All articles tagged with #florida
Former CIA director John Brennan has been subpoenaed to testify before a Florida grand jury as part of a DOJ investigation into whether former officials conspired against Donald Trump, a probe that also involves a separate Washington-based inquiry alleging he lied to Congress; the subpoena arrives amid ongoing actions and leadership changes in the investigation.
A DHS Office of Inspector General report found that the shuttered Florida detention center nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz' kept migrants in small outdoor cages of about 18 square feet for stretches up to nearly two hours as a 'calming' measure, while failing to meet hygiene, medical, food and safety standards. A total of 79 detainees were held there from July 2025 to January 2026. The facility was run by Florida authorities (not federal officials) with federal funding, and authorities indicated it would close as a temporary measure, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups and watchdogs.
A massive Saharan dust plume—roughly half the size of the continental U.S.—is sweeping from North Africa across the Atlantic into the Caribbean and toward Florida, notable for its size and timing in September. Experts say it’s larger than typical dust events for this time of year and could affect air quality and visibility in South Florida as it moves in.
A woman pumping gas at a St. Petersburg Mobil station was attacked when a stranger lit gasoline with a lighter, leaving her with second-degree burns to her arms and back. The suspect, 41-year-old Eleanor Crawford, was arrested nearby within about 20 minutes; investigators say the two did not know each other and no motive has been released. She faces attempted felony murder and arson charges; the victim was hospitalized at Tampa General.
Retirees who sold Florida homes say a rising cost of living—especially escalating property insurance and condo assessments after structural-inspection reforms—has overshadowed Florida's tax advantage. Fixed incomes are stretched by insurance, taxes, utilities, and healthcare, forcing many to relocate inland or to cheaper states like Tennessee or Texas. The insurance bill was the visible trigger, but the full annual cost of staying proved too high, leaving some condo units unsellable due to looming assessments and changed tax bases.
Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says it is investigating a data breach, the second major incident this month involving driver’s license information after a breach at IDScan.net. Hackers claimed to have stolen millions of IDs; authorities say the attack was conducted by an international cybercriminal group and the breach has been contained, though it’s unclear how long access persisted. The FBI is investigating the IDScan.net breach, and experts note that AI-fueled cybercrime is increasing the risk to sensitive identity data across organizations.
USPS briefly rejected Leon County, Florida's mail-ballot envelope for spacing between the return-address and 'return service requested' text (0.236 inches apart instead of the required 0.25). After an appeal, the county won approval on Sept. 10. The incident illustrates potential disruption if USPS finalizes its envelope-design rule tied to Trump-era efforts to curb mail voting, a rule currently blocked by a federal injunction but under Supreme Court consideration. Officials say the proposed online portal for submitting designs and voter lists isn’t ready, and while Leon County already uses unique barcodes for its 32,000 mail voters, the episode foreshadows how petty technical rejections could complicate ballots ahead of Election Day.
Joe diGenova, 81, who led a Florida-based federal probe targeting Trump’s perceived enemies, has resigned from the Justice Department. The investigation has produced no prosecutions and faced internal questions about pace and leadership, with DOJ officials reportedly losing confidence in his ability to move the case forward. The wider inquiry, which traces back to Russia interference in 2016 and involved figures like Giuliani and Powell, is expected to continue under new leadership and with attorneys from Washington, D.C.
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, enacted an ordinance banning cigarette smoking and vaping on public beaches, with enforcement to begin by educating visitors before issuing citations; violations carry up to $500 fines and up to 60 days in jail, and a designated smoking area exists in the county parking lot. The rule aims to keep beaches safe for families and wildlife and follows similar bans in other Florida coastal communities.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and AG James Uthmeier press state-level AI guardrails, citing a former Anthropic researcher’s warning that AI could escape control; they’re pursuing legal tools and an OpenAI lawsuit while federal action stalls and a March legislative session looms, with political shifts complicating prospects.
A Florida woman spent 13 days in jail after investigators used a Flock Safety license plate reader to tie her car to a fatal I-4 crash; prosecutors later dropped all eight charges and pointed to a different suspect, prompting a federal civil rights suit and renewed debate over how ALPR data is interpreted. Florida DOT then revoked highway-permit licenses for ALPRs, and Flock announced data-retention and auditing safeguards to curb misuse.
WaFd Bank, which maintains a large Boise-area presence, will acquire EverBank Financial of Jacksonville in a reverse merger. The deal values WaFd at about $2.7 billion and EverBank at about $3.9 billion, with EverBank’s shareholders owning about 59.2% of the merged company, which will be renamed EverBank. A transition period will integrate operations and systems, with cost synergies projected at roughly 15% and potential layoffs. The combined entity will expand West Coast and California operations through EverBank’s assets, while continuing EverBank’s digital-focused approach; the brand transition and closing timeline will be announced at completion.
Florida ranchers warn that Trump's plan to boost foreign beef imports may lower prices but could devastate U.S. cattle growers, with prices down about $500 per head in key markets like Okeechobee amid drought and high input costs; while many Florida Republicans back the president, lawmakers and ranchers are pressing for relief and assurances as midterm politics loom, and Democrats seek to court the agricultural base, even as White House officials defend the moves as pro-farmer and pro-consumer.
Dengue fever cases in Florida have risen, with 32 new locally acquired infections reported in the past week, bringing the statewide total to 73 for the year as of Aug. 29. The Florida Department of Health is monitoring multiple mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, and about 10 counties are under mosquito-borne illness advisories or alerts. Officials urge precautions to prevent bites (drain standing water, cover up, and use repellents) as Brevard County and other areas issue warnings during mosquito season.
Florida battles a dengue fever surge with local transmission and aerial pesticide spraying in Tampa, amid rising U.S. cases; the roundup also covers Lori Loughlin’s divorce, LG smart-TV privacy concerns, and Senator Roger Marshall’s history of suing patients for medical debt.