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The Point, Oct. 27, 2021: Redistricting Gainesville's election boundaries now involves the public

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Today's top Florida stories

• WUFT News: You can now help redistrict the city of Gainesville. "Officials are starting the redistricting process after the 2020 Census, and for the first time, any resident can join. The City of Gainesville is encouraging people to propose new district lines using a map-drawing tool."

• Florida Politics: Surgeon General responds to masking dust-up: ‘I can’t do that when half of my face is covered.’ "'Having a conversation with someone while wearing a mask is not something I find productive, especially when other options exist,' (Joseph) Ladapo wrote. 'It is important to me to communicate clearly and effectively with people. I can’t do that when half of my face is covered.'"

• Florida Storms: Strong Storms Possible Thursday As Front Sweeps Through Florida. "Clusters of thunderstorms are likely to approach the Nature Coast and Sun Coast Thursday morning. Damaging winds are the greatest hazard, but embedded tornadoes and waterspouts cannot be ruled out along the line, especially where smaller-scale coastal winds could enhance low-level rotation. Clusters of showers and thunderstorms are then forecast to approach Central Florida Thursday afternoon, moving into cities such as Orlando and Melbourne."

• News Service of Florida: Florida finds uncommon allies in court fight over law raising age to buy rifles, shotguns. "Federal law has long barred sales of handguns to people under 21. But the Florida law went further by preventing the sale of rifles, shotguns and other long guns to people ages 18 to 20."

• CBS Miami: ‘We Do Not Build Over Dead Souls,’ Surfside Families Continue To Push For Memorial. "Victims’ families are continuing their push for a memorial where Champlain Towers South once stood. At a Tuesday press conference, families shared their frustration, concerned there is not enough being done to preserve the rubble, which they worry, could delay the investigation further."

• WFTS-Tampa: Fla. bill would allow cities, counties to install speed detection cameras in school zones. "According to the legislation, if a driver goes ten miles per hour or more over the speed limit within an hour before school, while school’s in session, or within the after a school dismisses, the camera would record video or photo proof of the violation and capture the driver’s plate number."

• WMFE: Indian River Lagoon turtles are covered with tumors. New research points to water quality. "The Florida Atlantic University researchers say the virus behind the tumors has been around for more than 300 million years but became pandemic only within the last century."

• Fresh Take Florida: University of Florida stunt lands YouTube prankster in legal trouble. "Prosecutors have filed a felony charge against an aspiring YouTube celebrity over a prank video showing him harassing University of Florida students and faculty while posing as a campus security guard. Tanner Austin Williams, 27, of Palm Coast, Florida, was charged this week in Alachua County Circuit Court with falsely impersonating an officer, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if he were convicted."


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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