The Point

The Point, March 11, 2020: Reactions Vary To UF's Pending Move To Online Classes During Coronavirus Scare

WUFT | By Jasmine Dahlby

Published March 11, 2020 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The top stories near you

• WUFT News: UF Students, Faculty And Staff Express Mixed Reactions As Coronavirus Threatens Probability Of In-Person Classes. "As University of Florida students, faculty and staff returned to campus this week ready to wrap up their spring semesters, the probability that in-person classes will take place up until graduation in May remained up in the air, as fears of the coronavirus spread across the nation."

• The Alligator: At least one person is being monitored for coronavirus in Alachua County; officials await other tests results. "While there are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Alachua County, county health officials say that at least one person is being monitored or under investigation for the virus. An unknown number of lab tests are still pending."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Ocala cruise ship passenger details self-quarantine. "James Hilty got back from a cruise to Mexico a week ago, then he started coughing. Now he’s hoping for a coronavirus test."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Nestle water pumping plan not in public interest, foes say. "Speakers said approval to allow up to 1.152 million gallons a day to be pumped to the Nestle Waters bottling plant would harm the Santa Fe River system, reduce water for public use and is not in the public interest."

• WUFT News: What You Need To Know About Gainesville’s 2020 City Election. "Gainesville voters will narrow eight candidates to as many as three victors next Tuesday. Here's everything you need to know for the upcoming 2020 Gainesville City elections."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Alachua County voting sites ready with cleaning wipes, sanitizer. "Alachua County voting sites for the March 17 election are equipped with cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

• Gainesville Sun ($): County OKs whistleblower rules. "The Alachua County Commission signed off on a new policy Tuesday for its employees to report “instances of illegality, mismanagement, malfeasance, waste or fraud” committed by their peers or managers."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Mother waiting for transplant gets car from Jenkins. "Ocala dealership donates car to deserving family chosen by Community With A Heart."

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Around the state today

• Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times ($): Feds say Florida has ‘community spread’ of coronavirus. Florida disagrees. "In Florida, the majority of the 15 people in the state who have tested positive for coronavirus traveled overseas. But four patients in Broward and a Manatee County man each have no history of visiting places where there have been outbreaks of coronavirus internationally, according to the Florida Department of Health."

• WFSU: Coronavirus Impact On Economy Has Lawmakers Reevaluating Budget Priorities. "Florida lawmakers are reexamining their budget as fears of Coronavirus begin to impact the state’s tourism-driven economy. The state’s top legislative leaders want to funnel more money into the state’s rainy day fund in case those worries dampen revenues."

• WMFE: Coronavirus’ Price Tag To Central Florida’s Economy: $180M So Far. "That’s just from cancellations of events at the convention center, where events like the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference were shut down because of fears from COVID-19."

• WMFE: AdventHealth Opens Coronavirus Call Line. "AdventHealth launched a coronavirus hotline today for people with questions about the virus. The service is available 24 hours a day seven days a week at 1-877-VIRUSHQ and is free to AdventHealth patients and non-patients alike."

• Florida Keys News ($): Were you just scammed in the coronavirus crisis? Report price-gouging on this new hotline. "Disasters and emergencies are a breeding ground for scammers trying to make a quick buck. Following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declaration of a state of emergency, the state’s attorney general has activated a state Price Gouging Hotline."

• WJCT: Bill To Compensate Wrongfully Convicted Jacksonville Man Headed To Governor’s Desk. "The Florida House unanimously approved giving a Jacksonville man $2.15 million in reparations on Tuesday, after he served 43 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. Last week, the State Senate unanimously passed an identical bill that would give reparations to Clifford Williams."

• Florida Pheonix: Lawmakers adopt bill blocking local sunscreen bans. "The Florida House voted Tuesday to prevent local governments from banning certain sunscreen ingredients that are believed to harm coral reefs and are under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."

• Sun Sentinel ($): Fort Lauderdale says rivers are now safe for water-related activities. "The city of Fort Lauderdale lifted the last swimming advisory on Tuesday, which had been in place in the Middle River since a 48-inch sewer main broke in George English Park on Jan. 30."

• WMFE: To Turtles, Ocean Plastic Smells Like Food, Study Finds. "The reason turtles are drawn to ocean plastic has been a mystery. One theory has been that the turtles mistake plastic like plastic bags for jellyfish. The study suggests instead that the plastic smell stimulates foraging behaviors in the turtles. "

• WLRN: Miami Beach Lost Half Its Sewage Capacity. Age Was Partly To Blame. "Miami Beach joined the ranks of South Florida cities battling aging sewer systems when three sewer line breaks knocked out half the city’s sewer capacity last week, dumping nearly 1.4 million gallons of raw sewage into Biscayne Bay."

• Pensacola News Journal ($): Retired PGA golf pro sets his sights on helping disabled veterans live their dream. "PGA Hope Pensacola aims to teach disabled veterans the game of golf as a tool to heal from physical and emotional injury."