Aug 28 Florida taxpayers may lose $218M on 'Alligator Alcatraz' as judge orders shutdown By Mike Schneider, Kate Payne, Associated Press Florida taxpayers could be on the hook for the $218 million cost of converting a training airport in the Everglades into an immigration detention center that may soon be empty of detainees. Continue reading
Aug 22 Christian leaders speak out as DeSantis repeatedly breaks Florida's execution record By Joshua Barajas Florida’s ramp-up in executions is happening at the same time public support for the death penalty is at its lowest level in decades. Continue reading
Aug 14 DeSantis announces plans for second immigration detention facility dubbed 'Deportation Depot' By Kate Payne, Associated Press DeSantis announced Thursday that the new facility is to be built at the Baker Correctional Institution, a state prison about 43 miles (69 kilometers) west of Jacksonville, and is expected to house 1,300 immigration detention beds, though that capacity could… Continue reading
Jul 31 Florida carries out record 9th execution of year on man convicted of killing his family By Curt Anderson, Associated Press A man convicted of the 1994 machete killings of his wife and their two children became the ninth person put to death in Florida this year. His death Thursday marks a state record for a single-year execution total since the… Continue reading
Jul 30 The U.S. is executing more people this year, and Florida is leading the way By Joshua Barajas Florida leads the nation in executions this year, setting new modern-day records. Continue reading
Jul 25 DeSantis says deportation flights from Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention center have begun By Associated Press DeSantis said Friday that the flights operated by the Department of Homeland Security have transferred about 100 detainees from the immigration detention center to other countries. Continue reading
Jul 17 Gov. DeSantis blindsided Florida county officials with 'Alligator Alcatraz' plans, emails show By Kate Payne, Associated Press Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration left many local officials in the dark about the immigration detention center that rose from an isolated airstrip in the Everglades, emails obtained by The Associated Press show, while relying on an executive order to… Continue reading
Jul 17 Florida Supreme Court upholds congressional map that eliminates a majority-Black district By Curt Anderson, Associated Press The court, dominated by DeSantis appointees, upheld the state's congressional redistricting map, rejecting a challenge over the elimination of a majority-Black district. Continue reading
May 15 Gov. DeSantis signs bill making Florida 2nd state to ban fluoride from its water system By Stephany Matat, Kate Payne, Associated Press Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure Thursday prohibiting local governments from adding fluoride to their water systems, making it the second state in the country after Utah to implement a statewide ban on the mineral. Continue reading
Jan 28 Florida Republicans defied DeSantis over an immigration bill. Is his grip on state lawmakers loosening? By Stephany Matat, Kate Payne, Associated Press In another blow to the governor, legislators also voted to override some of DeSantis' budget vetoes from last year, a move that hasn't happened since then-Gov. Charlie Crist. Continue reading