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The Point, March 10, 2020: Gov. DeSantis Declares State of Emergency To Help Control Coronavirus In Florida

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Today's top Florida stories

• On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in response to the growing outbreaks of coronavirus (COVID-19). Here is everything you need to know about tracking the virus in Florida, including a recent scare endured by House lawmakers and a pending University of Florida recommendation to suspend face-to-face classes. (WUFT News)

• News Service of Florida: Coronavirus Scare Hits Home In State House. "The legislators were briefly isolated Monday in a small conference room in the back of the House chamber, while...the chamber was decontaminated."

• The Alligator: UF urges faculty to move classes online to prevent spread of coronavirus. "UF Public Affairs sent an email Monday notifying students that UF Provost Joe Glover instructed faculty to start moving their in-person classes online to combat the spread of the coronavirus."

• WLRN: Miami-Dade Schools Prepares Online-Learning Plan In Case Of Coronavirus School Closures. "The district has more than 200,000 devices available to be loaned out to students, according to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. That’s not enough equipment for all 345,000 students in the district."

• Florida Politics: Lawmakers debate teacher pay raises in the midst of coronavirus economic concerns."The economic unrest caused by the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, could play out in some of Florida’s key industries — such as the cruise industry and tourism — that account for major chunks of tax revenue."

• Gainesville Sun ($): UF journalism dean to retire."Diane McFarlin, dean of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, will retire at the end of the year."

• Citrus County Chronicle ($): Tourist board to hear $250,000 request for refuge exhibits, displays."The $250,000 would come out of the 1% set aside in bed tax money for capital improvement projects. The TDC can only recommend. If approved, it still must go before the county."

• WFSU: Senate Approves Bill To Create Task Force On Abandoned African American Gravesites."Unmarked African-American burial grounds are scattered throughout Florida. Sen. Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) wants to fund and reinstate a 10-member task force to locate and preserve the abandoned cemeteries."

• WMFE: President Donald Trump Visits Lake Mary: Supporters Talk Four More Years, Second Trump Family Presidency."President Donald Trump attended a private campaign fundraiser at a home in Seminole County today."

• Miami Herald ($): FL Senate passes E-Verify bill; now it goes to House."The bill requires that businesses either use E-Verify, a federal program that checks the immigration status of workers, or keep a three-year record of documents used by applicants when filling out a form “I-9,” a federal check on a person’s legal eligibility to work in the U.S."

• Florida Today ($): Man Riding Bike Across America for a Cause Visits Brevard."A man whose son died of a rare skin disorder has bicycled across America four times to promote awareness and research efforts."


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From NPR News

• National: Census Bureau Wants To Do Better At Counting Kids

• World: Mexican Women Stay Home To Protest Femicides In 'A Day Without Us'

• World: U.S. Forces In South Korea And Italy Are Told To Stay Put As Coronavirus Spreads

• World: Dow Dives More Than 2,000 Points; Steep Market Slide Triggered Trading Halt

• Politics: Trump: Payroll Tax Cuts And Hourly Worker Relief Possible In Coronavirus Response

• Business: Ethiopian Authorities Blame Boeing Equipment And Training For 737 Max Crash

• Health: Colleges And Universities Cancel Classes Amid Coronavirus Fears

• Books: 'Emphasize The Positive': James McBride On The Kindness That Shaped Him

Gabriella Paul is a reporter for WUFT. She can be reached at gabbympaul@ufl.edu.