WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
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The stories near you
The Point will return to your inbox on Tuesday, July 5, following the Independence Day holiday on Monday.
• WUFT: Everything you need to know to enjoy Fanfares & Fireworks. “Enjoy an evening of live music and spectacular fireworks presented by WUFT-TV, WUFT-FM and WUFT Classic on Sunday, July 3, at the University of Florida Bandshell at Flavet Field starting at 6pm.”
• WUFT: 4th of July Weekend Weather Forecast for Gainesville. “According to WUFT Chief Meteorologist Jeff George, the holiday weekend weather will be nothing we’re not used to. Expect scattered afternoon and early evening thunderstorms that will mostly decrease after sunset. George says occasional showers may put a temporary damper on your outdoor plans, but don’t go canceling anything.”
• Gainesville Sun: Camp Crystal session cut short after coronavirus outbreak impacts dozens of campers, staff. “The decision to end camp early was made Wednesday by Alachua County district officials, nurses and camp pediatrician after having sent home several people earlier in the week.”
• CBS4: UF releases an update on the search for the next president, among other topics. “The Presidential Search Committee and the UF Board of Trustees voted unanimously on June 16 to mark the characteristics they seek in UF‘s next president.”
• WCJB TV20: Coronavirus outbreak at Alachua County Jail. “40 inmates and 19 employees tested positive for Covid-19. This month cases are increasing rapidly in the jail.”
• WCJB TV20: Lake City woman shuts down website after scamming allegations from the FTC. “A woman from Lake City known to some as “Grant Bae”, may have taken that title for granted. Officials with the Federal Trade Commission say Traeshonna Graham is a scammer who preyed on minority-owned small businesses.”
• Ocala Star-Banner: No show: Once again, Ocala/Marion County won’t have a public fireworks display on July 4. “Locally, a check with government officials and social media has turned up no word of a sponsored firework display open to the public on or around Independence Day.”
• WUFT: Alachua County Public Schools Show Slight Increase in State Test Scores. “Alachua County Public School officials say on the math FSA (Florida Standards Assessment), which is given to students in grades 3 through 8, the percentage of Alachua County students scoring a 3 or higher in math rose from 51% to 52%. Meanwhile, the results which the Florida Department of Education released on Tuesday show a slight decrease in English Language Arts rates.”
• Gainesville Sun: Alachua County shelter temporarily halts animal intake due to excessive overcrowding. “Alachua County is no longer accepting animals for its shelter due to what officials are calling “crisis-level overcrowding” and low staffing numbers. The Alachua County Manager said she is ordering the shut down ‘for the sake of the animals and our staff.'”
• Ocala Star-Banner: Officials investigate apparent suicide attempt at Marion County Jail in Ocala. “Brooks once was a detention deputy at the jail. He was arrested in late October 2014 and accused of introducing contraband into the detention facility.”
• WUFT: Oak Hammock Resident Turns 100. “Brenda Thomas turned 100 on Thursday. Brenda moved to the United States from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to attend college. She moved to Gainesville 76 years ago when she married her husband, who was a physician at Shands.”
• Citrus County Chronicle: School board approves contract for UF athletic trainers. “Citrus County student athletes will finally have athletic trainer services at their disposal for sports in the coming school year.”
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Around the state
• News4Jax: Judge to temporarily block Florida’s 15-week abortion ban. “A Florida judge on Thursday said he would temporarily block a 15-week abortion ban from taking effect, following a court challenge by reproductive health providers who say the state constitution guarantees a right to the procedure.”
• New York Times ($): One Dead and 22 Have Been Hospitalized in Listeria Outbreak Tied to Florida. “A food source has not been identified as the cause of the outbreak, which has sickened people across 10 states starting in January 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.”
• Orlando Sentinel ($): Bracy calls off COVID-19 vaccine event that would have given kids partial adult doses. “State Sen. Randolph Bracy canceled a COVID-19 vaccine event hours after he announced it at a press conference.”
• Tampa Bay Times ($): Florida pediatrician removed from state board for criticizing COVID vaccine delay for kids. “Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis’ office told Lisa Gwynn she was being removed for making “political statements that do not reflect the CFO’s point of view.”
• Pensacola News Journal: ‘No one felt safe’: Florida schools, students feel effects of so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law. “Since the beginning of March, when the bill picked up steam in the Legislature, students who organized protests like Weinstein’s said they were silenced by administrators and bullied by their peers and online trolls.”
• Fox35: Florida judge could face reprimand after angry outburst directed at man in courtroom. “A judge in Seminole County continues to be seated on the bench, as the Florida Supreme Court decides if it will reprimand him for two different outbursts.”
• WFSU: Inflation is putting pressures on food banks. “Stephen Shelley is the CEO of Farm Share, which recovers crops from Florida farmers and distributes food to Floridians in need. He says his biggest worry is that demand is increasing for the services of food banks while the supply of food is significantly decreasing.”
• WFTS: Freedom week tax holiday, other sales tax breaks begin July 1. “Starting July 1 children’s diapers, baby clothes, and energy-efficient appliances will have no sales tax for an entire year, and home hardening equipment will have no taxes for two years.”
• WFTS: 40+ companies file homeowners insurance rate decreases in order to use Florida’s reinsurance assistance funds. “June 30 was the last day for Florida property insurance companies who opted into the state’s Reinsurance Assistance Program (RAP) could file for rate decreases.”
• WFLA: ‘Fairly exceptional’: Polk Capitol riot suspect remains at-large 1 year after FBI raid. “Joshua Doolin, who was serving as a Polk County Fire Rescue EMT at the time and was terminated, Olivia Pollock, Joseph Hutchinson III and Michael Perkins were arrested on charges connected to the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6. They are out on bond and awaiting trial. Meanwhile, Jonathan Pollock, now 23, has evaded the FBI.”
• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Judge gives Andrew Gillum more time to finalize legal representation in corruption case. “Gillum’s likely attorney briefly represented Charles Adelson after his arrest in the investigation of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel’s murder.”
• WFLA: Court denies Brian Laundrie’s parents motion to dismiss Petito civil lawsuit. “A circuit court judge has denied Christopher and Roberta Laundrie’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Gabby Petito’s parents alleging they knew their son, Brian had killed their daughter. The judge ruled the Petito family had a valid claim against the Laundrie’s and allowed the lawsuit to advance.”
• WSVN: Miami Beach unveils rainbow-striped lifeguard tower as Pride Month ends. “Miami Beach gave a lifeguard tower a makeover that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. The tower, located near 12th Street, now displays six vertical painted stripes to reflect the traditional rainbow flag.”
• News4Jax: Watch out for nesting birds as you celebrate Independence Day weekend. “Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reminding beachgoers to protect vulnerable beach-nesting birds while you’re having fun. FWC recommends you stay at least 300 feet away from nesting birds, avoid walking through flocks of birds and stay out of posted areas.”
From NPR News
• National: More than 1,200 Delta pilots picket at 7 major airports to call for higher pay
• Politics: Supreme Court restricts EPA’s authority to mandate carbon emissions reductions
• Law: Supreme Court allows Biden administration to roll back ‘Remain In Mexico’ policy
• Law: Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as associate justice on the Supreme Court
• National: Arizona’s attorney general says a pre-1901 abortion ban is enforceable
• Politics: President Biden says he supports change in Senate filibuster rules for abortion rights
• Business: It’s been a vicious 6 months for stocks. Here’s what the grim markets are signaling
• World: Mariupol theater bombing was a clear war crime, Amnesty International says
• Technology: DOJ fails to report on making federal websites accessible to disabled people
• World: The trial begins for Brittney Griner, the WNBA star detained in Russia
• Science: Mummified baby mammoth recently was found in Canada with intact hair, skin and tusks
• Science: Scientists say they’ve solved a 700-year-old mystery: Where and when Black Death began
About today’s curator
I’m Denise Vickers, the News Director at WUFT. Originally from Delaware, I am dedicated to serving you and all people in the communities of the greater Gainesville area. I 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 denisevickers@ufl.edu.