Florida’s public unions at scrutiny of SB 256
Teachers protesting SB 256 (Courtesy of Yahoo News.)

Florida’s public unions at scrutiny of SB 256

On Mar. 29 Florida passed Senate Bill (SB) 256, targeting public unions and hitting teachers’ unions especially hard. Except for police, firefighters, correction and probation officers, unions under this bill must maintain membership of 60 percent of eligible employees to remain certified and maintain their…

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Teaching the truth: history professor Marvin Dunn to visit New College to teach Black history
A flier advertising Marvin Dunn's guest lecture. (Courtesy of Erik Wallenberg.)

Teaching the truth: history professor Marvin Dunn to visit New College to teach Black history

“I knew Jim Crow,” writes Dr. Marvin Dunn in his book A History of Florida Through Black Eyes (2016). “I grew up in Florida under his dark, suffocating wings. I knew him intimately, as did every Black person I knew growing up in Deland and…

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Local emergency room wait times have spiked in 2023
The Sarasota Memorial Hospital visitor parking garage with a graphic overlay. The photograph was taken on Apr. 13. from the roof of the parking garage on the 6th floor where the only available parking spots remained, of which there were few left. Graphic and Photo by Nic Steinig.

Local emergency room wait times have spiked in 2023

Anyone in the Sarasota area who has recently made a visit to an emergency department or spoken to healthcare professionals knows that emergency departments have been under strain. Yet, this year hit the region particularly hard. Investigative reporting by the Catalyst has revealed that the…

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Sensory satisfaction through nature at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
A photo of Selby Gardens' new sensory map. (Courtesy of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.)

Sensory satisfaction through nature at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Imagine a sticky, hot feeling all over your body, like an uncomfortable turtleneck sweater climbing up your neck. Irritability washes over you, panic, lack of focus and anxiety forcing your outing to take a turn for the worst. This intense sensory overload is an experience…

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California Gov. Newsom meets with Newtown Alive and New College students
Gov. Newsom shaking hands with Brenda Watty, members of the Motown group, the Marvelettes. Watty led the group in song at the top of the meeting, something that Newtown Alive does throughout their trolley tours. Photo by Gaby Batista

California Gov. Newsom meets with Newtown Alive and New College students

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom visited Sarasota on Apr. 5 as part of Newsom’srecently-launched Campaign for Democracy tour. According to the Washington Post, this tour aims to fight “rising authoritarianism” in various red states by “[meeting] with like-minded activists,…

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Freedom in the Sunshine: Florida faculty respond to higher ed takeover with teach-in
Photo of UFF President Andrew Gothard giving the opening speech via Zoom. Photo by Chloe Rusek.

Freedom in the Sunshine: Florida faculty respond to higher ed takeover with teach-in

By Nat Kornblum & Chloe Rusek Florida’s educators have found themselves the target of an ongoing culture war. House Bill 999 has recently joined the itinerary of Florida bills centered on parental rights and educational freedom, which severely restricts women’s and gender studies courses and…

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Mosaic Movements: telling underrepresented stories through art and film [Video]

https://vimeo.com/815322888Mosaic Movements is a local non-profit organization kickstarted by Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez, the former Dean of Diversity at New College who was terminated by President Richard Corcoran on Mar. 3.  Rosario-Hernandez has reoriented zir passion for cultural programs and community dialogue by founding Mosaic Movements. The…

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Red tide advisory back in select Sarasota beaches
A photo of the shoreline at Lido Beach taken in January, when the red tide advisory for the area was still recent. Photo taken by Brynn Halpern

Red tide advisory back in select Sarasota beaches

The red tide advisory—originally put in place on Dec. 28, 2022—was finally lifted from all 16 Sarasota County beaches On Mar. 24, deeming the southwest coast safe for visitors…only to be put back in place for select beaches one week later on Mar. 30. The…

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Sargassum spot slams Caribbean beaches: what does this mean for Florida?
A thick patch of sargassum ashore a Miami beach. (Credit: “Jack Doe,” provided by the Sargassum Information Hub)

Sargassum spot slams Caribbean beaches: what does this mean for Florida?

Crawling across the Caribbean coastline and dumping the stench of decay wherever it washes ashore is a phenomenon that authors from Science Journal have dubbed the “Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt.” What’s more, one of its largest-recorded masses of sargassum seaweed is barreling towards Florida beaches…

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Sarasota declared the worst city in Florida for those with allergies
An oak tree--a species known for releasing pollen during the spring months--photographed near the Social Sciences building on campus. Photo taken by Brynn Halpern

Sarasota declared the worst city in Florida for those with allergies

The U.S. has settled into the midst of allergy season, and not only is Sarasota the worst city for allergies in the state, but the sixth worst in the country. Even those who have never experienced allergies are getting symptoms of the April pollen affecting…

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