EXPLAINED: 34 | Vintage Vibes

Florida sank a 324-foot former New York sludge tanker off Pompano Beach; the wreck became an underwater casino reef with card-dealing sharks, poker tables and marine life

A 324-foot tanker that once carried sludge is about to get a remarkable second life beneath the waves. An old ship off the coast of Pompano Beach, Florida later turned into an underwater casino with poker tables, slot machines, giant shark sculptures and marine life. The Lady Luck, a retired…

The Times of India · Aug 24

US sailor’s father detained by ICE while son serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

A US sailor's father, originally from Nicaragua, faced immigration officials' detention during a routine vehicle stop in Key West, Florida. While his son serves overseas, he feels deep concern for his father's situation, who is currently waiting for green card approval and possesses identification. This incident has raised eyebrows amid…

The Times of India · Aug 24

‘This is heartbreaking’: USS Abraham Lincoln sailor says he is struggling to work 12-hour days after father detained by ICE

Luis Manuel Aviles, a father of a US Navy sailor, faced detention by immigration authorities in Florida. With nearly twenty years of residence in the US, Aviles's son, Joshua, is deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East. Joshua shared his heartbreak regarding his father's predicament, as immigration…

The Economic Times · Aug 24

In 2019, Florida began sinking mermaid-shaped reef sculptures; the project now has more than 300 habitat and art modules in South Florida

A remarkable endeavor has come to fruition with over 300 artistically crafted reef modules now anchored in the depths off South Florida. This seven-year journey melds art with conservation, creating artificial habitats from sustainable concrete that nurture marine species. Supported by local governments, this innovative project aims to enhance tourism…

The Times of India · Aug 23

The tax escape map: Billionaires are bolting for Florida from the West Coast and taking some $29 billion in tax revenue with them

Driven partly by proposed wealth taxes, some of America’s richest people have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into waterfront Florida real estate.

Fortune · Aug 23

Meet Peter Fernández Dulay, the Florida eighth-grader who asked four AI generators what scientists look like; only 17.4% of the images showed women alone

Peter Fernández Dulay’s younger sister asked an AI tool to draw a scientist and hoped to see someone who looked like the scientists she might be one day. The pictures, however, showed the same figure again and again: an older man with light skin and gray, frizzy hair. According to…

The Times of India · Aug 23

In 2012, USDA and Broward students released 16 beetles in Florida to control air potato; the insects multiplied into the thousands and nearly defoliated the vines

Scientists introduced a tiny leaf-eating beetle to control invasive air potato vines in Florida. These beetles multiplied significantly, defoliating the aggressive plant in release areas. Extensive testing ensured the beetle only fed on the target invasive species. Over 429,000 beetles were released statewide, establishing control at many locations. This biological…

The Times of India · Aug 23

In 2002, Florida sank a 510-foot Navy ship off Key Largo; the USS Spiegel Grove became one of the world's largest purpose-built ship reefs

In 2002, the USS Spiegel Grove, a decommissioned Navy ship, was purposely sunk near Key Largo to form an artificial reef. This innovative action has since attracted countless species of marine life, enhancing the habitat and relieving stress on natural ecosystems. The influx of divers has also stimulated the local…

The Economic Times · Aug 23

In 1986, Florida sank this 189-foot ship off the Florida Keys; decades later, its stripped superstructure is covered in sponges, corals and hydroids

The Thunderbolt, a former military and research vessel, now serves as an artificial reef off Marathon in the Florida Keys. It was intentionally sunk in 1986, and over the decades, marine organisms have colonised the wreck, turning it into a vibrant underwater habitat. The structure provides shelter and surfaces for…

The Economic Times · Aug 23

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan says he’s ‘an equal opportunity deporter’ as he denies ICE racial profiling claims

‘I deported people to 180 countries last year, so I don't care if you're from Asia, you're from Europe, or you're from other countries,’ border czar Tom Homan says

The Independent UK · Aug 23