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The top stories near you

• Fresh Take Florida: New Way Of Living: Florida College Students Reflect On Anniversary Of Pandemic Campus Shutdown. "One year ago, the State University System of Florida began  a two-week period of remote learning to curb the spread of COVID-19. Within a week, Gov. DeSantis announced that  four students at the University of Florida had tested positive for the virus, and recommended to the state’s Board of Governors that state universities continue remote learning through the remainder of the semester."

• Florida Politics: Dennis Baxley’s controversial Bright Futures bill back on agenda after being delayed. "The proposal (SB 86) is slated to be heard in its first committee meeting — the Senate Education Committee — this upcoming Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Ocala Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley, would cut scholarships for Bright Future recipients who enroll in degree programs that don’t 'lead directly to employment.'"

• WUFT News: Familiar Faces Qualify For Newberry Elections. "The current mayor, Jordan Marlowe, will be re-elected for his third consecutive term, as no one else entered the race against him. The seat for City Commission Group 4 will be taken by the incumbent commissioner, Tim Marden, or his challenger, Joy Glanzer."

• WUFT News: Donors Raise Over $5,000 For New Scott Baird Memorial. "The memorial dedicated to Gainesville police officer Scott Baird was destroyed, but a week later, it’s on its way back. Baird was killed just over 20 years ago while trying to move a batting cage out of the road near Gainesville High School. A passing car hit the cage, which hit and fatally injured him."

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Around the state today

• Fresh Take Florida: Facebook Streamers, Lectern Stealers: These Floridians Are Facing Charges In Capitol Siege. "...weeks later, twenty-three Floridians have been charged in the Jan. 6 raid on the Capitol, representing nearly one-in-10 of the total. That puts the state behind only Texas, where more of its residents were arrested."

• NPR News: Some Senators Want Permanent Daylight Saving Time. "Florida's state legislature passed the Sunshine Protection Act in 2018 hoping to move into DST. But like the 14 other states that have enacted legislation or passed a resolution in the last four years to make DST permanent, none can take effect without an act of the U.S. Congress."

• WUSF: Nearly 9,000 New Coronavirus Cases Reported in Florida Over The Weekend. "A total of 8,943 new cases were reported in Florida over the weekend, as were 116 new deaths related to COVID-19. The weekend reports reflect a continuing decline in the number of new cases."

• Florida Politics: House committee moves forward with joint resolution to stop paying school board members. "Fleming Island Rep. Sam Garrison wants to put the salary of school board members on the ballot in the next General Election, turning the elected positions from paid to volunteer."

• NBC Miami: Florida Launches New Email System for Homebound Seniors to Receive Covid Vaccine. "Seniors will be able to sign up to have the vaccine come to them by emailing a request to HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com."

• New York Times ($): ‘I’d Much Rather Be in Florida.’ "For better or worse, Florida’s experiment in returning to life-as-it-used-to-be offers a glimpse of what many states are likely to face in the weeks ahead, as they move into the next phase of the pandemic — the part where it starts to be over."

• CBS Miami: ‘Not Worth The Revenue’: Miami Beach Dan Gelber Says Rowdy Spring Breakers Can Take Their Money Elsewhere. "The spring break crowds on South Beach are much larger this year than last year, which was the start of the pandemic. Now, officials are worried the increased visitors will worsen the spread of the virus."

• WFSU: Corcoran: Decisions On Use Of State Exams Will Be 'Fair And Just.' "Students will take the state’s standardized tests this year, but what education leaders do with the results is still up in the air. This school year has seen fewer students taking classes in person and policymakers are discussing how to address testing, and the results, this year."

• Miami Herald ($): Surprise pick: Houston Chief Art Acevedo, a national figure, will lead Miami police. "Miami’s next police chief is a surprise pick that few, if any, saw coming — Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, leader of the fourth largest police department in the country and a man who forged a national profile the past year marching with police reform protesters after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis."

From NPR News

• National: For Vaccinated Americans, Nothing Feels As Good As Hugging A Loved One Again

• Race: Hundreds Gather To Demand Justice For Breonna Taylor 1 Year After Her Death

• Race: Black Farmers Have Long Faced Discrimination. New Aid Aims To Right Past Wrongs

• Politics: How Biden's Plan Could Help Reshape The Finances Of American Families

• Health: Coronavirus FAQs: Can I Drink Between Vaccine Doses? What Is 'Vaccine Efficacy'?

• Health: Planning A Spring Break? These 5 Tips Can Help Minimize Risk

• Health: Rural Americans, Who Doubted The Pandemic, Now Hesitant To Get Vaccinated

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.