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The Point, March 30, 2020: How Schools Are Keeping The Free Meals Moving During Coronavirus Shutdown

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Today's top Florida stories

• WUFT News: From The Front Lines Podcast. "Alachua County Public Schools Director of Food and Nutrition Services Maria Eunice talks about what the school system is doing to provide free meals to students for what could be an indefinite amount of time." (Subscribe here for free.)

• Florida Phoenix: In one month’s time: FL is on the cusp of 5,000 COVID-19 infections; death toll at 60. "This Sunday marks a full month of the coronavirus in Florida, an event that changed the way we live indefinitely."

• The Alligator: Alachua County COVID-19 cases reach 71; UF reports one more case. "The new confirmed cases, all Florida residents, are a 45-year-old female, a 28-year-old male and a 22-year-old female, according to the Florida Department of Health’s daily report. None of the cases has any travel details listed."

• Florida Politics: Georgia border I-95 coronavirus checkpoint now active. "The new checkpoint, designed to intercept drivers headed to Florida from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, is now at the Georgia border on I-95."

• Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Medical cannabis access an ‘essential service’ — sort of. "With nearly 328,000 Floridians officially registered as medical marijuana patients, the coronavirus has forced the state’s hand into declaring cannabis an essential component of health care."

• WUSF: Tampa Church Gathers Despite Order. "Hundreds of worshipers attended services at a Tampa church on Sunday, in direct violation of the Hillsborough County's stay-at-home order."

• Florida Phoenix: FL workers struggle to claim unemployment benefits, even as feds increase aid during COVID-19 crisis. "(Gov. Ron) DeSantis said the sheer volume of the unemployed workers — which has already exceeded the peak demand reached during the Great Recession — poses a major challenge for the state’s unemployment benefits system."

• WUSF: Florida 3D Printers Making Face Shields For Hospitals, Coronavirus Testing Facilities. "A week ago, out-of-work Walt Disney World seamstress and Orlando resident Cynthia Kirkland turned her 3D printer toward making face shields out of the plastic sheeting commonly seen in overhead projectors in schools, and 3D-printed face bands – all of which are easily cleaned in a bleach bath."


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From NPR News

• Health: Life Inside An Emergency Room During The Coronavirus Crisis

• Health: What Is The Cost Of COVID-19 Treatment?

• Politics: Trump: U.S. Death Rates Likely To Peak In 2 Weeks

• National: New York's Coronavirus Death Toll Reaches 1,000

• National: How Is The Justice System Responding To COVID-19's Spread?

• Business: Facebook Pledges $100 Million To Aid News Outlets Hit Hard By Pandemic

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