Suncoast Searchlight

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.

Anti-growth candidates swept into office in 2024 have struggled to implement campaign promises, constrained by pushback from Gov. Ron DeSantis and laws preempting their ability to control development.

The city will now revert to its former parking hours and hourly rates — with free parking on Sundays and paid parking ending at 8 p.m. during the week – while the increased charges for citations will stay in effect.

The decision came after a long-simmering controversy over who should pay the cost of collecting the voter-approved tax.

The Foundation board approved the changes on all but one vote. The lone dissenter was the current chair of the alumni association, whose board seat is eliminated under the new bylaws.

As it stands, DeSoto County does not have local regulations for data centers. The moratorium will allow the county to consider regulatory measures before accepting future data center applications.

The Foundation’s board is scheduled to vote on the changes Wednesday, and if approved, alumni leaders will convene to seek potential legal action.

Criminal citations for sleeping outside in Sarasota have increased more than fourteenfold since 2020, driven in part by expanded police training that now empowers officers throughout the department to enforce the city's lodging ordinance.

During the last five years, the Florida Legislature has voted to pass more than 50 laws restricting local government’s ability to respond to issues ranging from how they manage growth to how they fund roads or oversee elections.

The plan comes amid uncertainty over how basic services would continue to function if voters approve steep reductions in property taxes in a November constitutional amendment proposal.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office received 152 fireworks-related calls on July 4 compared to 64 last year. Deputies were dispatched to 22 of those calls, up from 16 in 2025.

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.