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.
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 31 minutes
- Episodes
- 119
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Episode 338: WSLR News Fri., Apr 11, 2025: Neal gets his way, Venice councilmember resigns; homeowner buyouts; Hi Hat Ranch; affordable housing
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…
00:30:50 |
Fri 11 Apr 2025
Episode 337: WSLR News Apr. 9, 2025: New College takeover of USF-Sarasota; Russell Brand; Pat Neal in Venice; Hands-Off protests; Sarasota Schools end mental health program; cattle drive
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…
00:30:55 |
Wed 09 Apr 2025
Episode 336: WSLR News Fri Apr. 4: Downtown design critics; Manatee County comp plan re-write; Sarasota Film Festival
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 Commi…
00:31:43 |
Fri 04 Apr 2025
Episode 335: WSLR News Wed., Apr. 2: Spring membership drive; New College fires Chinese professor; New College student newspaper revival; Sarasota County wants to dump stormwater management; DOGE cancels Sarasota speaker on peace with China
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 Sunc…
00:29:29 |
Wed 02 Apr 2025
Episode 334: WSLR News Mar. 28: Van Wezel flooding; twin tower projects; farmworkers; Women in Resistance
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…
00:30:44 |
Fri 28 Mar 2025
Episode 333: WSLR News Wed., Mar. 26: Sarasota stormwater shuffle; destroying a microforest; farmworker organizing; Red Tide and brain health
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 for…
00:31:12 |
Wed 26 Mar 2025
Episode 332: WSLR News Mar. 21: Border czar in Sarasota; anti-Homan protest; RIP Synia Carrol
Three powerful deportation proponents shared the stage at New College Thursday. Farah Vallecillo tells you about some of the points they tried to get across.Then: Outside the same New College venue, …
00:31:12 |
Fri 21 Mar 2025
Episode 331: WSLR News Mar. 19: Performing Arts Center vote postponed; downtown Sarasota's race for height; Tom Homan at New College; Tesla Takedown protest; Red Tide research
Sarasota city commissioners decided to postpone a $400 million vote, and Gretchen Cochran has the details.Then: Downtown Sarasota is seeing a race for height and density for new skyscraper projects. …
00:31:07 |
Wed 19 Mar 2025
Episode 330: WSLR News Fri., Mar. 14: New Sarasota Dem chair; Phillippi Creek dredging; New College land grab; Working Families Lobbying Corps
The Sarasota Democrats elected a new leader this week, but few people have heard his name. WSLR News reporter Gretchen Cochran sat down with David Dean the morning after the election. Then: Sarasota …
00:30:52 |
Fri 14 Mar 2025
Episode 329: WSLR News Mar. 12: Phillippi Creek; storm recovery spat; FEMA hangups; Tesla Takedown; chemicals in drinking water
Hundreds of homeowners along Phillippi Creek were flooded during Hurricane Debby last August. That has raised questions about deficits in stormwater management and how it could be improved. The Sunco…
00:31:08 |
Wed 12 Mar 2025
Episode 328: WSLR News Fri., Mar. 7: Adagio; Sarasota downtown master plan; undocumented immigrants
A developer is proposing a massive condo project in downtown Sarasota. The 'Adagio' will be taller and denser than local zoning allows, and a new Florida law entitles them, the developer says. Then:…
00:30:30 |
Fri 07 Mar 2025
Episode 327: WSLR News Wed., Mar. 5: 50501 protest in Sarasota; developer tax loophole; Project 180; flood victim, half a year later; OB/GYN crisis
Hundreds of protesters in opposition to Trump’s executive measures gathered in downtown Sarasota again yesterday. Then: Ever heard about rent-a-cow? Developers have used this tax loophole for years,…
00:30:29 |
Wed 05 Mar 2025
Episode 326: WSLR News Fri., Feb. 28: Trucker strike; George Kruse q&a; sewage spills; economic storm
That check in the mail could take a bit longer. Truckers in Tampa and Miami hauling much of the Postal Service’s mail are on strike. Then: George Kruse is a political survivor. The chair of the Manat…
00:30:28 |
Fri 28 Feb 2025
Episode 325: WSLR News Wed., Feb. 26: Sarasota commisisoners slow down big project; resistance to The Ringling takeover; historic designation for the Purple Cow; Economic Blackout
Yesterday, Sarasota County commissioners surprised their critics and campaign donors again. In a narrow vote, they postponed a decision on a key part of a major development, prompting the developer t…
00:31:23 |
Wed 26 Feb 2025
Episode 324: WSLR News Fri., Feb. 21: Ukrainian immigrants in North Port react to Trump; Manatee County stormwater systems; SBA chugs on in Sarasota
Some 5,000 Ukrainian immigrants live in South Sarasota County. And they’re not happy campers when it comes to the Trump administration’s and Rep. Greg Steube’s pressure campaign on Ukraine. Then: The…
00:31:35 |
Fri 21 Feb 2025
Episode 323: WSLR News Wed., Feb. 19: Federal workers; DOGE protests; LGBTQ star speaks at New College
The firing of federal employees is happening not only in Washington. It’s making ripples here on the Suncoast, as Gretchen Cochran found. Speaking of DOGE: There is also pushback, in the shape of pro…
00:30:48 |
Wed 19 Feb 2025
Episode 322: WSLR News Fri., Feb. 14: Super tall, for the super rich; political mini-quake in Sarasota; suburban farming
The project to build a super tall and super exclusive condo tower in downtown Sarasota for the super rich survived one challenge. But it has to clear one more hurdle. We have that story. Then: There …
00:31:05 |
Fri 14 Feb 2025
Episode 321: WSLR News Wed., Feb. 12: DR Horton plans die in county commission; city megaproject gets costlier; Florida may defund public arts; immigrant protest
You could call it a political earthquake. Sarasota County Commissioners voted yesterday AND today against two major suburban development projects, both with 5-0 votes. Ramon Lopez has that report. Th…
00:31:08 |
Wed 12 Feb 2025
Episode 320: WSLR News Fri., Feb. 7: Sarasota school administrators discuss ICE raids; civil rights photo exhibit; Great Florida Cattle Drive
Donald Trump decreed that immigration enforcers can now enter churches, hospitals and schools. Sarasota School Board members and the superintendent discussed their response this week. Then: It’s Blac…
00:30:11 |
Fri 07 Feb 2025
Episode 319: WSLR News Wed., Feb. 5, 2025: New College expansion; cell phone use in Sarasota schools; funding freeze affects Sarasota Bay Estuary Program; Lakewood Ranch plaintiff interview;
New College is land-hungry. But the administrators’ efforts to expand the small campus have yielded mixed results. This week they seem to have scored one win and one loss. Then: Cell-phone use at sch…
00:31:02 |
Wed 05 Feb 2025
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