Latest news with #KeyWest


Fox News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
DeSantis administration threatens to punish island city that voted to end police agreement with ICE
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said leaders in the state's most southern municipality face possible removal from office if they fail to restore an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Tuesday, the Key West city commissioners voted 5-1 to void an agreement that requires its police department to partner with ICE. The federal program known as 287(g) allows local authorities to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions, including allowing officers to question, arrest and detain people suspected of violating immigration law. "I try not to make decisions with my heart because it can get me into trouble," said Commissioner Donald Lee, the city's former police chief who voted to sever the so-called 287(g) agreement, the Miami Herald reported. "Tonight, I am going to make a decision from my heart, and I hope it doesn't get the city in trouble." In a letter Wednesday to the commissioners, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said their vote violates state law and has essentially made Key West a "sanctuary city." "Florida law unequivocally forbids sanctuary cities," Uthmeier wrote while demanding the city reverse course. "Failure to take corrective action will result in the enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office by the governor." Fox News Digital has reached out to Uthmeier, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the six Key West commissioners. Law enforcement agencies that operate county jails in Florida must enter partnerships with the federal government so their officers can carry out limited immigration agent functions, the Herald reported. On Tuesday, DeSantis told reporters Key West leaders could face suspension for not upholding the agreement. "I think the attorney general has weighed in on that, and I'll let him do the analysis and send them whatever warnings need to be sent," DeSantis said at the opening of the new "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in the Everglades. "But the reality is you have a responsibility for full participation," he added. "And you can virtue signal and try to make political statements, but the reality is local governments have to abide by Florida law."


CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Key West commission votes to end ICE immigration enforcement agreement
The Key West commission has voted to end the city's immigration enforcement agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Residents packed City Hall on Monday night and voiced their concerns during the nearly two-hour long public comment section. In the end, commissioners voted 6-1 to approve a resolution that calls on the city manager and police chief to end the city's 287(g) agreement with ICE, according to The agreement, which was signed March 4, was put in place by the city's police chief, but did not have the commission's approval. The resolution also directs the city manager and police chief to "refrain" from entering into any new agreements "until the courts have ruled on the obligations imposed on local governments," according to The resolution also states that the city's police department will assist in federal immigration enforcement when requested. Federal program gives immigration enforcement authority The 287(g) agreement is a federal program that deputizes local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. It gives them the authority to stop, question, and arrest individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully. Every sheriff's office in the state has signed this agreement. In voiding the agreement, the Key West commission has defied the wishes of Gov. Ron DeSantis who has pushed for statewide participation in the 287(g) program. The governor has asked the legislature to give him the power to suspend law enforcement officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier posted on X after the commission's vote that "The City of Key West will be hearing from my office very soon."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Carnival Cruise Line passengers vote against US ports
Carnival Cruise Line passengers vote against US ports originally appeared on Come Cruise With Me. With economic concerns and increasing political tensions on the mind of many U.S. travelers, it's no surprise that more people are choosing domestic vacations this summer. As the U.S. continues to issue heightened travel warnings for U.S. citizens visiting certain countries, it wouldn't be shocking if more cruisers decided to stay closer to home for their next cruise cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line have reported experiencing a softening in bookings for Europe cruise itineraries this summer, although demand remains strong from Caribbean cruises departing from U.S. ports. Americans are increasingly choosing to forego long-haul international trips, but they aren't ditching travel altogether. States across the U.S. like Florida and Texas are reporting sharp increases in the numbers of domestic tourists visiting this year. With domestic destinations trending, you might expect Carnival Cruise Line — which prides itself on offering more accessible U.S. home ports than any other cruise line — to feature more cruise options that sail to close-to-home destinations. That's not the case, however, and it doesn't seem to be what Carnival passengers want, Key West, Florida, has long been a staple of Caribbean cruise itineraries, other U.S. cruise ports (outside of Alaska and Hawaii) have traditionally served much more often as departure ports for cruises than as cruise ports of call. This is changing, however, as popular U.S. cities like New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, and Portland, Maine are increasingly being featured as stops on cruises departing from other lines like Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Virgin Voyages are leading this trend, and although Carnival does offer some U.S. port stops, they're not a big focus. Carnival's cruise itineraries lean heavily into The Bahamas, Caribbean islands, and Mexico. Despite current travel trends, Carnival Cruise Line passengers are continuing to show strong interest in sailing to these popular destinations outside of U.S. waters as they plan for their next cruises. It turns out that most Carnival cruise passengers don't actually want more cruises that visit U.S. ports of call, at least according to a June 16 poll conducted by Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald on his popular Facebook page that's followed by more than 600,000 results showed that thousands of Carnival cruisers don't want the cruise line to lean into the growing cruise trend that's seeing more U.S. ports of call featured on cruise itineraries. The poll was driven by a recent message Heald received from an unidentified Carnival passenger who said: 'Please include more American ports as places we visit during the cruise. Why does Carnival Cruise Line not include New Orleans, San Francisco, and Boston? These are just as good and fun places to visit as most of your selections in the Caribbean.' More Carnival cruise news:Through votes in the poll, about 5,700 Carnival cruisers indicated that they agreed and would like to visit those U.S. cities during their cruises. Many more passengers rejected the idea, however. About 15,000 Carnival cruisers voted for the poll option, 'I really do not have interest in having places like New Orleans, San Francisco, and Boston as part of my cruise itinerary.' In the comments on the poll post, some Carnival cruisers explained that the Caribbean is far more interesting to them than U.S. cities. 'If I'm taking a Caribbean cruise, get me there as fast as possible, without stopping at additional U.S. ports,' Bob Riedle commented. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472. This story was originally reported by Come Cruise With Me on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.


CBS News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
South Florida facing high heat, humidity this weekend
The NEXT Weather team is tracking a hot, humid day from Fort Lauderdale to Key West. Saharan dust is helping to dry-out the atmosphere and minimize pop-up showers across southeastern Florida. Later Saturday afternoon, storms will build across the Everglades but will die out before making it to the metroplex. A few far western cities may see some small rain showers Saturday night. As we Track the Tropics, there are no concerns in Florida, but the National Hurricane Center is alerting Texans about a low pressure system over the Yucatan Peninsula on Saturday. The system will move into the southern Gulf and could develop into a Tropical Depression this weekend before moving ashore into Mexico. It's unlikely to become a named Tropical Storm. The NEXT Weather 7 Day outlook does include the risk of storms on Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week we fall back into our regular summer pattern of afternoon storms and high humidity. A sneak peak at the NEXT Weather 4th of July forecast shows a few afternoon showers and perfect weather for fireworks across the region.
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Travel + Leisure
23-06-2025
- Travel + Leisure
These New Waterfront Villas in Floria's Key West Have Private Pools, Personalized Concierge Service, and Some of the Best Views in Town
Lunara Bay is a collection of 26 waterfront homes in Key West, Florida, which feature four to eight bedrooms, private swimming pools, and ample outdoor spaces for entertaining. The sprawling residences boast curated art, custom millwork, spa-inspired bathrooms, gourmet kitchens, and an outdoor grill; some villas also have private docks and firepits. Each home is serviced by a concierge who can assist in planning excursions and tours, booking restaurant reservations, or arranging private chef-prepared dinners. Key West visitors have a new way to experience the destination, famous for its vast coral reefs teeming with tropical fish and rainbow-hued conch houses. Lunara Bay, a collection of 26 luxury waterfront estates, opens for stays starting July 1. The new four- to eight-bedroom private villas—the island's largest waterfront accommodations—are managed by travel platform Brightwild, which specializes in blending the comforts of a home with the service and design details of a five-star resort. 'When we started Brightwild, our mission was simple: connect people in real life,' Billy Spottswood, CEO of Brightwild, tells Travel + Leisure. 'We believed that travel, when done right, could bring people closer—not just to new places, but to each other. With Lunara Bay, we set out to bring that mission to life and went all in." Each family-friendly residence features a swimming pool surrounded by a lush lawn (and a fence, making it both child- and pet-friendly), spa-inspired bathrooms with rainfall showers, a gourmet kitchen equipped with a Viking range, and an outdoor grill. Many of the homes also have private docks and firepits. Each villa is designed with curated art, custom millwork, and ample outdoor spaces to entertain—or to fully lean into vacation mode with a book on a poolside lounger. Many of the villas have private docks. To make the most of a Lunara Bay stay, visitors can also work with a dedicated GEM or Guest Experience Manager—essentially a concierge who can come up with bespoke itineraries, plan excursions like guided fishing trips or family sandbar outings, and book coveted reservations to some of Key West's buzziest restaurants. These pros can also help ensure a smoother on-site stay for guests by pre-stocking their kitchen or arranging a private chef-prepared dinner. 'Our team of GEMS will be your guide and connection to the local culture,' Spottswood says. 'They will help guests plan the extraordinary, but we also know that unforgettable trips are shaped by the moments in between—the spontaneous ones, the shared laughter, the small joys that can't be planned but can be made possible." Nightly rates at Lunara Bay start from $1,200, and you can book your stay at