Aaron Johnson, a wanted man from Florida, publicly challenged the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Grady Judd on social media to find and arrest him. Johnson taunted law enforcement with posts such as "Grady can’t find me" and claimed deputies were too busy fishing to catch him after leaving his grandmother's house. In response, Sheriff Judd accepted the challenge. Johnson was subsequently apprehended following a pursuit involving East Texas deputies across multiple counties while he was driving an 18-wheeler. The police department confirmed the arrest and stated that the challenge had ended. Johnson was wanted for violating unspecified laws prior to his capture.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has proposed turning the long-dormant Miami-Dade Collier Training and Transition Airport, a 39-square-mile site deep inside the Everglades, into what he calls “Alligator Alcatraz,” a temporary immigration detention center. Surrounded by wetlands inhabited by alligators and pythons, the location is intended to serve as a natural barrier, reducing the need for costly fencing or walls. Uthmeier said the facility could be operational within 30 to 60 days of receiving approvals and would house up to 1,000 migrants awaiting deportation. The remote airstrip would allow for direct flights to remove detainees. “If people get out, there’s not much waiting for them other than alligators and pythons,” he said in a video unveiling the plan. The initiative is pitched as a low-cost way to bolster federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement capacity amid overcrowding at existing sites. The Department of Homeland Security reshared Uthmeier’s announcement, signaling preliminary interest, but the project still requires state and federal clearance and funding. Whether the controversial proposal advances remains undecided.

The Florida State Board of Governors has confirmed three allies of Governor Ron DeSantis to lead public universities in the state. Among the appointees is former Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, who was confirmed as the seventh president of Florida International University (FIU). Another confirmed leader is Manny Diaz Jr., appointed as the interim president of the University of West Florida (UWF). These appointments come amid calls from Florida Congressional leaders for a more transparent presidential search at the University of Florida following the rejection of a nominee named Ono. The confirmations reflect the ongoing influence of Governor DeSantis in shaping leadership at Florida's public universities.

A series of severe thunderstorms swept across north-central Florida from 11 to 19 June, prompting repeated alerts for Marion, Flagler, Putnam and several neighbouring counties. Local meteorologists warned of wind gusts ranging from 40 to 55 mph and pea- to half-inch hail as the storms advanced in successive waves. The strongest cells developed on Wednesday, 18 June, when gusts near 55 mph were reported in southwestern Marion County. In Jacksonville, the Future Champions Sports Complex suffered what officials described as “major” structural damage after the system moved through the area. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors during warnings and to monitor local broadcasters for further updates while crews assessed damage and cleared debris. No injuries had been confirmed as of Thursday afternoon.

Authorities in Florida have arrested eight individuals, including two Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees, in connection with a scheme to issue thousands of fraudulent driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. The arrests, made in Bay County, involve the sale of licenses without proper training, testing, or vetting, including commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) for operating tractor-trailers. The operation reportedly spanned at least two years. The crackdown was the result of a joint investigation by Florida law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal prosecutors have detained a total of sixteen individuals aged between 22 and 48 in the Florida Panhandle region for related offenses. In response, Miami has tightened its driver's license issuance procedures, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for fraud. Additionally, a federal grand jury has indicted sixteen previously deported illegal immigrants, including nine from Northwest Florida, for illegal reentry into the United States.

After more than a month of delays and extended negotiations, Florida lawmakers approved a $115.1 billion state budget late Monday night, marking the close of one of the most contentious legislative sessions in recent history. The budget, passed 103-2 in the House and unanimously 34-0 in the Senate, comes 45 days past the original deadline and just two weeks before a potential government shutdown. This fiscal plan represents a $3.8 billion reduction, or a 3.2% decrease, from the previous year's spending. It includes nearly $560 million allocated for special projects and a $1.3 billion tax cut package, which, if signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, would make permanent changes to some sales tax holidays. Additionally, lawmakers approved a $580 million debt payment and established a recurring "Debt Reduction Program." The budget also sets aside a $750 million deposit into Florida's rainy-day fund, reflecting a more conservative spending approach. The tax cut package includes $1 million for a property tax study, pending the governor's approval. The final budget and related bills have yet to be sent to Governor DeSantis for his consideration.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued a formal opinion stating that the city of Miami cannot postpone its upcoming elections to 2026 without obtaining voter approval, as such a delay would violate state law and the Florida Constitution. Governor Ron DeSantis and Uthmeier have both warned Miami officials against extending their terms by an additional year without a public vote. Despite these warnings, Miami city leaders have reaffirmed their proposal to delay the elections, setting the stage for a legal and political confrontation with the state government. The proposal to cancel the November 2025 elections and postpone them until 2026 passed its first vote in Miami. Meanwhile, Florida lawmakers have approved measures increasing the number of circuit and county court judges and granted the Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the authority to fine cities and counties. Additionally, the state board overseeing Florida's public universities confirmed three allies of Governor DeSantis as university presidents, including former Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez as president of Florida International University (FIU).

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned on 12 June that deputies would use deadly force against anyone who attacks them during expected anti-immigration enforcement protests, declaring, “If you throw a brick, a firebomb or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains because we will kill you, graveyard dead.” Speaking at a news conference in Titusville with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Ivey said peaceful demonstration is permitted but outlined a sliding scale of consequences for law-breaking. Protesters who block roads, resist arrest or spit on officers would be jailed or hospitalized, while those who surround vehicles risk being “run over and dragged across the street.” Uthmeier labelled Florida the “anti-riot state” and announced welfare checks and other protections for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents whose personal details have been exposed online. The remarks come ahead of roughly 2,000 “No Kings” rallies planned nationwide for 14 June, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday and a military parade in Washington. Organisers say the events will oppose federal immigration raids; similar demonstrations in Los Angeles this week prompted National Guard deployments after vandalism and clashes with police. Civil-rights groups condemned Ivey’s threat. The ACLU of Florida said warning that protesters could be killed for exercising First Amendment rights is “un-American” and could leave the county liable for significant damages if force is excessive. Critics also pointed to Florida’s 2021 anti-riot statute, which broadens the definition of unlawful assembly and stiffens penalties for protest-related offences. Governor Ron DeSantis has defended the law, saying the state has “drawn the line very clearly” between protest and riot. Law-enforcement agencies across Florida are on heightened alert for the weekend demonstrations, with officials pledging to “nip violence in the bud.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly stated that drivers in the state have the legal right to defend themselves by driving through protesters who block roadways or surround their vehicles if they believe their safety is threatened. DeSantis emphasized that if a driver hits protesters under such circumstances, it is the protesters' fault for impeding the vehicle. He characterized this policy as a measure to protect motorists from being vulnerable or attacked by mobs during protests. The governor's remarks were made in various public appearances and interviews, including on The Rubin Report, and have been reiterated across multiple platforms. DeSantis framed this stance as a zero-tolerance approach toward riots and violent protests that obstruct traffic, asserting that Floridians do not have to be "sitting ducks" in such situations. This position has been highlighted ahead of upcoming nationwide protests, with DeSantis assuring that drivers will not face charges if they hit protesters while fleeing for their safety. The comments have sparked widespread attention and discussion regarding the rights of drivers and the legal implications of confrontations between motorists and demonstrators in Florida.

The Florida Panthers’ post-game revelry damaged the Stanley Cup less than a day after the club clinched its second straight National Hockey League championship, a 4-2 series victory over the Edmonton Oilers completed on home ice Tuesday night. According to a spokesperson for the Hockey Hall of Fame, the celebrated trophy’s silver bowl is cracked and its base dented, although the keepers of the Cup expect to have the 37-pound chalice repaired in time for the Panthers’ victory parade in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. The Hall did not specify how the mishap occurred, noting only that the Cup’s silver-and-nickel alloy construction makes it susceptible to dents during boisterous celebrations. Damage to the 131-year-old trophy is not unprecedented. The Tampa Bay Lightning bent it during a 2021 boat parade and the Colorado Avalanche dropped it on the ice the night they won in 2022. The latest mishap underscores the wear-and-tear that often follows one of the most storied prizes in professional sports.

The University of Florida strengthened its 2026 football recruiting class with four verbal commitments announced between 14–16 June, according to reports from the Gainesville Sun and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The Gators first secured a pledge from a four-star edge rusher on 14 June. Within hours, the program added commitments from a four-star running back and a four-star wide receiver, giving the class a trio of blue-chip prospects at key skill positions. A three-star offensive lineman joined the group on 16 June, rounding out a productive three-day stretch. Local outlets said the influx of talent has lifted Florida’s standing in the early 2026 recruiting rankings and underscored the program’s momentum on the trail ahead of its Southeastern Conference rivals.

A Florida man, Tiron Alexander, 35, has been convicted of wire fraud and entering secure airport areas under false pretenses after posing as a flight attendant to book over 120 free flights across four different airlines over six years. He accessed the airlines' internal crew booking systems by forging employee identification badges, including badge numbers and hire dates, and created approximately 30 fake identities to impersonate crew members from seven airlines. This scheme allowed him to exploit employee benefits intended for flight crews to secure free flights. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced the conviction, highlighting the extensive duration and complexity of the fraud.