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The top stories near you
• It's a minuscule part of the City of Gainesville's annual budget, but the frequent mentions during public comment sessions of the city commission's catered meals between their biweekly meetings piqued our curiosity. Several current commissioners defended the $3,000 annual expense, with one noting that eliminating it would have no effect on the rates that Gainesville Regional Utilities customers pay. (WUFT News)
• A bird called a cassowary killed its owner on Friday near Alachua. The San Diego Zoo describes the species as "the most dangerous bird in the world." (Gainesville Sun)
• “I’ve always trusted the green walking man, and then I got hit by a car even when it was like that.” Florida remains the most dangerous state for pedestrians, and the areas around the University of Florida campus where Taylor Alexander was hit can be difficult to safely navigate, too. (WUFT News)
• The Alligator, in its series on Gainesville's future, spotlights news in three areas under constant development right now: Archer Road, Downtown, and Midtown.
• Stacy Scott, public defender for the 8th Judicial Circuit, supports a new program known as participatory defense in Gainesville. It's the first such program in Florida and allows adefendant's loved ones to assist in their defense. (WUFT News)
• Santa Fe College President Jackson Sasser has held that position for 17 years and has less than a year remaining before retirement. Here's some of what he remembers of his tenure. (WUFT News)
• Whether or not the Suncoast Parkway eventually extends through this region depends on future task forces' decisions, though some lawmakers are already questioning the cost of those task forces. (Florida Politics)
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Around the state today
• There's not much coming in the way of federal aid to solve Florida's algae blooms and help rebuild its Panhandle, so the state will likely have to bear the majority of both costs. (GateHouse)
• This past week, researchers may have found another 27 sites that could be unmarked graves at the Dozier School near Marianna. (NPR News)
• Former Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel is likely to take his fight to get his job back all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. (Sun Sentinel)
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports on the causes and outcomes of 176 shootings in its region in 2018. More than 100 were fatal, and most of those were suicides.
• The nearly-monthlong murder trial of John Jonchuck in a Pinellas County courtroom could reach its conclusion this week. (Tampa Bay Times)
• There have now been eight earthquakes recently near the Alabama-Florida border. (Pensacola News Journal)
News from NPR
• National: 'I Love You, But You're Wrong,' And Other Salvos On The Front Lines Of Civility
• World: The Mystery Of Julian Assange's Cat
• Books: Nephew Of Robert E. Lee Grapples With Legacy Of American Race Relations In New Book
• Business: Breaking Down The Hollywood Dispute Between Writers And Agents
• Science: Do You Love Lying In Bed? Get Paid By NASA To Do It For Space Research
• Health: Supporters Sue To Open Safe Injection Site In Philadelphia, Citing Religious Freedom
• Health: Can This Breakfast Cereal Help Save The Planet?
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.