Bruce Ritchie

Florida DEP announced the purchase of a new state forest.

The $32M price tag approved by the governor and Cabinet last December is nearly TWICE the amount appropriated in 2025-26 for DEP's land acquisition program for parks, forests, wildlife management areas, etc.

Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to less restrictive prison after DOJ meeting According to the Bureau of Prisons, the type of facility to which Maxwell has been moved has “dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing."

Days after meeting with the DOJ, Ghislaine Maxwell has been transferred to a less restrictive minimum security federal prison camp in Texas.

Apalachicola River oil drilling update via Florida Playbook. Special counsel to FL Attorney General James Uthmeier
tells company DEP says "no" to mediation on permit denial.

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POLITICO Pro: Federal judge in 'Alligator Alcatraz' lawsuit pushes back against state arguments for moving case Judge Kathleen Williams didn't make a ruling on arguments about where the environmental lawsuit on the immigration detention center in the Everglades should be heard.

Federal judge in 'Alligator Alcatraz' lawsuit pushes back against state arguments for moving case.

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US Dist Judge Kathleen Williams just ended a hearing in Miami on "Alligator Alcatraz" w/o ruling on the state's arguments that case should be held elsewhere. A lawyer for the state denied Florida is "judge shopping" after Williams previously held @AGJamesUthmeier in contempt. via Kimberly Leonard

POLITICO Pro: Who runs Alligator Alcatraz? Federal lawsuits zero in on the issue "There seems to be some confusion as to who exactly is running the show at Alligator Alcatraz,” US District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz said Monday.

Two federal judges now are telling Florida and the federal government to turn over documents showing who runs "Alligator Alcatraz."

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POLITICO Pro: Florida leased property it bought from Colliers back for one-third of estimated value The lease involves 25,000 acres the state purchased for $122 million in a 2024 deal.

Florida leased property it bought from Colliers back for one-third of estimated value.

"It was obviously a rotten deal that stunk to high heaven," Sierra Club's Cris Costello said. "Now, it appears we had not imagined how putrid it was."

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Here's the signed MOU, which clearly states that the goal for completion is 2029:
flgov.com/eog/sites/de...

Everglades scientist surrenders to serve jail sentence over 'trade secrets' Tom Van Lent was handcuffed in a Miami courtroom and taken to jail to begin serving a 10-day jail sentence in a case that divided the normally tightknit Florida environmental community. It caps a three-year battle between the hydrologist and his former bosses at the Everglades Foundation, who accused him of stealing trade secrets.

A longtime Everglades scientist was handcuffed in a #Florida courtroom & taken to jail Thursday to begin serving a 10-day jail sentence in a case that caps a 3-year battle between him & his former bosses at the Everglades Foundation. www.wlrn.org/environment/... via @jenstaletovich.bsky.social

POLITICO Pro: DeSantis touts agreement with feds to expedite Everglades reservoir completion The governor said Friday the Army already is building the reservoir, and the state will take over as needed if some vendors must be replaced.

DeSantis touts agreement with feds to expedite Everglades reservoir completion.

The governor said the deal would accelerate Everglades restoration and move up the EAA reservoir completion date from 2034 to 2029.

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From POLITICO Florida Playbook: Mediation sought on Apalachicola River drilling permit.

Private company controls access to public land at Florida national park • Florida Phoenix I have a friend named Sandra Friend. She writes guidebooks about hiking in Florida. Not long ago, my friend named Friend contacted me about a different kind of hike: the hike in prices for using our n...

Column: Get ready for a hike -- a hike in the price to use our national parks & forests, now that steep budget cuts are leaving concessionaires in charge. My latest for @floridaphoenix.com includes shout-outs to Ken Burns & Teddy Roosevelt. floridaphoenix.com/2025/07/17/p...

"We are not surprised that the State seeks to delay consideration of this matter since their position will not withstand judicial scrutiny," Paul Schwiep, representing environmental groups, said in response.

POLITICO Pro: Florida tells federal court: No rush in deciding Alligator Alcatraz lawsuit Environmental groups said in their motion for an expedited ruling that endangered species are affected, and 11 acres at the detention facility site recently were paved over.

Florida tells federal court: No rush in deciding Alligator Alcatraz lawsuit.

"The Court is permitted to take the time it needs to study the case, while balancing the hundreds of other important matters on its docket," the lawyers wrote in response.

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Oil drilling company files appeal on Apalachicola River permit denial.

The notice doesn't give a basis for appeal. But the company told Florida DEP in May that a judge's denial recommendation was "fundamentally flawed" on key issues.

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"I'm not asking anyone to move here. Because we've got a lot of people and you've got to build roads. Honestly, I'm fine if we just chill for a while." — Ron DeSantis, July 16, 2025.

I think this is the first time I've ever heard him express any concern about population growth in Florida.

"Without a statutory mechanism to make [the public access declaration] effective, is it like Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy? Does it mean anything?" Judge L. Clayton Roberts asked, referencing an episode of the TV show "The Office."

POLITICO Pro: Florida appeals court judges question how to move forward with 2018 beach access law repeal The First District Court of Appeal heard a challenge to Walton County's declaration of public access over three of more than 80 parcels.

Florida appeals court judges question how to move forward with 2018 beach access law repeal.

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POLITICO Pro: Miccosukee Tribe seeks to intervene in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ challenge The tribe argues it is uniquely affected through federal and state laws establishing the surrounding Big Cypress National Preserve as its homeland.

Miccosukee Tribe seeks to intervene in Alligator Alcatraz challenge

The tribe argues it is uniquely affected through federal and state laws establishing the surrounding Big Cypress National Preserve as its homeland.

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POLITICO Pro: Environmental groups warn of broader legal action on Alligator Alcatraz

Environmental groups warn of broader legal action on Alligator Alcatraz

“It’s unconscionable that state and federal officials have shown complete disregard for our nation’s core environmental protections...,” Tania Galloni of @earthjustice.org

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POLITICO Pro: State senator promotes Destin waterfront land purchase added late in budget talks Jay Trumbull said the purchase would provide valuable public water access and prevent a condominium tower he said has approvals to begin construction.

Florida state senator promotes Destin waterfront land purchase added late in budget talks

"You could have 100 condos on it," Sen. Jay Trumbull said. "Or you could have 300 families on it on any given Tuesday for people" without Gulf front homes.

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Pasco County records its first endangered Florida panther death The panther, a male estimated to be 2 to 3 years old, was the 10th fatality in the state this year.

Pasco County, north of Tampa, records its first-ever #Florida panther death. The endangered cat was run over. www.tampabay.com/news/environ... via @tampabaytimes.bsky.social

5 Democratic state legislators filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court contending that Gov. DeSantis
& Fla. Division of Emergency Management exceeded their authority by blocking access to Alligator Alcatraz last week - They are being represented by 2 legislators/attorneys

POLITICO Pro: Florida lawmakers invited to tour ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ amid reports of dire conditions President Donald Trump visited the pop-up tent facility last week, before detainees arrived. Democratic state lawmakers got turned away July 3.

Florida lawmakers invited to tour ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ amid reports of dire conditions.

Meanwhile, environmentalists continue to hammer the state and feds over what they're calling a threat to the Everglades ecosystem.

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POLITICO Pro: FPL tells state regulators it ‘welcomes’ data centers — whenever they arrive The utility was responding to a data center developers' group that says the utility's proposed new rate structure threatens economic growth in Florida.

FPL tells state regulators it ‘welcomes’ data centers — whenever they arrive

But FPL adds they "can have very significant impacts on the electric rates paid by existing utility customers if adequate and appropriate safeguards are not implemented."

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DOE defies Congress by shifting funds from wind, solar, EVs The cuts represent another front in the Trump administration’s battle to exert more control over congressionally approved spending.

NEW: Energy Dept is defying Congress by diverting funding away from wind, solar, EV and other tech despite congressionally approved spending levels for this fiscal year.

It’s another front in Trump’s battle to assert control over federal spending.

www.politico.com/live-updates...

POLITICO Pro: DeSantis keeps Apalachicola oil drilling ban with economic designation for counties The governor last month signed legislation that banned drilling in counties designated as "rural areas of opportunity."

FL Gov. Ron DeSantis keeps Apalachicola oil drilling ban with economic designation for counties.

The governor last month signed legislation that banned drilling in counties designated as "rural areas of opportunity."

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Supreme Court green-lights Trump’s order for mass firings across federal government The justices granted the administration's emergency appeal seeking permission to enforce a Feb. 11 executive order that instructed agencies to carry out dramatic “reductions in force.”

BREAKING: The Supreme Court just greenlit Trump's order for mass firings across the federal government.

8 states are tweaking the weather (and it might not work) States across the West are seeding clouds to combat a "megadrought." But there's little evidence to show that weather modification can increase

Weather modification misinformation jumps into the discourse every time there's a flood someplace that does cloud seeding. (Last year it was Dubai.) Anyway, re-upping my deep dives on cloud seeding, which isn't the culprit & has *very modest* effects on rain - if any! www.eenews.net/articles/8-s...

"It's part of a pattern of behavior by our leaders in Tallahassee to assault our environmentally sensitive lands, our public lands," Eve Samples of @foreverglades.bsky.social told reporters. "And it demonstrates their disconnect with the people of Florida, frankly."