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The Point, May 4, 2022: People in Citrus County push back against proposed turnpike extension

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: 'Stop the turnpike': Inverness residents call for city council to pass no build resolution. "Residents raised concerns in response to the proposed Northern Turnpike Extension, which offers four potential routes expanding the turnpike northwest through combinations of Citrus, Marion, Levy and Sumter Counties. It was conceived as part of the now-repealed Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) bill to improve traffic congestion and capitalize on economic development across the state."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Gainesville community rallies for abortion rights in fear of Roe v. Wade being overturned. "The protest, held outside the Judge Stephen P. Mickle Sr. Courthouse, was quickly organized by Planned Parenthood Tuesday in response to a leaked Supreme Court decision that intends to overturn the historic abortion case ruling."

• Citrus County Chronicle ($): Last year's record rain still affecting Citrus' lakes, river. "With the rainy season right around the corner, groundwater levels remain higher than normal. ... The Withlacoochee River is a foot higher than it was a year ago and flows are more than double."

• WCJB: Ocala City Council to pay outgoing City Manager Wilson severance of $295,000. "(Sandra) Wilson’s salary was less than $240,000, but outstanding paid time off, administrative leave, and other perks drove up the severance price."


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Around the state

• Florida Politics: Gov. DeSantis signs bill formalizing rising seas agency three years after creating top officer. "The measure (HB 7053) will form a Statewide Office of Resiliency within the Governor’s Office and place the Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) as the head of the office. When the proposal takes effect in July, it will formalize portions of DeSantis’ 2019 executive order on the environment."

• Miami Herald ($): What happens now to abortion rights in Florida? DeSantis, top Republicans aren’t saying. "At a Tuesday afternoon news conference in Fort Myers Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would have to wait and see what the Supreme Court’s final decision would be on Roe v. Wade. His office, normally not one to shy away from controversial issues, did not offer further comment."

• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Abortion decision leak a 'wakeup call' for Florida Democrats, a 'moment' for Republicans. "Florida lawmakers earlier this year approved a 15-week abortion ban, with strict exceptions for a woman's health or fetal abnormalities, in anticipation of a favorable high court ruling."

• WUSF: A Florida congressman wants FEMA to provide emergency relief for algae outbreaks. "The proposal by Brian Mast, R-Palm City, would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine how much economic damage is done by these algae outbreaks to home and business owners. Massive outbreaks the past several years have clogged canals and beaches near homes and chased away customers from waterside restaurants and hotels."

• WMFE: New state rule cracks down on captive wildlife owners who have lost permits. "The vote came after strong opposition from people worried about how their businesses might be affected. The rule limits permits during administrative or criminal proceedings. It also gives captive wildlife owners who lose their permits 90 days to relocate their animals, among other things."

• WTSP-Tampa: Search may be hindered for 400+ Black graves likely buried under homes, church land in East Tampa. "Florida state law protects all human remains, but private property owners aren’t obligated to grant access to their property for searches. State Rep. Fentrice Driskell worked on a bill that would have granted the state an easement on private property in cases where there is credible evidence of burials. However, as the bill moved forward, that part was taken out."

• News Service of Florida: Not just 904: Northeast Florida to get additional area code. "State regulators Tuesday approved creation of an additional area code in Northeast Florida, as cellphones and other devices continue to gobble up existing numbers. The Florida Public Service Commission backed a plan designed to provide relief to the 904 area code, which is projected to run out of numbers in 2024."

• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Starbucks workers in Tallahassee win union election; first site in Florida to secure victory. "The win comes more than three months after the location, at 2264-1 N. Monroe St., announced its plan to organize and became the catalyst for two other capital city locations to follow suit."


From NPR News

• National: Here's what could happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned

• National: What Supreme Court Justices have said about 'Roe v. Wade' and the draft opinion leak

• National: The original Roe v. Wade ruling was leaked, too

• World: The complex effort to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for war crimes

• Sports: The U.S. now says Russia is wrongfully detaining WNBA star Brittney Griner

• Politics: Rep. Tim Ryan wins Democratic Senate primary in Ohio, the AP says

• Politics: After Trump's endorsement, J.D. Vance wins a crowded Ohio GOP Senate race, the AP says

• Science: NASA is bringing rocks back from Mars, but what if those samples contain alien life?

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