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Today’s top stories

• You might recall Marion County’s fight to block the Coastal Connector in early 2018. The topic rose again this past week when county commissioners made changes to their comprehensive plan. People who oppose the Coastal Connector from Jacksonville to Tampa don’t think the comprehensive plan changes are strong enough to ensure it never happens. (WUFT News)

• One of the four American soldiers killed in last week’s attack in Syria was from Palm Beach County. (Sun Sentinel)

• On the 100-day anniversary of Hurricane Michael’s landfall, the Panhandle saw some of the worst of this weekend’s statewide front that brought our region plenty of cold and rain but nothing quite like this. Aside from the damage at Tyndall, elsewhere there was wind that ripped tarps from roofs in repair. (Panama City News Herald)

• If it seems to you like Gov. Ron DeSantis had a busy first 10 days in office, you’re correct. He closed out last week with the suspension of Palm Beach County’s supervisor of elections. The new governor also has his eyes on what could be a contentious immigration fight over E-Verify. (Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, GateHouse)

• The University of Central Florida is firing four employees over the misuse of $38 million for construction. (Orlando Sentinel)

• Florida’s new attorney general is apparently less interested in television appearances than getting a better handle on fraud happening statewide. (Tampa Bay Times)

• Now that Amendment 4 passed in November and took effect this month, all eligible felons can vote, right? Not so fast, WLRN finds, since many would still have to pay back fines owed to the state stemming from their convictions.

• The Tampa Bay Times explains the term “food swamps” and how a charity is helping those who live within them.

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News from NPR

• World: More Than 100 Migrants Feared Dead After Raft Sinks In Rough, Icy Mediterranean Sea

• Politics: A Week Of Big Gestures But No Movement As Shutdown Nears 1-Month Mark

• Politics: Shutdown Could Do Long-Term Harm To Already-Thin Air Traffic Control Teams

• Politics: Shutdown Makes Government Websites More Vulnerable To Hackers, Experts Say

• Politics: Government Shutdown Adversely Affects Workers Fighting Wildfires

• National: Federally Funded Companions Keep Seniors Connected To Their Neighbors

• Health: Medical Students Push For More LGBT Health Training To Address Disparities

• Science: You Don’t Have To Go No-Carb: Instead, Think Slow Carb

• Books: He Was 460 Pounds. What Confronting His Weight Taught Him About Obesity In America