A nonprofit newsroom whose mission is to produce investigative and explanatory journalism serving residents of Florida's Suncoast region.
Sarasota, Florida
- Tweets 103
- Following 11
- Followers 121
- Likes 7
π₯πππ ππ₯ππ / π‘π’ π£ππ¬πͺπππ: Two leading Florida transparency experts say the Sarasota schools report was a public record β and warned that threatening criminal consequences for its release could discourage future whistleblowers. shorturl.at/SFKpN
1
29
The Sunshine State Awards β including second place in the prestigious A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism (along with Florida Trident) β cap a year of state, regional and national recognition for Suncoast Searchlightβs first year of publication. shorturl.at/6D4Up
1
29
π₯πππ ππ₯ππ / π‘π’ π£ππ¬πͺπππ: The marathon public meeting in North Port on Monday night put a stamp on mounting community angst against data centers. shorturl.at/WnMRF
1
32
π₯πππ ππ₯ππ / π‘π’ π£ππ¬πͺπππ: Sarasota needs to close a looming $2.6 million parking shortfall. Here are 9 ways city officials are considering doing it. shorturl.at/Owqtd
69
Nearly two years after Hurricane Debby triggered a 17-million-gallon sewage spill into Sarasota Bay, the city has approved a $51 million overhaul of its aging wastewater treatment plant. Here's what's changing and why it matters. shorturl.at/NyBmU
1
67
Reports of illegal lawn watering have tripled across Sarasota Co since tougher drought restrictions took effect in April. But most complaints come from the communities actively enforcing the rules and making it easy for neighbors to report violations. shorturl.at/JvbpP
1
1
45
After years of superintendent turnover, political battles and ongoing challenges, the Manatee County School Board is at another turning point. Two of the board's five seats are on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. Here's what voters need to know. shorturl.at/USku3
34
Sarasota County voters are about to reshape the school board. With all three conservative incumbents leaving, seven candidates are vying for three seats at a time of budget cuts, declining enrollment and growing financial pressures.shorturl.at/xVMKN
27
New College of Florida officials are seeking to dissolve the collegeβs nearly 50-year-old alumni association, a group that has criticized the schoolβs conservative overhaul, and replace it with a new committee overseen by its foundation. π₯πππ ππ₯ππ: shorturl.at/Be1Xk
1
1
1
63
Sarasota County will not even consider the notion of any large-scale data centers for at least a year, citing concerns over utility resources and environmental degradation. suncoastsearchlight.org/saraβ¦
1
39
State lawmakers representing Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties voted in favor of every one of the more than 50 measures restricting local control passed within the past five years, with vanishingly few exceptions. suncoastsearchlight.org/liveβ¦
1
26
Suncoast residents ignored a burn ban & set off fireworks, driving a sharp increase in complaints β 152 in Sarasota Co, up from 64 last year, and 176 complaints in Manatee Co, nearly triple the 60 reported in 2025. suncoastsearchlight.org/saraβ¦
1
30
The modest tax cut plan comes despite swirling uncertainty over how basic county services would continue to function if voters approve steep reductions in property taxes during the November referendum for Amendment 3. suncoastsearchlight.org/saraβ¦
19
Turning 29 years old on July 5, Scrappy remains one of Sarasota Bayβs most recognizable dolphins β highlighting the importance of dolphin research and conservation. suncoastsearchlight.org/dolpβ¦
2
72
The moratorium would not apply to already pending projects, including the rezoning application for DCIP Group's 800-acre gas-powered hyperscale data center complex, which is still working its way through the county. suncoastsearchlight.org/afteβ¦
3
66
The problems were significant enough that the auditor is now expanding the probe by an additional three months to determine whether employees were underpaid outside the original audit period. suncoastsearchlight.org/manaβ¦
28
Sarasota Co Schools clawed back more than $2M that the county tax collector withheld as fees for collecting a voter-approved school tax. But Manatee took a different approach β with different results. Some leaders may now be regretting that tactic. suncoastsearchlight.org/manaβ¦
1
60
Airbnb has contributed $1 million to the political committee supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, who previously backed legislation to curb local regulation of the industry. suncoastsearchlight.org/airbβ¦
2
52
While both candidates argue the other is too closely aligned with developers, the reality is more complicated. Campaign finance records show both men have accepted tens of thousands of dollars from development interests. suncoastsearchlight.org/saraβ¦
2
1
39
DeSoto County officials had been moving aggressively to approve plans for a massive data center, but that momentum could come to a halt amid a proposed moratorium on the agenda next week. suncoastsearchlight.org/desoβ¦
1
57