Suncoast Searchlight

When Debby hit, Sarasota's stormwater system proved dangerously unprepared — not because the system was overwhelmed, but because those in charge neglected to protect it, an investigation by Florida Trident and Suncoast Searchlight found.

Many LGBTQ+ seniors are grappling with a question they thought they’d already answered: how much of themselves to risk in public and how far to go — again — to defend their rights.

Said one resident: “It’s just another example of county leadership not having a sense of urgency.”

Florida Highway Patrol troopers have used Flock Safety’s private license plate reader system more than 250 times in recent months to aid immigration enforcement efforts — an unusual practice among Florida agencies that has drawn concern from civil liberties advocates.

In interviews with Suncoast Searchlight, 13 of 18 departing dancers detailed harsh treatment by leadership, unpredictable casting decisions and inadequate rehearsal support, particularly under Director Iain Webb and his wife, Assistant Director Margaret Barbieri.

Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed a new slate of trustees in early 2023, the small liberal arts college has undergone a dramatic transformation — eliminating its Gender Studies program, reshaping student life, and launching a costly new athletics department.

Suncoast Searchlight studied property appraisals and tax bills for more than 300 homes across these special districts to create a first-of-its-kind dataset comparing their annual fees to the property taxes they pay for city and county services.

Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

A Sarasota-area community’s effort to save its golf course by forming a special-purpose government district and issuing $24 million in public bonds has devolved into a bitter, yearslong feud over cost, governance and transparency.

Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.