About the Author: Suncoast Searchlight Staff
Was the Biden administration responsible for delays in 2020 Census findings?
No. The delay of the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau findings were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Constitution requires a U.S. population count every 10 years to distribute House seats based on each state’s population. [...]
Does Florida have a $1.85 trillion economy?
Yes. Florida’s $1.85 trillion 2025 economy ranks first for economic growth in the U.S. Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed that Florida's gross domestic product (GDP), or the value of goods and services produced in a state, [...]
Meet the Sarasota teen whose bird project is headed to a national magazine
Sophia Haakman is something of a bird whisperer. The 16-year-old Pineview School student doesn’t just notice Sarasota’s birds. She wants to understand how they live, what they need to survive and whether efforts to [...]
Is $600 per month on eating expenses higher than normal for a couple in Sarasota?
No. A couple buying $600 of food per month is spending less than the amount estimated by The Living Wage Calculator, which puts annual food expenses for two adults in Sarasota County at $9,147 — [...]
Is Sarasota home to one of the largest black skimmer bird populations in Florida?
Yes. Sarasota’s black skimmer population –– specifically the colony located on North Lido Beach –– tallies about 1,300 adult birds this year, accounting for nearly a fifth of the state's roughly 6,800. Black skimmers, which [...]
Does Sarasota law enforcement have open access to resident Ring cameras?
No. Though the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office recently joined the Neighbors app by Ring, the agency can only view video surveillance that is publicly shared by residents. Neighbors is an app designed to allow communities [...]
Did any hurricanes make landfall in the United States last year?
No. There were no hurricanes that hit the continental United States during the 2025 storm season. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about last year’s diminished hurricane [...]
Is Sarasota County receiving power grid updates?
Yes. Bay Road temporarily closed for the installation of three Florida Power and Light poles to improve the area's electric grid. The road, between South Osprey Avenue and Maravic Place, was closed this week from [...]
Is Florida extending its Atlantic red snapper season?
Yes. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Monday that the 2026 Atlantic red snapper season will last 39 days, much longer than the one or two days in previous years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [...]
Is Ron DeSantis getting sued over Florida’s new congressional map?
Yes. The Southern Poverty Law Center, along with a slew of voting rights groups, sued Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida officials over the drawing of a new congressional map. The map, signed by DeSantis [...]
Will the first carbon ion therapy program in the Western Hemisphere launch in Florida?
Yes. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville will launch the first carbon ion therapy program in the Western Hemisphere. Carbon ion therapy is a form of radiation treatment that targets cancerous tumors. It accelerates carbon atoms to [...]
Publix appears to reverse controversial open-carry store policy
Just months after Publix sparked controversy by implementing a policy allowing customers to openly carry firearms in its stores, the Lakeland-based grocery store chain appears to have reversed course. New signs posted at Publix [...]
