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Today's Florida stories
• NPR News/1A: Florida's Primary Is All About School Boards And Ron DeSantis. "Students are going to return to schools facing a firehose of challenges, from a massive teacher shortage to new limits on how topics like race and sexual orientation can be taught. So why are these school board races being paid so much attention? And what are the candidates' stances on these issues that will come up this school year?"
• WTSP-Tampa: You can't vote for another party's candidates in the Florida primary. Here's why. "All voters will also see all races for nonpartisan judicial and school board offices, nonpartisan special districts, or local referendum questions that are on the primary election ballot. These restrictions in the closed primary election don't apply to the general election on Nov. 8."
• Northwest Florida Daily News: Rebekah Jones wins appeal, will be valid candidate in Democratic primary Tuesday. "Last week, Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper ruled that Jones did not meet the requirements to run as a Democratic candidate in the primary because she had not been a registered Democrat for a full 365 days before qualifying in June. Florida's First District Court of Appeal overruled that finding Monday morning, writing a candidate's sworn statement of party affiliation cannot be challenged as a basis for disqualification."
• New York Times ($): Defense in Parkland Trial Says Gunman Was Born ‘Damaged.’ "His biological mother’s drug and alcohol use irreparably harmed his brain, defense lawyers said. Then his adoptive mother became overwhelmed with treating his many problems."
• WGCU-Fort Myers: Florida abortion providers file brief with high court over abortion ban. "Florida abortion providers and advocates are not backing down when it comes to challenging Florida’s 15-week ban on most abortions, known as HB 5. A petitioner's brief was filed before the Florida Supreme Court Friday asking it to hear their challenge to Florida’s ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy."
• Miami Herald ($): Are Cuban migrants in the U.S. ‘illegals’? That might be the wrong question. "For the most part, the exodus has been quietly playing outside the spotlight of Florida politics. But controversy followed recent comments by Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez — a Cuban-American Republican from Miami — who appeared to suggest Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis would favor busing 'illegal' immigrants, including Cubans coming through the border, to other states."
• Gainesville Sun ($): UF provost said he removed Honors Program director: decision 'was mine, and I stand by it.' "In the statement, Provost Joe Glover said the board of trustees felt that Law was not "making significant progress — and had not for some time — toward being a program that belongs at a top five public university" after Law gave a presentation to the board in June. Law subsequently found out that he was being removed from the Honors director position. His last day in the position was Aug. 15, but he is still employed as an engineering professor with the university."
• Mainstreet Daily News: State awards Micanopy $3M for broadband. "The grant is part of $22 million in funding for development projects across 10 Florida communities. The Community Development Block Grant – CV (CDBG-CV) program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)."
• FOX35 Orlando: What's causing increase in jellyfish on Florida beaches? Strong wind, ocean currents to blame. "A wave of jellyfish stings is ruining the final days of the summer 2022 beach season in Central Florida. Volusia County Beach Safety reports at least 200 reports of jellyfish stings over the week, bringing the total to over 700 reported stings since last Wednesday. The beach patrol says this problem is tied to the weather."
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From NPR News
• Health: Fauci to step down in December after decades of public service
• Health: Pfizer asks FDA to greenlight new omicron booster shots, which could arrive this fall
• Politics: Trump asks for a 'special master' to review Mar-a-Lago evidence
• Science: What happens to sweat in outer space (Hint: There's no gravity to help it drip away)
• National: After poor broadband access, a man started his own fiber internet service provider
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.