WSLR News - Episode 330: WSLR News Fri., Mar. 14: New Sarasota Dem chair; Phillippi Creek dredging; New College land grab; Working Families Lobbying Corps

Episode 330: WSLR News Fri., Mar. 14: New Sarasota Dem chair; Phillippi Creek dredging; New College land grab; Working Families Lobbying Corps

03/14/25 • 30 min

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 County will dredge. Ramon Lopez reports about a county commission workshop discussing responses to the catastrophic flooding of the last storm season.

Next: What’s the endgame for the new New College? A Suncoast Searchlight report puts the spotlight on the campus administrators’ ambitious real estate expansion plans.

Then: The legislative session is on in Tallahassee, and working families are knocking at legislators’ doors. Farah Vallecillo has the details.

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 County will dredge. Ramon Lopez reports about a county commission workshop discussing responses to the catastrophic flooding of the last storm season.

Next: What’s the endgame for the new New College? A Suncoast Searchlight report puts the spotlight on the campus administrators’ ambitious real estate expansion plans.

Then: The legislative session is on in Tallahassee, and working families are knocking at legislators’ doors. Farah Vallecillo has the details.

Previous Episode

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 Suncoast Searchlight brings us this report.

Then: A coalition of non-profit, business and government organizations says they have outperformed the Sarasota County government in recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian. Now they are asking the county to give them the lead in the recovery spending from last year’s storms, as Ramon Lopez reports.

Next: FEMA has already paid out a billion dollars in the areas affected by last year’s trio of storms. But many disaster relief applications are still in limbo, and FEMA agents are asking for your help.

Then: The Tesla Takedown came to Sarasota last weekend, and it’s coming back next Saturday. We have a report.

Finally: What’s in your drinking water? A lot of chemicals. Sera Deniz reports from a local forum about the bad and the good.

Next Episode

undefined - 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

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. Ramon Lopez explains.

Next: Homeland Security Secretary Tom Homan openly defied a judge’s order to stop the deportation of nearly 300 Venezuelans. He will be in Sarasota tomorrow to talk about immigration, sharing the stage with two other hardliners. New College students are wondering about their role in this "Socratic Stage" event, if any.

Then: The second Tesla Takedown protest in Sarasota was bigger than the first. And it had a new element: A handful counter protesters. The WSLR News team was there.

Finally: Red Tide produces a neurotoxin, and that may affect your brain. WSLR News reporter Joanne Mills reports about groundbreaking research happening in Sarasota.