What do alligators, hurricanes, and sharks have in common? They're all in the news today
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Will Alligator Alcatraz be shut down?
A Miami federal judge is hearing arguments today that could answer that question.
Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice and the Miccosukee Tribe are suing the state of Florida and the federal government to put an end to the Everglades concentration camp being used by I.C.E. to detain immigrants.
The plaintiffs in the case argue that the prison camp, hastily thrown together at an airstrip in the Everglades in southeastern Collier County, will cause irreparable damage to to the environment.
Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams ordered a temporary two-week halt on all work to expand the detention center. Today, testimony will resume in the ongoing hearing, the plaintiffs’ goal being to close Alligator Alcatraz altogether.
The Miami Herald reports:
The federal attorneys have argued the Department of Homeland Security shouldn’t even be a part of the case because they say the federal government is not involved in construction and operations at Alligator Alcatraz.
Those claims have spurred further confusion about who’s in charge and what laws or agreements govern the site.
In order for Judge Kathleen Williams to issue an injunction, the environmental groups will have to prove that there will be irreversible damage to the environment if operations at the site aren’t stopped, as well as a high likelihood of winning the case as a whole.
Watching the Tropics
Erin is now officially a tropical storm and is expected to become 2025’s first hurricane by tomorrow. If it continues strengthening at its current pace, it will become a Major Hurricane by the weekend.
The good news is that it appears likely it will curl north away from the North American mainland. Much depends on the rate at which the storm grows. The stronger it gets the taller it becomes and forecasters say that will tend to steer it northward.
We will continue to monitor this all week. Stay tuned.
Shark Attack
Meanwhile in Washington, D.C., now under martial law, Florida Sen. Rick Scott has leaped into action with a catchy piece of legislation he’s proposing entitled “SHARKED” — strangled shorthand for Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research, Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue.
What’s it about?
It’s been brought to Scott’s attention that sharks are biting deep-sea fishermen’s trophy catches while being reeled in off Florida’s coast. And something must be done about this!
Sharks eating fish? Who knew?
And, yes, it’s as shallow as it sounds. But you can read more here:
J.C. Bruce is the editor of Tropic Press, an award-winning journalist and columnist, and author. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and his native Florida.
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