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Today's top Florida stories

• USA Today Network ($): Despite pandemic, Florida sees impressive voter turnout for primary. "With more than 28% of Florida voters casting ballots, Tuesday’s pandemic-shaded elections drew the biggest state primary turnout in 18 years – setting the stage for what could be another record mark in November."

• WCJB: Lake City nurse loses battle with COVID-19. "A 27-year-old Lake City nurse has lost his battle with COVID-19 after a weeks-long battle. James White was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus weeks ago."

• WESH Orlando: Hearing for Florida Education Association continues Thursday. "A hearing on a lawsuit filed by the statewide teachers union Florida Education Association ended Wednesday with the judge unsure whether the matter can be resolved before Orange County Public Schools reopens Friday."

• New York Times ($): ‘All In, All the Time’: Reopening Florida Schools Is Likened to Military Operation. "In Martin County on Florida’s Treasure Coast, which prompted Mr. DeSantis’s Navy SEAL analogy, 310 students have been told to quarantine for 14 days since classes reopened on Aug. 11, with people in six schools developing coronavirus symptoms."

• WMFE: DeSantis: Don’t Neglect Mental Health During Pandemic. "Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling on Floridians to take care of their mental health as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause fear and isolation."

• Florida Politics: Reopening bars not a near-term priority for Ron DeSantis. "DeSantis noted that the three South Florida counties still in Phase 1 reopening have not had bars open, yet have had the most persistent outbreaks, only quelling recently. The Governor noted that he is more likely to move them into Phase 2 before allowing bars to reopen."

• Bay News 9: Citrus County Health Department Reminds Parents of School Vaccinations. "'It is mandated by statute that children be fully vaccinated before they enter school,' (Citrus County Director of Nursing Janora) Wade mentioned. 'In Citrus County, that means whether they attend brick and mortar school or attend school virtually.'"

• FLKeysNews: Would you pay a toll to enter the Keys? Money needed to fight sea level rise, leaders say. "(Monroe County) Commissioners also need to find out exactly what they can spend the toll revenue on, outside of highway maintenance and reconstruction. One idea they have: using the money to battle the impacts of sea level rise in the Keys."

• Associated Press: Court rules secret videos can't be used in Patriots owner Robert Kraft's massage parlor case. "A Florida appeals court ruled Wednesday that police violated the rights of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others when they secretly video recorded them paying for massage parlor sex acts, barring the tapes' use at trial and dealing a potentially deadly blow to their prosecution."

• WPLG: Waterspout whipped onshore as tornado, downing trees and spooking South Florida residents. "A massive waterspout rose up out of the sea and briefly came onshore as a tornado Wednesday, snapping trees in half and causing some anxious moments for residents on both sides of the Miami-Dade/Broward border."

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From NPR News

• Business: 1 In 5 Child Care Jobs Were Lost Since Pandemic Started. Women Are Affected Most

• World: Russian Opposition Leader In Hospital After Suspected Poisoning

• World: Spain, France And Germany Report Most Coronavirus Cases Since Their Lockdowns

• Health: How Feds Decide On Remdesivir Shipments To States Remains Mysterious

• Health: How To Tell A Real COVID-19 Contact Tracer's Call From A Scammer's

• Health: Will Flu Be A Risk This Fall? Doctors Insist People Should Get The Flu Shot Anyway

• National: Lightning-Strike Fires In California Push Resources To The Limit

• Politics: 4 Takeaways from Night 3 Of The Democratic National Convention

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.