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The top stories near you
• Fresh Take Florida: Adult Son Of Florida Sheriff Candidate Arrested By Incumbent Sheriff’s Deputies. "Clovis Watson IV, 27, of Gainesville, acknowledged that he followed and harassed his former girlfriend of two years, deputy Maddison Telle wrote in an arrest complaint. First-degree misdemeanor stalking can carry with it a year-long prison sentence, according to Florida statutes. Watson’s father, Clovis Watson Jr., is a state representative first elected in 2012 and candidate in a tight Democratic primary race for Alachua County sheriff against incumbent Sadie Darnell. It was expected to be Darnell’s closest race since she became sheriff in 2006. The primary is Aug. 18."
• WUSF: New Report Questions Cost Of Suncoast Parkway Extension. "Florida Tax Watch says extending the Suncoast Parkway from Citrus County to the Georgia border would cost anywhere between $4 billion and $10.5 billion."
• Gainesville Sun ($): Free COVID-19 testing at Citizens Field on Saturday. "The city of Gainesville is once again offering free COVID-19 testing, while supplies last, on Saturday. Testing will take place at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Road, beginning at 8 a.m."
• Washington Post ($): On some college campuses, a new fall rite: coronavirus testing. "The University of Florida, which has more than 50,000 students, will reopen its Gainesville campus without a universal viral testing mandate. Instead, students will be required to answer a health screening questionnaire and get tested if they have covid-19 symptoms. The university has set up a 10-station drive-through site for those who need or wish to be tested. 'The Gator Nation will not be deterred,' the plan states."
• Gainesville Sun ($): New name for J.J. Finley could come by next week. "J.J. Finley was a brigadier general for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The school has had its name since it opened in 1939."
• Citrus County Chronicle ($): COVID-19 in Citrus County thru week of July 13-20: cases spike again; two more die. "Citrus County continued to break its seven-day record for increases in COVID-19."
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Around the state today
• USA Today Network ($): As COVID-19 caseload mounts, DeSantis sued by teachers over school reopening plan."Florida reached its sixth straight day of 10,000-plus new coronavirus cases Monday as the state’s largest teachers union sued the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration over plans to reopen schools for in-person instruction next month."
• Miami Herald ($): Winn-Dixie changes course, will now require masks for grocery shoppers."The stance drew national news coverage as other large retailers including Publix, Target and Walmart were beginning to announce mask mandates for customers."
• Fresh Take Florida: Though garnering support from both sides of the aisle, a realistic few raise concerns about finalizing electric-vehicle plans in Florida: Will the next clean wave of cars pass by the state's poorer communities?
• Fresh Take Florida: Kevin Jowett, of Clermont, Fla., is one among an estimated 1,ooo E2 visa holders nationwide who is trapped outside the country due to recent travel bans and unable to return to his U.S.-based business.
• Florida Politics: Florida CFO formally requests FDLE investigate Twitter security breach."While details remain few on the hack, the Twitter breach impacted both high-profile individuals and major companies including Apple, former President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Kanye West and Michael Bloomberg..."
• Politico: Andrew Gillum opens up about rehab and therapy. "Andrew Gillum, the former Democratic rising star who was a hopeful for the Florida governorship, opened up for the first time Monday about his experiences battling alcoholism and depression since entering rehab."
• Florida Times-Union ($): ‘I don’t have what I need to keep our community safe’ during RNC, says Jacksonville Sheriff Williams."The Republican National Convention, or RNC, comes to Jacksonville next month. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said that with the short turnaround time that he didn’t believe his agency could keep the event safe."
• Lakeland Ledger ($): Polk among Florida’s worst-hit 'red zone' counties for COVID-19. "An unpublished White House report on COVID-19 response recommends government mask-wearing mandates, ramped up testing, closed bars and reduced indoor dining in the nation’s worst coronavirus hotspots, which includes Polk County and the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan area."
• TCPalm ($): Cleveland Clinic's Florida Research and Innovation Center to study cancer, dengue, COVID-19."Established in November, the 107,000-square-foot research center will be working alongside Cleveland Clinic's Center for Global and Emerging Pathogens Research to provide a hub for scientists near and far to research, study and share their findings, according to the medical center."
From NPR News
• National: Essential Workers Hold Walkouts And Protests In National 'Strike For Black Lives'
• National: Georgia State Sen. Nikema Williams To Replace Rep. John Lewis On November Ballot
• World: U.K. And China Report Preliminary Success Of Experimental Coronavirus Vaccines
• Politics: Presidential Nominees Rarely Speak To Muslim Audiences. Biden Did Monday
• Politics: As Talks Open On New Coronavirus Aid Bill, Trump To Return To Daily Briefings
• Health: Growing Body Of Evidence Suggests Masks Protect Those Wearing Them, Too
• Education: When Can Kids Go Back To School? Leaders Say 'As Soon As It's Safe'