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The top stories near you
• WUFT News: From The Front Lines Podcast. "A look at how the COVID-19 is impacting people looking to start careers, just looking for a job, and trying to run their businesses."
• Florida Storms: NOAA Says a "Busy" Hurricane Season is Likely. "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) anticipates an above-normal hurricane season this year for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico."
• Florida Politics: Universities grapple with reopening questions. "As Florida universities face a mid-June deadline to solidify plans for safely reopening campuses in the fall, some school leaders continue to wrestle with questions."
• Gainesville Sun ($): Judge denies motion to end county mask requirement. "Weeks after a Newberry business owner sued Alachua County and the governor over the county’s mandatory mask order, a judge denied the man’s request for an emergency injunction to end the policy. Justin Green, the owner of a plant nursery in Newberry, filed the lawsuit May 8."
• Suwannee Democrat: Stolen SHS graduate signs found in river. "Signs honoring Suwannee High’s Class of 2020 were placed along Pinewood Drive earlier this month."
• Gainesville Sun ($): Unauthorized fire burns tractor, 17 acres. "A brush fire that began when an unauthorized burn got out of control charred 17 acres and destroyed some farm equipment Thursday afternoon."
• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Semi crashes in Paynes Prairie, drivers urged to avoid area. "A semi-truck that veered off Interstate 75 and ended halfway into Paynes Prairie caused major delays for southbound traffic on the highway Thursday afternoon."
• WCJB: Gainesville High graduates say goodbye in a drive-thru parade. "High school seniors are saying their final goodbyes as the school year comes to a close. Drive-thrus have been a common theme throughout North Central Florida to do that with some distancing."
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Around the state today
• Miami Herald ($): Conservative Florida Supreme Court reverses itself again on death penalty legal issue. "The decision in Phillips’ case drew immediate criticism from opponents of the death penalty, who say the Florida Supreme Court has yet again thumbed its nose at the legal concept of stare decisis, or making decisions drawing from legal precedents."
• WMFE: Reopening Businesses And Monitoring Health. "The State of Florida is now in full phase one of reopening. As more businesses open up, health officials and civic leaders are watching the data closely to see what impact the reopening may have on Coronavirus cases."
• Tampa Bay Times ($): Nearly 35,000 coronavirus tests in Florida cannot be processed. "The latest mishap came when more than 1,700 completed tests were damaged in transit"
• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Doctor: Reopening schools too soon could cause 'super-spreading events' of coronavirus. "Former Rep. Jared Moskowitz has decided against a run for the now-open seat in Senate District 29, choosing instead to remain at his current job leading the Division of Emergency Management (DEM)."
• WMFE: GOAA Looks To Slim Down New Terminal Construction Project As Passenger Numbers Fall. "Orlando International Airport is considering reductions to its new terminal as financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues."
• Florida Times-Union ($): Florida teacher who sparked inclusion training continued posting homophobic memes. "An award-winning Duval Schools teacher with honors from then-governor Rick Scott refused to abide by a transgender teenager’s pronouns, prompting school-wide training and an apology to his boss. But that same week — and for the rest of the school year — he continued posting bigoted memes mocking the LGBTQ community."
• Orlando Sentinel ($): 5,000 acres of Old Florida protected from development forever. "A 5,200-acre ranch about 60 miles south of Walt Disney World that’s home to Florida panthers, black bears and bald eagles is now protected forever from development."
• Palm Beach Post ($): A teen, a teacher, a gun: 2000 school shooting staggered Palm Beach County. "Tuesday marks 20 years since a student shot and killed Barry Grunow at Lake Worth Middle School. His name lives on in scholarships and other memorials. The student, Nathaniel Brazill, remains in state custody."
From NPR News
• National: Michael Cohen Released From Prison Due To Coronavirus Concerns
• National: Georgia Authorities Arrest Third Man in Ahmaud Arbery Killing
• World: Trump Administration Confirms U.S. Is Leaving Open Skies Surveillance Treaty
• World: All-Girl Robotics Team In Afghanistan Works On Low-Cost Ventilator ... With Car Parts
• Politics: Trump Officials Ordered To Pay More Legal Costs Over Blocked Citizenship Question