WSLR News - Episode 242: WSLR News Fri., Apr. 12, 2024: Sarasota County Commission approves rezone for Sarasota Square Mall; Local live music venue and restaurant closing; Luxury condo construction is threatening historical buildings

Episode 242: WSLR News Fri., Apr. 12, 2024: Sarasota County Commission approves rezone for Sarasota Square Mall; Local live music venue and restaurant closing; Luxury condo construction is threatening historical buildings

04/13/24 • 28 min

Sarasota Square Mall is the biggest ailing
retail property in the county. These kinds of dying malls
are low-hanging fruit to get much-needed affordable
housing. But that was not a topic discussed by Sarasota
County Commissioners before they approved a
developer's request for a rezone, as Ramon Lopez reports.
Then: Florida will not only try to stop the Biden
administration's student loan relief measure, it will have a
set of counterproposals. Partner station WMNF has that
report.
Next: Black voter packing is the target of a lawsuit filed
by Tampa Bay residents, as WMNF reports.
Then: For black maternal health, only ONE Florida
hospital ranks among the highest in the nation. Partner
station WMNF tells you which one.
Next: After a 10-year run, a popular outdoor live music
venue in Sarasota shuts down. Arianna Lockman has the
details.
Finally: Booming luxury condo construction is
threatening the last remaining historical buildings in
Sarasota. Ramon Lopez puts the spotlight on a successful
renovation of one of the oldest buildings in Venice.

Previous Episode

undefined - Episode 241: WSLR News Wed., Apr. 10, 2024: county commissioners defund United Way; packing public housing; Home Rule protest; New College trustees avoid discussion; New College brings back bathroom battles

Episode 241: WSLR News Wed., Apr. 10, 2024: county commissioners defund United Way; packing public housing; Home Rule protest; New College trustees avoid discussion; New College brings back bathroom battles

The United Way is as American as apple pie. It's a safety net for working families. But to some Sarasota and Manatee County commissioners, that charity seems to be the enemy. Our news team was at a Sarasota County Commission meeting in Venice to follow the commissioners' escalating war on social service providers.

Then: Government-subsidized housing is essential for the lowest-income families in this area. So it should be welcome news that the Sarasota Housing authority is pushing hard for new construction. But there's one problem, as Ramon Lopez reports.

Next: Home rule is under attack - particularly on Anna Maria Island. A protest this Saturday reacts to a big public construction project, and the possible dismantling of not one, but three beachside towns. Aria Lockman has that story.

Then: New College trustees are expected to make two controversial decisions tomorrow - without any discussion. We're shedding light on what's probably NOT going to happen at that campus meeting.

Finally: In other New College news, the campus administration is apparently trying to make sure it stamps out any remainder of woke. Florence Fahringer has that story.

Next Episode

undefined - Episode 243: WSLR News Apr. 17, 2024: Tallevast brownfield conference; City of Sarasota workforce housing; local lobbying rules; morphing theater plans in Payne Park

Episode 243: WSLR News Apr. 17, 2024: Tallevast brownfield conference; City of Sarasota workforce housing; local lobbying rules; morphing theater plans in Payne Park

It's been 20 years since news broke that a military contractor had contaminated the groundwater at Tallevast, an African American neighborhood in South Manatee County. A conference this Saturday will assess what's been achieved and what's not been achieved and needs to be done. Ramon Lopez reports.

Then: Private developers have yet to build in response to incentives for affordable housing in Sarasota. In the meantime, the city is going ahead with its own project, two towers right across from city hall, as Florence Fahringer reports.

Then: A theater's proposal to use an existing building in Sarasota's Payne Park has morphed into something bigger, and that has prompted stiff headwinds. Our news team has that story.

Next: One City of Sarasota commissioner wants stricter rules on lobbying, but he doesn't get a lot of support, as Ramon Lopez reports.

Next: The state attorney fired by Ron DeSantis is back. Partner station WMNF has that report.

Finally: On Saturday, a tense pro-Palestine protest evolved in downtown Sarasota. Meanwhile, USF students ended their hunger strike. Both reports come from WMNF.