Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has fired back at a lawsuit filed by Democratic lawmakers seeking access to a controversial immigrant-detention center in the Everglades, saying they don’t have a legal right to enter the facility “at their pleasure.”

Florida officials have been accused of failing to disclose their application for federal reimbursement for an immigration detention center in the Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz."

Florida officials have been accused of failing to disclose their application for federal reimbursement for an immigration detention center in the Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz."

Federal officials have confirmed Florida's approval for a $608 million reimbursement for building and running an immigration detention center in the Everglades.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing a dilemma over the immigration detention center built in the Florida Everglades.

A federal appeals court panel has put on hold a lower court judge’s order to wind down operations of the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Friday morning at the immigration center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” in the Florida Everglades.

Florida’s top emergency official asked a federal judge on Monday to resist a request by environmentalists to halt an immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” in the middle of the Florida Everglades because their lawsuit was filed in the wrong jurisdiction.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration left many local officials in the dark about the immigration detention center that rose from an isolated airstrip in the Everglades.

While the Florida Panther is considered the state’s official animal, the alligator can easily be seen as the unofficial pick. With over 1 million alligators estimated to live in Florida, the animal is a huge draw for many, with an entire theme park being created to showcase their scaly features. However, one highway in Florida is considered to be among the best places to spot alligators: a stretch of Interstate 75 dubbed “Alligator Alley.”

The photo captures dozens of alligators lurking in the Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida.

Officials say a tiger mauled a worker at a Florida airboat attraction.

Dash camera video from a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser reportedly captured a tornado crossing Interstate 75 on Sunday morning.

A female black bear that had a plastic container stuck on her head for 28 days was freed with the help of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Unique to the region, snook are one of the many reasons Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World, according to the FWC.

In all, he beat Biden by about 375,000 votes statewide, compared to a nearly 113,000-vote Florida margin over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Though Biden topped Trump by 18,096 votes in Duval County, the rest of Northeast Florida went to Trump by large margins. For example, Trump won by about 130,000 votes in Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties, the four counties that surround Duval. North of Tampa, meanwhile, Trump won by a combined 131,632 votes in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. The results were similar in neighboring Marion and Lake counties, where Trump won by a combined total of 95,356 votes.

NAPLES, Fla. A large brush fire that has destroyed 12 homes continued to burn in southwest Florida on Tuesday morning, officials said. The 36th Avenue Southeast fire in Collier County was 60% contained on Tuesday, the Florida Forest Service said. The brush fire began in Golden Gate Estates on May 13 as separate brush fires, the Naples Daily News reported. Last week portions of the county were placed under evacuation orders as the fires spread. Agriculture Commissioners Nikki Fried said during a news conference on Monday in Collier County that residents should remain alert and have a bag of important documents read in case additional evacuation orders were issued.

NAPLES, Fla. At least seven homes and 23 other structures have been destroyed by a massive wildfire that continues to burn in southwest Florida, officials said. Greater Naples Fire Rescue District Chief Kingman Schuldt said during a news conference Friday that workers were surveying the area east of Naples. Florida Forest Service incident commander John Kern said the 8,663-acre (3,506-hectare) wildfire was about 40% contained. Shortly after the fires were reported Wednesday, Florida Highway Patrol shut down a section of Alligator Alley because of smoke. Alligator Alley extends from near Naples on Floridas Gulf Coast, to Broward County in South Florida.

Collier County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Pounds knew he was in for more than a routine traffic stop when he pulled over a speeding car at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. The car was going almost 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on Airport-Pulling Road in Collier County, Florida, according to the sheriff's department. "I looked inside the car and could see the crowning of the baby," Pounds said during a press conference covered by CBS affiliate WINK-TV. The baby's father barely has time to jump out and run around the car before the newborn begins to cry. The ambulance then arrived and both mom and baby were safely transported to the hospital.

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – Alligator Alley was closed Monday afternoon due to a wildfire, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The fire near mile marker 41 forced the closure of a 57-mile stretch of the highway, according to Lt. Greg Buneo of FHP. Eastbound traffic was directed off the highway at Exit 80, and westbound traffic was diverted to Exit 23. The westbound entrance ramp from Exit 49 remained open, but the eastbound entrance was closed for several hours before reopening about 9:30 p.m.