News across Sarasota County
Ben Quartermaine was hired to fix Sarasota stormwater. A year later, problems persist
A year after Stormwater Director Ben Quartermaine was brought on to lead the embattled department, Suncoast Searchlight and the Florida Trident set out to examine what has changed — and what hasn’t.
DeSantis railed against ‘Defund the police.’ Amendment 3 could do just that
In Sarasota and Manatee counties, where law enforcement consumes the lion’s share of general fund spending, sheriffs say losses of the magnitude being projected could force them to reconsider services that extend beyond patrol and criminal investigations. Smaller police…
Completion of River Road widening in Sarasota County provides safer drive, evacuation alternative
The project expands five miles of River Road from two lanes to six lanes between U.S. 41 and I-75, tripling roadway capacity and providing significant congestion relief for Southwest Florida residents, businesses, and visitors.
WSLR+Fogartyville
Published October 02Sarasota schools respond to Uthmeier’s demand to fire teacher
The district cites its own investigations into four complaints against the Pine View history teacher.
WSLR+Fogartyville
Published October 02Some 2,000 area Haitians face hardship following loss of federal protections
'They cannot work. They cannot drive. They're very afraid to even go to Walmart'.
WSLR+Fogartyville
Published October 02Banned Books Week, state ‘explicit content’ crackdown coincide
Florida’s Secretary of Education directs school districts to pre-emptively pull objectionable books from their libraries.
WSLR+Fogartyville
Published September 30Key national figure visits Kirschner for Congress fundraiser
Democrats put Congressional District 16 'in play', but so far money tells its own story.
Sarasota County School District responds to attorney general in teacher probe
The letter reveals four separate investigations. All are closed except for one grievance, filed on Sept. 11.
WSLR+Fogartyville
Published September 30Suncoast Searchlight: Uthmeier letter undercuts Sarasota in Live Local fight
It's unusual for attorney generals to comment on a pending lawsuit.
WSLR+Fogartyville
Published September 30Suncoast Searchlight: Politically connected figure at center of Uthmeier complaint against teacher
The Florida Attorney General accused the Sarasota teacher of trying to 'cancel' an eighth-grade boy.
A panel of advocates addresses hardships Haitians are facing after TPS revocation
Nonprofit and business leaders in Sarasota discussed the struggle of making a living without protected status. One who works with individuals and families said some are "basically barricaded in their homes."
WMNF 88.5
Published September 29The Scoop: Tue. Sep. 29, 2026, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF
Explore the rising cases of dengue and the local initiatives to combat the mosquito-borne illness affecting communities.