Latest news with #Demings
Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Democratic pushback bubbles up
Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Gov. RON DESANTIS waged years of fights against the Biden administration, 'wokeness' from Walt Disney World, and progressive-driven policies on education, the environment, race and gender identity. But this year, many of his biggest fights have come from inside his own party. While he often recasts such disagreement as leftist creep inside the GOP, recent Democratic pushback has been minimal and infrequent. Blue-leaning Orange County appears poised to give it a shot. Local elected officials are doing so as Democrats have struggled to find their footing against Republicans running institutions and implementing policy. A couple of weeks ago, Orange County officials stood up to DeSantis and state Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER by refusing to sign an agreement with ICE to transport undocumented immigrants to detention facilities, citing staffing shortages and their interpretation that the agreement was optional. Days later — including during a commission meeting on Tuesday — they caved. It's a clear initial win for the governor, who threatened to consider suspending commissioners from office if they didn't get in line. But it's not the end of the story. Commissioners and Orange County Mayor JERRY DEMINGS stressed they were merely voting to ratify the agreement because they wouldn't be able to continue the fight if they were thrown out of office and replaced by the governor's 'minions.' Demings predicted there would be a slim chance the county would even be asked to transport ICE detainees anywhere. And he said if they were, it would be the start of a conversation with ICE in which they could share concerns about having officers leave their posts. 'We look very strategically at how we fight,' Demings said during Tuesday's meeting, emphasizing that by staying in office, they were in a 'better position to win the fight in the future.' 'I prefer to fight from the vantage point of where I'm sitting today,' Demings said. 'If we are all removed and others are sitting here, I don't think the fight would be the same fight.' Then Demings, who's weighing a run for higher office, added: 'Until the courts rule that something is unconstitutional it is the law. So we have to change the people who make the laws. That's a whole other strategic conversation.' The next step, Demings said, was to consider possible lawsuits. The commission and mayor are expected to meet again publicly with the county attorney to receive a presentation about what some possible complaints might be, he said. Some items in the hearing provided clues. For instance, County Attorney JEFFREY NEWTON pointed to language in Florida's immigration law saying local governments had to use their 'best efforts' to assist with immigration enforcement. 'It is deliberately — I believe — ambiguous,' Newton said of the phrasing. It's possible other local governments might join in, creating a larger wall of defiance. It's also possible it may wind up landing flat with voters who want to see strict actions against illegal immigration. Additionally, it may not be enough to satisfy the Democratic base. During the public comment period Tuesday, several attendees referred to DeSantis as a 'fascist' and pushed the commission to vote down the agreement. 'Doing the right thing might come with political risk,' AARON QUEN-PEREZ of the Farmworker Association of Florida said during the meeting. 'But people far less fortunate than you have sacrificed so much more just to survive to be seen and just to be heard.' Asked about the comments on litigation, governor's office spokesperson MOLLY BEST said DeSantis had 'consistently stated that local entities must participate in federal immigration enforcement.' 'Florida has enacted legislation that requires full compliance and localities are expected to follow the law,' she added. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ and @leonardkl. ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... TODAY — US District Judge KATHLEEN WILLIAMS will hold a hearing in Miami this morning over the environmental lawsuit against the 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center. The Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades want Williams to quickly halt the facility's development, alleging it is violating federal environmental laws by failing to get proper feedback or assessing ecological impacts. They've raised concerns about lights harming endangered species, such as the Florida panther and the Florida bonneted bat. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians also has intervened in the challenge, saying the center threatens religious and ceremonial sites, and that it was not consulted despite legal requirements and precedents recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the land. SECOND DETENTION CENTER FORMING — 'Florida is preparing a second immigration detention center, which is already being labeled in public records as the 'North Detention Facility,'' reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida. 'The Florida Department of Emergency Management, the state agency in charge of the South Florida Detention Facility in the Everglades, is purchasing a WeatherSTEM and two lightning sirens for the facility, according to a state contract, for $39,490.' FLORIDA SUES PORN SITES — Florida is suing pornography companies that the state claims are 'flagrantly' breaking a high-profile law requiring age verification to view adult websites. State Attorney General James Uthmeier sued several pornography website operators based in the Czech Republic on Monday, alleging that online venues including XVideos, XNXX and BangBros are flaunting Florida's age verification rules. The lawsuit, filed in Sarasota County Circuit Court, marks a significant effort by Florida to enforce a policy recently reinforced by the U.S. Supreme Court as several states push adult content restrictions. — Andrew Atterbury MIAMI-DADE TO GET SCRUTINIZED NEXT — 'The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis this week warned Miami-Dade to expect a site visit from the state's 'DOGE' team that is reviewing local spending decisions and priorities,' reports Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald. 'In a letter that singled out green-energy efforts and the county's spending to encourage racial diversity in hiring and contracting, state administrators said they were concerned that Miami-Dade is facing budget strain after years of growth in property-tax revenue.' — 'Pinellas to send 'thousands upon thousands' of pages to Florida DOGE,' reports Lizzy Alspach of the Tampa Bay Times. — 'Advocates blast the nearly $10 billion rate hike sought by Florida Power & Light,' reports Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix. DATELINE D.C. ANOTHER FLORIDIAN GOES NATIONAL — State Sen. Joe Gruters, who already has President Donald Trump's endorsement, is on a glide path to become the next chair of the Republican National Committee. Michael Whatley, the current RNC chair, is stepping down to run for the North Carolina U.S. Senate seat currently held by retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis. The deadline for those seeking to succeed Whatley came and went on Tuesday and Gruters will run for the job unopposed. The formal vote will occur on Aug. 22 at the RNC summer meeting in Atlanta. — Gary Fineout FIELD IS SET — Seven candidates will be seeking two open seats in the Florida Legislature after qualifying closed Tuesday. Two Republicans and one Democrat qualified for Senate District 11, the seat that had been held by BLAISE INGOGLIA before DeSantis appointed him chief financial officer. Former state Rep. RALPH MASSULLO, a dermatologist, will square off against ANTHONY BRICE in the Sept. 30 primary. Brice is a veteran who has been in the ranching business for the past 15 years. The winner on Dec. 9 will face Democrat ASH MARWAH, a retired engineer who previously ran for the state House. Massullo has already picked up key endorsements from DeSantis and other top Republicans. Four candidates qualified to run for State House 90, the seat that had been held by Democratic state Rep. JOE CASELLO. Casello died last month after suffering a heart attack. Republicans BILL REICHERTER and MARIA ZACK will run against each other in the Sept. 30 primary. The winner of the primary will face Democrat ROB LONG and KAREN YEH, who is running without a party affiliation, in the Dec. 9 general election. Long, a Delay Beach city commissioner and an engineer, is considered the front-runner for the seat. — Gary Fineout TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ASK — Lawyers for President Donald Trump are calling on the Florida Supreme Court to stay out of his legal dispute with the board that hands out Pulitzer Prizes. Trump sued board members for defamation after the board rejected his request to revoke Pulitzer Prizes awarded to The New York Times and Washington Post for stories regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election. Last month, attorneys for nearly two dozen board members asked the state Supreme Court to put the lawsuit on hold until he is no longer president. They argued it would violate due process to allow him to stay some cases because he was president but not afford that right to others. In a Tuesday court filing, Trump's attorneys fired back, saying the state's highest court lacks jurisdiction to even review the case at this point and adding there is 'simply no reason' for the court to get involved. — Gary Fineout DATELINE D.C. MILLS ACCUSATIONS — A woman who said she had been in a relationship with Rep. Cory Mills has accused the Republican member of Congress from Florida of threatening to release nude videos of her after she broke off their relationship, according to a police report. Lindsey Langston, a Florida Republican state committee member and 2024 winner of the Miss United States beauty pageant, told authorities on July 14 that Mills also threatened to harm any of her future romantic partners, according to a report she made to the Columbia County Sheriff's Department that was obtained Tuesday by POLITICO. Response from Mills: He has not been charged and told POLITICO in a statement that he was unaware of the police report. 'We have not been made aware of any report or allegations from law enforcement or the alleged complainant,' Mills said. 'These claims are false and misrepresent the nature of my interactions. I have always conducted myself with integrity, both personally and in service to Florida's 7th District.' — POLITICO's Aaron Pellish, Gary Fineout and Mia McCarthy EPSTEIN LATEST — Trump's ex-Labor Secretary, ALEX ACOSTA, wasn't on the list of subpoenas the House Oversight Committee issued Tuesday on JEFFREY EPSTEIN, report Herb Scribner and Avery Lotz of Axios. Acosta was a federal prosecutor in South Florida when Epstein arranged a deal for a minimum sentence. MORE RECORDS — The Trump administration is considering making transcripts public from the DOJ interview in Tallahassee with GHISLAINE MAXWELL, write CNN's Alayna Treene, Paula Reid and Kristen Holmes. TRANSITION TIME — DeSantis appointed BOB ASZTALOS, the deputy executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, as director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Asztalos, a Navy and Navy Reserve veteran, has previously been chief lobbyist for the Florida Health Care Association and government relations consultant for Easter Seals Florida. — New College of Florida named conservative author and right-wing influencer WILL WITT as chief social media officer, reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. — CAROLINA GARTENBERG is now head of global marketing and comms at Kobre & Kim. She most recently was SVP and general manager for Miami at 5W Public Relations. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Tom Leek … Arlene DiBenigno, president and CEO of Conversa Co. ... Sergio Bustos, vice president for news at WLRN public radio and television.
Politico
4 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Jerry Demings floats trial balloon
Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. Orange County Mayor JERRY DEMINGS — one of Florida's most prominent Democrats — is ready to talk about his future. 'Yes, I am going to consider running for higher office,' Demings, who'll be term-limited after the 2026 election, said in an interview. 'I haven't decided what that office is, but I have come to grips with the idea that my public service is not over.' Demings said he'd consider statewide and federal office. No major Democratic candidate is running for Senate to try to topple Gov. RON DESANTIS-appointed Republican Sen. ASHLEY MOODY ever since Democrat JOSH WEIL dropped out last week. Demings said he wouldn't challenge any sitting House Democrat but would consider running if a seat were to open up. If Demings enters the governor's race, then he would be challenging DAVID JOLLY, a former GOP representative who left the party in 2018 and registered as a Democrat this year. The former Orlando police chief said he was praying about what to do and in the coming weeks would be meeting with mentors, friends and constituents about where they see him headed. 'My trajectory has been one of advancement, greater territory and greater responsibility,' he said. 'I didn't choose it but God chose it for me.' He also cast himself as a problem solver and noted his office was technically nonpartisan. He added that he had centrist Republican friends who were frustrated by political polarization, too. 'We have gotten a little too far away,' he said. 'The divide is too great — it's not healthy.' Chatter about Demings came to a head over the weekend, when he quietly released a self-published memoir and leadership guide called 'Believe: Faith, Truth and the Courage to Lead.' It contains details about Demings' family and mentors, and spans his career as a top cop and his accomplishments as mayor. It reads like a Christian devotional with questions after each chapter prompting readers to reflect on topics such as: 'How has prayer shaped your journey?' and 'How can you use your influence to serve a greater purpose?' It contains admonitions of people who try to whitewash history or publicly say they're Christians while 'privately promoting agendas that dishonor Christ.' Demings' admission comes as former Rep. AL LAWSON JR. has been emailing allies to consider running for Florida governor, as NBC News' Matt Dixon posted on X over the weekend. Lawson said that Black voters, in particular, were displeased with Jolly's candidacy. He told Jim Rosica of USA Today Network — Florida that he would make a decision by the end of November after speaking to Democratic leadership and reviewing polling. State Rep. ANGIE NIXON, a progressive from Jacksonville, also said she is weighing a wide array of next steps, from city council to governor. Demings got statewide attention last week when he stood up to DeSantis over a transportation agreement with ICE, saying staff was already stretched thin. But DeSantis threatened to remove him and others from office, so by Friday Demings caved, saying he was doing so under 'protest and extreme duress.' The base has chafed at the decision, with protests erupting in Orlando on Monday night, according to numerous outlets. Demings told Playbook he couldn't risk having the governor appoint unelected officers, which would also lead to staff losing their jobs. The six-member commission will be taking up the matter today. Though the primary for governor is over a year away, the longer interested parties wait to announce, the harder it'll be for them to galvanize support. Jolly is out this morning with a fresh round of endorsements from 60 current and former elected officials, including state Sen. TINA POLSKY, former gubernatorial candidate and state party chair ROD SMITH and former Rep. PATRICK MURPHY. State Sen. SHEVRIN JONES (D-Miami Gardens), who moderated a town hall for Jolly in Palm Beach on Monday night, told Playbook he wanted Democrats to consider who the most unifying candidate would be not just for Democrats but all Floridians. 'Florida Democrats are at a serious crossroads,' he said. 'We don't have the luxury of time or resources for a costly, drawn-out primary.' Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ and @leonardkl. ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... MORE DOCUMENTS ORDERED — US District Judge RODOLFO RUIZ has ordered state and federal officials to disclose all agreements and contracts laying out who is responsible for detainees at the Alligator Alcatraz detention center, reports Mike Schneider of The Associated Press. Ruiz, a Trump appointee, is presiding over the case, which stems from a lawsuit alleging detainees haven't had adequate access to their attorneys or due process. FLORIDA DRIVING SOLAR GROWTH — 'Despite removing climate change from its official state policy in 2024, Florida added more utility-scale solar than California last year, with over 3 gigawatts of new capacity coming online,' report CNBC's Lisa Setyon and Jeniece Pettitt. Here's why: 'The surge is being driven by utilities, not rooftop panels,' per CNBC. 'Florida Power & Light alone built over 70 percent of the state's new solar last year. A state rule lets developers skip lengthy siting reviews for projects under 75 megawatts, which speeds up construction and cuts costs.' SIX VICTIMS UNDER AGE 10 — 'It's illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Florida. Yet, there have been 21 recent human cases of disease-causing bacteria linked to consumption of raw milk from the same farm, state health officials said Monday,' reports Christopher O'Donnell of the Tampa Bay Times. THIS MONTH — A tax holiday will run through August for school supplies as students get ready to head back to the classroom. During that time, the state's 6 percent sales tax will be suspended on items from calculators to Items that qualify range from laptops to binders, pens and pencils. — 'At 'Alligator Alcatraz,' the biggest risk isn't Alligators,' by The New York Times' Hiroko Tabuchi and Mira Rojanasakul. — 'Florida's DOGE is coming to St. Petersburg with questions,' by Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times. — 'An unelected attorney general is handing lucrative contracts to favored law firms,' reports Jason Garcia of Seeking Rents. PENINSULA AND BEYOND EXITING BROWARD SCHOOLS — 'About a quarter of parents who withdrew their children from Broward schools cited dissatisfaction with the quality of their child's education as the top reason, and a similar percentage cited safety concerns, according to a district-commissioned report from Hanover Research, a Washington, D.C., firm,' reports Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. — 'Federal investigation of South Florida pill mill ring raises questions about state oversight,' reports WLRN's Jake Shore. CAMPAIGN MODE DEADLINE TODAY — Qualifying ends at noon for Senate District 11, the seat formerly held by Chief Financial Officer BLAISE INGOGLIA, and for House District 90, the seat formerly held by the late state Rep. JOE CASELLO, who passed away in July following a heart attack. — 'The billionaire behind mysterious immigration ads targeting Miami Republicans,' by Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times. — 'Ron DeSantis in the shadows as Florida Republicans toast Trump's team,' by Matt Dixon of NBC News. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP FILED IN FLORIDA — 'President Trump and Rupert Murdoch reached a deal Monday to postpone the media mogul's deposition in a libel lawsuit related to the Wall Street Journal publishing a report on an Epstein birthday book, per court filings,' reports Rebecca Falconer of Axios. 'Trump's lawyers had raised concerns about Murdoch's age and health when they asked a federal court in Florida last week to expedite the 94-year-old's deposition, but the deal postpones this until after the outlet's upcoming motion to dismiss the case.' FIRST CONFIRMED US ATTORNEY — The Senate over the weekend confirmed JASON REDING QUIÑONES to lead the U.S. attorney's office in South Florida. He'll replace U.S. Attorney HAYDEN O'BYRNE, who was in the spot on an interim basis, reports Devoun Cetoute and Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald. TRANSITION TIME CFO HIRE — Florida Chief Financial Officer BLAISE INGOGLIA is bringing on KATIE STRICKLAND as chief of staff, his office announced this morning. 'I know she will be an asset across the board, and I welcome her expertise on my team,' Ingoglia said in a statement. Strickland heads to her new role from the governor's office, where she had been deputy chief of staff since 2021. She previously worked at the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Financial Services, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and the Florida House. Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS praised Strickland as someone who 'helped drive smart, results-oriented policy that's truly made a difference in the lives of Floridians' and DeSantis chief of staff JASON WEIDA praised her 'deep knowledge of health and human services, tireless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Floridians.' CHANGING OF THE GUARD — Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER announced Monday that he's picked BRAD MCVAY, a top official at the Department of State who has been involved in countless election law disputes, to become the next statewide prosecutor. The job of statewide prosecutor, which has a four-year term, is one of the top spots in the Department of Legal Affairs. The statewide prosecutor has constitutional authority to investigate crimes that occur in two or more judicial circuits. McVay, who was an assistant state attorney at the start of his legal career, has been deputy secretary of state since 2023 and was general counsel for four and a half years before then. McVay succeeds Nick Cox, who left earlier this year to join Hillsborough County State Attorney SUZY LOPEZ. Cox had been statewide prosecutor for 15 years. 'Brad is a proven constitutional conservative, experienced litigator, and criminal prosecutor who has defended Florida's laws and elections in the courtroom and beyond,' Uthmeier said in a statement. McVay starts Aug. 18. — Gary Fineout ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Ed Hooper … state Rep. Tyler Sirois … Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón.
Politico
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Orange County in the crosshairs
Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Orange County is quickly becoming the epicenter of resistance against the Republican agenda in Tallahassee. The latest pushback it got from the state came Tuesday as Florida Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER posted a letter to the county demanding officers help transport ICE detainees, warning otherwise the mayor and commissioners could be removed from office. Orange County had already agreed to house detainees arrested by ICE at its jail so they could await court dates or deportation. It also signed an agreement allowing officers to conduct immigration enforcement. But commissioners and Mayor JERRY DEMINGS decided not to sign the transportation agreement because they said their officers are already overwhelmed. A drive to the 'Alligator Alcatraz' facility in the Everglades, for instance, is 240 miles each way. And county data show the number of people held in jail because of an ICE request went from 98 in June of last year to 222 this June. Demings said he wanted the county to negotiate reimbursements to help pay for those housing costs. 'What they're doing is making our community unsafe, making our jail unsafe, because then they're pulling people out — resources that we cannot afford to send somewhere else within our state,' Demings told reporters Wednesday following a ribbon-cutting event. Demings also blasted Uthmeier for describing Orange County as a 'sanctuary city' and dismissed him as 'over-ambitious,' 'full of himself' and working for his 'political interests.' 'I spent more years on the streets of Florida, patrolling our streets as a law-enforcement officer than he's been alive, but he's attacking me,' said Demings, a former Orlando police chief. On Wednesday, Gov. RON DESANTIS said during a press conference in Tampa that the immigration law the GOP-supermajority Legislature passed this year was clear about how local governments have to do as much as they can to help with immigration enforcement. He added that he would be watching the case and if necessary would look at his constitutional authority and see whether elected officials were upholding the law. 'I think that I've shown that I'm willing to do that,' he said with regard to removal of elected officials, referring to how he previously suspended liberal prosecutors. Area state lawmakers came to the county's defense. State Sen. CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH (D-Orlando) said the removal of local elected officials 'would constitute a hostile right-wing takeover of local government with no historical precedent.' Rep. BRUCE ANTONE (D-Orlando) said he supported deportation of violent criminals but not having local officials 'be engaged in just helping to round up any and everybody.' 'That takes away from what they have to do every day,' he said. 'It concerns me when my constituents are calling me and they're being randomly stopped and asked about their citizenship status. That's creating a whole other layer of fear in the community.' The immigration fight is just the latest battleground for the county. It's already facing a DOGE-like audit of its spending by the chief financial officer, and the state Commerce Department just determined the county's development plan is 'null and void.' The various challenges 'give you an idea of what kind of full assault we are going through,' Orange County Commissioner NICOLE WILSON told Playbook in an interview. 'Everybody is on pins and needles about what's next.' She added: 'The reality of the situation is that in an effort to try to comply with the federal administration's aggressive deportation quota, they will need complicit and compliant jurisdictions across the state.' What happens next: The commission is meeting Aug. 5 to discuss Uthmeier's letter. Wilson said commissioners would likely sue if suspended. Looking even beyond that: The ongoing clash is certain to be a test not just for Demings but candidates running for Orange County mayor. One of the candidates, Orange County Clerk of Courts TIFFANY MOORE RUSSELL, said elected officials 'made their decision based on how to best manage county resources and the constituents who elected them.' Former Rep. STEPHANIE MURPHY said public safety should be a county's first priority but that the transport requirement was an 'unfunded mandate that risks diverting already strained public safety resources and undermining due process for residents of Orange County.' She added that she supported the commission working with the state and federal government to find a 'responsible path forward.' — Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ and @leonardkl. MORNING MONEY: CAPITAL RISK — POLITICO's flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we're living in: one shaped by political volatility, disruption and a wave of policy decisions with sector-wide consequences. Each week, Morning Money: Capital Risk brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk is moving markets and how investors are adapting. Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs, or court rulings could ripple through the economy? Start here. ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... CENSUS REDO — DeSantis, maintaining that the last U.S. census was 'flawed,' said Wednesday that the Trump administration was considering whether to approve a new census before the end of the decade — a move that the Republican governor predicted could help Florida gain extra congressional seats. DeSantis said he is already 'seriously' looking at asking the Florida Legislature to redraw the state's existing congressional map. Republicans already hold a 20-8 edge over Democrats. — Gary Fineout 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' GETS ANOTHER COURT HEARING — A federal judge Wednesday appeared to lean toward keeping an environmental challenge against the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention facility in the Southern District of Florida after a state challenge arguing it should be moved elsewhere. The district judge, Kathleen Williams, didn't immediately make a decision or say when one would come. The environmental groups say the state waited too long to contest the venue and pointed out the issue was raised only after Williams, who recently cited Uthmeier with contempt of court, took over the case. But Jesse Panuccio, representing Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, said Wednesday that the 'judge shopping' argument was unfair and repeatedly pointed out that the property is in Collier County, which is outside the southern district. One development did come out of the hearing: Williams said she would allow the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida to join the environmental groups pressing the suit. She agreed with their arguments that the detention center would affect nearby tribal villages, a school, and cultural and ceremonial sites — as well as hunting and fishing capabilities. — Kimberly Leonard, Bruce Ritchie and Josh Gerstein — 'Florida releases heavily blacked out Alligator Alcatraz hurricane plan,' by Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel. MANATEE RULING APPEAL — Florida officials this week asked a federal appeals court to overturn a district court ruling that blamed the state for more than 1,000 manatee deaths in 2021 in the Indian River Lagoon. District Judge CARLOS E. MENDOZA ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to stop issuing permits for new septic tanks, apply for a federal endangered species takings permit and create a new manatee monitoring and feeding program. DEP told the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals the order improperly holds the state rather than septic tank owners responsible for pollution. And DEP said a proposed federal rule change would restrict federal Endangered Species Act violations to actions taken to harm individual animals rather than conditions broadly affecting a species or its habitat. While DEP says it should prevail on many legal fronts, if the rule is finalized 'that would also be sufficient by itself to vacate and remand the judgment and preliminary injunction.' DEP also requested an expedited briefing schedule in the appeals court case. — Bruce Ritchie HEMP REGULATION — 'In a continued effort to crack down on the sale of hemp to minors, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is coming up with a new regulation,' reports Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix. 'This one will define the word 'cartoon,' and the agency will hear public testimony on the proposed new rule during a workshop in Tallahassee on Aug. 13.' — 'Florida Attorney General vows to cut off law firms over diversity initiatives,' reports Gray Rohrer of USA Today Network — Florida. — 'DeSantis, Florida education official warn unions: Act fast on teacher pay raises,' by James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat. — 'Florida tourism facing test as Trump policies keep some visitors away,' by John Kennedy of USA Today Network — Florida. PENINSULA AND BEYOND — 'Orlando joins Florida's stadium boom with $420 million bond sale,' reports Bloomberg's Maxwell Adler. — 'Tourism agency Visit Orlando spent $75K of taxpayer funds on lavish dinner in NYC, new audit finds,' reports McKenna Schueler of Orlando Weekly. CAMPAIGN MODE ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR MIAMI MAYOR? Far-right commentator LAURA LOOMER posted on X on Wednesday that she heard Rep. CARLOS GIMÉNEZ — formerly mayor of Miami-Dade County — was considering running for mayor of the City of Miami. The election's date is being challenged in the courts, but as of now it's set for this November, and candidates have as late as Sept. 20 to enter the race. Gimenez clapped back on X, saying that Loomer didn't know what she was talking about. He also blasted her for pushing to keep Chevron operating in Venezuela. 'I stand with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom,' he said. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP SANCTIONS ON JUDGE — The Treasury Department has sanctioned a Brazilian judge overseeing the prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of organizing a coup — the latest Trump administration foray into the trial of one of President Donald Trump's ideological allies. In a statement Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the judge overseeing the trial of Bolsonaro on charges he worked to overturn his 2022 election loss by organizing a military coup. — POLITICO's Eric Bazail-Eimil DATELINE D.C. MORE PUSH ON EPSTEIN FILES — Senate Democrats are using an obscure federal law in an attempt to force President Donald Trump's Justice Department to hand over information related to Jeffrey Epstein. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that DOJ turn over the 'full and complete Epstein files.' Democrats are invoking a rarely used provision that requires an executive branch agency to hand over requested information when it's requested by at least five members of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. — POLITICO's Jordain Carney TRANSITION TIME — IVAN CASTRO is leaving the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office and headed to be communications director for the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. Castro begins the new job Aug. 4. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: Former Agriculture Commissioner and Rep. Adam Putnam ... Kristen Knapp, director of communications at Florida Health Care Association ... POLITICO's Bill Duryea … Dan McFaul of Ballard Partners … Tony Winton, editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No longer ‘disappeared', Orange County ICE detainees are now public
Orange County has begun identifying — in prominent fashion — the jail inmates it holds on immigration detainers, reversing its practice of hiding their names that drew angry protests. Now, beneath a detainee's mugshot on the jail's website, a yellow banner displays 'Immigration Hold.' The county previously had insisted its agreement with federal authorities required it to withhold the names of detainees, though other jails have shown such immigration detainers. But families complained their loved ones were being 'disappeared' into the immigration detention system. Mayor Jerry Demings directed corrections staff to reverse course in late June. 'Moving forward, this database will include ICE immigrant detainees,' Demings said in a statement. 'I believe this will assist family members of detainees in locating their loved ones. Relevant information for the public is now available on the jail's website.' Such information is valuable to attorneys and family members who are trying to find inmates though the value can be fleeting. Federal immigration detainees are often transferred swiftly to facilities in Miami, the new 'Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades, or other facilities in Texas and New Mexico. Once they're transferred to an ICE facility, finding them can be challenging. 'It's an incredibly good first step and we're deeply grateful to the elected officials who are finally listening to us,' said Felipe Sousa Lazaballet, the executive director of the Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka. 'It's completely unacceptable to live in a community where people disappear.' Under Orange County's Intergovernmental Service Agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the county jail serves as one of a handful of facilities across the state that houses federal inmates. County commissioners are expected to further discuss the agreement at a meeting next week. That means people arrested on immigration charges beyond the county's borders – in some cases 100 miles from Orange County – are booked and housed into the jail until they can be transferred to an ICE facility. That agreement has come under fire as well, in part because the county is only reimbursed $88 per day an inmate is held, while it costs about $145 to detain someone. Sousa Lazaballet said he believes the county should terminate the IGSA agreement all together. Previously, when inmates were booked in the jail with an immigration detainer but no local charges, their name never appeared on the jail's roster. But when a person was booked on a criminal charge or even a traffic ticket with such a detainer, they'd appear on the jail's website until the local charge was settled. After that, they'd become a federal inmate and be removed from the roster – despite often still being in the same jail. 'I'm grateful that there's more transparency now in the data for families to be able to find their people in the Orange County Jail,' said Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad, who had been calling for the change. Even still, she said, some people are being lost in the system when they're transferred from the Orange County Jail to another facility and then brought back to the local jail, she said. 'That's where we're still losing people,' she said. 'Families feel as though their loved ones are being lost.' rygillespie@ shudak@
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dreamers not alone: Others this year sought to bring MLB to Orlando, said mayor
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The Orlando Dreamers, the well-known baseball effort spearheaded by the late Pat Williams, was not the only player trying to bring Major League Baseball to Central Florida this year, revealed Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. Advertisement Demings, during his June 6 State of the County address, said that he has been approached by other entities interested in bringing Orlando a team. This is the first time the county revealed additional groups were making moves simultaneously as the Dreamers — which Williams started in 2019. Demings did not identify the other groups and was unaware of whether they were still active. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
