Suncoast Searchlight

A proposed land swap is now on hold after Siesta Key activist Lourdes Ramirez filed a legal challenge alleging violations of county development codes and improper disposal of public land.

Trustees voted to raise out-of-state tuition by 15% beginning in fall 2026. The school plans to sign the "compact," which would provide priority federal funding in exchange for adopting a range of policies, including a five-year tuition freeze.

He used a closed-door campaign stop in Sarasota to signal that education will be a central focus of his bid, calling for reforms to the state’s expanded school voucher system, significant teacher pay increases and a renewed investment in public schools.

Over the past two years, Manatee County schools have been rocked by a string of teacher-misconduct cases. A joint investigation by Suncoast Searchlight and the Bradenton Herald found that red flags in applications were overlooked.

Defend Florida, a Sarasota-founded election denial group, has seen its political clout collapse as Republican lawmakers distance themselves from its conspiracy-fueled demands for tighter voting rules.

Local officials, attorneys and community leaders gathered in Venice to warn that state preemption and developer influence have eroded meaningful local control over growth, citing laws like SB 180 that limit regulation and weaken environmental protections.

Sarasota County’s bid to end a years-long legal battle over beach access on Siesta Key might have backfired, igniting a new lawsuit and allegations of a costly giveaway of taxpayer-owned parkland.

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.

Rhonda Calahan runs Queens of Domestic Violence and Awareness, a small nonprofit organization she launched to help survivors find safety, counseling and support.

A look at immigration enforcement across Florida under the Trump administration show findings related to ICE detainers with comparisons to last year, across counties, and where Florida fits in among other states.

The strategic plan, which Superintendent Terry Connor plans to present on Tuesday, involves expanding programs in schools with the most vacant seats, razing or reconfiguring some campus buildings and more.

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.