
Apr 02, 2025•29 min•Ep. 335
What to do with the Van Wezel? The committee that will make recommendations on the historic performing arts hall got a good look at the elephant in the room: Rising sea levels and intensifying storms. Then: The race for height continues in downtown Sarasota. Ramon Lopez gives us updates on two twin-tower proposals: the Hyatt Hotel makeover and the Mira Mar luxury condo project. Next: The current political atmosphere is tough for immigrant farmworkers. Even so - or maybe because of it - the Coali...
Mar 28, 2025•31 min•Ep. 334
After massive flooding last year, Sarasota County is asking the City of Sarasota to take over stormwater management. That would end an agreement that began in the last century. Then: You’d think a forest that brings back turtles and birds would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood. It’s not for one homeowners’ association in suburban Manatee County that actually ripped out a microforest. Next: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers created a successful model that’s not only good for immigrant t...
Mar 26, 2025•31 min•Ep. 333
