Miccosukees seek to challenge detention center
Citing “significant concerns about environmental degradation” and threats to “traditional and religious ceremonies,” members of the Miccosukee Tribe are trying to join a lawsuit challenging an immigrant-detention center in the Everglades. The facility, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican leaders, neighbors 10 villages that are home to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida in the Big Cypress National Preserve — including a village 1,000 feet away from one of the detention center’s boundaries — as well as areas where tribal members work and attend school. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Serving Seniors: Aging in place
Most seniors prefer to stay in their own homes as they grow older. Reid Grier’s franchise makes that possible. "I think this country is going to have a reckoning in the next 20 years, when the baby boomers are at that age where the vast majority are needing care like this," says Reid Grier, Right at Home franchise owner. [Source: Florida Trend]
Funding shortfalls leave gaps in Florida’s rural health care
Florida Senate President Ben Albritton opened the 2025 legislative session with big plans for the state’s rural areas. “We’ve seen tremendous economic growth in urban areas of Florida,” he told legislators on opening day. He added: “It’s rural Florida’s turn.” But Albritton’s proposals were largely slashed amid prolonged budget debates between House and Senate leaders and by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Sharks might be spending less time in Florida. That’s actually not good.
Fishermen sometimes complain that they munch their catch before they can get it into their boat, and every so often, one might bite a swimmer or surfer. But as far as the health of our oceans go, sharks are vital – and seeing fewer of them, as new research projects, might have “catastrophic” consequences. “We’ve noticed that with ocean warming, sharks are leaving these regions later on in the year because they’re very temperature driven,” said Maria Manz, the lead author of a new study that tracked the migratory behavior of six shark species within the Mid-Atlantic Bight, a coastal region stretching from Massachusetts to North Carolina. [Source: Miami Herald]
School Board ‘privilege’ appeal rejected
A federal appeals court Tuesday rejected an attempt to shield Escambia County School Board members from testifying in a long-running legal battle about removing or restricting access to books in school libraries. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal that the board filed after U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell ruled in November that board members must testify because they are not protected by what is known as “legislative privilege.” [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Citadel's future Brickell headquarters receives FAA approval for construction
The future flagship office building of Ken Griffin's Citadel has hit a major milestone, receiving the green light from regulators to move forward with its skyscraper in the Brickell Financial District.The Federal Aviation Administration approved the proposed height for the hedge fund’s planned waterfront headquarters tower and construction cranes at the site along the 1200 block of Brickell Bay Drive.
› What is Operation Slow Down? What to know about new speeding laws in Florida
Florida drivers, check yourself. Speeding kills, and when it doesn't it can cause lifelong, debilitating medical conditions.
Also, this week, it can mean speeding tickets as a lot more police officers, deputies and troopers will be out there watching you.Florida's "Operation Slow Down" runs July 14-19, 2025, targeting speeding and aggressive driving.
› Florida's long-awaited 170,000-acre-feet C-43 water storage reservoir officially opens
A controversial and long-awaited 170,000-acre water reservoir officially opened Tuesday in Hendry County as part of a multimillion-dollar effort to protect the Caloosahatchee River and reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee during the rainy season.
The project aims to store stormwater runoff and federal water releases and release cleaner water during the dry season to stabilize salinity levels in the estuary.
› Florida airports ordered to report any ‘weather modification’ activities
Florida airports soon must submit monthly reports on weather modification activities or face the loss of state funding under a controversial new law derided by critics as fueling conspiracy theories.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wrote to operators of public airports on Monday that their compliance is needed to “catch those who seek to weaponize science” and will safeguard the atmosphere from “harmful chemicals and experiments.”
More stories ...
› MLB commissioner has no 'quibble' with Rays sale report as Tampa Bay area officials voice support
Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala said he will be happy to see Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg go.
Sternberg has an agreement in principle to sell the franchise to an investment group led by Jacksonville developer Patrick Zalupski for $1.7 billion, according to The Athletic.
› Firm refinances Tampa, Winter Haven properties for $107M
The owner of three Central Florida apartment communities, including one in Tampa and one in Polk County, has secured a $107.3 million refinance package.
Tampa-based Robbins Property Associates took out the 10-year loans on each through Freddie Mac. Berkadia, which announced the package, originated the transaction.
› Florida GOP lawmakers line up behind Trump in boosting crypto ahead of GENIUS Act vote
A pair of Florida lawmakers elected to Congress with the help of the cryptocurrency industry are poised to join a U.S. House majority backing the first crypto regulatory bill ever adopted by Congress.
U.S. Reps. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, and Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, drew a combined $1.5 million from Republican-leaning crypto political committees leading up to their April 1 victories in special elections to Congress.
› Palm Beach County vs. Palm Beach Gardens: Lawsuit to decide how people get around
Palm Beach County’s lawsuit against Palm Beach Gardens over impact fees is in its fifth year and showing no signs of abating.
Case in point: The county submitted a voluminous public records request to the city asking for copies of nearly every building permit the city has issued over the past six years.
The city responded by saying that’s 90,000 documents. It would take an $81-an-hour worker 7.5 years to fulfill the request. The cost would be $1.2 million, payable up front.