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The Point, Sept. 23, 2020: Concern Rises Over Having Enough Winter Supplies For The Homeless Because Of COVID-19

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The top stories near you

• WUFT News: Local Homeless Shelters Anticipate Winter Supply Shortage Due To COVID-19. "As the temperature drops this winter, so may the availability of supplies for homeless shelters in Alachua and Marion counties."

• WUFT News: George Floyd’s Family Discusses Police Brutality, White Privilege And Hope At UF Event. "Nyle Fort, a doctoral candidate at Princeton University whose dissertation focused on how acts of public grief shape the struggle for Black freedom, moderated the event. It was sponsored by the Reitz Programming Board and the Gator Chapter of the NAACP."

• WUFT News: Composting Business Sees Rapid Growth In Gainesville. "Gainesville is one of 13 cities nationwide to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will help fund a food waste and composting pilot program."

• WUFT News: Gainesville Ride-Share Drivers Juggle Income With Safety During COVID-19. "Uber drivers in north central Florida report having fewer customers since March – and even less so than the normal seasonal lag that happens when University of Florida students return home."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Charges considered in mask dispute at Jonesville Publix"According to witness interviews and a filed offense report, Marvin Rippner walked into the Publix without a face covering — against store and county policies. When code enforcers stationed at the store followed him inside and asked him whether he had a mask, the dispute turned ugly."

• WMFE: Despite outcry, The Villages is one step closer to adding hundreds of apartments near homes. "Sumter County’s special master — its alternative to a zoning board — approved the changes late Monday night before a rowdy overflow audience. Dozens of residents opposed second-story apartments at the Lake Sumter Landing Town Square and a four-story apartment building where the Hacienda Hills Country Club once stood."


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Around the state today

• Fresh Take Florida: Florida Cabinet Holds Its First Meeting At Capitol In Seven Months. "Florida’s Cabinet of top elected leaders met face-to-face Tuesday in the Capitol for the first time in seven months, after concerns about health safety during the pandemic canceled two other in-person meetings earlier this year. Political tensions were clear."

• Florida Politics: ‘We will not go down without a fight’: Democratic leaders rail against Ron DeSantis’ protest bill. "The proposed bill, titled the 'Combatting Violence, Disorder and Looting and Law Enforcement Protection Act,' would stiffen penalties for protesters and slash state funding for subsidiary governments that defund law enforcement. The bill is set to be an early Session priority, already backed by Senate President-Designate Wilton Simpson and House Speaker-Designate Chris Sprowls."

• WFSU: DeSantis Wants Special Session For His Proposed Law To Combat Violent Protests. "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the legislature to work on his plan to crack down on what he calls violent protests during a November organizational session, but the state's top elected Democrat thinks lawmakers should spend their time on other issues."

• Sun Sentinel ($): Florida’s COVID-19 infection rate at highest level in two weeks. "Health officials on Tuesday reported the COVID-19 testing positivity rate for Florida exceeded the desired 5% level for the first time since Sept. 10."

• WLRN: Miami-Dade School Board Votes For Students To Return To In-Person Classes Starting Oct. 14. "The Miami-Dade County school board voted unanimously to reopen school buildings starting Oct. 14, pushing back Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s proposed start date for in-person classes by two weeks following last month’s disastrous implementation of remote learning."

• Bradenton Herald ($): Contaminated water is filling up Piney Point. A spill could affect all of Tampa Bay. "Ponds of contaminated water at the Piney Point reservoir near Port Manatee are quickly running out of capacity and could pose a threat to Tampa Bay’s water quality."

• WUSF: Proposed Toll Road Would Harm Florida Panthers, Report Says. "It says the development of a proposed toll road to connect Southwest and Central Florida would fragment and create barriers for panther movement and potentially increase road kill mortality rates. The findings will be presented to the Southwest-Central Florida Connector Task Force meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m."

• Pensacola News Journal ($): Skanska confirms 22 barges washed ashore during Hurricane Sally, 12 onto private property. "'Each barge is a unique recovery operation,' the company said in a statement. 'We are working with engineers and marine recovery experts to determine how to safely remove each barge while minimizing further disruption to both the homeowner and their neighbors.'"

• Orlando Sentinel ($): Stonewall Jackson renamed Roberto Clemente Middle School. "The middle school — opened 55 years ago as a whites-only school but now with a majority Hispanic student population — was the only campus in Central Florida still named for a Confederate general."


From NPR News

• World: In U.N. Speech, Trump Blasts China And WHO, Blaming Them For Spread Of COVID-19

• World: 'This Is The Moment When We Must Act': U.K. Government Imposes New Coronavirus Rules

• Business: Why It's So Hard To Buy A New Refrigerator These Days

• Politics: With Romney's Support, GOP Likely Has Votes To Move Ahead With Ginsburg's Replacement

• Health: Why Coronavirus Vaccine Trials Need Large Numbers Of Volunteers

• National: Louisville Mayor Declares State Of Emergency Ahead of Breonna Taylor Announcement

• National: NFL Hits 3 Coaches And Teams With Large Fines For Not Wearing Face Masks

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