Weekly Newsletter

Friday, March 21, 2025

Thank you for subscribing to Suncoast Searchlight's newsletter.

We’re here to keep you informed on the local issues that matter most. Each week, we share our latest in-depth reporting, along with the most important stories from around the region, so you stay connected and up to date with what’s happening in your community.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Running The Ringling costs millions and employs hundreds. Can New College handle it?

For a quarter century, Florida State University has staffed, operated and managed the finances of the arts complex known as The Ringling.

But at Gov. Ron DeSantis’s request, those duties could be turned over to New College of Florida, a tiny public liberal arts college that relies on millions of dollars in state support to stay afloat and has faced accusations of financial mismanagement in the two years since DeSantis installed political allies in key leadership roles at the school.

FSU currently pours vast resources into the maintenance of The Ringling, from managing the museum’s endowment more than $50 million to employing more than 200 staff to run the museum, a Suncoast Searchlight examination of public records shows.

Can New College feasibly handle it?

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Developers aren't alone. Greenbelt loophole tapped by Sarasota Orchestra, Mosaic and more

Real estate developers are not the only ones in Sarasota and Manatee counties to score major tax breaks through a decades-old law meant to preserve Florida farmland.

Across the Suncoast, landowners tapping the Greenbelt law run the gamut – from the Sarasota Orchestra to phosphate mining giant Mosaic, a dietary supplement supplier and Florida Power & Light, the region’s primary provider of electricity.

A Suncoast Searchlight review of more than 2,500 properties classified as Greenbelt between the two counties found that broad language in the state law left it open for a wide range of businesses and organizations to benefit from the tax savings. Critics have dubbed the loophole “Rent-a-Cow” because real estate speculators can easily place cows on their land and qualify for agricultural tax breaks.

NEW FROM SUNCOAST SEARCHLIGHT:

Passions run high as Sarasota Commission hears public comments on new performing arts center

Dozens of Sarasota residents filled the City Commission chambers Monday, speaking out on a proposed performing arts center during the meeting’s public comment period.

The project, which was detailed in a Suncoast Searchlight report last week, has drawn widespread attention, with passionate voices on both sides weighing in on its potential impact.

Suncoast Searchlight summarized each one of the commenters' statements in this blow-by-blow story.

HERE'S WHAT ELSE WE RECOMMEND READING THIS WEEK

‘ALCOHOL DESTROYS’: FLORIDA LEADS SOUTH IN DEADLY DUI CRASHES, TEARS SARASOTA FAMILY APART

FROM THE SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

​In 2022, Florida experienced 1,122 fatalities from alcohol and drug-related crashes, ranking second among Southern states for drunk driving deaths, following Texas. Factors contributing to this high rate include Florida's large population, its popularity as a tourist destination, and a culture that often embraces alcohol consumption. Despite increased enforcement efforts, such as the establishment of a specialized DUI unit in Sarasota and Manatee counties, impaired driving remains a significant public health issue, devastating families and communities across the state. ​

READ THE STORY HERE

MYAKKA HOG AND HORSE MAKE UNLIKELY PAIR

FROM THE OBSERVER

In Myakka City, an unexpected friendship has blossomed between Bliss, a 9-year-old tricolored paint horse, and Pig Pig, a 3-month-old feral pig. Pig Pig appeared in December, emaciated and seeking food, scavenging Bliss's dropped feed.Initially resistant, Bliss attempted to deter Pig Pig by pushing and biting him. Undeterred, Pig Pig persistently sought Bliss's attention, even running circles around her to divert her gaze from neighboring goats. Over time, Bliss accepted Pig Pig, and now the two are inseparable companions.

READ THE STORY HERE

MANATEE COUNTY MADE RULES TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION DUST. RESIDENTS SAY IT’S NOT WORKING

FROM THE BRADENTON HERALD

Residents in West Bradenton have been voicing concerns about persistent dust and dirt infiltrating their homes due to the ongoing development of the SeaFlower community. Despite previous complaints and temporary shutdowns for dust mitigation, the problem persists, with homeowners reporting that the construction debris continues to affect their daily lives. ​

READ THE STORY HERE

HOUSE BILL 4061: NEW PROPOSED BILL HAS SOME OUTRAGE

FROM THE DAILY SUN

House Bill 4061 proposes changes to the West Villages Improvement District's governing statutes in Sarasota County, aiming to revise statutory references, remove restrictions on acquiring certain real estate, modify board election procedures, and expand the district’s power of eminent domain. Supporters argue the bill will improve governance and operational flexibility, while opponents worry about potential overreach and negative impacts on local property owners. The proposal has sparked debate among residents and officials, with some expressing strong opposition to the increased authority it grants the district.

READ THE STORY HERE

IN SARASOTA, BORDER CZAR HOMAN SAYS 'WE'RE SAVING LIVES' UNDER TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION POLICY

FROM WUSF

U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan joined Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf Thursday at New College of Florida to discuss immigration policy. Moderated by New College President Richard Corcoran, the event covered border security and enforcement strategies. Homan cited a 96% drop in border crossings since January, while DeSantis highlighted Florida’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including banning sanctuary cities and mandating employment verification. Wolf called for legislative action to cement these policies. About 200 attendees participated, with an equal number protesting outside.

READ THE STORY HERE

A NEW CONDO DEVELOPMENT IS HEADED TO THE ROSEMARY DISTRICT

FROM SARASOTA MAGAZINE

A new condominium project is set to rise in Sarasota's Rosemary District, reflecting the area's ongoing transformation. The seven-story development will feature 24 residential units, including spacious three-bedroom layouts and two-story townhouses. Designed by the local architectural firm Halflants + Pichette, the project also plans to incorporate a public pocket park along the property's length, adding green space to the neighborhood.

READ THE STORY HERE

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK'S NEWSLETTER?

HERE'S WHAT WE SHARED:

Sarasota’s Bay Park project has transformed the city’s waterfront with expansive green spaces, walking paths and public amenities, but perhaps the most ambitious – and controversial – piece of the plan is still in limbo: a $407 million performing arts center that would replace the Van Wezel as the go-to venue for major shows.

Supporters say a new center would Sarasota’s place as a top-tier cultural destination. But critics argue the city already has enough venues and should prioritize other urgent needs, like affordable housing and infrastructure.

With Sarasota County showing signs of pulling financial support, the entire project’s future could be on shaky ground.

The recent proposal by Gov. Ron DeSantis to transfer the 66-acre John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art from Florida State University to New College of Florida is just the latest in a series of attempted and successful land grabs by, and on behalf of, the school as it seeks to dramatically expand its footprint. 

From the acquisition of the Powel Crosley estate to the attempted takeover of airport property, Suncoast Searchlight examined Sarasota and Manatee county property records to document each one. In doing so, we show how these acquisitions have, and could continue to, alter New College’s campus from one of the smallest in the Florida State University System to a larger, more influential institution with a growing presence in the region.

Phillippi Creek is the most populated watershed in Sarasota County, spanning more than 55 square miles of neighborhoods from south of Clark Road to north of University Parkway. 

When the creek fills with debris – and heavy rain pours down – Sarasota floods. The creek contributed to major flooding in the region 60 years ago. Then again in the early 1990s. Dozens of residents whose homes flooded last year insist the storm surge would have drained from their neighborhoods much sooner – saving their homes from destruction – had the creek not been left to deteriorate. 

A state loophole is costing Sarasota and Manatee counties millions in lost revenue by allowing developers to tap a decades-old law meant to preserve agriculture and shrink the taxes on pastures they intend to pave over.

Among the examples: A company tied to Medallion Home used the loophole to pay $442 in property taxes for 59 acres of the former Foxfire golf course off Proctor Road already zoned for new residential development. For comparison, the owner of a 1,900-square-foot house in unincorporated Sarasota paid six times more.

Suncoast Searchlight is a 501c3 nonprofit news organization whose mission is to produce investigative and explanatory journalism that serves and empowers the residents of Florida’s Suncoast region (Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties). We shine a light on critical issues affecting our community. Through independent reporting and collaboration with diverse media partners, we foster transparency, accountability and an informed citizenry, ensuring that all voices are heard and that the public has access to the information they need to drive meaningful change.

CONTACT US:

Suncoast Searchlight

PO Box 99 Sarasota, FL 34230

(941)724-4450