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The stories near you
• Gainesville Sun ($): County votes to withdraw support for affordable housing project in east Gainesville. "The 96-unit development, known as Dogwood Village, was planned for the corner of Southeast Eighth Avenue and Southeast 15th Street, across from Lincoln Park."
• Mainstreet Daily News: SBAC’s Certain elected to statewide post. "Last week the Florida School Board Association (FSBA) announced (Tina) Certain will become its president in 2023."
• Ocala Gazette: Ocala Electric Utilities may have to increase rates again. "While no new rate increase has been announced, rates rose steadily this year and, despite that, Ocala is facing a roughly $25 million deficit in the amount of revenue versus costs of generating electricity this fiscal year."
• WUFT News: Hawthorne Middle/High School has a new principal. "When Ginger Stanford threw her graduation cap in the air and earned her high school diploma from Hawthorne High School in 1991, she knew she would come back to her high school after college."
• WUFT News: A tale of two cities: How two Florida towns are handling the tiny home movement. "Want to live in a tiny house? Barb Diaz suggests marking off an 8-by-20-foot area in your garage – or some space similar – and living in it for 24 hours."
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Around the state
• Florida Politics: School districts previously flagged by state now in compliance with parental rights law. "The 10 school districts had been warned by letter last month that they have policies that might not comply with the new law, as the Miami Herald first reported."
• News Service of Florida: An appeals court is weighing whether the Seminole Tribe should control sports betting in Florida. "The Biden administration and the Seminole Tribe of Florida on Wednesday urged a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling that blocked a deal that would give the tribe control over sports betting in the state."
• Florida Politics: Democratic lawmakers file bill to expand red flag gun laws. "Florida is one of just 19 states that allows judges to temporarily seize guns from people deemed dangerous, and two lawmakers are looking to strengthen the so-called 'red flag law' even more."
• NPR: These could be some of the reasons DeSantis hasn't announced a presidential run (yet). "DeSantis isn't showing signs that he is ready to officially announce his candidacy. He says he's focused on being governor and dismisses questions about presidential ambitions."
• WTSP-Tampa: Florida manatees facing starvation fed through program. "With winter approaching and water temperatures dropping, the program feeds lettuce to the marine mammals at a warm-water power plant near Cape Canaveral enters its second year."
From NPR News
• Economy: The Fed continues its crackdown on inflation, pushing up interest rates again
• Politics: Congress races to avert a government shutdown
• National: Ballot measures on weed and abortion won in 2022. Now they're fueling a backlash
• Health: Why the government fails to limit many dangerous chemicals in the workplace
• Health: You can order free COVID tests again by mail
• Holidays: Terrible at buying Christmas presents? Peep our guide for clever gift ideas
Kristin Moorehead curated today's edition of The Point.