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The Point, Feb. 8, 2021: Special Report: Forever In Florida?

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The top stories near you

• WUFT News: Newberry Honors Lynching Victims With Soil Collection Ceremony. "Empty jars labeled with each victim’s name were laid out on a table under an oak tree that hovered over the gathering at Lynch Hammock, the place where the victims were hung. At the end of the table was a jar labeled 'unknown,' representing all the as-yet-unidentified victims of lynching in Alachua County."

• WUFT News: A Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Could Be Coming to Gainesville. "(Gainesville Mayor Lauren) Poe said he was inspired after seeing the work of former Stockton, California, Mayor Michael Tubbs, who founded the Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration in 2017. This was the first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot in the country, providing 125 Stockton residents with $500 per month for 24 months. Final payments were distributed Jan. 15."

• WUFT News: Suwannee River Management To Make Decision On Ginnie Springs Bottling Permit. "Seven Springs, a company contracted by multinational corporation Nestlé, will soon know if it will be granted a permit to take nearly one million gallons of water a day from Ginnie Springs in Florida. A special meeting has been scheduled by the Suwannee River Management District Board to make a decision."

• WUFT News: They’re Essential To Fighting The Pandemic, But Disposable Face Masks Also Pose A Threat to Alachua’s Wildlife. "Alachua County’s waterways are being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in their own way, as personal protective equipment finds its way into some of the county’s environmental treasure spots. Face masks, disposable gloves and single-use plastics are essentials tools in the fight against COVID-19, but they’re not always disposed of properly."

• WUFT News: UF Students Share Their Experiences Returning To Campus During A Pandemic. "Six University of Florida students share their thoughts and experiences of returning to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic."

• WUFT News: Former UF Student Chris Herman Sets Sights On Tokyo Paralympics. "Chris Herman graduated from the University of Florida in the spring of 2020 with one goal: qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics."


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Around the state today

• A WUFT News Special Report: Forever in Florida? The chemical family known as PFAS, ubiquitous in everything from waterproof fabrics to nonstick pans, is also becoming common in water, soil, land—and our bodies. These “forever chemicals” are linked to serious illnesses including cancer. But neither the federal government nor Florida has regulated them closely. Our four-part series opens today with a look at what we know about PFAS in Florida.

• WSVN Miami: 18 fire rescue departments work to vaccinate Holocaust survivors in their South Florida homes. "By Tuesday, 900 survivors are set to have their first doses."

• NPR News: An Update On Florida's COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Progress. "NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro asks AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson about Florida's vaccine rollout and how he's advising seniors to sign up."

• Bradenton Herald ($): How does Manatee County pick who gets a COVID-19 vaccine? It is entirely random. "Some residents have questioned whether the process is really random, and suggest it is the reason few minority residents are getting vaccinated."

• News Service of Florida: Major Shakeup For Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Administration. "Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration underwent a major shake-up on Friday, with an announcement of the resignation of the secretary of the Department of Children and Families and the shuffling of two other top officials to lead DCF and the Agency for Health Care Administration."

• Spectrum News: Archaeologists Uncover More Artifacts at North Greenwood Cemetery. "Crews are continuing excavation work on the North Greenwood Cemetery in Clearwater. During the process of identifying lost graves from the African-American cemetery, they’re finding new artifacts and data almost every day."

• Florida Politics: During ‘Fox and Friends’ appearance, Ron DeSantis keeps door open on 2024 presidential run. "When host Will Cain asked DeSantis if he was going to take the 2024 plunge, the Governor laughed theatrically. 'We’ve got a great Governor’s election in 2022, which will be very important for our state and quite frankly I think, uh, you know, it gives us the ability to keep the momentum going, so that’s what we’re focused on.' When asked if that was a no, the Governor demurred."

• Sarasota Herald-Tribune ($): Florida GOP leaders strive to make silenced President Trump feel right at home. "From talk of naming a highway after President Donald Trump to pushing that he regain access to social media platforms banning him, Florida Republicans have been rolling out the red carpet for the returned, not-so-native son impeached twice by Congress."

• News4Jax: Jacksonville takes first step to move city’s homeless into hotels. "Friday morning in an open field just west of downtown, dozens of Jacksonville’s homeless took what could be the first step in finding a permanent home."

• WMFE: CAIR-Florida’s Executive Director Resigns After Wife Sues For Domestic Violence Injunction. "The head of a prominent Muslim civil rights advocacy organization has resigned after allegations of domestic violence surfaced."

• NPR News: Tom Brady Leads Tampa Bay Buccaneers To Super Bowl Win Over Kansas City Chiefs 31-9. "Tom Brady has done it yet again. The quarterback won his record seventh Super Bowl and the first with his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady and the Bucs beat the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in what was a home game for the Bucs, played in Tampa, Fla."


From NPR News

• Health: Should Schools Reopen If Teachers Aren't Yet Vaccinated? CDC Will Soon Weigh In

• Health: Coronavirus FAQ: I'm Afraid Of Needles. Does The COVID-19 Vaccine Hurt?

• Health: White House Is Lining Up 6 More Contracts To Boost At-Home Coronavirus Tests

• Health: Across The South COVID-19 Vaccine Sites Missing From Black And Hispanic Neighborhoods

• Health: Pentagon Will Deploy Active Duty Troops To Support COVID-19 Vaccination Sites

• Business: Fox News Media Cancels 'Lou Dobbs Tonight'

• National: Acting Capitol Police Chief Promises 'Significant' Changes Following Deadly Riot

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