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Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Meet the folks who live near ‘Alligator Alcatraz' and call the Everglades home
Scott and Conny Randolph live on a wild piece of land they call paradise. They're comforted by the hoots of owls and snorts of pig frogs. They look up at night to a sky full of glittering stars. And when they get up in the morning, they look out the window to greet their neighbor, a six-foot-long alligator named Big Momma. Anyone who listens to the Randolphs, who live on the property of the Clyde Butcher Big Cypress Gallery, will get an earful on how beautiful, magical and serene the Big Cypress National Preserve is. But those who listen to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who proposed building Alligator Alcatraz, a migrant detention center smack dab in the middle of sprawling Everglades marsh, may get a different picture. 'You don't need to invest that much in the perimeter. If people get out, there's not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons. No where to go, no where to hide,' he said in a video posted on X. This otherwise quiet section of the Everglades has drawn national attention and controversy to the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a landing strip north of Tamiami Trail where Uthmeier and Gov. Ron DeSantis have fast-tracked the construction of what they have dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' For days, trucks have hauled in supplies and tools for the site to be operational, officials say, by July. Folks who live and work in Big Cypress, a federally protected section of the vast Florida Everglades, are pushing back on outsiders' misconceptions of their beloved swamp. It is not totally inhospitable to human life — just ask the Seminoles and Miccosukees. The invasive Burmese pythons, though numerous, are actually kind of hard to find, they say. The folks out here find alligators to be pretty chill — so long as you don't get too close to Big Momma's nest. 'In 14 years, I've never come across a Burmese python on these 13 acres. But I'll tell you what I have come across: bears, bobcats, alligators, wood storks,' Scott Randolph said as he pointed out his nature photography at the gallery. 'It's this beautiful system that, seriously, is such a rarity.' And while Big Cypress is definitely backwoods compared to densely populated downtown Miami, hundreds of people live off this stretch of Tamiami Trail, depending on the time of year. Campers hang out on Loop Road. Staff live on site at Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher's gallery. Airboat tour attractions and gift shops dot the highway. Notably, there are also about 20 Miccosukee villages along the Trail. 'To hear how it's described by people who never grew up here, who who aren't from here, as a wasteland. This abandoned, barren land. 'Nobody is out here,'' said Betty Osceola, a Miccosukee tribal member and activist. 'I'm like, 'What about me?' I'm somebody.' The proposal and quick turn around has outraged residents on several fronts, including immigration, environmental protections and Indigenous rights. Those against the facility, who plan on demonstrating on Saturday, argue the $450 million facility undermines the billions of dollars spent on restoring the Everglades and jeopardizes a fragile ecosystem. DeSantis, eager to support President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts, says the facility is necessary and environmentally benign. 'It'll have zero impact on the Everglades,' he said on Fox News. Live, laugh, love mosquitoes Still dressed in his mosquito net jacket, John Kalafarski unfurled laminated maps of the Everglades in the parking lot outside acclaimed nature photographer Clyde Butcher's gallery. He likes to show people how vast the swamp was before development. True nature lovers like Kalafarski thrive in the Everglades. He lived on Loop Road in the preserve for 10 years in the '90s. Now, the Naples resident guides tourists on swamp walks and pulls out snail shells from his backpack to show kids. Many years ago, he said, a couple of journalists came by working on a story about why people live out here. 'You won't understand until I take you on a swamp walk,' he told them. When asked about Alligator Alcatraz, he shook his head solemnly. The gallery , which displays and sells 82-year-old Butcher's black-and-white images and offers guided swamp walks, is less than 10 miles away from the soon-to-be detention site. The Randolphs, who've been married for 37 years, have lived in the cottage behind the gallery for the last 14 years. Scott Randolph, a resident artist at the gallery, takes striking color images of his surroundings. Big Momma the alligator is one of his muses, as are curious bobcats and the serene landscape. He pointed to one image he took of the night sky. The Milky Way was clear as day. When he took the photo, all he could hear was the sound of insects. In fact, the Randolphs love the nature so much, they share one hot take few South Floridians can relate to — they don't mind the mosquitoes. 'I'm happy to see mosquitoes! They're healthy mosquitoes, and they benefit so much to nature. It's a small price to pay to live out here,' Scott Randolph said. '[Mosquitoes] let me know the environment is trying to work. If you have little stuff, you're gonna have big stuff.' They learn to cope with the extreme heat as well. In the winter, Conny Randolph said, she doesn't sweat. But in the summer, she needs to change her clothes several times a day. 'It's harsh, but it's totally, utterly, completely worth it,' she said. By working at the gallery and providing swamp tours, staff member Trish Elser said she wants to spread awareness of the Everglades' beauty and why it needs to be protected. She hoped one particular visitor got that message. A contractor for Alligator Alcatraz stopped by the gallery this week, she said. He was struck by the beauty, she said. 'I'm glad we were able to show him love and what we love about the Everglades,' Elser said. Growing up on Miccosukee land Betty Osceola was among the last generation of Miccosukee to live entirely off the land. Growing up in Big Cypress, nearly all the food her family ate came from their environment, she said. As a girl, Osceola and her siblings ran outside into the swamp barefoot. She has fond memories swimming in rivers while one kid kept an eye out for alligators passing by. As the seasons changed, her mother would remind her when panthers and bears were roaming around. The tribal kids were free to play outside all day, she said, so long as they were back home before sundown. 'We were barefoot going out into the swamps that everybody is so afraid of,' Osceola said. 'That was our playground.' Life out there is tranquil, she said, or at least it was before the cacophony of trucks bringing in supplies for the detention site. The sudden influx of people raises safety concerns, Osceola said. But her primary concern is for nature. How are the trees? The ibis? The endangered panthers that live nearby? While state officials portray alligators as built-in security guards, Osceola said her favorite animal is nothing of the sort. 'I was kind of offended on the alligator's behalf with the way they talk about them,' she said. 'I don't think the alligator wants its name attached to the word Alcatraz.' The Miccosukee have always been in the Everglades and found refuge there during the Seminole Wars, said Chairman Talbert Cypress. Tribal ceremonial grounds and villages are 'very close' to the proposed facility, he said. (Osceola told the Herald she knows a family who's home is less than half a mile away.) 'We have a very close knit community. Everybody knows each other,' Cypress said. 'Even the Gladesmen that live out there, they have family history out there and we have family history with them. We've stuck together through many challenges over the hundreds of thousands of years that we've been there.' Gladesmen is a term for non-natives who have lived, hunted and fished in the Glades for decades. Cypress said the Miccosukee Business Council's priority is to protect the Everglades and advocate for the Miccosukee and Seminole community. As buses bring in and out people, supplies and waste to the facility, Cypress said increased traffic on the two-lane Tamiami Trail will be a major issue. 'It's just a huge burden for the state to take on, and the federal government as well. I don't quite think they understand the scope of how much it's going to cost,' Cypress said. 'God forbid anything emergency-wise happens.' Locals have been keeping a close eye on the construction progress, making their presence known as they watch trucks pull in and out. Garrett Stuart, 41, an environmental scientist of Lakota descent, stood outside the facility just three miles away from where he lives with the Miccosukee. He formed a close bond with Osceola, who adopted him as a nephew. Stuart criticized DeSantis for, as he put it, flip-flopping on his stance of protecting the Everglades when he first ran for governor. And he scoffed at the idea that there's nowhere for detainees to go if they escape. They'd be more likely to run into a Miccosukee camp than into an alligator's mouth, he said. 'It's almost kind of comical that the government thinks that, if you put them out here in the Everglades, there's nowhere to hide,' Stuart said. 'The Seminole and the Miccosukee tribes were the only undefeated tribes in the United States. How did they stay undefeated? They used the Everglades to hide and make war in.' Originally from Kansas, Stuart moved to South Florida about 15 years ago to work in coral reef restoration. But, 'my heart kept leading me back to the Everglades,' he said. 'It's always just felt like a home for me.' Life here is slow and peaceful, unlike in the city, he said. He can still see stars and fireflies at night. The heat doesn't bother him, and the mosquitoes don't bite him. Stuart has been coming to the facility each day, not to protest but to pray. He sits with his drum, shuts his eyes and prays for the government to change its mind and hopes 'that nature can forgive us.' A bird flying above Stuart squawked and he smiled. 'The osprey is talking to us now,' he said. 'I'm praying for everything.'
Hypebeast
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Travis Scott Joins Oakley's as Chief Visionary & Louis Vuitton SS26 Looks to India in This Week's Top Fashion News
In a landmark move signaling a strategic pivot in its brand narrative,Oakleyhas officially welcomedTravis Scottas its inaugural 'Chief Visionary.' This multi-year alliance tasks Scott and his influentialCactus Jackcreative collective with spearheading future campaigns, reinterpreting iconic designs, and shaping upcoming eyewear and apparel collections. Oakley's announcement follows other recent creative endeavors, including the recent Oakley xMetaHSTN smart specs. The appointment is poised to inject a fresh surge of cultural relevance into Oakley, capitalizing on the resurgent Y2K aesthetic and the enduring appeal of high-performance gear. For SS26,Louis Vuittonshowcased its collection on a life-size Snakes and Ladders gameboard in honor of the historic game's roots in India — wherePharrellhas drawn his core inspiration for the house's latest collection. Showcased at the Centre Pompidou, the collection emphasized commercial appeal despite bold presentation elements. Key pieces include refined leather jackets, sharp blazers, and spacious trousers, alongside audacious metallic and animal-print designs. Cultural infusions are evident with motifs from The Darjeeling Limited, and everyday items are elevated with hand-embroidered details. New accessories include the Speedy P9 bag and various footwear. The show featured an original soundtrack by Williams with notable collaborators. Prada's SS26 menswear collection, presented by joint directorsMiuccia PradaandRaf Simonsat Milan Fashion Week, signaled a departure from the conventional power dressing that the Italian label is known for. The collection, entitled 'A Change in Tone,' was showcased in an unadorned venue, embracing an introspective and poetic aesthetic. Designs subtly challenged traditional masculinity, featuring crisp shirts with high-cut shorts and tracksuits under formal wear. The color palette combined office attire palettes with bold blues, reds, yellows, and soft pastels. Tactile materials and playful accessories, like raffia hats, contributed to a blend of grounded and dreamlike elements, prioritizing suggestion over overt spectacle. Googlehas invested more than $100 million USD for a 4% stake in Korean eyewear brandGentle Monster. The significant investment signals Google's renewed push into the smart glasses market, specifically for its Android XR smart lens initiative announced in 2025 — a direct challenge to Meta's ventures withRay-Banand Oakley. Following its earlier (now obsolete) Google Glass, this move leverages advancements in AR and AI for more user-friendly wearables. Gentle Monster, known for its trend-driven designs, views the collaboration as a 'pivotal step' toward integrating smart eyewear into essential lifestyle fashion. An official launch date for the Google x Gentle Monster smart glasses is pending. Dover Street Market(DSM) is launching its private-label line, 'DSM Label,' during Paris Men's Fashion Week, with Kei Ninomiya of Noir fame as its long-term creative lead. Unlike his usual avant-garde designs, Ninomiya's DSM collection will feature 'everyday, easy-to-wear staples' or 'unnamed team wear,' focusing on a subtle shared visual identity. The debut collection will be showcased at the Dover Street Market Paris showroom from June 28 to July 1, alongside other Spring 2026 collections. Future DSM collections are anticipated from 2026 onwards, with plans to introduce additional creators under the DSM brand. The newly launchedLevi'sxNikeapparel collaboration merges denim craftsmanship with sport-inspired design, featuring a revamped Air Max 95 in three denim colorways, a vintage denim jacket, and reworked Levi's loose-fit jeans. The collection is adorned with minimalist branding, showing white Nike logos integrated into Levi's signature silhouettes. Crafted from authentic selvedge denim, the campaign imagery shows Levi's visible off-white chain-stitching. The nostalgic summer campaign features hip-hop artistLarry June, WNBA starPaige Bueckers, NFL playerKeon Coleman, and designerDaniel Buezo. The collection launches July 10th via Levi's channels and July 11th on SNKRS.
Los Angeles Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Walter Scott of R&B group the Whispers dies at 81
Walter Scott, who with his twin brother Wallace founded the Los Angeles-based R&B group the Whispers — a hit-making force in the 1970s and '80s with songs like 'And the Beat Goes On,' 'Rock Steady,' 'Lady' and 'Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong' — died Thursday, according to multiple media outlets, including Billboard and the Los Angeles Sentinel. He was 81. The Sentinel reported that Scott's family said he died in Northridge after a six-month bout with cancer. With a smooth, danceable sound built on sturdy post-disco rhythms and carefully arranged group vocals, the Whispers put 15 songs inside the Top 10 of Billboard's R&B chart; 'And the Beat Goes On' reached No. 1 in 1980, followed by 'Rock Steady,' which topped the tally in 1987. The band's music was widely sampled in later years, including by 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, J. Cole and Will Smith, the last of whom used 'And the Beat Goes On' as the basis for his late-'90s hit 'Miami.' In a post on Instagram, the musician and filmmaker Questlove described Scott as 'one of the most trusted voices in '70s soul music' and compared him to 'the talented uncle in the family….who btw could DUST you inna min w his dizzying blink & you lost him squiggle gee doo dweedy scatlibs.' Scott was born in 1944 in Fort Worth, Texas, and later moved to L.A. with his family; he and his brother started singing as students at Jordan High School, according to the Sentinel, and formed the Whispers in the mid-'60s with Nicholas Caldwell, Marcus Hutson and Gordy Harmon. The group spent time in San Francisco before Scott was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. The group recorded for a series of record companies but found its biggest success on Dick Griffey's Solar label. The Whispers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Billboard said Scott is survived by his wife, Jan; two sons; three grandchildren and his brother.
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Perth Now
Why do Aussies live in denial about winter?
West Australians like to live in denial about a lot of things: the correct name for a halal snack pack, the belief you will be able to find two degrees of separation from anyone if only you ask what high school they went to, and the fact that not everyone could have possibly seen INXS/Pendulum/Tame Impala (pick your generation) before they were famous. But the thing we really bury our heads in the sand about is the widespread misconception that WA 'doesn't really have a winter'. 'Winter?' we ask smugly when travelling in colder climes. We say the word slowly as if we're not entirely sure of the pronunciation. 'Oh we're from Australia,' we say. 'Our winter is more like your summer.' But deep down, in our heart of hearts, we know: this is a lie. Australian winters are bloody freezing. Sure, the temperature may not drop to minus 20, and the daily highs hover around the late teens. But unlike in properly cold places, we don't accommodate for the freezing weather. Indoor heating? Just chuck an extra doona on! Proper jackets? Grab a flanno and some uggs. Winter? Barely knew 'er! Life with Leandro. Credit: Instagram But this seems to be the year we're being called out. Social media is filled with expats from colder climes exposing our folly that it doesn't really get cold Down Under. On Instagram a Swiss man with the handle @ posted a video of himself trying to warm up in front of an open kitchen oven. 'Apparently the coldest place in Australia is our bathroom,' Leandro wrote. 'When it's 8C outside it's 8C inside. Someone please tell Aussie builders how to insulate homes. Fellow expats DO YOU FEEL MEE?!?!' They did. The thousands of comments included insights such as: 'I am Mongolian living in Australia, in Mongolia even the kids toy houses have thicker walls than here.' And 'From Finland and omg, I don't think I have ever complained about the cold weather as much as while living here. It is so damn cold in the house.' One person simply wrote: 'I open the fridge to warm my kitchen.' As the Germans like to say, 'there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing'. Us Australians like to say 'there is no such thing as bad weather' as we settle down in the living room to watch Dancing With The Stars dressed like Scott of the Antarctic. Dutch lifestyle brand Stoov is on to us. They sent an email to a colleague last week spruiking their latest products — electric blankets, fancy hot-water bottles and the like. They seem to be aware Aussies can get a little defensive whenever someone points out it's not hot here all the time. 'Australians have always been laid-back with a resourceful attitude and winter is no exception,' Stoov said, sucking up. 'The latest research by Stoov reveals 51 per cent of Aussies admit to having weird habits to stay warm during the winter, like heating up socks in the microwave or using a hairdryer to warm their clothes. A respondent even mentioned 'when I feel like having a cold smoothie/salad, I get in a hot bath to eat them so that it stops me from feeling cold'.' OK, you can stop judging us now. We get it. We need to sit in a warm bath to suffer through a cold drink. We're fooling no one here. It's probably time to face facts: winter in Australia is a slog. We would do something about it but it'll be summer again soon. In the meantime we'll chuck on a few extra layers and pretend like leaving the house is a reasonable thing to do. I see Pendulum are playing a show in August. You know, I saw them before they were famous . . .
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Ex-nurse accused of hate crime avoids conviction
A controversial former nurse who was accused of a hate crime at a pro-Palestine rally has avoided conviction over the incident. Jennifer May Scott, 37, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday facing charges of disorderly behaviour, resisting police and failing to remain stopped. Prosecutor Sergeant Simon Reay, though, confirmed Scott had completed diversion on the latter charge and the other counts were withdrawn. The police diversion scheme allows predominantly young or first-time offenders to make amends for their crimes — sometimes by making a reparation payment, writing an apology letter, attending counselling or completing voluntary work — to avoid a mark on their criminal record. However, Scott already has a conviction for intentional damage from 2023 after spray-painting explicit phrases on an ex-boyfriend's ute. The terms of her recent diversion were not discussed in open court. The charges stemmed from an incident on June 1 last year when Scott was allegedly driving in the Octagon. She was accused of filming pro-Palestine protesters with her phone and yelling "Palestine rapes and murders babies. Palestine isn't a country". Scott allegedly ignored police instructions in the aftermath and resisted officers trying to handcuff her. Yesterday's withdrawal of charges was a rare win for Scott after last year was littered with setbacks. The woman, who has called herself "Terf [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] of the South" online, courted controversy in August after setting up an online fundraising page, complete with a photo of her and her partner, claiming they were homeless and needed money for a campervan. The partner was identified as a double-murderer formally known as Gresham Marsh and Corrections confirmed he had a home and was being "closely managed". The photo and all reference to him was subsequently removed from the web page. The following month, after a hearing Scott failed to attend, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal cancelled her nursing registration. The ruling pointed to her spreading of vaccine disinformation and repeated episodes of transphobia as reasons for the decision. Tribunal chairwoman Theo Baker said the misconduct brought discredit to the profession and was "sufficiently serious to warrant a disciplinary sanction". Scott was also ordered to pay costs of more than $45,000. Then in October, she was on the wrong end of a decision by the Tenancy Tribunal. Ms Scott made "wide-ranging claims" including assault, unlawful entry, breaches around storage, withholding of goods and breach of privacy after being evicted from a Macandrew Bay property. But adjudicator Rex Woodhouse said the tribunal did not have jurisdiction to hear her case because she was a "squatter" and it was therefore not a dispute between tenant and landlord. The house had been sold earlier in the year and the tribunal issued a possession order in favour of the new owners. Court reporter
