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The top stories near you
• Florida Politics: UF considers how to reopen for the fall semester. "The proposed plan, discussed during a Tuesday Board of Trustees meeting, is to push back the start of the semester by a week to Aug. 31, so students would not show up en masse and start spreading the virus."
• WUFT News: Alachua County Health Department Reports Decline In COVID-19 Cases, But Concerns Remain. "Paul Myers, administrator of the Alachua County Health Department, on Tuesday gave updates on the coronavirus situation to the Alachua County Commission. He said positive tests for the virus and reports of influenza-like illnesses are trending downward — promising signs for local residents and healthcare workers."
• WUFT News: From The Front Lines Podcast. "Florida Virtual School Chief Operations Officer Sam Verghese discusses how Florida Virtual School has been helping students, parents, and teachers get used to online learning during COVID-19."
• WUFT News: Alachua County Review Panel Narrows List Of Pending Charter Amendments To Nine. "All but two of the remaining proposals have been legally vetted."
• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Small distilleries face COVID-19 restrictions even as they pump out hand sanitizer. "An industry group is asking Florida to allow craft distilleries to sell their products by phone and online during pandemic."
• Cedar Key News: Cedar Key Extends Closure April 28. "The City of Cedar Key is required to reissue its closure stance every seven days."
• Citrus County Chronicle: CR Council OKs $13M grant request for new city hall; hears update on COVID-19. "Crystal River City Council didn’t pass up a chance to build a new city hall with state money."
• Suwannee Democrat: Suwannee County examining ways to boost census numbers. "With its U.S. Census numbers lagging, Suwannee County officials are examining how to provide a boost."
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Around the state today
• WUFT News: Trump Meets With Gov. DeSantis As State Readies Reopening Plan. "Gov. Ron DeSantis attended a press briefing alongside President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House Oval Office. In the briefing, DeSantis announced he will unveil the first phase of reopening Florida on Wednesday."
• Tallahassee Democrat ($): Down time: Florida's backlogged unemployment system to get nightly maintenance. "This ... does not affect individuals that wish to file a new claim."
• WFSU: Public Defender Explains Financial Struggles For Felons In Day Two Of Felon Voting Rights Trial. "The federal trial over a 2018 Florida law requiring felons to pay off their fines and penalties is underway. Plaintiffs argued Tuesday about how difficult that can be."
• Bay News 9: Experts Say Contact Tracing Should Play Major Role in Reopening of States. "Contact tracing is touted by medical experts as a key component to containing the coronavirus pandemic."
• Miami Herald ($): How nurses are coping with the stress from the coronavirus — it isn’t easy. "Each has a compelling story about what inspired them to become a nurse. Now each of them has a gripping worry about contracting COVID-19."
• Sun Sentinel ($): Judge tosses challenge to Florida’s greyhound racing ban. "A U.S. District Court judge has rejected a lawsuit by greyhound breeders, kennels and transport companies that sought to overturn Florida’s Amendment 13 — the ban on commercial dog racing that won support from 69 percent of the state’s voters."
• WMFE: Some 40 Percent Of Jobless Claims Are Ineligible. The Jobless Want To Know Why. "The numbers show some 80 percent of claims have been processed and $523 million dollars paid out."
• Florida Politics: Group warns that Florida may not get what it needs from CARES Act. "Florida cannot use federal bailout money from the CARES Act to shore up the most serious budgetary problems being caused by the coronavirus crisis, the anticipated collapse of tax revenue, the Florida Policy Institute warned Tuesday."
• Miami Herald ($): Why social distancing is a challenge for the blind, and what can be done about it. "Social distancing rules can be difficult to follow. We all have been inside grocery stores and see tape on the floor marking off six feet. And the stickers designating one-way aisles."
From NPR News
• National: More Essential Than Ever, Low-Wage Workers Demand More.
• National: Child Sexual Abuse Reports Are On The Rise Amid Lockdown Orders.
• World: Dozens Of Oil Tankers Wait Off California's Coast As The Pandemic Dents Demand.
• Politics: New York Cancels Primary Election, Angering Sanders Supporters.
• Business: Small Businesses Say Rescue Loans Come With Too Many Strings Attached.
• Business: Amazon Warehouse Safety 'Inadequate,' N.Y. Attorney General's Office Says.