As migrants arrive in the Everglades, feds tell court they’re not in charge of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security neither funded nor authorized the tent and trailer detention center, according to a court filing.

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix July 4, 2025August 1, 2025

News & Views

Crowbar owner Tom DeGeorge has filed to run for Tampa’s vacant District 5 city council seat

The seat is up for grabs after the passing of councilwoman and Tampa native Gwen Henderson.

by Ray Roa July 3, 2025September 1, 2025

News & Views

Lawyer details peril of Pinellas mother separated from her children by ICE

As of Jun. 19, Rosa Patishtan-Gomez was still being held at an Immigration Processing Center in Karnes County, Texas

by Sebastián González de León y León and San Pedro Gazette July 3, 2025August 6, 2025

News & Views

Firm connected to big DeSantis donor is set to reap millions from construction of ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

In total ARS has donated nearly $400,000 to Republican coffers.

by Bob Norman, Michelle DeMarco and The Florida Trident July 3, 2025August 29, 2025

News & Views

Thanks to ‘Courage’ book deal, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ net worth is now over $2 million

The book was released in February 2023 as DeSantis prepared to formally launch a presidential campaign.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 3, 2025September 1, 2025

News & Views

Ruling rejects arguments that Florida law violated rights of a trans teacher in Hillsborough County

The pronoun restrictions were part of a series of controversial measures that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers have approved in recent years that focus on transgender people.

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida July 3, 2025September 1, 2025

News & Views

Trump’s lawsuit against the Pulitzer board will go to the Florida Supreme Court

Trump filed the suit after the board refused to rescind a 2018 award to The New York Times and The Washington Post

by Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida July 3, 2025July 22, 2025

News & Views

Hundreds of immigrants to arrive at Everglades detention center tonight, Uthmeier announces

“Next stop: back to where they came from.”

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025July 6, 2025

News & Views

Photos: At ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ opening, immigration and environment activists face ‘Daddy’ Trump lovers

by Dave Decker and Ray Roa July 2, 2025October 23, 2025

News & Views

DeSantis’ 2025 budget vetoes include $14M meant for Hillsborough County Sheriff aviation hangar

He also doesn’t want to study the consequences of eliminating property taxes.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025August 4, 2025

News & Views

Law shielding Florida lawmakers addresses among those that took effect this week

With Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a state budget and a flurry of other bills, the dust has settled on the 2025 legislative session.

by Jim Saunders, Jim Turner and News Service of Florida July 2, 2025July 15, 2025

News & Views

‘Gulf Of America,’ school start times and more freshly-signed laws for Florida educators

Lawmakers spent much of the 2025 legislative session at odds with each other, causing several education bills to be delayed until the last scheduled day of session.

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025July 8, 2025

News & Views

Florida Sen. Rick Scott was ‘surprised’ by spending in ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ but he still voted for it anyway

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a calculation Sunday showing the bill would add $3.25 trillion to deficits over 10 years.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025August 3, 2025

Immigration, News & Views

After Florida ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ visit, Trump says he wants more states to build immigrant detention centers

by Jackie Llanos and Florida Phoenix July 2, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa’s MOSI is showing a trippy climate change documentary in its new dome theater

It’s a 360-degree wake-up call.

by Jani Burden July 2, 2025August 5, 2025

News & Views

Florida, once again, feels like the center of the world when it comes to how inhumanely people can treat each other

Make America good again

by Ray Roa July 2, 2025August 3, 2025

News & Views

Pastor Andy Oliver bills Pinellas sheriff $10K for staging at his St. Petersburg church

Deputies said the gathering was not an ICE raid. Oliver said damage was done regardless.

by Selene San Felice July 1, 2025July 25, 2025

News & Views

The Home Depot ICE raid in St. Pete didn’t happen. Why does everyone think it did?

Activists say that there’s a better way to share information about immigration enforcement activity.

by Valerie Smith July 1, 2025July 31, 2025

News & Views

Tampa Bay congress members lead Florida Republican support of Big Beautiful Bill

Vern Buchanan, Anna Paulina Luna and Laurel Lee urged Congress to pass the bill on behalf of Floridians. Eight Florida House Republicans did not sign the letter.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix June 30, 2025August 1, 2025