The Point

The Point, April 10, 2023: DeSantis approves I-75 expansion for Ocala Buc-ee's

WUFT | By WUFT News

Published April 10, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Third teen connected to triple murder in SE Marion has been arrested. "For now, the teen is charged with carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. Sheriff's Office officials said additional charges are forthcoming."

• WUFT News: A Santa Fe College student creates a community for nontraditional students. "Bright, 30, began class in fall 2021 and immediately knew she wanted to meet students she could relate to — people who have taken nontraditional paths to get their college degrees."

• The Alligator: Gainesville immigrant groups protest proposed state legislation. "Gainesville residents gathered Wednesday afternoon to protest proposed state legislation House Bill 1617, which would increase penalties for those working with undocumented immigrants and survey collection on them."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Gainesville resident appointed to Florida Bar Board. "In a Florida Bar press release, the Wednesday announcement said Shore will replace Joseph 'Jody' D. Hudgins of Naples to serve a two-year term as one of two public members on the Bar’s 52-member governing board. Hudgins’ term will expire in June."

• WUFT News: Students react to UF banning TikTok on the university network. "UF VP of Communications Steve Orlando says there will be no policing but access to the app will be blocked through the university network."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Veterans celebrate new GNV medical facilities. "A year ago, COVID-19 restrictions rendered dedication of Gainesville’s two newest Veteran Affairs clinics impractical. On Friday, however, patients who have benefitted from services offered by these facilities since they opened in 2022 were able to personally take part in the celebration."

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Around the state

• News Service of Florida: DeSantis fast-tracks an I-75 expansion to make room for Buc-ee's in Ocala. "Before tossing bags of Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets to the audience, DeSantis announced money will go from the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund to the city of Ocala and the Florida Department of Transportation to increase the pace of work on the interchange."

• WUSF-Tampa: Families of trans youth weigh leaving Florida as more bans on gender-affirming care loom. "One Tampa Bay area mom says she's preparing to move her family out of state if lawmakers make it harder for her daughter to access health care. But they also want to fight for the families who can't."

• WGCU-Fort Myers: Wildfire off Interstate 75 near Bonita Beach Road destroys one home; firefighters remain at site. "Firefighters from across Lee County returned to a section of land off the east side of I-75 near East Terry Street in Bonita Springs Sunday morning that was the scene of multiple wildfires Saturday and were dealing with remaining spot fires in the same area."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Florida elections bill would further restrict voter registration groups. "Voting rights advocates in Florida are expressing concern that an elections bill in the state Senate would make it harder for community groups to register voters, but elections supervisors have called for stricter rules."

• WUSF-Tampa: Florida gas prices are at a 2023 high after OPEC cuts oil production. "According to a release from AAA, the average price of a gallon of gas rose 12 cents, to $3.58 a gallon as of Sunday."

• WGCU-Fort Myers: Widening I-75 could cost more than $2 billion and take 20 years. "The agency's interstate project manager, Joshua Jester, said the area needs more interstate lanes by 2045 at the latest. And it needs better traffic flow at the interchanges along the way."