The Point

The Point, April 19, 2023: UF removes years of campus crime data

WUFT | By WUFT News

Published April 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• Fresh Take Florida: University of Florida removes years of campus crime data online. "The University of Florida removed nearly eight years’ worth of crime data online without public notification, leaving only limited details about crimes that occurred on or near campus during the past 60 days."

• WUFT News: Gainesville organizations react to proposed bills targeting illegal immigration. "Under these legislations, hospitals would be required to collect a patient’s immigration status on admission, private employers would have to verify a person’s employment eligibility through the E-Verify system, and counties would be banned from providing funds to organizations issuing identification documents to individuals who do not provide proof of lawful presence and more."

• WUFT News: FBI, sheriff’s offices in central Florida team up to help prevent elder fraud. "Federal data show Florida’s older population is susceptible to internet scams. In 2021, the state ranked second in the nation with 9,645 victims of elder fraud. Combined, those individuals lost $224,205,716."

• WCJB: ACPS Board Members discuss search process for new superintendent. "Shane Andrew has been interim superintendent since May of last year, after Carlee Simon was fired in March of 2022."

• WCJB: Florida House State Affairs Committee reviews a substitute for Representative Chuck Clemons’ GRU governance bill. "The substitute bill would also give the board the power to name GRU’s general manager, taking that authority from the city commission."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Local felon voting program defies expected turnout. "But the surge never showed. Instead, Kramer said the Eighth Judicial District, covering the counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union, received a stream of about two applications per month and less than 30 since the start."

• The Alligator: Students, faculty fear UF won’t meet 2025 carbon neutrality goal. "Experts say UF hasn’t made any meaningful efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuel."

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Around the state

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Attorneys in the Andrew Gillum trial give opening statements. "Gillum is facing federal charges of lying to the FBI and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges stem from a 19-count federal grand jury indictment against him and his business associate Sharon Lettman-Hicks, who's also on trial."

• News Service of Florida: Judge rejects lawsuit against ‘intellectual freedom’ surveys on college campuses. "Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a 22-page decision Monday that said plaintiffs, including the United Faculty of Florida union and individual professors, did not establish legal standing to challenge the law."

• Florida Politics: Legislature unanimously passes bill restricting social media, student phone use in school. "A bill banning TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter and other social media platforms on public school devices and requiring schools to teach kids about the perils of the internet is now primed for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Budget snafu leaves agencies serving Florida's poor without a safety net. "The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has informed more than 30 social service providers statewide that the department lacks the budget authority to pass on federal funds meant for low-income families in crisis."

• NPR: Florida Gov. DeSantis said he may put a prison next to Disney parks amid dispute. "The dispute between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Disney has ratcheted up this week. The governor said he might build a prison next to their theme parks near Orlando."

• WLRN-Miami: As residents struggle with aftermath of storms, Broward schools' damage hits $8 million. "The floods are not done with Broward County. On the back of last week's historic deluge, three more inches of rain fell Monday — and flights were temporarily grounded again at Fort Lauderdale airport. As of Tuesday, inches of water and mud still covered some streets."

• WUSF-Tampa: A rare, naturally formed mineral has been found in the aftermath of a lightning bolt. "The perfect storm of events led to the creation of a never-before-seen, naturally-occurring mineral."