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Today's Florida stories

• WUFT News: Internal affairs and independent investigation find no policy violations in Gainesville Police K9 maiming of Terrell Bradley. "Gainesville Police Chief Lonnie Scott announced Thursday that internal affairs and an independent consulting firm found no violations of policy in the arrest of Terrell Bradley, the Gainesville resident who lost his eye to a K9 after running from a traffic stop. Despite this, Scott said conduct revealed by the internal affairs investigation resulted in the paid suspension of two officers while another investigation is conducted. He declined to name them or specify the conduct until that investigation concludes within the next two weeks."

• WUFT News: Former officer filed lawsuit claiming racial discrimination by Gainesville Police K9 unit months before the mauling of Terrell Bradley. "Former Gainesville police officer Edward Ratliff sued the City of Gainesville in December for racial discrimination by the police department’s K9 unit. Ratliff’s allegations paint a picture of normalized racism within the K9 team, including regular use of 'the n-word' to describe Black residents and officers. That same unit became the focus of community backlash this summer, after a traffic stop ended in a K9 mauling Black resident Terrell Bradley."

• The Alligator: Gainesville single-family zoning elimination faces pushback from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. "Gainesville’s unprecedented single-family zoning elimination ordinance faces its largest detractor yet: the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity. The department sent a letter Thursday to the city that recommends Gainesville commissioners reconsider the amendment, joining Alachua County Commission’s recent letter to the city expressing similar concerns."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Local agencies use of advanced crime-solving technology poses privacy concerns. "Local law enforcement agencies are using advanced technology to help fight crime, although some say it violates their Fourth Amendment rights. Much like other law enforcement agencies across the nation, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Gainesville Police Department have started using automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, or license plate readers, throughout the north central Florida region to track down suspects wanted for serious crimes and to locate missing people."

• Associated Press: NASA is fixing moon rocket leaks and hoping for a September launch try. "Managers said they will conduct another fueling test to ensure all hydrogen leaks are plugged. If that test goes well — and if the Space Force extends a flight safety waiver — then NASA could take another stab at launching the 322-foot rocket in late September."

• WCJB: New hotel opens in Downtown Gainesville. "The grand opening of the Hyatt Place was Thursday in Downtown Gainesville after being delayed by COVID-19."

• Florida Storms: Flash flood risk is increasing as tropical moisture surges into Florida. "A surge of tropical moisture will produce rounds of heavy rainfall and increase the risk of flooding for the Panhandle and northern Florida by the weekend."

• Florida Politics: Gov. DeSantis orders flags at half-staff for Queen Elizabeth II. "The directive, delivered Thursday following a proclamation from President Joe Biden, is a display of respect to the Queen and the United States’ ally, the United Kingdom. Both Biden’s and DeSantis’ orders lower flags in public buildings to half-staff until the Queen, who died Thursday at age 96, is buried."

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From NPR News

• World: Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96, surrounded by the royal family at Balmoral estate

• World: These photos follow the life of Queen Elizabeth II — from childhood to the throne

• World: Britain has an intricate plan that maps out the 10 days after Queen Elizabeth's death

• Politics: Michigan Supreme Court rules abortion amendment should go to voters this November

• Law: Dept. of Justice appeals special master review of classified documents seized by FBI

• Law: Bannon pleads not guilty to N.Y. charges on 'Build the Wall' money laundering

• National: Las Vegas police find a public official's DNA at the scene of a journalist's murder

• National: Bernard Shaw, longtime CNN anchor, has died at 82

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.