Sarasota County

The Sarasota County Commission approved $32 million in stormwater projects Tuesday to help prevent future floods at Bahia Vista, St. Armands and Celery Fields following the severe storms in 2024.

Commissioners approved $2.1 million in county support to 33 organizations. Urbanite Theatre, which declined to sign a DEI acknowledgement circulated by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, was the lone exception.

More than 5,000 residents now considered on the brink of losing their housing — up more than 50% in just three years.

The figures assume cuts would be made proportionally based on current funding levels and allocations; no funding decisions have been finalized.

Sarasota's school board has been dominated by conservative members since the 2022 election.

More than half of the candidates running for Florida statehouse seats this year across Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties are self-reported millionaires.

Sarasota County arts organizations seeking a share of $2.1 million in public grant funding this year are facing a new requirement to sign an acknowledgment tied to Florida's restrictions on DEI initiatives. Some have signed despite deep reservations.

Who created and funds a purportedly national accountability institute whose only developed investigation functions like a Sarasota election apparatus?

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.

It has taken eight years to get federal approval for the demonstration project. But it could be a while before the pens are constructed in the Gulf.

The vacation-home boom has collapsed. Second-home purchases fell nearly 68% in Sarasota-Bradenton since 2021, suggesting the pandemic-era rush into vacation properties has fully reversed.

The lawsuits come amid a rush of new Live Local applications before a July 1 deadline, after which new state restrictions will make it more difficult to build apartment complexes on rural land.