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The Point, May 16, 2019: When Florida's 2019 Hurricane Sales Tax Holidays Will Take Place

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Today's top stories

• It's been a busy week of news about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He's further explaining why he signed a non-disclosure agreement with the FBI regarding information about the 2016 election hacking. He signed a bill for back-to-school and hurricane sales tax holidays, the latter of which starts at the end of this month. And the governor's nominee for secretary of the Florida Department of Health — currently a UF Health physician — hasn't yet started work at the department. (Politico, AP, News Service of Florida)

• Other news from the hurricane event where DeSantis signed the sales tax bill: El Niño could help limit the number of hurricanes we see this year. (Florida Today)

• People in costumes that ridiculed the new toll road proposal protested at Bo Diddley Plaza in Gainesville yesterday afternoon. DeSantis is still considering whether or not to approve the idea. (WCJB)

• A hotel is still planned for a city-owned vacant lot in downtown Gainesville. City commissioners will decide today whether or not to sell it. (Gainesville Sun)

• A Forbes ranking has the University of Florida in the top 20 of all universities in a ranking of America's best employers. (UF News)

• Though no fish kills have yet been reported, the phytoplankton behind red tide is again near Florida's southwest coast. (Orlando Weekly)

• The Miami Herald reports on the "combination of talking, texting, daydreaming" that prevents drivers in its area from quickly pressing the gas pedal when a red light turns green.

• The state's citrus department will have about 20% less funding in next year's budget. (Lakeland Ledger)

• A partially paralyzed turtle in Pensacola now has a custom-made wheelchair, reportedly the first of its kind. (Pensacola News Journal)


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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.

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org