Latest news with #NaplesPolice
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Naples Pride Fest sees clashes amidst court-ordered indoor drag show
Event attendees and protesters clashed at Cambier Park as Naples Pride's Pride Fest began, even after a last-minute court ruling moved its drag show indoors. Just hours before Naples Pride was set to go with an outdoors drag show performance in the city's Cambier Park, a federal court ruled against Pride's plan, forcing it to move the performance indoors. Pride Fest began about 11 a.m. Saturday. The first of the drag show performances began just after noon. The performances are restricted to patrons 18 and older. Performers walked off stage and made rounds through the audience collecting cash from attendees who rewarded their performances. 'We're inside, this not family-friendly no more,' one of the performers said. A group of protesters stood outside, shouting references to the Bible and comparing 'homosexuality' with 'sin.' The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta on Friday granted the city of Naples' motion to stay a preliminary injunction that District Judge John Steele granted last month in Fort Myers. Naples Pride in April filed a federal lawsuit against the city after officials denied a permit to allow it to present the 2025 Pride Fest drag show, one of its main moneymakers, outdoors. On May 12, in a 49-page order, Steele referred to the city's permitting restrictions as "clearly invalid" under the First Amendment. In his order, Steele granted the preliminary injunction in part, saying Naples Pride's drag performance is protected speech. The federal judge also concluded that Cambier Park and its bandshell are both traditional public forums, where freedom of speech is most protected, allowing individuals to express their opinions and ideas without government interference. Pride Fest went on, but its organizers were not happy with the latest ruling and the restrictions it carries. The city, as well as several Collier County residents, appealed Steele's decision, but the federal judge ruled against their calls for a reconsideration. The city on May 22 appealed Steele's rulings to the District Court of Appeals. The appeals court's ruling forced Naples Pride to hold its drag show indoors. They held three drag shows indoors at the Norris Center, 755 8th Ave. S. Soldavini said organizers did not charge for tickets and added they were donation-based. In a Wednesday Facebook post, Naples Police asked that everyone in attendance remain civil, cooperative and respectful. The Naples Police security plan was developed in partnership with the Collier County Sheriff's Office and supported by Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the department said in a news release. Several road closures implemented by police began at 1 a.m. Friday. Police anticipated they would extend through approximately 6 p.m. Saturday — about two hours after Pride Fest concludes. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Pride Fest: clashes erupt as drag show moves indoors.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida bear takes dip in Gulf, then power naps in condo lobby
NAPLES, Fla. - The Naples Police Department had an unusual call to report to on Friday. A black bear took a swim in the Gulf and tired himself out, so he was found taking a nap in a condominium lobby on Gulf Shore Boulevard North. The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to the scene and trapped the bear without incident. The Source Information for this story was posted on the Naples Police Department's Facebook page. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Construction workers make shock discovery in lobby of beachside tower that leaves them fearing for their lives
Construction workers in Florida were left shocked after they discovered a black bear taking a nap in a condominium lobby of the building they were working on. On Friday night, the bear was photographed inside the building site while sleeping on the floor. The Naples Police Department responded to the call on Gulf Shore Blvd followed by Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. 'Unusual sight in the City of Naples today!' the NPD wrote. 'Naples Police responded to 3115 Gulf Shore Blvd. N reference to a black bear that was taking a nap in a condominium lobby that was under construction. 'He took a swim in the Gulf earlier and obviously tired himself out!' The FWC then trapped the bear without incident, according to the NPD. Within Florida, there are an estimated 4,050 bears, with about 49 percent occupying their historic range in seven bear subpopulations, Naples Daily News reported. According to the FWC, bears roam the state in forests and swamps from Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle to Ocala National Forest to Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida. Should anyone encounter a black bear, the FWC recommends to stay a clear distance and remain standing upright with a calm, assertive voice. Black bears have been successfully scared away by big, aggressive movements or loud noises.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Attorney General calls federal judge's ruling on Naples Pride 'radical and wrong'
A day after a federal judge ruled in favor of Naples Pride, granting a preliminary injunction and allowing an outdoors drag performance, Florida's top attorney called the decision "both radical and wrong." "I stand by our law that protects kids from drag shows and other sexually explicit adult performances," Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote May 13 on X. "The decisions out of Fort Myers and the Eleventh Circuit panel are both radical and wrong. My office will fight aggressively and swiftly to get these bad decisions overturned." Uthmeier later added that "trans activists don't have the First Amendment right to expose kids to their weird sexual fetishes." Jae Williams, spokesperson for Uthmeier's office, during a May 14 phone call said that Uthmeier's post on X is his statement. When asked if Uthmeier or one of his staff members would comment on the record, Williams said Uthmeier's office did not have further comment. 'Clearly invalid': Federal judge rules Naples Pride's Pride Fest drag performance may happen outdoors On May 12, in a 49-page order, District Judge John Steele referred to the city's permitting restrictions as "clearly invalid" under the First Amendment. He had reserved ruling in a hearing May 2. Both sides of the issue rallied in downtown Fort Myers prior to the hearing. In his order, Steele granted the preliminary injunction in part, saying Naples Pride's drag performance is protected speech. The drag performance, which is part of Naples Pride's Pride Fest, is slated for June 7. The City of Naples, Mayor Teresa Heitmann, Naples Police Chief Ciro Dominguez, Naples City Council members and Naples Police are listed as co-defendants in the discrimination lawsuit, accused of violating the First Amendment. In his order, Steele wrote that Naples Pride forbids performers from incorporating nudity or vulgar, sexual, or obscene content into their performances, among other restrictions that would allow the presence of minors. Former President Bill Clinton, who served in the White House for two terms between 1993 and 2001, nominated Steele for the federal court post on June 6, 2000. Naples Pride filed its federal lawsuit after city officials denied their permit for an outdoor drag performance and instead would only allow an indoor performance restricted to people of age. The order notes that Pride Fest's 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 editions, including the drag performance, happened outdoors on Cambier Park's main stage. According to the order, a series of complaints in 2022 led to an investigation into the performances, causing the drag performance to move indoors. The initially approved permit, which had received a 5-2 vote, was modified to require that the drag-show performance be held indoors and attendance restricted to adults only. Joshua Goldman, the attorney representing Naples Pride, on May 2 said in court before Steele that drag performances are "not adult entertainment." The preliminary injunction allowing the outdoor show expires June 8. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida Attorney General attacks judge over Naples Pride ruling
