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Polls indicate that the U.S. House race between Sydney Gruters and Kelly Kirschner will be a close call. But in fundraising, it’s lopsided. A look at the latest numbers shows why. Then: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Republican Jim DeNiro feels confident he’ll win. But Julie London, his Democratic opponent, is getting help from unexpected political corners. We’re catching up with her campaign.  Next: The Charter Review Board is the beholder of Sarasota County’s QUOTE-UNQUOTE “constitution”. It has been 100 percent Republican for many years, and - deserved or not - it has a reputation of rubber stamping developer interests.  Who is running for how many open seats?  Finally: Even though it’s been told by the county it should stop serving homeless people, a Sarasota church is back at it - and this could turn into a legal test case about zoning vs religious freedom.

The Hope Florida scandal and the state’s legal efforts to shut down talk about it put a big, bright spotlight on the race for Florida Attorney. WSLR interviewed the Democratic contender for the job. Then: Angie Nixon plugged into the rock star status of Bernie Sanders, for a joint weekend whirlwind tour. Our reporter was at the U.S. Senate candidate’s first Angie and Bernie show Saturday in Tampa. Then: In his run for the Sarasota County Commission, Republican Jim DeNiro feels comfortable about his chances. But how will he navigate conflicts of interest, with his brother-in-law running one of the largest construction companies in the area? Our reporter asked the question.  Finally: A hard-to-control Dengue outbreak in the Tampa Bay area and the deadly crash of a pesticide spraying helicopter are putting the spotlight on the growing threat of mosquito-borne disease in the area.

A couple of weeks before the elections, New College President Richard Corcoran offered a publicly funded stage to Erika Donalds, possibly Florida’s next First Lady, to talk about the need to privatize schools. Then: Sarasota Congressman Greg Steube has ignored his Democratic opponents while coasting to re-election twice. Matt Montavon believes he can change that pattern. Next: The Gaza hostage crisis continues to make ripples in Sarasota, and we have a report about it. Finally: Ringling College of Art was an early adopter and hotbed of 3D animation. Now it’s going back to good-old 2D, frame-by-frame.

And there go another few thousand acres of farmland in east Sarasota County. We have a report from yesterday’s county commission discussion and vote on Hi Hat Ranch. Next: The state of Florida is pushing school superintendents to keep “inappropriate” books out of school libraries. But culture warrior Bridget Ziegler gave her seal of approval to the Sarasota school district’s handling of library books. Finally: Yesterday at Fogartyville Community Center, a book author explained the impact of mass deportation and the  “Border Industrial Complex”. The biggest takeaway from the event, though, were the stories of three local immigrant activists. Ramon Lopez was there.

The Sarasota school district responded to the Florida Attorney General’s demand to investigate a Pine View history teacher. We have the details. Next: An estimated 2,000 Haitians in this area lost their temporary protected status two months ago and have become deportable. An event in Sarasota put the spotlight on their situation. Next: The national Democratic Party put the Manatee County-centered Congressional District 16 into the “in play” category. But campaign money tells a different story. Finally: Just as Banned Book Week begins, the DeSantis administration puts more pressure on school districts to remove books from their libraries.

The planning commission had recommended denial of two big rezone asks for the Lakewood Ranch Southeast megaproject. Even so, the Sarasota County Commission granted them. One commissioner said his hand was forced. Meanwhile, the developer behind Wellen Park is trying to get taxpayers to fund an expansion of Manasota Beach Road that would create a straight shot to beaches. One rural resident filed suit, but then dropped it. We find out what’s next for the resistance in and around historic Englewood. Then: The contenders for the U.S. House District 16 seat faced off in the first - and possibly only - debate. Our reporter watched closely. Finally: How to go about investing in a community that has been underinvested for decades? Clinton Engelberger with Suncoast Searchlight asked long-time boosters of Newtown, the minority-majority district covering the north of Sarasota.

Public schools in Sarasota are going through a bigger than expected drop in student enrollment. We bring you the numbers. Then: Florida’s attorney general just told the Sarasota school district to fire a teacher who allegedly bullied a conservative student. We have some reactions. Then: In the face of possible property tax cuts by the state, the City of Sarasota wants to make sure its parks get properly funded. We tell you how. Finally: Lowriders still exist, and they’re actually a big thing in Manatee County. Get ready to ride higher.

A documentary about embattled librarians just won an Emmy Award. We talk to one of the main protagonists. Then: Developer Carlos Beruff’s SeaSpray project in west Bradenton would erase one of the last natural stretches of Sarasota Bay’s coastline. We’re reporting on a regulatory hurdle the 2,000-home luxury project must clear. Then: Crossing party lines is becoming a thing in Florida and local politics. We’re reporting on a Democrat who has recruited high-profile Republicans to endorse his run for office.  Finally: WBCN, otherwise known as The People’s Radio in Boston, is the subject of a documentary. Our reporter talked to moviegoers in Sarasota to gauge how they relate to radio.

The Sarasota African American Cultural Center project is taking the next step. We have the details. Then: Developer Pat Neal asked for, and got from the Sarasota County Commission, his Manasota Beach Road. But opponents will now have their day in court. Next: Do you want to save Florida black bears from being hunted? Buy a hunting license. That’s activists’ newest jiu-jitsu tactic. Then: Suncoast Women of Action will be honoring, well, women of action. We bring you the names. Finally: Rhatia Murphy - AKA Caligal - dressed as a WSLR News reporter at Comicon Tampa last weekend.

It was not surprising that the Sarasota County Commission approved yet another 5,000-plus home development. But the unanimous vote and the commissioners’ enthusiasm about the megaproject was. Then: Sarasota County’s possible purchase of a golf course has drawn the attention of the two contenders to replace Joe Neunder on the county commission. Next: In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Sarasota City Commission kept a brownfield development project in Newtown alive. Then: A documentary on the early days of a legendary Boston-based rock station is coming to Burns Court Cinemas.  Finally: Rhatia Murphy - AKA Caligal - dressed as a WSLR News reporter at Comicon Tampa last weekend.

It’s been 25 years since 9-11, a quarter century of endless wars. Our reporter talks to some who were second-graders at Emma E Booker Elementary when President George W Bush was at the school that morning. Next: In North Port, the probably most conservative area in this conservative county, hundreds showed up last week to speak out against data centers. Our reporter listened closely. . Then: A $10 million project is underway to harden the Bay park against flooding.  Next: Sarasota County is still considering buying the Gulf Gate golf course from a developer, to prevent more construction and improve stormwater systems. Then: A youth movement was behind progressive wins in Sarasota County’s recent school board elections.

We are running excerpts of an interview with Angie Nixon who stopped at WSLR - again - yesterday. Her primary win was a big upset, and just two weeks later, the progressive U.S. Senate candidate was in Sarasota - where registered Democrats voted for her opponent in a landslide. Our reporter was at a meet-and-greet with Nixon and describes the atmosphere. Then: In a big win for transparency advocates, a court ruled that the digital records produced by a Sarasota Police investigation involving Christian and Bridget Ziegler are public. Finally: An environmental watchdog group dropped its lawsuit against the operator of a concrete crushing plant near downtown Sarasota.

The City of Sarasota is subsidizing its parking division, but it shouldn’t be that way. After it took back expanded paid parking, a workshop yesterday gave indications where the city might be headed. Then: Kyle Rittenhouse, who was in the national limelight after the 2020 Kenosha shootings, moved to - you guessed it - Sarasota. We have details. Next: Newtown Nation is trying to become a social service provider. We have the details on how the non-profit would like to help five families.

A year and a half ago, it looked like Lakewood Ranch Southeast was a done deal. But last week, the 5,000-acre development plan hit a road block.  Then: On Monday, the U.S. Supreme partially sided with a Trump plan to rein in vote-by-mail. What does it mean to local voters? Finally: $30 million. That’s what Sarasota County decided to invest in flood resilience projects. We have the details.

Angie Nixon staged a big upset in the race for US Senate - but not in Sarasota, which was one of the major hubs of support for her primary opponent Alex Vindman. Our reporter Noah Bookstein talked to local Democrats. Then: Speaking of local Democrats, reporter Ramon Lopez interviewed the chair of the Sarasota Democratic Party about his reactions to the primary elections and expectations. Next: The Sarasota School Board’s turn away from conservative politics is making national news. So what are the expectations for the newly liberal board? Our reporters Ed James III and Rhatia Murphy watched and listened closely at the board’s first post-election meeting. Then: Sarasota County’s new Administration Center officially opened today. Reporter Noah Bookstein has the scoop on the $100 million move away from downtown. Then: One local activist filed a complaint with the IRS against the operators of a Wyoming-based non-profit that acted like a PAC in the primary elections. Finally: A rising number of people in Sarasota and Manatee are on the brink of homelessness. Suncoast Searchlight brings us this story.