Derek Gilliam | Suncoast Searchlight

About Derek Gilliam | Suncoast Searchlight

Derek Gilliam is a watchdog/investigative reporter at Suncoast Searchlight. During his career, he has covered courts and crime, mental health, real-estate, economic development and general business issues for news organizations throughout Florida. Most recently, Derek has focused on real estate and development while also covering local businesses for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he untangled a particularly egregious example of real estate fraud months before the police arrested the fraudster. That story attracted the attention of a local legislator who then was able to pass a state law to close a loophole identified in his story. A student of the University of Florida, Derek’s work has earned numerous statewide journalism awards. He has lived in Sarasota since 2021. Reach Derek via email at derek@suncoastsearchlight.org

Florida bill would give Benderson Development its own taxing district at UTC

A new bill in the Florida House would turn [...]

By |2026-01-15T21:18:59-05:00January 16, 2026 5:30 am|Manatee, Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Florida bill would give Benderson Development its own taxing district at UTC

Gran Paradiso’s water war ends, but fallout lands on former directors

A three-year legal saga between residents of Gran Paradiso [...]

By |2026-01-15T13:51:40-05:00January 9, 2026 5:55 am|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Gran Paradiso’s water war ends, but fallout lands on former directors

Sarasota County offered others far less for Siesta beach lots as Holderness deal looms

Katie Gerhardt remembered when her parents’ Siesta Key properties [...]

By |2025-12-18T21:17:15-05:00December 19, 2025 5:45 am|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Sarasota County offered others far less for Siesta beach lots as Holderness deal looms

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly spotlights education in Sarasota

Former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly, now running a [...]

By |2025-12-18T15:19:32-05:00December 19, 2025 5:40 am|Sarasota|Comments Off on Democratic gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly spotlights education in Sarasota

Sarasota, Manatee deny charter co-location bids, potentially leaving fate to state

Sarasota and Manatee counties’ school districts have shut the [...]

By |2025-12-10T16:14:21-05:00December 10, 2025 4:14 pm|Manatee, Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Sarasota, Manatee deny charter co-location bids, potentially leaving fate to state

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office accused of double standard after September scuffle

As crowds looked on from a line waiting outside [...]

By |2025-11-21T11:55:55-05:00November 21, 2025 5:55 am|Manatee, Suncoast|Comments Off on Manatee County Sheriff’s Office accused of double standard after September scuffle

Sarasota Schools drafted a plan to prevent ‘Schools of Hope’ takeovers. Here’s what’s in it.

Sarasota County Schools has drawn up a sweeping plan [...]

By |2025-10-31T16:05:24-05:00October 31, 2025 4:05 pm|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on Sarasota Schools drafted a plan to prevent ‘Schools of Hope’ takeovers. Here’s what’s in it.

‘Schools of Hope’ law eyes underused public schools. But charters have empty seats, too

Florida’s new charter-school law promised to open more classrooms [...]

By |2025-10-30T20:28:11-05:00October 31, 2025 5:50 am|Sarasota, Suncoast|Comments Off on ‘Schools of Hope’ law eyes underused public schools. But charters have empty seats, too
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