Florida
Muslim rights group sues Florida Gov. DeSantis over ‘foreign terrorist’ label
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A leading Muslim civil rights group in the U.S. has sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his order designating it and another organization as a “ foreign terrorist organization,” saying the directive was unconstitutional.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR, has more than 20 chapters across the United States and its work involves legal actions, advocacy and education outreach.
The lawsuit was filed late Monday by the CAIR-Foundation and CAIR-Florida, its affiliate in the state. The suit asked a federal judge in Tallahassee to declare DeSantis’ order unlawful and unconstitutional and prevent it from being enforced.
“He has usurped the exclusive authority of the federal government to identify and designate terrorist organizations by baselessly declaring CAIR a terrorist organization,” the lawsuit says.
DeSantis’ order was among a series of recent actions or statements made by Republican elected officials which target U.S. Muslims or their groups.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., on Sunday posted on social media that “Islam is not a religion. It’s a cult.”
A day later, CAIR designated Tuberville, who is running for Alabama governor, as an anti-Muslim extremist for his “increasingly hateful and dangerous attacks on Alabama Muslims.” The group said it was the first time it had given a U.S. senator that designation. Tuberville responded on social media that it was a “badge of honor.” When asked Tuesday about his statements, Tuberville spokesman Mallory Jaspers repeated what Tuberville had said.
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., also posted Monday on social media about his support for “a Muslim travel ban, radical deportations of all mainstream Muslim legal and illegal immigrants, and citizenship revocations wherever possible.”
“Mainstream Muslims have declared war on us. The least we can do is kick them the hell out of America,” Fine wrote.
Anti-Muslim bias has persisted in different forms since Sept. 11, 2001, and there’s been a rise in Islamophobia during more than two years of war in Gaza.
During a news conference about the Florida lawsuit, Charles Swift, a lawyer for the Muslim Legal Fund of America, called the elected officials’ statements dangerous and bigoted.
“The Constitution protects people’s rights to be bigoted, not the government’s rights,” said Swift, whose group is one of the legal organizations representing CAIR. “When a governor issues an executive order to silence Muslims, that’s a different question altogether because if you can do that, you can silence anyone.”
CAIR said in the Florida lawsuit that it has always condemned terrorism and violence. The lawsuit alleges DeSantis targeted the group for defending the free speech rights of people in cases where state officials and officials elsewhere tried to punish or silence those who expressed support for Palestinian human rights.
The order by DeSantis last week also gives the same “foreign terrorist” label to the Muslim Brotherhood, a pan-Arab Islamist political movement. President Donald Trump last month issued an executive order that sets in motion a process to designate certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
The governor’s order instructs Florida agencies to prevent the two groups and those who have provided them material support from receiving contracts, employment and funds from a state executive or cabinet agency.
Florida has an estimated 500,000 Muslim residents, according to CAIR.
When reached by email for comment on Tuesday, the governor’s press secretary, Molly Best, referred to DeSantis’ recent social media posts on the topic in which he said he looked forward to a trial. In one post, DeSantis said, “I look forward to discovery — especially the CAIR finances. Should be illuminating!”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a similar proclamation in Texas. CAIR last month asked a federal judge to strike down Abbott’s proclamation, saying in a lawsuit that it was “not only contrary to the United States Constitution, but finds no support in any Texas law.”
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Associated Press writers Kimberly Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama, and Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.
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Follow Mike Schneider on Bluesky: @mikeysid.bsky.social
In 2025, the Ole Miss Rebels’ PA announcer came over the mic and proclaimed “B.T.A.” after they beat the Florida Gators 34-24.
That Rebels team has some key pieces coming back for their 2026 campaign, but they will be playing a totally different Florida team. However, if the Rebels did what they did last year, they will have a great chance of beating the Gators this season.
Kewan Lacy Repeat
Last year, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns against Florida. He had himself a day, and though he will be going against a different defensive style in 2026, it is still a scheme that he and the Rebels have seen.
The Florida Gators hired new head coach Jon Sumrall last winter to bring back a winning mindset to Florida.
Ole Miss got to see the defense Sumrall runs twice this past season when he was the head coach at Tulane. Lacy rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in their two games against Tulane.
If Lacy does what he did last year to the Gators, the Rebels have a great shot to win this game.
The Trinidad Chambliss & Deuce Alexander Connection
In addition to Lacy having two great games against Sumrall’s defense, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and wide receiver Deuce Alexander both showed out as well.
Chambliss threw for 589 yards and threw three touchdown passes. He also rushed for an additional 148 yards.
Furthermore, Chambliss showed a lot of patience in the pocket and progressed through his reads quite well. He just tore apart Tulane’s defense, and a lot of that happened with the help of his receiver, Alexander.
Alexander had the most receptions in both games against the Green Wave. He totaled 11 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown.
Chambliss found Alexander down the field a lot in both these games, and the duo will be a huge threat to the Gators in 2026.
Take Florida seriously
Florida has struggled in the past few years, but they are no cake walk. In their last two seasons, they have gone 12-13 but have proved they can beat good teams.
This includes upsetting Ole Miss and ruining their playoff run in 2024. That game was in Gainesville, where the Rebels will return for the game against the Gators in 2026.
The Florida Gators have made many moves to their roster and coaching staff. This team is a lot different from last year. A new team has the ability to surprise a lot of people.
Golding and the Rebels must recognize that and prepare diligently for a battle against the Gators.
The Rebels have a better team going into this game, and if they can repeat what they did so well against Sumrall’s defense last year, they will walk out of Gainesville with a huge win in what could be an early turning point of the season.
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Florida baseball’s Brendan Lawson home run vs Rider in NCAA Gainesville Regional
Florida baseball topped Rider in walkoff fashion behind Brendan Lawson’s home run. See the moment.
Florida baseball is now one win away from returning to a Super Regional for the first time in three years.
The Gators dispatched in-state rival Miami behind seven home runs to come away with a 22-10 win over the Hurricanes to reach the Gainesville Regional final on Saturday, May 30, at Condron Ballpark.
Florida (41-19) jumped out to a 6-1 lead over Miami, but the Hurricanes steadily chipped away at the deficit.
After Miami hit a solo home run in the first inning, Florida quickly answered with six runs in the bottom of the frame, which was highlighted by a 3-run homer from Cade Kurland.
The two teams traded runs as Miami delivered back-to-back RBI hits in the third with Karson Bowen hitting a solo home run to make the score 7-4. Then, in the fourth inning, the Hurricanes picked up two more runs, while Bredan Lawson scored on a fielding error as Miami (39-19) narrowed UF’s lead to 8-6.
The Hurricanes tied the game in the fifth inning after a run was walked in and another scored on a fielder’s choice.
Florida then erupted for a seven-run rally with two outs in the sixth inning. Miami needed four different arms to get out of the inning before Kyle Jones hit a decisive 3-run double to build a 15-8 lead.
Miami picked up two more runs in the eighth inning, but the Gators answered decisively by hitting five home runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game away.
Here’s what happened in Florida’s win over Miami:
The Gators hit five different home runs in the eighth inning, which came from Kurland, Blake Cyr, Brendan Lawson, Ethan Surowiec and Karson Bowen.
Cade Kurland hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend Florida’s lead over Miami to 16-10.
In the eighth inning, Jackson Barberi surrenders an RBI single. He then get hits by a line drive, which allows a run to score as Miami narrows Florida’s lead to 15-10.
The Gators plate seven runs all with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Canes walked back-to-back runs, which is followed by an infield error that plates another run. Karson Bowen scored on a wild and Kyle Jones delivers a 3-run double build Florida a 15-8 lead over Miami. The Canes have made four pitching changes in the inning.
The Hurricanes score for a third straight inning as they pick up two more runs in the fifth to make it an 8-8 game. Luke McNeillie walked in a run, which led to him exiting the game. Florida failed to turn a double play and allowed the tying run to score.
Another throwing error to first base allows for Brendan Lawson to score from first base and extend UF’s leads to 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth.
Luke McNeillie throws a wild pitch, which allows for the Hurricanes to score a run and narrow the score to 7-6 in the fourth inning.
Aidan King’s night is done after allowing an RBI single as Miami narrows the score to 7-5 in the top of the fourth inning. King allowed five runs from eights and recorded three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Luke McNeillie enters the game on the mound.
Karson Bowen hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to extend UF’s lead to 7-4
Miami narrows the score to 6-4 after plating three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Aidan King gave up four straight hits with two outs, which included an RBI double and a 2-run single.
The Gators answer quickly in the bottom of the frame as UF takes a 6-1 lead over Miami. Kyle Jones scores from a fielding error followed by Ethan Surowiec driving in a run with a sac fly. Karson Bowen came up with an infield RBI single, while Cade Kurland delivered a 3-run homer over the left field wall.
Before the inning ends, Miami takes out starting pitcher AJ Ciscar.
The Canes hit a solo home run from the fourth pitch of the games.
Miami’s Jake Ogden hits a home run off the fourth pitch of the game to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Aidan King then gives up a double and a hit by pitch, but gets out of the jam with a double play.
- CF Kyle Jones
- SS Brendan Lawson
- LF Blake Cyr
- 3B Ethan Surowiec
- DH Caden McDonald
- C Karson Bowen
- 1B Landon Stripling
- 2B Cade Kurland
- RF Hayden Yost
On the mound is Aidan King
How to watch Florida baseball vs Miami
TV Channel: ACC Netowrk
Streaming: ESPN+
Florida vs. Miami will be broadcast nationally on the ACC Network on Saturday, May 30. Eric Frede and Lance Cormier will call the game from the booth at Condron Family Ballpark.
Stream Florida baseball vs Miami
Florida baseball vs Miami projected starting pitchers
RHP Aidan King (2-5, 4.00 ERA) vs RHP AJ Ciscar (4.44 ERA, 5-4)
Florida baseball upcoming schedule
- NCAA Regionals, May 29-June 1
- NCAA Super Regionals, June 5-8
- College World Series, June 12-22
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
A Florida woman was arrested after she drove onto a golf course while intoxicated, crashed her car, and found with dozens of miniature bottles of Fireball whiskey, according to authorities.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified her as 34-year-old Erika Mayer, of Palmetto.
“She was smashed,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a video shared on X earlier this week. “She was drunk — capital DRUNK. Wrecked her car. She said, ‘But I haven’t been drinking.’
The sheriff’s office said deputies responded to a single-car crash near Streamsong Golf Resort on May 14 shortly before 7 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found a red 2018 Hyundai resting on a sidewalk and a woman sitting beside the car.
Investigators said Mayer appeared impaired, displayed slurred speech, poor balance, and incoherent behavior. Deputies also detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath, the sheriff’s office said.
A witness told deputies they saw Mayer driving across one of the golf courses in the area before the crash.
Judd said deputies searched Mayer’s car, where they found 21 open mini bottles of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, two empty 50 milliliter bottles of 99 Brand liqueurs, and an unopened 10-pack of Fireball.
“And she had empty Fireball bottles in her pants,” Judd said, adding that she was “drunker than Cooter Brown” and “had no idea where she was.”
Deputies said they asked Mayer to perform field sobriety exercises and provide breath samples, but she refused both requests.
According to Judd, Mayer told deputies she declined the tests because she heard it was a bad idea to participate in field sobriety exercises.
Mayer was arrested and charged with DUI, DUI with property damage, and refusing to submit to a DUI test. She was also cited for failure to drive within a single lane and possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle.
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No one was hurt in connection with the crash, authorities said.
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