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Today's top Florida stories
• Fresh Take Florida: US appeals court reconsiders Florida transgender rights case. "The case challenged a decision by the St. Johns County School Board in St. Augustine not to allow Adams to use the boys’ bathroom when he attended high school. Adams was born a biological female and originally enrolled in the district as one, but he transitioned starting in eighth grade."
• USA Today Network ($): Florida Republicans in Legislature ready to set limits on race discussions at schools, work. "DeSantis set guidelines for the measure (HB 7) in December, when he proposed his “Stop Woke Act,” which he said is aimed at fighting back against racial “indoctrination” in academia and corporate America."
• WFSU: Proposal to set aside $400M for broadband stripped from FL Senate bill. "The two chambers have now diverged on specifying the amount of funding in the legislation."
• WGCU: Legislation Aims to Update Baker Act Protocols for Children. "Florida’s Baker Act, formally referred to as the “Florida Mental Health Act,” passed into law 50 years ago. It allows for the involuntary institutionalization and examination of people -- generally with mental illness -- who are in danger of becoming a harm to themself, doing harm to others, or are self-neglectful."
• USA Today Network ($): Lawmaker behind Florida 'Don't Say Gay' bill yanks amendment requiring schools to out students. "The amendment by Rep. Joe Harding, R-Williston, was to be debated and voted on the House floor Tuesday afternoon."
• CBS4: Alachua County to drop Covid-19 mask requirement for employees and the public. "County Manager Michele Lieberman said the new policy goes into effect next Monday. On that date, masks will be recommended, not required."
• WCJB: Gainesville City Commissioners vote against proposed land use and zoning changes. "This could allow the construction of high rise apartments, retail and restaurants. Some residents fear this could change the historic nature of this part of Gainesville, as well as create environmental and social issues."
• CBS4: Republican state leaders speak out on local house bill. "The bill adds a referendum on the November ballot to change how county commissioners are elected. If the referendum gets approved, you would only vote for a commissioner to represent your district. Alachua County Senator Keith Perry (R) supports it."
• WJCT: Most Floridians oppose Legislature's push to restrict abortion, UNF poll finds. "A large share of Floridians disagree with the Legislature's push to restrict abortion and classroom discussion of sexual orientation, according to a new poll from the University of North Florida."
• WMFE: After 10 years, young activists remember Trayvon Martin’s killing like it was yesterday. "Orlando activist Miles Mulrain Jr. and Angela Herrera, who helped organize Orlando’s 2020 protests over George Floyd, speak about how the Martin case impacted their lives and the role of social media."
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal ($): Jury finds accused Daytona Beach serial killer Robert Hayes guilty on all 3 murder counts. "Hayes, 39, was accused of killing three women in Volusia County in 2005 and 2006 while he was a criminal justice major at Bethune-Cookman University from where he graduated in 2006. He was also a cheerleader at the school."
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• Politics: The IRS is allowing taxpayers to opt out of facial recognition to verify accounts
• Law: Supreme Court to reconsider religious objectors' refusal to serve same-sex couples
About today's curator
I'm Melissa Feito, a journalist at WUFT. Originally from Miami, I got my start in public radio covering religion stories like the spiritual roots of Afro-Brazilian music and modern communities of pagans. I'm a graduate student getting my master's degree in mass communication and am part of a team searching for local and state news each week that's important to you. Please send feedback about today's edition of The Point or ideas for stories we may have missed to mfeito2@ufl.edu.