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The top stories near you
• There's some skepticism from the City of Gainesville's potential regional partners on a new broadband network. Here's a roundup of reactions to the hundred-million-dollar plan that was unveiled last month. (WUFT News)
• A landscaping company owner is on board with Alachua County's plan to ban certain fertilizers later this year: "People can’t love their lawns if there are a bunch of things out there hurting their kids or the environment." (WUFT News)
• It has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm, but this is what you should know about the current tropical wave in the Caribbean. (Florida Storms)
• The Alachua County Sheriff's Office closed its number of deputy vacancies from 18 to two in the past year. The Gainesville Police Department has more than 40 at the moment. (Gainesville Sun)
• Marion County Schools Superintendent Heidi Maier is going to finish her term that runs through next November. The school board can then appoint one — following a voter decision last year to give them that power. (Ocala Star-Banner)
• Gainesville was among the cities challenging a state preemption law that kept local governments from enacting tougher gun regulations than those at the state level. A circuit judge on Friday sided with the cities. (Tallahassee Democrat)
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Around the state today
• Why so many flesh-eating bacteria cases in the news? Climate change, suggests an infectious disease specialist. "As the water is getting warmer by a few degrees, the bacteria is flourishing for longer periods." (WUSF)
• With that new texting and driving law taking effect earlier this month, it's mostly warnings instead of citations so far in certain areas of the state. (FOX35 Orlando)
• A state agency sent the Florida Phoenix a nearly-$3,000 bill before it would produce public records related to the cabinet's Israel trip earlier this summer.
• As hurricane season heats up, the Miami Herald got a copy of the emergency evacuation plan for the Homestead migrant detention facility for children. The federal agency in charge of it previously said it would not release a copy.
• If you enjoy lists, Florida Politics put together rankings of the most powerful politicians in both the Central Florida and Tampa Bay regions.
• And the Sun Sentinel compiled an entirely different type of list. These are the highest tax bills for mansion owners in South Florida.
From NPR News
• Science: A New Old Way To Combat Toxic Algae: Float Them Up, Then Skim Them Off
• Science: Birds Are Trying To Adapt To Climate Change — But Is It Too Little, Too Late?
• Health: Kamala Harris Releases 'Medicare For All' Plan With A Role For Private Insurers
• Health: Isolated And Struggling, Many Seniors Are Turning To Suicide
• National: 'I Know That They're Cared For." Why One Mom Has Chosen To Foster Migrant Children
• Business: Rural Wireless Carriers Are Challenging T-Mobile And Sprint Merger
• StoryCorps: Declared Dead At War, He Returned Alive To Find His World Had Moved On Without Him
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.