Latest news with #RonDeSantis
Miami Herald
32 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
From the Keys to Sanibel: Survey says Florida has some of the best islands in the U.S.
Florida's islands are still favorites among tourists. Florida's hotels, not so much. The Sunshine State is home to several of the best islands to visit in the entire continental United States, according to a newly published survey of nearly 200,000 travelers worldwide. That includes two locales hit hard by three hurricanes in four years — a tribute to Floridians' resilience. The bragging rights stem from the results of the publication Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards, out in July. The annual issue, in its 30th year, asked readers all over the globe to vote on their favorite top destinations, hotels, and a host of other categories. While several of Florida's islands dominated in that category, cities and hotels across the state didn't perform quite as competitively. The winning islands were: ▪ Amelia Island in second ▪ Marco Island in sixth ▪ Florida Keys in eighth ▪ Sanibel Island in eleventh ▪ Captiva Island in fifteenth Florida dominated that category, providing five of the top 15. That was more than any other state in the continental U.S. It was also one more than it had in the 2024 World's Best Awards — Marco Island joined the other four for the first time this year. Florida's top islands Travel + Leisure had readers rate the islands on natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness and value. Amelia Island is known for beaches and horseback rides. In Nassau County, it's about 30 minutes from Jacksonville. It held the same position in last year's rankings. Marco Island is in Collier County and about 20 miles south of Naples. Abundant with wildlife, it's the largest of the Ten Thousand Islands. In the early days of COVID-19, it was an early rebel, even by Florida standards. In late April 2020, Marco Island City Council voted for a limited re-opening of its beaches. At the beginning of that month, Governor Ron De Santis had issued a shelter in place order for the entire state. It limited the public to essential activities or services. The city council later reversed course due to public pressure to keep the beaches closed. The Florida Keys dropped this year to eighth from fifth in 2024, but remains a regular favorite. 'Old Florida at its very best,' one Travel + Leisure reader wrote. 'Locally owned and managed eateries and hotels. Down-home Southern friendliness. Great food,' the magazine said. Sanibel Island, known for seashells on beaches and serving as a weekend getaway for South Floridians, slipped to eleventh from 10th one year ago. That it's ranked at all is remarkable given it was wrecked by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Parts of the Sanibel Causeway were damaged. Hurricane Milton in 2024 with its 120 mile-per-hour winds also hit Sanibel Island but didn't do as much damage. Captiva Island in Lee County, popular for redfish and snook, was hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Helene and Milton, within two weeks of one another in 2024. Iconic waterside restaurant The Mucky Duck was damaged by all three. Even as the island category was where Florida shined, the results also reflected the increasing pull of the world. Amelia Island, second best in the U.S., scored a total of 86.81. The 25th ranked island in the world had a higher score. The big winner was Páros in Greece, chosen as the top island in the world. Mount Desert Island in Maine was the best in the U.S. Hotels, cities absent? The findings however were not all sunshine. Among the best 100 hotels in the world, not a single one was in Florida. The U.S. overall had 16, California leading with four. Massachusetts and New York were also represented. In the best U.S. cities to visit category, not one from Florida cracked the Top 15. New York City, Chicago and Boston all did. Santa Fe, New Mexico, topped the list for the first time in the best U.S. cities to visit. 'Readers raved about the inventive New Mexican cuisine and the destination's natural beauty - sitting at 7,000 feet,' Travel + Leisure wrote. Santa Fe, which gets over 300 days of sunshine per year, also won praise for its markets and art galleries. These results reflect an increasingly competitive tourism market for Florida. Gone are the COVID-19 days when everyone flocked to the Sunshine State. It's now battling Europe, Asia, much of the United States and Latin America, too. While Florida was shut out in the top 100 hotels, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Costa Rica each had two. Argentina and Panama had one a piece. The 2025 results reflect a constantly changing travel landscape, Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford said in a statement. 'From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character and a strong sense of place.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
‘It's a concentration camp': Everything we know about Trump's new ‘Alligator Alcatraz' in the Florida Everglades
The name given by Donald Trump and his allies to Florida 's new barebones immigrant detention camp is ghoulish enough: 'Alligator Alcatraz'. Critics, however, argue that it is nothing less than a concentration camp on American soil, designed to round up disfavored minorities even if they have committed no crimes. Rapidly built and opened in the space of just two weeks on a remote and rarely used airstrip in Florida's reptile-rich Everglades, the camp is intended to hold up to 5,000 people arrested by U.S. immigration authorities while they await deportation. Numerous detainees, their families, and their lawyers have already alleged inhumane and unsafe conditions, including maggoty food and overflowing toilets. Polling suggests that almost half of all Americans disapprove of the facility, with only 26 per cent of independent voters being in favor. So what exactly is Alligator Alcatraz, and what will happen to the so far 700-odd people detained there? Surrounded by alligators and pythons Long before his 2024 election victory, Donald Trump and his team were drawing up plans to deport millions of people every year — and hold them in vast new detention camps while their cases were processed. Alligator Alcatraz is a preview of that potential future. Rather than being the federal government, it's actually a project of Florida's Republican governor — and former Trump election rival — Ron DeSantis, who invoked emergency powers to seize the land last month. Who funded this remains unclear. DeSantis has said he will be reimbursed by the federal government, and Trump's homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, has said it will be "largely funded" by FEMA. Yet in court filings, the U.S. Justice Department has claimed that "not implemented, authorized, directed, or funded Florida's temporary detention center" — despite the fact that immigration enforcement is handled by the federal government. Regardless, Republicans have made no secret of their rationale. "You don't need to invest that much in the perimeter," claimed Florida's attorney general James Uthmeier. "If people get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons." And yes, 'Alligator Alcatraz' is now its official name. It's even emblazoned on road signs that lead to the facility. 'Packed into cages' The facility's construction is extremely basic — and its conditions are allegedly brutal. Detainees are kept in metal cages, with dozens of people packed into each one, housed inside gigantic heavy-duty tents in the sweltering heat. Even the staff appear to be based in temporary prefab huts and mobile trailers parked nearby. Detainees and their families have reported worm-infested food, routine medical neglect, unreliable air conditioning, and inadequate toilets that overflow and cover the floor with feces. Government officials have adamantly disputed these accusations, but have provided few details and have denied access to the media. In total, there are currently around 3,000 beds. 'They have no way to bathe, no way to wash their mouths, the toilet overflows and the floor is flooded with pee and poop,' said the wife of one 35-year-old Cuban detainee. "They eat once a day and have two minutes to eat. The meals have worms." At one point, detainees "all went on a hunger strike" in protest against the conditions, she said, adding that her calls with him were interrupted every three minutes by an automated voice saying the conversation was recorded. Lawyers have also reported being refused access and prevented from speaking to their clients. Leamsy 'La Figura' Izquierdo, a Cuban reggaeton artist arrested last week in Miami-Dade County for assault with a deadly weapon and transferred to Alligator Alcatraz, likewise told CBS News: 'There's no water to take a bath, it's been four days since I've taken a bath. "They only brought a meal once a day and it has maggots. They never take off the lights for 24 hours. The mosquitoes are as big as elephants." Another detainee said guards had taken away his Bible and told him that "here there is no right to religion". Democratic legislators who visited the camp say they're deeply concerned. While a bipartisan group was allowed to visit on July 12 — as required by state law — they were given a "sanitized" tour of still-empty areas with no detainees. Even then, their review was harsh. 'They are essentially packed into cages, wall-to-wall humans," said Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. 'This place needs to be shut the hell down. They're abusing human beings." A spokesperson for the Florida state government said, "The reporting on the conditions in the facility is completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order." Who is detained there? In early July, Donald Trump claimed that the Florida facility would "handle the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet" — and said he wants to see similar facilities built in "many states". But what we know of Alligator Alcatraz's inmates conflicts with his description. According to The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times, only one-third of the 700 people currently being held there have any criminal conviction whatsoever. 250 detainees have been judged to have broken immigration law, which is a civil offence and not a criminal one. One detainee, who described the conditions as potentially "a form of torture", told CBS: "A lot of us have our residency documents and we don't understand why we're here." That fits the general pattern of Trump's detentions so far. Despite promising to prioritize "the worst of the worst", data suggests that only 8 percent of the estimated 185,000 people detained by ICE between October 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025 had been convicted of a serious crime. One-third of detainees had some kind of criminal conviction, but among that group, 75 percent had only committed low-level crimes such as traffic offenses. How long detainees will stay at Alligator Alcatraz is unclear, but immigration court proceedings can take months or years, and the Trump administration has said it will deny bail en masse. Hence, it could be a long time for some. Is it a concentration camp? Some critics believe so. Among them is the journalist Andrea Pitzer, author of One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps, who made her case in a recent op-ed for MSNBC. "This facility's purpose fits the classic model: mass civilian detention without real trials targeting vulnerable groups for political gain based on ethnicity, race, religion or political affiliation rather than for crimes committed," Pitzer wrote. "We're still in the early stages of this arc, but... the history of this kind of detention underlines that it would be a mistake to think the current cruelties are the endpoint. America is likely just getting started." While the term 'concentration camp' is most associated with the Nazis, such camps have been widely used by numerous nations, including the U.K., the U.S., Spain, and the Soviet Union. Immigration lawyer Raul A. Reyes likewise argued in The Los Angeles Times that Alligator Alcatraz is a "national disgrace" that "will place detainees in life-threatening conditions". He further claimed the facility "appears intentionally designed to inflict suffering on detainees", citing supporters' "gleeful" attitude to the idea of federal detainees being eaten by alligators. The Florida Republican Party, and Uthmeier himself, are even selling Alligator Alcatraz merchandise, including baseball caps, water bottles, and beer koozies.
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Budget to pass tonight + ‘No Kings' protests over weekend + Hope Florida charity fundraiser ‘unusual,' per experts
It's Monday, June 16 and Florida lawmakers are expected to pass the state budget this evening. They are a month-and-a-half late. Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper summed it up on Friday: 'We thought this day would never come, but it did.' The $115.1 billion budget is smaller than last year's as lawmakers prepare for a possible recession. WHAT WE ARE WATCHING Lawmakers agree not to fund DeSantis' Hope Florida call line: It's a critical blow to one of the governor's signature priorities. During dealmaking to craft a state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, House and Senate leaders decided not to spend $2 million requested by Ron DeSantis to staff 20 Hope Florida call line agents. They also agreed not to give DeSantis four positions in the governor's office to create a new Office of Hope Florida. Ileana Garcia broke with Republicans on immigration. Will the choice haunt her? The state senator from Miami called recent deportation efforts in South Florida 'inhumane' and 'not what we voted for' — a position that few Republicans have vocalized. There has been little indication of support for her statements — but no public backlash from elected officials yet, either. Miami doubles down on proposal to delay election, teeing up battle with the state: Miami officials are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would push the November election back to 2026 and give the city's current elected officials an extra year in office, defying a written opinion from the Florida attorney general and a public rebuke from the governor, both of whom say the change requires voter approval. Miami mayor is lobbying behind the scenes for proposal to skip November election: Behind the scenes, Mayor Francis Suarez has been lobbying to push the proposal through. If the measure passes, Suarez — a former city commissioner who is reaching the end of his term limits as mayor — would get a 17th consecutive year in Miami City Hall. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DeSantis golf fundraiser for Hope Florida charity 'unusual,' nonprofit experts say: Ron DeSantis touted last year's Governor's Cup charity golf weekend as a fundraising success for the fledgling Hope Florida Foundation, saying it raised 'massive amounts of money.' Yet few of the attendees — which included officials in the governor's administration, his former campaign advisers and state contractors — donated to it. Several said they didn't even know the charity sponsored it, even though the nonprofit gave them custom golf bags and paid for their rooms, meals and drinks. Florida child welfare agency calls ICE on teen migrant in foster care, sparking criticism: Florida child welfare authorities turned over a 17-year-old foster child to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, sparking intense criticism that the action could hinder efforts to protect children in the state's large immigrant communities. 'No Kings' Protests DeSantis said protesters on roadways can be run over by drivers. Is that true? The governor had a grim word of advice for drivers ahead of the weekend 'No Kings' rallies: you can legally hit protesters with your car. Under Florida's relatively new anti-riot law, he's not completely wrong, legal experts say. What 'No Kings' protesters said at Trump marches in South Florida: Renditions of 'God Bless America' and 'We Shall Overcome' broke out among the crowd of protesters Saturday afternoon during Miami Beach's 'No Kings' rally. Attendees waved American flags and held signs reading 'We fought a revolution for this?' and 'Speak out while you still can!' 'What democracy looks like.' Why thousands marched in South Florida protests: Surrounded by a heavy police presence, the 'No Kings' protesters were passionate but peaceful. As people took to the streets, reports came in that two Democratic lawmakers were shot in Minnesota in what is being described as political violence. Photos from the 'No Kings' marches: Here are scenes from the more than 70 protests on Saturday, including in Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Protesters marched toward Mar-a-Lago: The president wasn't at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday. He was in Washington, D.C., to watch the military parade commemorating the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. Saturday was also Flag Day, and Trump's 79th birthday. Thank you for reading! The Politics and Policy in the Sunshine State newsletter was curated this week by Miami Herald reporter Alexandra Glorioso. We appreciate our readers, and if you have any ideas or suggestions, please drop me a note at aglorioso@ or message me @aglorios. Please subscribe! Do you know someone who would like to get this free newsletter? Send this to a friend to receive it weekly.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Alligator Alcatraz boss exposes woke Democrats' false claims about migrant detention center conditions
A Florida official overseeing Alligator Alcatraz has exposed Democrats for lying about the detention center to make conditions seem worse than they actually are. The detention center has been subjected to fierce criticism since it opened its doors on July 1 and began accepting inmates two days later. President Donald Trump toured the facility, which is deep in the Florida Everglades and surrounded by alligators, on July 1 alongside Governor Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, boasting: 'It might be as good as the real Alcatraz.' Two weeks later, a group of Democrats were granted access to tour the newly constructed grounds, and lamented the tough conditions migrants housed there will face. Florida Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz compared the facility to an internment camp and insisted 'there are really disturbing, vile conditions,' demanding the 'place be shut the hell down.' But now, Kevin Guthrie, from the Florida division of Emergency Management, has rubbished the Democrats' concerns in an interview with Jesse Watters on Fox. He said one critic 'had an infrared thermometer that they actually pointed at a lightbulb and it was 110C.' Guthrie said he suggested they 'pull that down' to gauge the actual temperature and suggested it was an attempt to make the facility appear hotter than it actually is. Another criticism from the Democrat tour guests that Guthrie drew attention to was the state of the food. 'That might be one of my favorites,' he said. 'Number one it was a grey turkey sandwich. She was about 6ft away from the turkey sandwich box in a wrapper, I'm not sure how she could tell it was grey.' Guthrie said 'individuals who go to a hospital, individuals that get Michelle Obama's lunches are getting the exact same thing.' He criticized Wasserman Schultz for 'then turning around and asking if they want second portions, can they come and get it? It's either grey and too nasty to eat or it's okay and can I get a second helping.' During his impassioned speech, Guthrie railed against criticism of the plumbing and toilet facilities, noting it is 'a standard mock up toilet system in any secure facility.' 'We meet and exceed the national standard or Florida standard, whatever is the higher level,' he insisted. His comments were on the back of Wasserman Schult' criticism, during which she insisted: 'This place is a stunt, and they're abusing human beings here.' According to lawmakers on the tour, more than 30 migrants were packed into cage-style cells with just three combination sink-toilets. Temperatures hovered in the mid-80s inside medical intake tents. Detainees have reported worms in the food, overflowing toilets, and 24-hour lockdowns in cages teeming with mosquitoes. Trump has vowed the facility will 'house some of the most menacing migrants, the most vicious people on the planet. We're surrounded by miles of swamp land and the only way out is deportation.' He said he'd like to see similar facilities in 'many states,' adding Florida would getting a second one 'and probably a couple more.' 'The incredible thing is picking the site because the site was one of the most natural sites. It might be as good as the real Alcatraz. Well, that's a spooky one too. That's a tough site. So I really think it could last as long as they want to have,' he said. The president noted that 'I couldn't care less' that the facilities were controversial. Trump looked visibly pleased with the setup during his tour, observing stacks of bunk beds behind chain-linked fencing inside an air conditioned tent in a Florida swamp. The president said any migrant being processed into the facility who wanted to return to their home country would be allowed to do so. The controversial detention facility was spearheaded by Florida Republican leaders and garnered its nickname due to its location: it sits about 37 miles from Miami in the middle of a swamp surrounded by snakes and alligators — and in an area of the state that is prone to hurricanes. The $450 million-per-year detention facility, which will be able to hold up to 3,000 undocumented immigrants, was built in just seven days. It sits next to an 11,000 foot airstrip. DeSantis said the runway there can be used to quickly fly undocumented immigrants to third countries if deportation is deemed appropriate. 'You literally drive them 2,000 feet, put them on a plane and then they're gone,' DeSantis said. The center has 1,000 people staffing it and is surrounded by security cameras. The Florida National Guard will mobilize roughly 100 troops to help with the facility. With the migrants housed in tents and trailers, they are surrounded thousands of alligators, along with non-indigenous predators like pythons and a family of panthers. An alligator was spotted swimming near the detention center ahead of Trump's arrival. It comes as Trump continues his crackdown on illegal migration, issuing a cutthroat new order which could see migrants deported to a third-country location as little as six hours after being given notice. Todd Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a top Trump administration lieutenant, issued a directive to agency staff on Wednesday, July 9, outlining the direction of deportations moving forward. The Department of Homeland Security stoked fear with an AI-generated meme showing snarling alligators in ICE baseball caps patrolling the swampy grounds of the future facility dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz' He said migrants could be deported to a 'third country' with as little as six hours notice 'in exigent circumstances' – so long as the person had been given an opportunity to speak with an attorney. Generally, an illegal immigrant will be given 24 hours notice before they are sent to a country other than their homeland. The memo states that migrants could be sent to nations that have pledged not to persecute or torture them 'without the need for further procedures.' The United States has sent hundreds of migrants to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama, while South Sudan recently accepted eight third–country deportees. These deportees were from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Sudan and Vietnam. Rwanda is reportedly in talks to begin accepting third–country deportees, but human rights advocates have raised concerns over sending migrants to countries where they have no ties or that may have a history of rights violations. The administration last week urged officials from five African nations – Liberia, Senegal, Guinea–Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon – to accept deportees. The Supreme Court in June lifted a lower court's order limiting such deportations without a screening for fear of persecution in the destination country. The administration argues the third country deportations will help swiftly remove migrants who should not be in the US, including those with criminal convictions.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Cloud seeding behind New Jersey, New York floods? Theories surface amid state of emergency
Amid the flash floods in New York and New Jersey on Monday, theories surfaced that cloud seeding was behind the massive rainfall that left several key areas on NJ and NY inundated. As devastating weather conditions unfolded in New Jersey and New York, social media erupted with speculation that cloud seeding could be behind it. However, cloud seeding is most likely not behind the tragedy unfolding in New Jersey and New York. Representational image.(Unsplash) Cloud seeding involves tinkering with the composition of clouds by releasing chemicals, such as silver iodide, potassium iodide, or dry ice, into the cloud. When central Texas was flooded through the Fourth of July weekend, similar theories about cloud seeding being responsible for it surfaced. Even Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared a post linking the devastating floods in central Texas with cloud seeding. However, as the New York Times reported, such theories have been debunked. Cloud seeding was not responsible for the floods is Texas, and likely not responsible for the flash floods in New York and New Jersey, either. Nonetheless, the conspiracy theories about cloud seeding causing the flash floods gained ground once again amid the New York and New Jersey floods. Also read: New Jersey state of emergency: NJ Turnpike completely flooded; scary scenes at New Providence 'It's Geoengineering. I guarantee it. Or cloud seeding whatever you want to call it,' one user wrote. "Who's paying for the cloud seeding," wrote another. 'This is totally normal I'm sure cloud seeding and geo-engineering have nothing to do with it!' wrote another. The weather conditions are expected to deteriorate further as NWS forecasts further rainfall through Monday evening.
