The Point

The Point, May 16, 2023: Diversity spending, political loyalty tests are now banned at Florida universities

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published May 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• News Service of Florida: DeSantis signs bill prohibiting colleges and universities from spending money on ‘DEI.’ "The governor also signed a separate bill that will prevent colleges and universities from requiring 'political loyalty' tests for students and employees as a condition of admission or employment."

• WUFT News: Sen. Rick Scott laying the groundwork for re-election campaign. "Scott was in Gainesville Monday morning, speaking to Republican party officials and supporters. He updated them on issues in Washington, D.C., and asked for their early support."

• Mainstreet Daily News: GRU to cut unfilled positions, reduce maintenance. "Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) presented its plan to reduce $3.4 million of expenses as part of the city’s overall efforts to cut $315 million in GRU net debt over the next 10 years."

• The Alligator: Sasse meets with LGBTQ+ Presidential Advisory Committee. "Sasse’s May 11 meeting with the UF LGBTQ+ Presidential Advisory Committee fulfilled his seven-month old promise made during his first visit to UF campus, where he acknowledged the committee’s value and said he would meet with them."

• CNN: Human DNA can now be pulled from thin air or a footprint on the beach. Here’s what that could mean. "The researchers from the University of Florida, who were using environmental DNA found in sand to study endangered sea turtles, said the DNA was of such high quality that the scientists could identify mutations associated with disease and determine the genetic ancestry of populations living nearby."

• WTSP-Tampa Bay: Hernando County teacher under investigation for showing 5th graders Disney movie. "The movie, 'Strange World,' is at the center of the Department of Education's investigation. The teacher who played the movie is Jenna Barbee. She's a new teacher at Winding Waters K-8 in Brooksville, Florida."

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Around the state

• City & State Florida: DeSantis vs. Disney: Will they ever agree on a ceasefire? "It wasn’t always like this: Disney started out on DeSantis’ good side, pursuing state tax breaks with the help of DeSantis’ office and getting a carve-out on a tech censorship bill he championed. Florida politicians, former lobbyists and various experts generally agree the fall from grace is temporary. They predict there will be a return to form for Disney’s influence in the Legislature and in the governor’s office."

• WLRN-Miami: How the state's new immigration crackdown will affect South Florida. "Florida's sweeping immigration bill, signed into law by Gov. DeSantis, includes requiring companies to use a government program to report their employee’s status, declaring it a criminal offense to transport undocumented people into Florida, and making it easier for the governor to expel them from Florida."

• WMFE-Orlando: Federal dollars will help Florida schools hire, train more mental health professionals. "The announcement comes on the heels of a new CDC report that finds suicide deaths are on the rise among high school students and more people have thought about taking their own lives."

• Florida Storms: National Hurricane Center issues first 7-Day Tropical Weather Outlook Monday. "Starting this year, the graphical outlook tool from the NHC will be extended from five to seven days. Compared with other severe weather events, tropical cyclones already have a substantially longer lead time."

• WUSF-Tampa Bay: Florida gas prices continue to trend downward in the lead up to a busy Memorial Day weekend. "Florida gas prices dropped 8 cents per gallon last week. The state average has now declined three consecutive weeks, for a total discount of 24 cents per gallon, since mid-April."