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The Point, May 15, 2020: Some Floridians Find Covid-19 Escape In Online Game

Subscribe to The Point to invite us into your inbox with the most important Florida news from Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.


The top stories near you

• WUFT News: From The Front Lines Podcast. "This episode explores when and how schools will reopen in the state of Florida amid the pandemic."

• Florida Politics: Gov. DeSantis wants relocated NFL games at The Swamp, other stadiums. "Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined plans to bring pro sports to Florida on Thursday, and college stadiums are in the mix."

• WUFT News: Animal Crossing Game Helps Cure Quarantine Boredom, Anxiety During Pandemic. "Some Floridians have escaped the coronavirus pandemic by traveling to an ultimate island getaway surrounded by kooky, colorful creatures."

• WUFT News: Florida Attorney Helps Students One Laptop At A Time. "After the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to shut down nationwide, Bradenton attorney Carl Reynolds decided to donate Google Chromebook computers to any student in need."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Judge rules Cafe Risque entitled to federal loan. "The ruling of a federal judge in Michigan means that Micanopy’s Cafe Risque is entitled to a federal loan to help struggling businesses during COVID-19 pandemic — a loan it was initially denied."

• Suwannee Democrat: Lawsuit planned against Suwannee Health over outbreak. "An outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus cases in residents at the facility may lead to Suwannee Health and Rehabilitation Center being sued."

• WMFE: Marion County’s elected schools superintendent will leave office early. "In 2018, Marion County voters opted for an appointed superintendent of schools. And the School Board chose former Orange County area superintendent Diane Gullett. But Heidi Maier, who was elected in 2016, was still on track to serve until November."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): FDA authorizes human trials for Marion County company’s drug. "AIM ImmunoTech’s drug, Ampligen, may be used to treat COVID-19 patients who have cancer."

• Mayo Free Press: 112 inmates test positive at HCI. "There are 112 inmates at Hamilton Correctional Institution that have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to the Florida Department of Corrections."

• Citrus County Chronicle: Crystal River High School, Citrus High School and Lecanto High School all received recognition for their JROTC units.

• Alachua Chronicle: City dumps mulch on skate park, families clean it up. "On the same day Tampa announced it will open its skate parks this weekend, the City of Gainesville spread dump trucks full of mulch all over the Possum Creek skate park..."


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Around the state today

• Naples Daily News ($): Southwest Florida smells like it's on fire, as four counties battle brush fires. "Multiple brush fires have broken out in Southwest Florida Wednesday, causing road closures and evacuations. The fires have spanned throughout four counties so far."

• Pensacola News Journal ($): Who's footing the $900,000 bill for the Five Mile Swamp Fire and Hurst Hammock Fire?"As of May 13, the costs for fighting the Five Mile fire were $652,461, and the costs for the Hurst Hammock fire were $246,115, according to the Florida Forest Service. The costs include personnel, equipment, fuel, lodging and meals."

• Miami Herald ($): DeSantis gives green light for Miami-Dade and Broward to reopen businesses Monday. "Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed off on plans for Miami-Dade and Broward counties to reopen restaurants and other businesses deemed non-essential, the governor announced Thursday at a press conference."

• Orlando Weekly: Florida Gov. DeSantis officially extends ban on evictions and foreclosures. "While speaking at a news conference in Miami-Dade County, the governor stated that the order will run until June 2."

• News Service of Florida: DeSantis Comments Seem To Indicate Gyms May Reopen Soon. "Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will announce Friday additional 'phase one' measures to reopen the state’s economy, with the moves expected to include allowing more people to be seated in restaurants and allowing gyms to operate."

• WJCT: No Positive COVID-19 Results Found During Widespread Testing Of Jacksonville’s Homeless. "After conducting 679 tests at all of Jacksonville’s homeless service providers, Quest Diagnostics confirmed that no one tested positive for COVID-19."

• TCPalm ($): What three things can Florida boaters do to avoid becoming a boating statistic? "In Florida, 65 people died in boating accidents. Here's a breakdown of the reasons."

• Sarasota Herald-Tribune ($): Collage or college? Venice sign misspells SCF’s name. "The sign directing drivers to "State Collage of Florida" was replaced."

• NWF Daily News ($): Leg found in St. Andrews State Park returned to owner. “I’ve been very upfront that this is an amazing, great young man. A lot of guys, especially treasure hunters, would have just put it in a trophy case — but he realized it could be important and someone could need it.”


From NPR News

• National: 'Sleeping While Black': Louisville Police Kill Unarmed Black Woman

• World: Confusion Over Who Would Get 1st Access To Coronavirus Vaccine Exposes Problems

• World: The U.S. Is Giving Vast Sums Of Money To Fight COVID-19 Abroad. But There's A Catch

• Health: Millions Of Pigs Will Be Euthanized As Pandemic Cripples Meatpacking Plants

• Business: Cities Battle Food Apps Over Delivery Fees

• Science: New Data Shows That Patients On Ventilators Are Likely To Survive

Jasmine is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.