logo
Florida spring break: Fort Lauderdale welcomes partiers as state sends more police to vacation hot spots

Florida spring break: Fort Lauderdale welcomes partiers as state sends more police to vacation hot spots

Fox News10-03-2025

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is taking a different approach to spring break messaging than its southern neighbor, Miami Beach.
Miami Beach police launched a reality TV-themed ad campaign in mid-February encouraging spring breakers to avoid the area after police saw increased violence during spring break beginning in about 2020. Things began to turn around in 2024 as the city bolstered law enforcement and made hundreds of arrests.
The City of Fort Lauderdale launched a similar reality TV-themed ad on Feb. 26 telling spring break tourists to "know the rules" and "enjoy our city responsibly."
"Come for the fun, but remember to play by the rules. Love may be blind, but we'll be watching," Fort Lauderdale Police Department Chief William Schultz says in the "Love is Blind"-themed video.
The two ads show the two departments' different approaches to spring break—Miami Beach is telling spring breakers to skip the vacation destination entirely while Fort Lauderdale is encouraging them to come as long as they follow the city's rules.
Rules include restrictions on alcohol, coolers, tents, tables, electric scooters and live or amplified music in certain areas.
The city said there will be "increased enforcement" in certain areas and during specific times of the day, as well as a beach cleanup every day at 5:30 p.m.
"Our city is known for its beautiful beaches, great weather, and exciting atmosphere, and we want everyone — residents and guests alike — to have a safe and enjoyable time," Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said in a Feb. 26 statement. "Know the Rules: To maintain a fun and respectful environment, extra restrictions are in effect until April 12."
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, meanwhile, called this year "a reality check," saying the city's ad campaign shows "what is going to happen if you come here, and you don't play by our rules."
Miami Beach's similar ad campaign in 2024 resulted in smaller-than-usual crowd sizes and less violence. Police Chief Wayne Jones said that arrests citywide went down 8% by March 17, 2024, compared to March 2023.
Gov. Ron Desantis noted during a Friday press conference that spring break in Miami saw wild crowds beginning around 2020, when people escaped to Florida during the coronavirus pandemic because its businesses and public areas remained open while other states were still shut down.
"We were thankful for that. Honestly, a lot of businesses came here and never went back. People came here and never went back because they appreciated the quality of life," DeSantis said, "but it also got out of control."
The governor added that he is directing state law enforcement to provide additional personnel and assets to Miami Beach and other spring break hot spots over the coming weeks.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tommy Wirkola Returning to Direct ‘Violent Night 2' (Exclusive)
Tommy Wirkola Returning to Direct ‘Violent Night 2' (Exclusive)

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Tommy Wirkola Returning to Direct ‘Violent Night 2' (Exclusive)

Tommy Wirkola is back in the sleigh for Violent Night 2, the sequel to its Christmas-themed action movie released in 2022, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The studio on Wednesday dated the sequel for a Dec. 4, 2026 unwrapping. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Street Fighter' Movie Removed From Calendar as Phoebe Dynevor Shark Thriller Moves Back a Year Phoebe Dynevor Shark Thriller From Tommy Wirkola Gets Title and Summer 2025 Release Tommy Wirkola on Going From Nazi Zombies in 'Dead Snow' to Singing Semen in 'Spermageddon' David Harbour is back as the icepick-stabbing, skate-slashing Santa Claus, who in the first movie was a bitter drunk headed towards turning back on the holiday until a little girl shows him the light. It's unclear if his lucidity will remain intact for the second outing. Also unclear is if the new story will include Mrs. Claus, briefly mention in the first movie. Universal is eying a September start of production in Winnipeg. Kelly McCormick and David Leitch of 87North are back as producers as are screenwriting team Pat Casey and Josh Miller. Violent Night proved to be a solid hit, gifting the studio a $50 million domestic haul on a budget of around $20 million. It took in an additional $25.9 million from international markets. Wirkola's previous credits include the Norwegian horror hit Dead Snow and relationship action comedy The Trip. In 2022, the filmmaker told The Hollywood Reporter he and the writers were already talking of a sequel that could incorporate ideas they couldn't fit into the first movie. 'We don't see the North Pole, we don't see Mrs. Claus and we don't see the elves,' Wirkola said. 'There were also a few ideas that we loved in the script, but we had to cut them because we couldn't afford to shoot them.' Wirkola is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now

Save the Dates: Hallmark's Providence Falls Mini and More
Save the Dates: Hallmark's Providence Falls Mini and More

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Save the Dates: Hallmark's Providence Falls Mini and More

Hallmark's three-part miniseries adaptation of Providence Falls, the book series by best-selling author Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets, will premiere Saturday, Aug. 2 at 8/7c. Katie Stevens (The Bold Type), Lachlan Quarmby (Allegiance) and Evan Roderick (Aurora Teagarden) star. Parts 2 and 3 will then follow on Aug. 9 and Aug 16. More from TVLine Halloweentown Stars Reunite for Hallmark's Halloween-Themed Haul Out the Holly Sequel — See Full Cast The Chicken Sisters Officially Renewed for Season 2 at Hallmark Channel, David James Elliott Joins Cast Ted Danson Reveals His Wife Mary Steenburgen Plays His New Love Interest in A Man on the Inside Season 2: 'It's Just Magical' The premise: In 1844 Ireland, Liam O'Conner (played by Quarmby), a rogue and a thief, falls in love with Cora McLeod (Stevens), a fiery but sheltered aristocrat's daughter, who is promised in marriage to a man she barely knows. When their plan to make a new life together in America is thwarted, the consequences ripple through time, causing everyone to relive the events of the past. Now the Angels of Destiny need Liam's help to set things right, so they transport him to present day to help this incarnation of Cora fall in love with Finn (Roderick), the man she was destined to marry in 1844. In other recent scheduling news… * This year's Hallmark Christmas Experience, held at Crown Center Square in Kansas City., Mo., will kick off Nov. 28-30 with channel vets Benjamin Ayres, B.J. Britt, Robert Buckley, Paul Campbell, Taylor Cole, Rhiannon Fish, Tyler Hynes, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, Jessy Schram, Kimberley Sustad and Andrew Walker. Subsequent weekends feature Jonathan Bennett, Wes Brown, Lacey Chabert, Warren Christie, Nikki DeLoach, Brennan Elliott, Ginna Claire Mason, Niall Matter, Tamera Mowry, Melissa Peterman and Andrew Walker (Dec. 5-7); Benjamin Ayres, Erin Cahill, Brooke D'Orsay, Sarah Drew, Pascale Hutton, Erin Krakow, Viv Leacock, Kevin McGarry, Chris McNally, Peter Mooney and Kavan Smith (Dec. 12-14); and Rachel Boston, John Brotherton, Heather Hemmens, Tyler Hynes, Hunter King, Barbara Niven, Brendan Penny, Kristoffer Polaha, Holly Robinson Peete, Evan Roderick and Victor Webster (Dec. 19-21). Tickets go on sale June 17 at * Fox's The Fixer, in which investor/entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis meets with business owners from across the country whose companies are at a crossroad and need to make impactful changes, will premiere Friday, July 18 at 8/7c. * Fox Nation has renewed Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints for Season 2, to premiere in November and run through Spring 2026. * Saul 'Canelo' Álvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) and undefeated Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) will vie for the unified Super Middleweight championship in a Riyadh Season showdown streaming on Netflix Saturday, Sept. 13. Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More

'I felt betrayed': 'Love is Blind' star Lydia explains why she divorced husband Milton
'I felt betrayed': 'Love is Blind' star Lydia explains why she divorced husband Milton

USA Today

time3 hours ago

  • USA Today

'I felt betrayed': 'Love is Blind' star Lydia explains why she divorced husband Milton

'I felt betrayed': 'Love is Blind' star Lydia explains why she divorced husband Milton Show Caption Hide Caption Milton from 'Love is Blind' reflects on fiancée Lydia's past with Uche Milton Johnson from Netflix's "Love is Blind" opened up about his relationship with fiancée Lydia and why he loves that they're so "different." Fan favorite "Love Is Blind" couple Lydia Velez Gonzalez and Milton Johnson are divorcing after three years of marriage. The pair, who met on Season 5 of the hit Netflix dating show, are splitting after turmoil in their marriage, Gonzalez revealed on a Wednesday, June 11 episode of the What's the Reality? podcast. While their marriage once felt like a fairy tale, the 34-year-old geologist said she now feels that Johnson was never ready to be a husband. "It wasn't one thing. Yeah, it was a layer of situations and things that just kept piling it up," Gonzalez told host and fellow "Love Is Blind" alum Amber Desiree "AD" Smith. When Gonzalez informed Johnson that she would file for divorce, he allegedly said he would not sign them unless there was a non-disclosure agreement. "And that said enough for me to know that I needed to share my truth and my experience, because I've been suffering in silence," she said. "This is just my chance to speak my truth for me and for other people that always reach out to me and tell me that I'm an inspiration. I feel that it was very hypocritical me not share this with the world when they have been so transparent with me." Lydia said Milton would not cut off 'disrespectful' ex-partner One of the first signs of trouble in their marriage was an argument the two had about one of Johnson's ex-partners, according to Gonzalez. She considered the woman "very insistent" and "very disrespectful towards our marriage." She added that he also kept a ripped up love letter from the woman in a shoebox at their apartment. At one point, Gonzalez went through Johnson's phone and said she found a text from him referring to the woman that read "I want to (expletive) that person." "When I saw that my heart went to the floor. I felt like betrayed and disrespected," she said. "And then I remember calling him and telling him, 'how long has it been that you want to (expletive) this person.' And he was like, 'what are we talking about.'" Johnson denied any infidelity, adding that he would never jeopardize their marriage and said "that's how boys talk," according to Gonzalez. USA TODAY has reached out to Johnson for comment. 'Love is Blind' pair tried marriage counseling Gonzalez said that her husband felt that she had violated their trust and one day called her "stupid and an untrustworthy person." "I don't consider myself a jealous person, unless you give me motives to, once you give me motives to I'll become a detective. I don't care because my gut instinct is so clever. I mean, it never fails me," she said. She added that the two participated in couple's therapy but that she felt it was not working. Gonzalez said other issues included Johnson becoming distant and addicted to the video game "Halo" and him allegedly scolding her in front of his family for cursing too much. Over time, she said his comments "kept making me feel small" and eventually made the decision to end the relationship she once felt showed her the "kind of love that I've never received before." The pair met on Season 5 of the reality dating show on Netflix, in which contestants looking for romance interact via pods designed to keep their appearances a mystery.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store