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The Point, July 1, 2020: Over 100 New Florida Laws Go Into Effect Today

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The top stories near you

• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Former UF football player, FSU students indicted on federal charges. "The current and former students allegedly stole credit card account numbers from third parties and deposited money into some of their own accounts."

• The Alligator: Alachua County Sheriff's Office launches co-responder program. "The partnership with Meridian Behavioral health care will respond to crises involving mental health or substance abuse"

• Citrus County Chronicle: FL budget nixes Crystal River Riverwalk money; funds King's Bay Restoration Project, sewer study. "After investing so much on its own, Crystal River wanted Florida to help support the final piece of its Riverwalk along its downtown’s borders with King’s Bay."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Ocala to appeal fire services fee decision. "On June 19, the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal ruled the fee was an unconstitutional tax."


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Around the state today

• News Service of Florida: New budget, more than 100 laws hit the books. "More than 100 new laws will hit the books Wednesday from the 2020 legislative session, with issues ranging from expanding school vouchers to increasing fines for bear poaching."

• Fresh Take Florida: DeSantis Signs Sweeping New Environmental Law For Cleaner Water. "The Republican governor called the measure “one of the most significant pieces of substantive legislation in quite some time,” but environmentalists said it falls short of efforts necessary to protect Florida’s waters."

• Bay News 9: DeSantis Extends Moratorium on Evictions, Foreclosures Again. "Moratorium has now been extended to August 1."

• Fresh Take Florida: Florida Governor Signs Controversial Abortion Law. "Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a controversial bill Tuesday requiring underage girls to obtain consent from a parent before they can have an abortion, lauded as one of his legislative goals during the election year."

• NPR News: Green, Yellow, Orange or Red? This New Tool Shows COVID-19 Risk In Your County. "At the red level, 'jurisdictions have reached a tipping point for uncontrolled spread' according to the collaborative's guidance. At this level, 'you really need to be back at a stay-at-home [advisory]' ... Currently, two states — Arizona and Florida — are at the red level..."

• USA Today Network ($): Florida election supervisors can use auditing equipment for ballot recounts. "Florida's local election supervisors can use their independent auditing systems – which are not part of the voting system – to recount ballots under a bill signed over the weekend by Gov. Ron DeSantis."

• Florida Politics: Florida becomes first state to protect DNA from life, disability insurers. "State and federal law already prevent health insurance providers from demanding customers hand over the results of their DNA tests like 23andMe or AncestryDNA. But the new law will add those protections for the three additional types of insurance."

• WJCT: New Solar Farms Start Supplying Electricity To Beaches Energy Customers. "Two new Florida solar farms are now online, capable of producing enough energy to power 30,000 homes."

• Florida Politics: Minor League Baseball pulls plug on season, 9 Florida teams impacted. "In Florida, there are nine Minor League operations. Most are Single A franchises and those farm clubs are in cities where Major League teams hold spring training such as Jupiter and Fort Meyers among others."

• WLRN: Fort Lauderdale Cop Charged With Battery For Shoving Protester. "The battery charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail."


From NPR News

• National: NAACP Plans To Move Its Headquarters From Baltimore To Washington, D.C.

• National: Protester Knocked Down By Buffalo Police Leaves The Hospital Nearly One Month Later

• World: EU Sets New List Of Approved Travel Partners. The U.S. Isn't On It

• World: Russians Are Voting On 206 Reforms. The Most Important One Will Extend Putin's Rule

• Race: Mississippi Governor Signs Law Removing Confederate Design From State Flag

• Health: No Spitting: MLB Unveils Some New Rules Due To The Coronavirus

Jasmine is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.