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Today's Florida stories
• Florida Politics: How far can it fall? AAA says gas prices dropped another 17 cents. "The steady and swift decline in gasoline prices continued in the past week, leaving June’s peak of nearly $5 per gallon far behind. The latest survey shows Florida drivers are finding an average of $4.10 per gallon, down 17 cents in a week and down 79 cents since mid-June, reported AAA — The Auto Club Group."
• WFTS-Tampa Bay: Fla. school districts considering affordable housing to attract & retain staff. "The creative new approach is the result of the state’s worsening school staff shortage. According to the state teachers union, as of January, there were more than 9,500 vacancies across public schools in Florida. More than 4,300 of those vacancies were teacher's positions, up from years prior."
• WUFT News: UF scientists encourage Gainesville residents to plant insect-friendly gardens to help endangered native species. "Green pastures full of native, colorful flowers scatter the University of Florida’s campus as part of a new plan to help protect the pollinators of Florida. The McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, a section of the Florida Museum of Natural History, has paired with UF to research simple ways for Gainesville residents to help conserve wildlife."
• News4Jax: K-9 handlers believe training, smart thinking saved life of JSO K-9 Huk. "A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 shot in the line of duty Friday is recovering. Veterinarians said Monday that they are trying to close a wound in his neck."
• WLRN-Miami: Former Miami-Dade superintendent says sex ed is important and wants new books to be adopted quickly. "The fourth-largest school district in the nation won't be teaching students about safe sex or STI prevention for at least several months. That's after a small minority of parents successfully challenged comprehensive health textbooks for middle and high schoolers in the Miami-Dade school district."
• WESH-Orlando: 'It's inhumane': Families, advocates demand air conditioning in Florida state prisons. "Scorching heat in Florida's state prisons is a concern for many family members especially in the summer because some of them don't have air conditioning."
• CNN: Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to low security federal prison in Florida. "Maxwell, 60, has been assigned to Tallahassee FCI, described on its website as a 'low security federal correctional institution with a detention center.' She was convicted in December on five federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, as part of a yearslong scheme with Jeffrey Epstein to groom and sexually abuse underage girls."
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From NPR News
• World: The pope's apology in Canada was historic, but for some Indigenous people, not enough
• Health: Biden's COVID-19 symptoms are nearly resolved, the White House doctor says
• Health: Sens. Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski have tested positive for COVID-19
• Science: Epidemiologists warn the U.S. reaches a critical moment to contain monkeypox
• Business: What happens when people want all the air fryers and then, suddenly, they don't
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.