Florida Phoenix

1 day ago | floridaphoenix.com | Craig Pittman

Last week, Florida’s recently appointed attorney general, James Uthmeier, announced that he had a pretty snazzy idea: Build the state’s biggest immigrant detention center in the middle of the Everglades and call it “Alligator Alcatraz.” (Presumably “Gator Guantánamo” was already taken.)“You don’t need to invest that much in the perimeter. People get out, there’s not that much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons,” Uthmeier said in a video he posted on X.

2 days ago | floridaphoenix.com | Jay Waagmeester

by Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix June 25, 2025 End-of-year testing results show Florida students were more proficient in math and reading than a year ago. Statewide progress monitoring scores, announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis Wednesday, detail how Florida’s students performed in reading, math, social studies, and science. Math scores for all students from third grade to high school improved by 3% from 2024, with 58% of students demonstrating a level 3 or higher understanding.

3 days ago | floridaphoenix.com | Christine Sexton |Jay Waagmeester

by Christine Sexton and Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix June 24, 2025 Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday that repeals a 2018 law that opponents argued limited public beach access in Walton County in northwest Florida. Appearing in Santa Rosa Beach with emerald gulf waters behind him, the governor said SB 1622 returns to local governments decision-making about recreational access to the dry sand areas of Florida beaches.

3 days ago | floridaphoenix.com | Ariana Figueroa

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday to allow, for now, the Trump administration to carry out deportations to third countries after a Massachusetts judge barred removals without proper notice.

4 days ago | floridaphoenix.com | Jay Waagmeester

by Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix June 23, 2025 Federal, state, and local officials say 60 children ranging in age from 9-17 have been recovered in what an official called the “the largest in the history of the United States Marshal Service.”During a Monday morning news conference in Tampa, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier was joined by state, local, and federal law enforcement officials to announce the results of the operation that spanned two weeks.