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Today's top Florida stories
• First Coast News: Gov. DeSantis announces $800 million toward increased teacher pay. “He detailed efforts Florida has made over the past three years to support educators, including the $1,000 bonuses that every teacher and principal in the state received last year. DeSantis highlighted the importance of teachers in the education of our children, especially the extra efforts they took during the pandemic to accommodate virtual learning and quarantine periods.”
• WUSF: Sea level rise may gentrify Florida's inland regions, according to a recent study. “A recent report on climate change examines how sea level rise could cause gentrification, as wealthy residents along Florida's coast move inland. Researchers have highlighted the need for clear policies to address the looming issue.”
• News Service of Florida: Planned spending approved by Florida lawmakers ranges from airplanes to zoos. “The budget and a series of accompanying bills include spending on everything from new state planes to zoos. Gov. Ron DeSantis has line-item veto power, so it’s too early to know everything that will be in the budget when the fiscal year starts July 1.”
• News4JAX: North Florida housing market showing signs of moderation, industry expert says. “A lack of housing inventory and increased demand continue to fuel the market, but according to industry experts, the North Florida market is showing signs of moderation.”
• WSVN: Miami Beach declares state of emergency following multiple spring break shootings. “Officials with the City of Miami Beach have declared a state of emergency after a weekend that included shootings and overwhelming spring break crowds in South Beach’s entertainment district.”
• WTSP-Tampa Bay: Disney vs. DeSantis: A timeline of Florida's bill dubbed 'Don't Say Gay' by critics. “The two have nearly become synonymous with discussion surrounding Florida's controversial "Parental Rights in Education" bill that limits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
• Sun Sentinel ($): As Haitian migrants try to come to South Florida, officials urge end to COVID immigration policy. “There’s been a recent influx of Haitians making the treacherous trip to Florida. On Saturday, U.S. Coast Guard officials stopped 189 Haitian migrants, including children, at sea. Last Monday, 140 Haitians migrants landed in Summerland Key. And since Oct. 1, 2021, Coast Guard officials said they have interdicted 1,577 Haitian migrants.”
• WFLA-Tampa: 16% of Florida homes sold in February were in Tampa metro. “According to Florida Realtors data, 15.98% of homes sold in Florida were in the Tampa Bay. Of the 23,661 single-family homes sold in February, 3,782 were in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan statistical area.”
• Florida Politics: Federal government refiles $2.8M lien against Tampa Bay Times after seizing control of paper’s pension fund. “The Times Publishing Company Pension Plan covers about 3,300 former and retired employees of the paper as well as the Poynter Institute. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or PBGC, refiled the liens against the Times Thursday. The PBGC announced in November it had seized control of the Times’ pension fund after the paper racked up more than $100 million in debt in its own fund.”
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About today's curator
I’m Gregorio Ruiz-Perez, a journalist at WUFT. Originally from Naples, Florida, I’ve always enjoyed running to clear my mind. I am a senior journalism major and am part of a team searching for local 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 gruizperez@ufl.edu.