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The Point, March 20, 2023: Local legislators back bill to give state control of GRU

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Today's Florida stories

• Mainstreet Daily News: Local legislators back bill to alter GRU control. "If passed by the Florida House and Senate, the bill would hand Gov. Ron DeSantis the power to create a five-member board that would control Gainesville Regional Utilities’ (GRU) operations instead of the City Commission."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: The Florida House passes a bill to expand school voucher eligibility. "The Florida House on Friday passed a bill that would make nearly every K-12 student in the state eligible for a state-funded school voucher, despite not having a clear estimate for how much it would cost."

• WCJB: Judge orders Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. to respond after employees file lawsuits. "Eighth Circuit Judge Donna Keim is giving the sheriff’s office 30 days to file a response to allegations he refused to hold Compliance Review Hearings for two employees disciplined after Administrative Investigations."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Republicans are again targeting local labor and teachers unions. "A proposal to raise the membership threshold to 60% and prevent automatic withdrawals for union dues is moving in the legislature over accusations that it targets some of Republicans’ most vocal critics."

• WCJB: First two black Florida Gator football players in program history honored during endowment ceremony. "For the second year in a row, Jackson and George were honored through an endowment funded by former players who raised $100,000 in scholarships for gator football players."

• Florida Politics: Major changes to Florida tort laws clear House; Senate could vote on final passage next week. "The omnibus bill makes substantive changes to how lawsuits are filed and litigated in the state, all but eliminating the longstanding statute that allows a policyholder who successfully sues their insurance company on a coverage denial claim to recoup attorney fees."

• Associated Press: Florida may ban girls' period talk in elementary grades. "The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Stan McClain would restrict public school instruction on human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases and related topics to grades 6 through 12."

• WLRN-Miami: Miami-Dade public schools will observe National Day of Prayer for second year in a row. "Observing the National Day of Prayer is meant to give students and educators the opportunity for 'all people of different faiths in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders', according to the language of the proposal approved on Wednesday."


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Kristin Moorehead curated today's edition of The Point.

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org