Tag: Florida

Florida governor declares state of emergency over Hurricane Irma. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has declared a state of emergency affecting every county in Florida in preparation for Hurricane Irma, which has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm. Scott's order signed Monday notes that the National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will be a "major hurricane located somewhere north of Cuba and south of Andros Island in the Bahamas." "As governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to this state and its people by this emergency." The National Hurricane Center said Monday that Irma had strengthened to a Category 4 storm, with winds reaching 130 miles per hour as the East Coast braces for the hurricane. It's the second major storm sending authorities in southeast states scrambling. Last month, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and brought devastating flooding to the region. President Trump visited affected areas in Houston and in Louisiana on Saturday. Thousands of people were displaced in the aftermath of the storm and recovery is still ongoing.

Florida GOP gubernatorial candidates urge protections for 'Dreamers'. Two Republican candidates for Florida governor said Monday they want to see Congress take action to help certain immigrants pending a highly anticipated announcement from President Trump. The White House will reportedly announce the end of the program with a six-month delay to give lawmakers an opportunity to help those affected by the move. Adam Putnam, the Florida agriculture commissioner, said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times on Monday that it's important to end illegal immigration but that DACA recipients shouldn't be hurt. “Our national immigration system is broken, and the federal government must fix it. We must secure our borders, end illegal immigration and rid our nation of sanctuary cities,” he said. “But the children of illegal immigrants should not be punished for their parents’ wrongdoings. I am glad to see the President will allow Congress to develop a solution to replace Obama’s unconstitutional program.” Jack Latvala, a Florida state senator, said in a statement posted to his Facebook page that "if DACA ends in 6 months, it will have a disastrous impact not only on hundreds of thousands of bright, promising young people but also on our business climate." He said that "it's time for Congress to pass a law protecting Dreamers," using a term commonly used to describe DACA recipients. He also asked other GOP politicians in Florida to "join me in supporting these children so they can come out of the shadows and legally secure jobs."