News
Did Democrats outnumber Republicans in Florida when De Santis took office?
7+ hour, 35+ min ago (154+ words) When Gov. Ron De Santis was inaugurated in 2019, there were over 200, 000 more voters in Florida registered as Democrats than Republicans. Registered Democrats had outnumbered Republicans in the Sunshine State from 1972 up until 2021. That year, Republicans surpassed Democratic voters 5. 12 million to…...
Florida's new tax plan will help some but not all
1+ day, 5+ hour ago (1087+ words) By: Gabriela Szymanowska | Suncoast Searchlight Florida voters will decide in November whether to expand homestead exemptions, cutting county and city property taxes under a plan that's raised questions over who exactly benefits." As it currently stands, the proposed amendment would…...
Manatee commission race draws crowded field, out-of-state donors
1+ week, 1+ day ago (1821+ words) A Manatee County commission race that could become a key swing vote on issues like new development has attracted a crowded pool of candidates all vying for a two-year term to replace Carol Felts, who died unexpectedly earlier this year....
Have license plate identification cameras been used to support deportation efforts?
1+ week, 4+ hour ago (179+ words) Flock's automated license plate reader cameras have been used to assist U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in locating undocumented immigrants. The cameras allow officers to search vehicle descriptions and license plates to assist in investigations, including those involving ICE. Over 4, 000 searches…...
Sarasota, Manatee vacation-home frenzy fades, signaling economic shift
1+ week, 13+ hour ago (1307+ words) By: Gabriela Szymanowska | Suncoast Searchlight The Sarasota-Bradenton real estate market has seen a dramatic pullback in vacation and second-home sales, suggesting the pandemic-era buying spree is over and consumers are holding off on big-ticket discretionary purchases. What was once a…...
Has about half of Florida's tax-supported debt been retired under De Santis' tenure?
1+ week, 11+ hour ago (163+ words) About 43% of Florida's tax-supported debt has been paid off from 2018 through 2025. Gov. Ron De Santis claimed at an American Enterprise Institute conference on June 3 that half of the state's debt had been cut during his tenure. Florida's tax-supported debt in…...
De Soto County fast-tracked data center project, now commissioners may hit pause
1+ week, 16+ hour ago (1568+ words) By: Alice Herman | Suncoast Searchlight As De Soto County leaders have pursued what they hope will become an economic lifeline, they have accelerated reviews and embraced interpretations of county rules that help clear the way for a massive data center…...
Did an earthquake occur in Sarasota?
2+ week, 11+ hour ago (148+ words) Sarasota residents, along with numerous other Florida cities, felt the effect of an earthquake that impacted Cuba on June 8. While it didn't hit Sarasota, the area felt tremors from the 6. 1-magnitude earthquake. Sarasota residents and those as far north as…...
Suncoast leaders see property tax cuts as a Tallahassee power grab
2+ week, 9+ hour ago (1748+ words) By: Christian Casale | Suncoast Searchlight and John Dunbar | Suncoast Searchlight Local officials say an effort by Gov. Ron De Santis and the Florida Legislature to cut property taxes could be a knockout punch amid efforts by the state to erode…...
Sarasota County sued over efforts to block Live Local projects
2+ week, 9+ hour ago (1576+ words) By: Derek Gilliam | Suncoast Searchlight Sarasota County's attempt to stop thousands of apartments from being built in rural communities is now facing the legal challenge the county attorney warned was likely all along. Two developers and a church have sued…...