WSLR News

Local news and politics program, broadcasting from Sarasota's own WSLR 96.5 LP FM, every Wednesday & Friday at 6 pm (with a Week in Review on Saturday at Noon). Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or at www.WSLR.org.

Last refreshed: July 7th, 2025 at 5:46 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 273: WSLR News Fri., July 26: Dark money; lawsuit continues to hold up megaproject; Rose vs. Barker; Hillsborough school vs. county and state

Developer campaign contributions play a key role in local politics. But much of this money is now circulating outside the public view. WSLR reporter Mark Warriner was at a presentation about "Dark Money", and we have his report. Next: The developers of Lakewood Ranch could start earthmoving on 4,100 acres of land right now, taking out a big chunk of rural Sarasota. But they would do so at their own risk, because a couple of residents in the Old Miakka area just went into a legal appeal. We have ...

Jul 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 273

Episode 272: WSLR News Wed., July 24, 2024: Bradenton sells city hall; Sarasota County takes back public housing funding; Ziegler public records lawsuits put city in tight spot

Bradenton is about to sell city hall to a luxury developer. Literally. Tyler Oldano has more about that story. Then: It's a different picture in St. Petersburg, where the city council just approved a mega deal with the Tampa Bay Rays that will change an entire district near downtown. Sean Kinane with partner station WMNF interviewed one of three councilmembers who voted "no" on that deal, and we will play excerpts. Next: Three public housing construction projects in Sarasota are up in the air af...

Jul 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 272

Episode 271: WSLR News Fri., July 19, 2024: Group seeks to stop change to Venice elections; candidate forums; the end of the Sarasota County business tax

Activists and former officials formed a non-partisan group to fight a change in the way elections are run in the City of Venice. That's not the only grassroots response to controversial policies coming out of Venice, as Ramon Lopez reports. Next: Two candidate forums - one for City of Sarasota candidates, one for Sarasota school board candidates - played out in front of overflow crowds in the last 48 hours. We have the details. Then: Sarasota County commissioners ended a tax that many of those p...

Jul 19, 2024•31 min•Ep. 271

Episode 270: WSLR News Wed., July 17, 2024: City finds solution for Players Theater; What the Medical Freedom candidates want; Manatee Supervisor of Elections race; what's at stake in the Aug. 20 elections; Franklin v. Battie drags on

The Players Theater wanted to build in the middle of a public park. Neighbors were dead set against it, and now the City of Sarasota came up with a solution. Then: What would the Medical Freedom candidates do if they had their say at Sarasota Memorial Hospital? WSLR reporter Mark Warriner tried to get answers. Next: One candidate brings up God frequently, the other talks about his experience. We're having a close look at the race for Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. Then: The so-called pr...

Jul 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 270

Episode 269: WSLR News Fri., July 12, 2024: New College loses top administrator; Venice residents won't appeal Neal suit; Cathy Jordan memorial; activist summer camp; immigrant crash

New College just lost one of its last top administrators with deep experience of running a campus. Florence Fahringer brings us this story. Next: It just became too costly: Neighbors of a Pat Neal project in Venice decided not to appeal a judge's ruling, as Ramon Lopez learned. Then: Cathy Jordan was the mother of marijuana legalization in Florida. She passed away on July 4, and she will get a big send-off in Sarasota. Next: WSLR's Tyler Oldano was at an unusual summer camp - one that helps teen...

Jul 13, 2024•31 min•Ep. 269

Episode 268: WSLR News Wed., July 10, 2024: Picking cultural winners and losers; Piney Point settlement; Venice compromise

On Wednesday, the Sarasota County Commissioners disregarded funding recommendations by outside experts, and instead picked winners and losers among cultural organizations, by singling out three organizations - including WSLR-Fogartyville - for defunding. Then: When the watchdog is asleep, wake it up. That's what five environmental organizations did after the Piney Point disaster in 2021. Now they reached a settlement with the State of Florida. Next: Days after her husband's disastrous performanc...

Jul 10, 2024•31 min•Ep. 268

Episode 267: WSLR News Fri., July 5: Lessons from Invest 90L; Historic Newtown wins another award; Sarasota Charter Review Board races

A weather system called Invest 90L brought a 1,000-year rain event to Sarasota two weeks ago. WSLR reporter Florence Fahringer talks to experts about lessons learned. Then: A new study by Sarasota researchers links the intensity and duration of Red Tide to human activity. We talk to the lead researcher behind the study, about consequences this may have. Next: Sarasota's historically African American neighborhood was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. And now Newtown is g...

Jul 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 267

Episode 266: WSLR News Wed., July 3, 2024: Red Tide and human activity; tree memorial; Franklin vs. Battie; Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity

A lot of people insist Red Tide is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has been around for thousands of years. Period. And the link between human activity and the increasing length and intensity of Red Tide has not been exactly at the forefront of interest by the State of Florida. But now, a scientist in Sarasota and four colleagues are making a dent in the armor of silence around Red Tide and human activity. Our news team has more on that. Then: There was a memorial service in a Sarasota neig...

Jul 03, 2024•31 min•Ep. 266

Episode 265: WSLR News Fri., June 28, 2024: Vacation rental bill; tree memorial; green incubator; Democratic convention

After letting pass more than 80 bills that pre-empt local decision-making, Gov. Ron DeSantis - to the surprise of many - just vetoed one bill that troubled local communities. We have the details. Then: A month ago, New College cut some 40 trees - including historic slash pines - in a preserve. Now neighbors are hosting a memorial service this weekend. Everyone is invited, and Tyler Oldano has the story. Next: Low-income housing and environmental causes rarely converge. But they do in a new incub...

Jun 29, 2024•33 min•Ep. 265

Episode 264: WSLR News Wed., June 26: Bridge Pride March; Sarasota County immigrant hearing; Manatee County elections roundup, Part 2

Due to the governor's fiat, the Ringling Causeway bridge will NOT be lit in rainbow colors during Pride Month this year. Instead, hundreds of Sarasotans will carry the world's longest rainbow flag across it this Saturday. Then: Even though it has little to no jurisdiction over immigration, the Sarasota County Commission held a hearing about the QUOTE "impacts of illegal immigration". The workshop last Friday produced little new information, but drew loud protest. Next: Monday marked the second a...

Jun 26, 2024•31 min•Ep. 264

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