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The Point, Sept. 29, 2020: How Local Counties' 2020 Census Response Rates Compare To 2010

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The top stories near you

• WUFT News: Despite COVID-19 Hurdles, Alachua County Exceeds Its 2010 Census Self-Response Rate. "This year’s census count is important for Florida because the state is set to gain one to two additional representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives during redistricting, he said. The decennial total also influences other issues, including the $46 million that was awarded to Alachua County as part of the CARES Act."

• WUFT News: ‘Difficult, Because It’s New’: Marion County Trying To Cope With Virtual Learning Problems. "Marion County has the largest enrollment among north central Florida school districts, and after a full month of classes, its list of virtual teaching challenges has become just as considerable."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): First 90 days: Marion's K-12 chief gets high marks. "School Board members on Monday gave high marks to Diane Gullett, Marion County’s first appointed superintendent of schools. Monday marked Gullett’s 90th official day on the job, one that has been challenging to say the least. Gullett has led 7,000 employees into battle against coronavirus."

• WUFT News: ‘An Isolated Incident’: Gainesville Fire Rescue Determined Cause Of School Bus Fire. "A student and driver were inside the bus when it began smoking at about 10:45 a.m in the bus loop at the front of the school, said Jackie Johnson, public information officer of the Alachua County School Board. They left the bus immediately and were not injured, she said."

• The Alligator: Arreola calls for Gators football games without fans this fall. "Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola published a letter Monday afternoon asking the UF Board of Trustees not to allow fans at home games this season."


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Around the state today

• Sun Sentinel ($): Ex-Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale knocked to the ground to end standoff, body camera footage shows. "The combustible situation — combined with presidential politics of the rapid fall of President Donald Trump’s once high-flying campaign manager, Brad Parscale — unfolded before the nation on Monday through police reports, 911 audio and police dashcam video showing officers knocking a shirtless and barefoot Parscale to the ground outside his home and detained him."

• Miami Herald ($): Donna Shalala, again, failed to disclose stock sales in violation of federal law. "The transactions were not publicly reported as required by the STOCK Act, a 2012 law that prohibits members of Congress and their employees from using private information gleaned from their official positions for personal benefit and requires them to report stock sales and purchases within 45 days. Both sales were reported more than 45 days late."

• USA Today ($): Florida schools reopened en masse, but a surge in coronavirus didn't follow, a USA TODAY analysis finds. "Although things went well early, the experts cautioned that schools could still be the source of future problems. They warned against reading the data as a reason to reopen all schools or abandon safety measures."

• WJCT: Hundreds Of First Coast Flood Insurance Policies Bought After Hurricane Irma To Expire. "After Hurricane Irma devastated the state in 2017, FEMA bought three-year group flood insurance policies (GFIP) for thousands of survivors whose homes were flooded. Those policies are set to expire this year and survivors need to buy a new flood insurance policy, or find other flood insurance, in order to remain eligible for future FEMA assistance."

• St. Augustine Record ($): St. Augustine lifts mask mandate. "St. Augustine officials announced Monday that the city is now strongly encouraging the use of face masks citywide instead of mandating them, a decision that comes from a recent executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis."

• News Service of Florida: Democrats Ask Full Court To Hear Fight Over How Florida Orders Candidates On Ballots. "Pointing to the “exceptional importance” of issues in the case, Democratic Party organizations want a full federal appeals court to take up a challenge to a Florida law that determines how candidates are listed on election ballots."

• WTSP: Lightning will host boat parade, fan rally to celebrate Stanley Cup victory. "The Tampa Bay Lightning shut out the Dallas Stars in Game 6 Monday night to win the Stanley Cup for the second time in Bolts franchise history. The Lightning will bring the Cup back to Tampa this week as the players reunite with their families for the first time since leaving for the NHL bubble on July 26 amid the coronavirus pandemic."

• FLKeysNews ($): Chickens are getting sick in Key West. The problem isn’t new, the city says. "It’s because people toss down food for them. The food mixes with bacteria in the soil and causes chickens to fall ill, according to the city."


From NPR News

• World: COVID-19 Deaths Top 1 Million Worldwide. How These 5 Nations Are Driving The Pandemic

• Politics: 6 Questions Ahead Of The 1st Trump-Biden Presidential Debate

• Politics: Philanthropies Asked To Help Fund Election Equipment Purchases

• Health: Evictions Damage Public Health, Which Is Why The CDC Has Banned Them ― For Now

• Health: More Than 600,000 Child Cases Reported Of COVID-19, But Severe Illness Is 'Rare'

• Books: David S. Reynold's Book 'Abe' Reveals New Information About Lincoln

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