About the Author: Suncoast Searchlight Staff
Is Byron Donalds polling above 50% of the GOP vote in Florida’s governor race?
Yes. Recent polls show U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds with more than 50% of the Republican vote heading into the Aug. 18 primary. A June Associated Industries of Florida poll shows Donalds has 54% of the [...]
Sarasota, Manatee fireworks complaints surge during Fourth of July burn ban
Shoppers browsing fireworks displays at retailers across the Suncoast during Fourth of July weekend wouldn't have known a burn ban was in effect. Stacks of fireworks and sparklers tempted customers as they entered stores, [...]
Did Sarasota change its paid parking rules?
Yes. The city of Sarasota updated its parking rules on June 29, extending paid hours and upping fines. Paid hours for street parking have been extended to 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. On [...]
Are fireworks banned in Sarasota County over Fourth of July weekend?
Yes. Those in Sarasota County won’t be permitted to set off personal fireworks or sparklers this Fourth of July due to extreme drought conditions. Sarasota has been under a burn ban since April 19 because [...]
Was Sarasota ranked as the best town to visit in America?
Yes. Sarasota was deemed the best town to visit in the country in CNN’s third annual list published on July 1. The list examines under-the-radar locations in the U.S. and ranks them based on categories [...]
He survived a Speedo. 20 years later, Sarasota dolphin is still making waves
Two decades ago this summer, a bottlenose dolphin made international headlines after he was spotted swimming through Sarasota Bay wearing an extra-large men's Speedo. The dolphin, named Scrappy, was found caught in the swimsuit, [...]
Is it legal for the public to kill iguanas in Florida?
Yes. Sarasota residents, along with all Floridians, can legally capture and humanely remove iguanas on private property with landowner permission since the species is invasive to the state. Humanely killing a nonnative reptile means ensuring [...]
Did Democrats outnumber Republicans in Florida when DeSantis took office?
Yes. When Gov. Ron DeSantis 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 [...]
Have license plate identification cameras been used to support deportation efforts?
Yes. 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 [...]
Has about half of Florida’s tax-supported debt been retired under DeSantis’ tenure?
Yes. About 43% of Florida’s tax-supported debt has been paid off from 2018 through 2025. Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed at an American Enterprise Institute conference on June 3 that half of the state’s debt had [...]
Did an earthquake occur in Sarasota?
No. 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 [...]
Were Sarasota air quality readings inaccurate during recent smoky conditions?
No. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was accurate earlier this week, and it did take into account the smoky air some residents reported on June 8. That night, the AQI mostly sat in the “Good” [...]
