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The Point, March 9, 2022: Why there are mixed feelings around proposed murals in High Springs

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: Whether the Walldogs visit High Springs to paint murals remains an open question. "The Walldogs call themselves a group of hundreds of highly skilled sign painters and mural artists, who for nearly 30 years have helped small towns to boost their tourism by leaving behind beautiful, handcrafted works of art depicting local history. And yet the idea of allowing the Walldogs to paint murals on the walls of buildings in High Springs has divided residents, artists and city officials."

• WUFT News: Josh Hart and the Gatornationals are coming to Gainesville. "...with two Top Fuel wins under his belt, Hart heads into the 2022 Gatornationals — set for Thursday through Sunday at the Gainesville Raceway — aspiring to repeat history in front of an even bigger fanbase. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) hosts races around the United States bringing in people from around the world, with its three biggest events being held in Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Gainesville."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Employers can't hold arrest records against job seekers if no conviction, proposal says. "Businesses in Gainesville with 15 or more employees would not be able to reject a job applicant based on their past arrests under a new law proposed by city officials. ... Employers would be barred initially from asking about someone's criminal record. After a conditional offer of employment is made, the employer could do a criminal background check on applicant."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): FHP: Driver not at fault in crash that killed 10-year-old walking to bus stop in NW Marion. "Ja'Siah was a fifth-grade student at Reddick Collier Elementary. His mother, Ebony White, said she would consult with her lawyer before making a comment about the FHP report."

• Mainstreet Daily News: City land use to grow to include urban farms. "Gainesville residents will soon be able to engage in two types of urban farming and some will be able to potentially increase their chicken flocks under a revision to the city’s land use code."


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Around the state

• Fresh Take Florida: After emotional debate, GOP-led Florida Senate passes ‘Don’t Say Gay Bill,’ awaits DeSantis’ signature. "If it becomes law, the measure takes effect July 1 and will impact planned or official classroom instruction for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade. It will restrict conversations on sexual identity and gender in any way that is not age-appropriate, but would not affect spontaneous discussions of such topics, Republican lawmakers have said."

• NPR News: Disney employees furious the company won't denounce Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill. "According to the accountability news site Popular Information, 'in the last two years, Disney has donated $197,162 to members of the Florida legislature that have already voted for the 'Don't Say Gay' legislation,' including to sponsors of the bill, Florida Rep. Joe Harding (R) and state Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)."

• WQCS News: Feds Hint at Possible Legal Action Over Florida's “Parental Rights in Education” Bill. "U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has hinted at possible legal action against Florida following approval of the 'Parental Rights in Education' bill, a measure that opponents have dubbed the 'Don’t Say Gay' bill."

• Panama City News Herald ($): In 3rd visit in 4 days, Gov. DeSantis says money on way to help displaced families of Florida Panhandle wildfires. "The programs include a $6.1 million grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to help residents who were displaced or had their homes damaged, a business damage assessment survey for impacted businesses to apply for additional state or federal funds and a family resource center at the Bay County Fairgrounds for displaced families."

• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Which abortions are legal and illegal in Florida after Gov. DeSantis signs the new bill? "The Florida Legislature approved the 'Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction' act (HB 5) on a party-line vote March 3. What does this mean for pregnant people in Florida?"

• Miami Herald ($): Lawsuit settlement by law firm, engineers to pay Surfside victims $55.55 million. "The law firm Becker, which represented Champlain South’s condo association before the deadly June 24 collapse, will pay $31 million, the filing states. Engineering firm Morabito Consultants, hired to inspect Champlain South for its 40-year recertification, will pay $16 million."

• WLRN: Florida lawmakers revamp nursing home staffing standards. "The debate has centered on changes involving certified nursing assistants, who provide much of the hands-on care to nursing home residents."

• News Service of Florida: Strawberry shortcake gets the nod as Florida's official state dessert. "The law, which will take effect July 1, describes strawberry shortcake as 'consisting of a base of shortcake, which resembles a biscuit with a touch of cake, a layer of sweet, sliced strawberries, and a healthy dollop of whipped cream.'"


From NPR News

• National: Congress passes bill to shore up the Postal Service without cutting back on delivery

• Law: Enrique Tarrio, who led the Proud Boys, is arrested over the U.S. Capitol attack

• World: Stalled and frustrated, Putin will likely 'double down' in the coming weeks, CIA says

• Business: McDonald's, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Starbucks join a corporate exodus from Russia

• Health: 'Test to Treat' gets COVID pills to at-risk patients fast but its reach is limited

• Science: NASA is just now opening a vacuum-sealed sample it took from the moon 50 years ago

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.

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org