Deportation Flights Leave Alligator Alcatraz

The first flights deporting hundreds of illegal immigrants from the detention facility dubbed Alligator Alcatraz have taken off, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.

DeSantis urged immigrants to use a U.S. government program to self-deport or risk being sent to Alligator Alcatraz.

The center was built in eight days over 10 square miles of the Everglades. It features more than 200 security cameras, more than 5 miles of barbed wire, and 400 security personnel.

The facility currently has capacity for 2,000 people, with room to double that number, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said.

Amazon Ramps up Project Kuiper

Amazon’s $140 million facility on Florida’s space coast is ramping up to support multiple missions at a time. This will help the deployment of Project Kuiper, which requires launching 3,236 satellites.

“We’ve completed three missions in less than three months, and we’re continuing to pick up the pace as we prepare to begin delivering service to customers. Our facilities and team in Florida play a critical role in that process,” said Steve Metayer, vice president of production operations at Project Kuiper.

Project Kuiper aims to bring broadband internet to underserved portions of the world.

Worst Florida Cities for Property Tax

Four cities in Florida ranked among the top 50 large metros where property tax has increased.

In Orlando, property taxes increased 17.1% between 2021 and 2023. The average property tax in 2023 was $2,592. Taxes rose 18.6 percent in Miami during the same period, with the average taxes being $3,570 in 2023.

Jacksonville saw the second-largest increase, with taxes rising 18.7% for an average cost of $2,401 in 2023.

The largest increase was in Tampa, where taxes rose 23.3%, with an average 2023 property tax burden of $2,385.

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➤ Statewide: The University of Florida is raising rates on its out-of-state students by 10%, its first rate increase for those students in a decade. (More)

➤ Bay and Okaloosa Counties: Two new cases of flesh-eating bacteria were reported Thursday, bringing the total for the year to 13. So far, four people have died. (Details)

➤ Tampa: Zoo Tampa opened two new pools in its Manatee Critical Care Center to increase capacity this month, and the entire hospital is in view of the public. (See Video)

➤ Oakleaf Plantation: County Commissioners confirmed that funding to construct the town’s first library is in their budget after two decades of discussion. The new library will be completed in 2027. (More)

➤ Lake County: A home and an SUV were severely damaged by heavy construction equipment, with the message “you (expletive) with wrong girl” written on the side of the house. (See Photos)

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➤ Florida State’s mascot Osceola—who rides horseback onto the football field and throws a flaming spear—was named one of the best mascots in all of college football by ESPN. (More)

➤ An MRI confirmed that Dolphins cornerback Artie Burns suffered a torn ACL at training camp this week, further thinning an already lean defensive back room. (More)

➤ Florida basketball coach Todd Golden revealed that Boogie Fland underwent sports hernia surgery earlier this month, but should be ready to play ball again by the start of training camp in September. (More)

Yesterday’s Results:  MLB | Soccer | WNBA | PGA | LPGA | Tour de France

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➤ A Chuck E. Cheese employee in full mascot costume was arrested Thursday in Tallahassee on suspicion of credit card fraud. The man resisted arrest and was handcuffed in front of guests inside the restaurant. (See Photo)

➤ The 2024 HGTV Dream Home on Anastasia Island has sold for the third time in less than two years. The most recent sale price was $2.2 million. (See Photo)

➤ A new mural celebrating 40 years of healing and hope through animal therapy was unveiled Thursday by Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Animal Therapy Training Center. It features “a variety of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed team members.” (See Mural)

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Have you ever been to Daytona Beach?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you have a home security system?

1. Yes: 53%
2. No: 47%

Which Florida city is known for its annual “Art Basel” event, one of the largest contemporary art fairs in the world?

Show me the answer