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The Point, Nov. 4, 2021: Florida needs a new election crimes police force, its governor says

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The stories near you

• WCJB: ‘No child should have to die because we are on the Eastside of town’: Parents, city leader want safety measures on E University Ave after 4-year-old dies. "Parents and city leaders are expecting more pedestrian safety measures on East University Ave. after the death of a 4-year-old Dylan Roberts."

• WMFE: 10-year-old boy killed by car while walking to school bus stop in Marion County. "A 10-year-old Marion County public school student was struck by a car and killed early Wednesday morning as he walked to a bus stop. Ja’siah Williams was in the fifth grade at Reddick-Collier Elementary."

• Gainesville Sun ($): University of Florida professor told not to participate as expert witness testified anyway. "When the University of Florida disapproved Dr. Jeffrey Goldhagen's requests over the past three months to participate in three lawsuits about the state's ban on mask mandates, the pediatrician and public health expert was not surprised."

• WUFT News: Meet Alfred Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford and a Gainesville resident. "The idea of working for the family company never appealed to Alfred Ford as he was growing up, even though members of the family, such as his grandfather, Edsel Ford, gave their lives to the business."

• Citrus County Chronicle ($): Rain is gone, flooding persists. "After two months of incessant rains that caused flooding throughout the county, the dry season is officially here and the latest rainfall and lake level report from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) reflects that. But in some areas, residents are still dealing with flooded backyards."


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Around the state

• Politico: DeSantis calls for new Florida police force to go after election crimes. "The Republican governor’s push comes just months after he successfully got state legislators to enact a controversial new voting law that adds new restrictions on the collection of mail-in ballots including a clampdown on when and where drop boxes could be located. It also comes as some Republicans in the state, echoing former President Donald Trump’s baseless election fraud claims, are pushing for an audit of the 2020 election over DeSantis’ objections."

• News Service of Florida: Florida is seeking an injunction to block Biden's mandate that federal workers be vaccinated. "Saying the state is trying to prevent 'immediate irreparable harm,' Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office is seeking a preliminary injunction to block Biden administration efforts to require employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19."

• News4Jax: Protesters at Capitol demand vaccine mandate ban. "Several hundred Floridians rallied at the state’s Capitol against vaccine mandates Wednesday. The protesters want the Legislature to ban all vaccine mandates both public and private, but Republicans have expressed hesitations about interfering with private employers."

• WFLA-Tampa: Florida’s digital drivers license app launches, but not fully online yet. "Florida has been working on creating a digital driver’s license since 2014 but has been hampered by a lack of national standards until now. A new secure app became available Wednesday morning, but won’t be fully turned on until mid-November."

• WESH-Orlando: Markeith Loyd found guilty of first-degree murder in shooting death of Lt. Debra Clayton. "He was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and carjacking. This sets up a death penalty sentencing hearing for Loyd."

• Florida Storms: Significant coastal flooding expected in Northeast Florida this weekend. "Forecasters at the National Weather Service say that a storm system will develop of the Atlantic Coast over the next few days, creating gusty winds and increasing tide levels. As a result, a Coastal Flood Watch has been issued for portions of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Flagler, and Putnam counties from Thursday morning until Sunday morning."

• WFTS-Tampa Bay: Judge denies Carole Baskin's request to stop release of Tiger King 2. "Baskin, who criticized the first documentary released last year as portraying her wildlife sanctuary in a negative light and questioned whether she was involved in the disappearance of her former husband Don Lewis, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Monday asking for an injunction to prevent the release of the sequel."


From NPR News

• National: A nearly all-white jury will hear evidence in the Ahmaud Arbery case

• Health: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who said he was 'immunized,' reportedly has COVID

• Business: Zillow will stop buying and renovating homes and cut 25% of its workforce

• Politics: A bad omen for Democrats and 4 other election night takeaways

• Politics: In elections across the country, candidates of color made history Tuesday night

• Science: A 15-year-old girl invented a solar ironing cart that's winning global respect

• Science: The biggest whales can eat the equivalent of 80,000 Big Macs in one day

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