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The Point, Sept. 11, 2020: Battle Continues Over Florida Governor's Nominee For State Supreme Court

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The top stories near you

• WUFT News: Gainesville City Commission Finalizes Plans To Allow Open Containers On City Property. "The Gainesville City Commission on Thursday narrowly approved an ordinance that would temporarily lift restrictions on the consumption of open containers of alcohol on city property, including rights-of-way like sidewalks. The 4-3 vote in favor of the move was a response to the reopening of the University of Florida, with an influx of students back on campus and in the bars around campus and downtown."

• WUFT News: Anita Hill Confronts Pandemic, #MeToo, Women’s Right To Vote In Virtual UF Event. "Debra Walker King, a UF English professor and an ordained minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, moderated the 45-minute conversation with Hill. More than 350 people witnessed the event, according to one of the organizers."

• WJCT: Questions Remain As Putnam County Forms Confederate Statue Relocation Committee. "The Putnam County Commission formed its 11-person citizen’s committee during its Tuesday afternoon workshop. The committee is tasked with forming recommendations on where to move the controversial Confederate statue in front of the Putnam County Courthouse."

• WUFT News: Pandemic Brings Changes In Gainesville’s Ride-Hailing Services. "As a result of COVID-19, there are fewer ride-hailing service providers on the road, which is causing a delay for users."

• WTSP: The deadlines you need to know to vote in Florida. "To vote in Florida you must register by 5 p.m. on October 5, 2020. The state requires you register 29 days before an election."

• WUFT News: Santa Fe High School Makes Adjustments To Deal With COVID-19 Threat. "According to Principal Dr. Timothy Wright, Santa Fe High School has the largest number of students of any county public school returning to the campus’s brick and mortar classrooms, with another 274 students attending school online through the Digital Academy."

• Alachua County Today: School Lunch Program Changes Gears, Innovates Meal Delivery in New School Year. "Starting Sept. 1, SBAC Food and Nutrition Services started meal distribution for Digital Academy Students that can be picked up at various locations countywide in the schools. Families of Digital Academy students can pick up meals Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-1 at the 17 locations."

• WUFT News: Alachua County Library Millage Rate Drops For 2020-21 Fiscal Year. "The Alachua County Library District approved a new millage rate on Wednesday night during a public budget hearing. The approved rate will fund operating costs for the libraries in Alachua County, which remain largely closed for public access. Curbside service for book pickup and return has been available since May."

• WUFT News: Putnam County Libraries Set To Reopen With Limited Hours. "For the first time in nearly six months, Putnam County’s library branches will reopen to the public on Monday at 10 a.m."

• News Service of Florida: University of Florida study to reveal health effects for retired NFL players. "The study is based on phone interviews with 90 former NFL athletes who had participated in a 2010 study – also conducted by the university’s College of Public Health and Health Professions – on opioid use."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Silver linings gleam in Gainesville's music scene for fall. "Starting in October, Heartwood also plans to host a new farmers market in Gainesville – which also will figure into the venue’s plan to again feature live music in an outdoor setting. Beginning Oct. 1, the farmers market will mark a collaboration with Swallowtail Farms and will be held outside Heartwood’s doors on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m."

• Thank you to the hundreds of readers who have so far filled out our survey about how our journalism can better serve you. If you didn't yet get to voice your opinions, here's one more chance. We also welcome your curiosity-driven story idea suggestions for WUFT's Untold Florida project.


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Around the state today

• Fresh Take Florida: Florida Supreme Court Threatens Governor’s Appointment Of New Black Justice. "The case represents a rare collision between DeSantis, a Republican, and the already conservative court, in a fight over one of its own prospective members. The governor’s appointment of Renatha Francis, a former circuit judge in Palm Beach County, was challenged by Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando. The case ensnared all three branches of government over the appointment."

• Associated Press: Florida Expects $5.4B Revenue Shortfall Over Next 2 Years. "That includes a $3.4 billion shortfall for the fiscal year that began July 1 and $2 billion for the following fiscal year."

• WUSF: Florida Records More than 200 COVID Deaths For The Second Straight Day. "It's the highest single-day toll since August 18, when 219 deaths were reported."

• News Service of Florida: Drinking In Florida Bars And Breweries Returns Next Week. "Bars in all but Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties were allowed to start serving indoors again in early June. But the situation got out of hand as photos of numerous packed establishments not following safety guidelines went out over social media, spurring (Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey) Beshears to re-impose the onsite consumption ban June 26."

• WFSU: State Attorney Says Stand Your Ground Clears Counter-Protester Who Raised Gun At Protesters. "Sixteen people who marched toward the Florida Capitol last weekend were arrested and charged after protesters spilled into the street and police say they were impeding traffic."

• WFSU: City of Tallahassee Removes Body Cam Videos Following Outcry From Victim's Family. "The city’s decision to publish the video, which was from a different crime scene, has also raised questions about whether it violates victim privacy rights under both state law and the Florida Constitution."

• Good Morning America: Former rising Democratic star speaks out. "Andrew Gillum, the first Black nominee in a major party to run for governor in Florida, speaks to Tamron Hall in an exclusive interview after police found him inebriated in a Miami hotel."

• Orlando Weekly: Airbnb cracks down on Florida 'party houses' in Orange County and statewide. "The properties in question were scattered across Florida, in Alachua, Broward, Duval, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, Orange, Palm Beach, St. Johns and Walton."

• WJCT: Fla. Removing Confederate Monuments, Symbols Faster Than Almost Any Other State. "Florida has removed 30% of its confederate monuments and symbols over the past few years, including 11 since Floyd’s death, with 57 still remaining."

• WLRN: From The Confederacy To One Human Family: Key West May Rededicate Century-Old Monument. "Key West remained in Union hands throughout the Civil War, despite Florida being part of the Confederacy. But many locals sympathized with the Confederate cause."

• Florida Storms: Tropical Wave Likely to Soak Florida's Gulf Coast This Weekend. "A tropical storm or hurricane is not expected to threaten Florida this weekend. However, an abundance of tropical moisture from a nearby tropical wave could lead to repeating downpours and possible flooding in portions of the state."


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• Politics: Senate Democrats Block GOP's $300 Billion Pandemic Relief Bill

• Politics: Trump Says His Misleading Coronavirus Comments Were Meant To Show 'Strength'

• Books: Controversy Around Breaking News In Books

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