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Today's Florida stories
• News Service of Florida: DeSantis expects property insurance reforms during a special session as more policies could fall. "DeSantis did not provide details of changes he expects lawmakers to pass during the special session. But he indicated that lawmakers could try to curb litigation over insurance claims, an issue that insurers have long blamed for financial losses."
• News4Jax: Former congresswoman Corrine Brown to take plea deal. "Former congresswoman Corrine Brown is set to change her plea Wednesday in a federal case that involves charges of fraud and conspiracy, avoiding a retrial that was scheduled to take place this fall."
• Associated Press: Second round of jury selection begins in trial of Parkland shooter. "(Nikolas) Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of first-degree murder, so the 12 jurors eventually selected will only decide whether he is sentenced to death or life in prison without parole. Eight alternates will also be picked."
• Florida Politics: Laurel Lee running for Congress in CD 15. "Former Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee announced Tuesday she is running for Congress. The Thonotosassa Republican will compete in Florida’s 15th Congressional District."
• Ocala Star-Banner ($): More than two dozen firefighters battle Marion County brush fire near Maricamp/Baseline. "Although the fire had been contained, firefighters were still working it Tuesday. (Marion County Fire Rescue spokesman James) Lucas said firefighters had dumped more than 1.25 million gallons of water on the blaze."
• WFTS-Tampa Bay: 98 children drowned in FL in 2021, Tampa Bay leaders are on a mission to save children's lives. "Drownings in Florida reached a somber record in 2021 with 98 children across the state. In 2022, 21 children have already drowned in Florida and we haven’t even reached the peak summer months."
• Politico: Florida’s fight over ‘Don't Say Gay’ is getting more heated. And it hasn’t even gone into effect yet. "Students have complained about being censored for supporting the LGBTQ community. One educator claimed they have been called a 'groomer' and 'pedophile.' At least one first-year educator was fired for bringing LGBTQ discussions into the classroom. And all the while, school officials remain in a holding pattern as the Florida Department of Education comes up with guidance for how to carry out the controversial measure."
• Miami Herald ($): What’s next for the building evacuated in North Miami Beach after it was deemed unsafe? "The owners of a 60-unit apartment building in North Miami Beach that was evacuated last month after an engineer found it was 'structurally unsound' are now looking to sell it — at less than half its original listing price."
• Tampa Bay Times ($): Plans filed for 54-story downtown Tampa tower, region’s tallest skyscraper. "At 633 feet, the building would be taller than any Florida tower outside Miami-Dade County, and by far the tallest on the Gulf Coast. Tampa’s current tallest tower is 100 North Tampa, which stands 42 floors and 579 feet."
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From NPR News
• Health: FDA authorizes first COVID booster for children ages 5 to 11
• Books: Many know how George Floyd died. A new biography reveals how he lived
• Climate: Eliminating fossil fuel air pollution would save about 50,000 lives, study finds
• Business: The case for revolutionizing child care in America
• Business: Netflix lays off 150 employees amid subscriber decline
• National: The military's UFO database now has info from about 400 reported incidents
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.