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The top stories near you
• Hail came with those early-morning storms yesterday in parts of Florida, including Trenton. There was enough to make it look like it had snowed. (Gainesville Sun)
• The state House today will begin discussing the Senate president's proposal for the Suncoast Parkway extension, which could run through this part of the state. (Florida Politics)
• There's a tribute to Vietnam War veterans this weekend in Alachua County at Veterans Memorial Park. (The Alligator)
• The Regional Transit Service has a microtransit service with two express routes — one from Trenton and the other from Lake City. The ridership hasn't quite hit 30 in a single month, so RTS is changing the routes. (WUFT News)
• University of Florida Police officers have given away free bike lights all month to help bicyclists be seen better at night and avoid a $159 ticket. (WUFT News)
• A Gainesville man is the lead subject in a creepy story from The Atlantic about Airbnb hosts using hidden cameras. "The host could’ve been watching," Airbnb guest Max Vest recounted of his experience. "Anybody could have been watching."
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Around the state today
• Another Democrat has entered the 2020 presidential race, and this one is from Florida. Wayne Messam is the current mayor of Miramar. (Miami Herald)
• Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed budget is higher than the Florida Senate's, which is higher still than the Florida House's. (GateHouse)
• A decrease in Florida Forever program funding has state park advocates seeking more as the budget negotiations move along. (WUFT News)
• A state public records exemption is now closer to passing and would prohibit the release of recordings of mass shootings. (WFSU)
• "Alligator Ron" Bergeron will be allowed to hold a seat on the South Florida Water Management District board. (Sun Sentinel)
• State Rep. Kionne McGhee represents a part of South Florida yet wants to see more help for Hurricane Michael's victims in the Panhandle. (WFSU)
• A state senator wanted to ban certain types of sunscreen because of damage they can do to coral reefs, but such a ban is unlikely to happen this session. (WUFT News)
• Jacksonville City Council has voted to buy the 32-year-old Jacksonville Landing mall. (Florida Times-Union)
• Orlando has a shot to host some of the 2026 World Cup soccer matches. (WMFE)
• Hurricane Michael caused major damage at Tyndall Air Force Base in the Panhandle, and the Air Force is now seeking billions to repair it and other bases. (NPR News)
News from NPR
• World: Theresa May Agrees To Quit If Brexit Deal Passes In U.K. Parliament
• Business: FAA Head Defends Agency Actions Following Recent Air Disasters
• Business: Facebook Bans White Nationalism And Separatism Content From Its Platforms
• Health: Medicare's Uncapped Drug Costs Take A Big Bite From Already Tight Budgets
• Health: Scientists Look For Antibiotic-Resistant Germs In Raw Sewage
• National: The Weather Channel Sued For $125 Million Over Death In Storm Chase Collision
• National: Making Sense Of The Smollett Legal Drama: What's Going On Here?
About today's curator
I'm Ethan Magoc, a news editor at WUFT. Originally from Pennsylvania, I've found a home telling Florida stories. I’m part of a team searching each morning for local and state stories that are important to you; please send feedback about today's edition or ideas for stories we may have missed to emagoc@wuft.org.