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Today’s top Florida stories

• WJCT/Grist: ADAPT: A Florida City Wanted To Move Away From Fossil Fuels. The State Made Sure It Couldn’t. “In January, Tampa was set to become the 12th city in Florida to set a climate goal to transition to 100% clean energy. But that was before the natural gas industry and Republican state lawmakers got involved.”

• WUSF: DeSantis Slams Updated CDC Guidance As State Reports 16K Cases In A Day. “DeSantis joined fellow Republicans at the conference to denounce lockdowns, restrictions and other mandates.”

• The Gainesville Sun ($): Tropics watch: Atlantic basin remains quiet, with no activity forecast over next 5 days. “Experts warn the quiet won’t last, as we enter the most active months of hurricane season.  The peak of the season runs from mid-August to late October, said the Hurricane Center.”

• Florida Today ($): Disney World announces guests must mask up indoors, on transportation starting July 30. “The company announced Wednesday night that guests ages 2 and older will have to don face coverings for all indoor attractions and on Disney transportation. Face masks will remain optional outdoors.”

• Florida Storms: A Heat Wave is Starting Today in the Florida Panhandle. “Numbers this high have been proven to make heat-related illnesses more likely, especially in those who are more sensitive to the heat such as the elderly or young children.”

• Panama City News Herald($): Panama City’s historic Black Masonic lodge has 8 days to avoid demolition. The two-story building on 712 Hamilton Ave. was ordered by a magistrate to be demolished after no repairs following severe damage from Hurricane Michael caused the roof to cave in and the gable to become unstable. Initially, lodge members were charged with securing repairs, then the demolition. However, after the magistrate noticed nothing was being done in terms of work, the city took over the demolition. 

• Orlando Sentinel($): Florida test scores fall, with the ‘COVID slide,’ steepest in math, FSA data shows. “Florida students struggled more on the state’s standardized tests this spring compared to counterparts tested before the pandemic struck, with scores dropping most sharply in math, according to data posted online Thursday by the Florida Department of Education.”

• Tampa Bay Times($): U.S. Capitol Police plan to open a Tampa office. Why? “It’s the first step toward geographic expansion for the notoriously opaque agency, which has been in turmoil since the Jan. 6 insurrection.”

• TCPalm($): Indian River County Historical Society debuts local documentary in August on women’s right to vote. “According to Indian River County Historian Ruth Stanbridge, women in the late 19th century worked for broad-based economic and political equality and social reforms, and they wanted the right to vote.

• WMFE: In Milestone For Ailing Everglades, Kissimmee River Restoration Is Complete. “Water managers will gather Thursday to celebrate the milestone in the massive effort to restore the Everglades.” 

From NPR News

• Health: The Federal Government Is Making HIV Prevention Treatment Free — But There’s A Catch

• Politics: All But 5% Of U.S. Capitol Sculptures Are Of Men. Some Senators Want To Change That

• National: Biden Hopes To Boost COVID Vaccination Rates By Focusing On Federal Workers

• Politics: Senators Worked Together To Advance The Infrastructure Agreement