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Today's top stories
• The man who was known as Mr. Two Bits, George Edmondson, died this week at age 97. Former Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel has called Edmondson's life "a lesson of perseverance and faithfulness." (FloridaGators.com)
• As the long holiday weekend was about to begin, Floridians received a reminder of our somewhat perilous environmental conditions. Multiple beaches in Sarasota County are closed due to high levels of enterococcus bacteria, more cases of flesh-eating bacteria developed there, the seaweed off the Treasure Coast contains arsenic, the state wants people to go after the invasive iguanas in South Florida using lethal force, massive holes opened in southern Orange County and swallowed construction trucks, and more than 100 people dealt with jellyfish stings on Volusia County beaches. Stay safe this weekend, all. (Orlando Weekly, WUSF, TCPalm, USA Today, Daytona Beach News-Journal)
• Lebbeck mealybugs have started to show up in certain citrus groves in Highlands County, with growers and researchers keeping close watch on their possible spread. (Lakeland Ledger)
• Miami's fireworks show last night was cut short by a bomb scare. (Miami Herald)
• St. Augustine Beach police are investigating a possible hate crime after a home was egged and its LGBTQ flag stolen. (St. Augustine Record)
• State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried's reported net worth has increased by more than $1 million in the past year. (News Service of Florida)
• Check out this neat story on the Clay Theatre in Green Cove Springs that's received new life as a venue for weddings and other events. (WJCT)
• Ocala's fire and police departments are planning to share a new facility soon. (Ocala Star-Banner)
• Several counties in our area don't yet have immigration enforcement agreements in place, as required by a new state law. (WLRN)
• If you've long thought Gainesville really needed a place where people could find bacon on donuts, apparently you were correct. (Gainesville Downtown)
• Seahorse Key Island near Cedar Key will have an illuminated lighthouse tonight for the first time in 104 years. (Gainesville Sun)
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From NPR News
• National: In Fourth Of July Address, Trump Hails Military As Fighter Jets Fly Above
• National: Largest Earthquake To Hit The State In Two Decades Rattles Southern California
• World: Heavy Rains Force Evacuation Orders For More Than 1 Million People In Japan
• National: DOJ Still Looking To Add Census Citizenship Question
• Politics: Michigan Congressman Quits Republican Party
• Science: JoAnn Morgan: The Only Woman In The Firing Room During Apollo 11
• Race: 'We Are Americans': Somali Refugee Family Reflects On Making A Life In The U.S.
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.