The Point, Jan. 20, 2023: New Gainesville commissioners confirm salary increase

January 20, 2023 The Point

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: GPD endeavor to lead the fight against child exploitation. “In 2022, Gainesville Police completed 96 investigations of child exploitation. Those investigations produced 17 arrests and over 325 subpoenas.”

• Mainstreet Daily News: New GNV commission confirms its salary raise. “The new salary formula, set to begin in October 2023, will increase the annual salary for commissioners from around $37,000 to an estimated $71,000.”

• WCJB: Farm Share holds a food distribution in Gainesville. “The event will be held at 635 NW 6th St in Gainesville, and it starts at 9 a.m.”

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Dunnellon Mayor Bill White resigns, citing health reasons. “White made the surprise announcement after meeting with City Clerk Mandy Odom on Thursday afternoon.”

• Mainstreet Daily News: GNV asks for input on parking, traffic safety. “Redesigning University Avenue and 13th Street remains a top priority for Gainesville, and the city looks to collect community input through six corridor walks next week on Jan. 24, 25 and 26.”

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Around the state

• News Service of Florida: The Florida House proposes a major expansion of vouchers. “Calling it a move toward ‘universal choice,’ House Speaker Paul Renner on Thursday announced a proposal that would make every student in Florida eligible for school vouchers — a move that Democrats blasted as a Republican attack on public education.”

• USA Today ($): Florida rejects Advanced Placement African American Studies course, saying it ‘lacks educational value.’ “Cassie Palelis, press secretary for Florida’s education department, did not immediately respond to a question about which section of Florida law the proposed course was contrary to.”

• Florida Politics: State estimates 1.75 million Floridians could lose benefits once state begins purging Medicaid rolls. “Appearing before House and Senate health care panels, officials in the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida will focus its efforts on removing 900,000 residents who no longer qualify for the program, either because they aged out, left the state, or earn too much to qualify for the safety net program for the poor, elderly and disabled.”

• WMFE-Orlando: What a state email about abortion pills to all Florida medical providers could mean for the future. “Last week, the Agency of Healthcare Administration sent an email to many, if not all, state medical providers warning if they provide or assist in providing anyone with abortion medication they would face criminal penalties.”

• Florida Politics: State Supreme Court rejects local governments’ suit against penalties for local gun control laws. “The court refused to throw out a law that local officials can be fined for passing gun control ordinances, and that cities can be sued for having these local laws on the books. The statute, called a preemption law, which limits local regulation, was passed in 2011.”

• WJCT-Jacksonville: Dueling bills seek to prohibit hate speech in Jacksonville. “Less than a week after the towering image of a cross and swastika were projected onto the CSX Transportation building Downtown, the City Council will have two emergency bills to review Tuesday night to fight similar actions.”

• WUSF-Tampa: School superintendents blame unions for a snag in teacher pay raises. “They say union negotiations are why they did not meet the Oct. 1 deadline to submit an approved salary distribution plan to the state.”