The Point

The Point, Feb. 17, 2023: Second lawsuit against "don't say gay" thrown out

WUFT | By WUFT News

Published February 17, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: Conversation about antisemitism promotes expression and equality for UF Jewish students and allies. "This event sought to expose some of the university’s authority figures to the fears that the Jewish community and friends of the Jewish community are currently facing."

• Fresh Take Florida: Only in Florida? Family’s pool shaped like six-shooter gun. "The swimming pool in the backyard of Louis Minardi’s home near Tampa may be distinctive to Florida: The custom-built pool is shaped like a six-shooter revolver, in a state made famous – sometimes infamous – by guns, gun politics and gun culture."

• WUFT News: The early learning center at Metcalfe Elementary aims to narrow the achievement gap in east Gainesville through increased access to education. "The center will be accepting children as young as 6 weeks old, while also offering services for their families and providing job opportunities for members of the community. Its main goal is to give Black students an equal opportunity to succeed through early intervention."

• Mainstreet Daily News: GNV signs new solar contract, increases size. "The city commission rejected two alternative options in favor of altering the terms of its existing contract with Origis Energy, keeping the project on its original timeline."

• Ocala Gazette: Deadline nears to file for special property tax exemption. "Marion County property owners who meet age and income criteria are eligible to receive a property tax exemption that could provide significant savings on their annual tax bills, but they must apply by March 1."

• WUFT News: Garden of Love: A final home for cherished pets. "Vixen was Lori Landry’s first pet, a Pomeranian her parents gave her as a Christmas present when she was 10 in remembrance of her brother who had recently passed away."

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Around the state

• News Service of Florida: Another challenge to Florida's 'don't say gay' law has been thrown out. "For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a controversial Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation."

• Florida Politics: Water quality spending in Gov. DeSantis’ budget again questioned. "The targeted improvements include infrastructure work and nutrient reduction in the waterways."

• WUSF-Tampa: More middle-income Florida households are facing food insecurity. "More than a third of Floridians earning $50,000 to $100,000 reported experiencing food insecurity over the past year, according to a survey published by No Kid Hungry."

• Florida Politics: FEC records show Occupy Democrats gave $80K to a Donald Trump-backed Republican Congressman (they didn’t). "Somewhere, somehow, a mistake was made, making it looks like the progressive media outlet Occupy Democrats gave more than $80,000 to a Donald Trump-backed Republican Congressman from Michigan."

• News Service of Florida: Space launches, cruise ships face conflicts. "With launches from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral expected to approach 100 this year, Dale Ketcham, Space Florida’s vice president of government and external relations, said talks are underway to address increasing issues involving cruise ships arriving and departing at Port Canaveral."

• Florida Politics: Lauren Book files ‘Death with Dignity Act’ allowing terminally ill people to self-euthanize. "The bill comes less than a month after 76-year-old Ellen Gilland shot and killed her terminally ill husband in a Daytona Beach hospital bed. Gilland now faces first-degree murder charges."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: A colony of "beach bees" brings new vitality to the hives of a Northwest Florida Tupelo honey producer. "All commercial honey producers have been challenged in recent years as parasites, viruses and pesticides have devastated their bee populations. But the fresh infusion of nutrition and genetics should help the Rish's hives be more productive and resilient."