About the Author: Suncoast Searchlight Staff
Has Florida college tuition stayed flat under Gov. Ron DeSantis?
No. Florida may have the cheapest in-state college tuition in the country, but costs have slightly increased since Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2019. DeSantis claimed in an April 23 speech at Tohopekaliga High [...]
Are kissing bugs confirmed to be in the Sarasota area?
No. Kissing bugs aren’t tracked by local authorities, meaning their presence in Sarasota can’t be confirmed. The insect –– not to be confused with lovebugs –– carries Chagas disease. Humans can catch the disease if [...]
Is Sarasota considering tearing down historic bungalows on Fruitville?
Yes. A development company is proposing new buildings and amenities that would require demolishing the string of bungalows of the Historic Downtown Village on Fruitville Road. Plans call for a 324-unit apartment building, parking garage, [...]
Is Kennedy Space Center soon expected to do 1,000 launches in one year?
No. Florida’s Space Coast is projected to hit a combined 300 launches by 2035. This is far from the 1,000 launches that Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds claimed the Kennedy Space Center alone would produce [...]
Does the United States control oil prices?
No. The Iran war is putting a strain on American drivers – leading Iran to block commercial access to the Strait of Hormuz, a passage where about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply flows. The [...]
Is Sarasota’s growing population why water resources are dwindling?
No. Much of Florida is under extreme drought conditions, leading to advisories from officials to conserve water. While Sarasota’s growing residential development isn’t necessarily helping to conserve water, it’s not the primary factor for the [...]
Is it legal to marry your first-cousin in Florida?
Yes. You can legally marry your first-cousin in Florida, despite recent efforts from legislators to ban the practice. Florida lawmakers ran out of time during the legislative session while considering the bill in March. The [...]
Did Florida enact the death penalty for pedophiles?
Yes. Florida passed a law in 2023 that allows the death penalty for those convicted of sexual battery on a child under the age of 12. While Gov. Ron DeSantis’ March 31 claim that the [...]
Is Florida the fastest-growing state in the country?
No. Florida didn’t even crack the top 10 of fastest-growing states in the country from 2024-25 based on net gains. South Carolina was the fastest-growing state from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025, with [...]
Is new construction in Sarasota granted special exemptions from water restrictions?
No. Home developers must follow the same water restrictions as residents when Phase III guidelines take effect from April 3 through July 1. Sarasota is under extreme drought conditions, limiting the amount of water for [...]
Was Florida one of the first states to restrict ballot harvesting?
No. Florida placed specific restrictions on ballot harvesting in 2021, five years after the first state did so and following a handful of others. Ballot harvesting is the collecting of absentee or mail-in ballots from [...]
Is a MidFlorida Credit Union branch coming to the corner of Bee Ridge and Swift?
Yes. A new MidFlorida Credit Union branch will be replacing the Crazy Papas gas station that was demolished in 2024 at 2800 Bee Ridge Road. The credit union broke ground on the project in January, [...]
