Florida
DeSantis signs Florida state parks bill born from outcry over golf course plans
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A bill to restrict Florida from building sports facilities and large lodges on state parks is now a law.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 209 Thursday, which the state legislature passed unanimously.
The uproar came last year after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a news release about the “Great Outdoors Initiative” and later used social media posts to briefly outline plans for nine parks.
Perhaps the biggest target of opponents was a proposal to add three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, which is in Harrell’s district. Other parts of the initiative that drew heavy criticism included proposals to construct lodges with up to 350 rooms at Anastasia State Park in St. Johns County and Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Walton County.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration paused the proposal after the uproar, but State Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, filed bills to block the possibility of such development in the future.
“I think we were all dismayed last summer when suddenly out of nowhere these plans were revealed to pave over our state parks with pickleball courts and golf courses and hotels and lodges,” Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said at one committee meeting. “You (Harrell) are right when you say that is not the purpose of our state parks.”
Instead, state officials will be required to focus on “conservation-based recreational uses” in state parks and preserves, such as camping, cycling, hiking, birding, fishing, or nature study.
The law allows for the construction of cabins with maximum capacities of six people at state parks, rather than hotels and lodges.
It also requires state officials to provide a report to the governor and the legislature regarding parks with amenities or areas that need upgrades or repairs, along with detailed spending at the parks and plans to address any specific needs.
That report is due by Dec. 1.
The new law itself takes effect July 1.
Information from News Service of Florida was used in this report.
Florida
New details in deadly Florida alligator attack
-
Freight train derailment near Philadelphia sparks hazmat scare
01:37
-
Now Playing
New details in deadly Florida alligator attack
01:19
-
UP NEXT
173 million people under extreme heat alerts as fires rage out west
01:49
-
Trump praises Supreme Court ruling upholding bans on transgender athletes in female sports
01:43
-
Great Americans: A conversation with Alex Cole, Legacy Flight Academy
02:27
-
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship
02:03
-
Man killed by crocodile on popular Puerto Vallarta beach
01:32
-
Alex Murdaugh in court after double murder conviction is overturned
01:59
-
New details on Taylor Swift’s wedding
01:00
-
Around 162 million under heat alerts
02:01
-
Great Americans: A conversation with Carter Beard, Annin Flagmakers
02:22
-
Pilot says he hit drone on final approach to JFK airport
01:14
-
Miraculous rescues days after deadly earthquakes
02:09
-
Rising cost of youth sports across the country
02:18
-
Trump’s deal to end war in question after Iran retaliates to US strikes
02:14
-
Good News: ‘America’s Tapestry’ project celebrates nation’s 250th anniversary
02:06
-
More than $4 million worth of wagers made ahead of Taylor Swift’s wedding
01:38
-
Dangerous fire, flood conditions prompt states of emergency
01:34
-
Death toll grows to more than 1,400 after Venezuela quakes
02:32
-
Aircraft crashes into a Beijing skyscraper
01:09
Nightly News
-
Freight train derailment near Philadelphia sparks hazmat scare
01:37
-
Now Playing
New details in deadly Florida alligator attack
01:19
-
UP NEXT
173 million people under extreme heat alerts as fires rage out west
01:49
-
Trump praises Supreme Court ruling upholding bans on transgender athletes in female sports
01:43
-
Great Americans: A conversation with Alex Cole, Legacy Flight Academy
02:27
-
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship
02:03
Nightly News
Nightly News
Play All
Florida
Fast-growing South Florida wildfire consumes over 4,000 acres
A swiftly-growing wildfire in western Broward County has consumed over 4,000 acres, having ballooned in size since igniting a few days ago.
The Atlantic Fire, located near the Sawgrass Expressway and Commercial Boulevard, burned 4,755 acres and was 0% contained as of 8:01 p.m. June 29, according to a map of active wildfires provided by the Florida Forest Service. The fire began over the weekend, and had grown to 180 acres by Sunday.
Wildfires in neighboring Miami-Dade County burned thousands of acres in recent weeks
Three wildfires burning in Miami-Dade County cumulatively consumed over 19,000 acres over the past few weeks.
The Quarry 2 Fire, which began on June 15 near NW 137 Avenue and NW 41 Street, had grown to 19,018 acres and was 97% contained as of 1:26 p.m. June 21, according to a map of active wildfires provided by the Florida Forest Service. The Well Fire, which began on June 16 and is located near NW 122 Avenue and NW 58 Street, had burned 2,814 acres and was 90% contained as of 4:41 p.m. June 25.
The Corrections Fire, located south of 8th Street and west of Krome Avenue, had burned 363 acres and was 95% contained as of 12:12 p.m. June 25.
Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
Florida
50 tons of South Florida aid headed to Venezuela following earthquakes
Fifty tons of humanitarian aid donated by South Floridians are on their way to Venezuela following the earthquakes that rocked the country last week.
The aid shipment departed from Miami International Airport around 9 p.m. Monday aboard a LATAM Cargo plane.
According to the Global Empowerment Mission, or GEM, the 50 tons of supplies are equivalent to the weight of about 10 adult elephants and include food, medicine and other critical items.
Rows of strategically packed pallets lined the tarmac Monday night before being loaded onto the aircraft.
GEM partnered with LATAM Cargo for the rapid deployment effort after the earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela.
“So in this load right here, it’s a combination of our family kits,” Michael Kesti with GEM Government Affairs said. “The kit is enough food for a family of four for five days, so beans and rice and that. A small generator, we give them as well, and a case of water. And then in some cases, we have tents as well.”
GEM has already delivered supplies to earthquake victims in Venezuela, but officials said Monday’s flight carrying 50 tons of aid is the organization’s largest shipment so far.
“This is an extraordinary gesture because everybody is waiting on pins and needles to see how we can help,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.
At Global Empowerment Mission’s (GEM) headquarters in Doral, volunteers are working around the clock as donations continue to pour in following Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes.
GEM is not the only organization working to provide relief.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church has also been collecting and organizing donations since the disaster struck.
Officials with the church said they have collected about 150 pallets of goods and have already sent both a plane and a ship carrying aid to Venezuela.
Fernando Bolanos, with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, said the community has been deeply affected by the tragedy.
“The main thing is that we are deeply, deeply touched with what happened there. We are suffering a lot, and this is a way to carry on,” Bolanos said. “We were so happy with the World Cup and everything, and now everything changed.”
GEM said there is now a critical need for additional medical supplies as relief efforts continue.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoLos Angeles County man convicted of sex trafficking, abusing woman he was dating
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoDetroit Tigers tee off on New York Yankees with 5 homers in win
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoPopular brewery shutters San Francisco location amid industry woes
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoEight arrested after repeated attempts to enter World Cup matches without tickets
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoReports: Heat add potent bench scorer in Tim Hardaway Jr.
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoBoston Pops gearing up for major July 4th celebration: ‘You only turn 250 once’ – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoColorado wildfires destroy more than 100 structures, force more evacuations
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoWill Katie Wilson’s endorsements help or hurt Seattle’s position in Olympia?