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The top stories near you
• Fresh Take Florida: Seventeen Anesthesiologist Residents, Fellow At University Hospital System Contract Virus After Private Party. "At least 17 anesthesiologist residents and a fellow at one of the premier university hospital systems in Florida contracted COVID-19 earlier this month after attending a private party together, according to hospital insiders and internal documents. The outbreak at University of Florida Health occurred after a party at a private home, according to people familiar with the situation. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they said UF Health prohibits employees from speaking to reporters without authorization."
• News Service of Florida: Florida Faculty Union Pushes For Remote Learning, Closed College Campuses In Fall."The push to keep university and college campuses closed during the fall semester, amid concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, adds another pressure point on the Republican governor, who is increasingly facing criticism for how he has reopened the state."
• Gainesville Sun ($): New names for Finley discussed, none chosen."A final approval by the board is needed to send the name to the state by Aug. 7. Should a final decision not be reached by then, the school will keep the J.J. Finley Elementary name for another school year."
• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Marion County hospitals busy but not swamped by COVID-19."Despite the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Marion County, hospital capacity remains at manageable levels, according to county and hospital officials."
• WUFT News: Meridian Behavioral Healthcare And Sheriff’s Office Form Mental Health Co-Responder Team."The co-team is comprised of one law enforcement officer, who ensures the scene is safe, and a mental health clinician, who can intervene immediately with whomever needs attention."
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Around the state today
• Associated Press: State Reports Revenue Dropping Another $427M From Coronavirus Closures In Florida."State officials reported that revenues posted in June were more than $427 million under estimate, even as the state’s economy began reopening. That brings the fiscal year’s cumulative loss to $1.9 billion."
• NPR News: After Coronavirus Outbreak Among Miami Marlins, Is It Safe To Play Ball? "Major League Baseball has postponed three games because of a coronavirus outbreak in the Miami Marlins' organization. At least 13 players and coaches have tested positive for COVID-19."
• Miami Herald ($): First he got $4 million in COVID-19 relief loans. Then he bought a Lamborghini."According to a criminal complaint, (David) Hines’ four South Florida moving businesses applied for seven SBA loans totaling $13.5 million through the Bank of America..."
• Tampa Bay Times ($): Pinellas County Commission pleads with DeSantis to send coronavirus drug."On Monday, Pinellas County Commission Chair Pat Gerard wrote to Gov. Ron DeSantis, pleading with him for help in securing a supply, stating that “our local hospitals are in desperate need for more of the lifesaving drug remdesivir.”
• Sun Sentinel ($): Vice President Pence urges participation in coronavirus vaccine trial at UM. " In the race to stop the spread of COVID-19, Vice President Mike Pence arrived at the University of Miami on Monday to kick off the first large-scale clinical trial of a potential vaccine in the United States."
• Associated Press: DeLand lab part of national COVID-19 vaccine test, with 30,000 planned volunteers."A clinical research lab in DeLand, Accel Research Sites, will have just over 8% of those volunteers for the experimental vaccine, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc."
• TCPalm ($): Got a mysterious packet of seeds? Department of Agriculture says do not open or plant them."Sebag, of Palm City, was one of at least 160 Florida residents who called the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services about mysterious seeds arriving in the mail addressed to them."
• Pensacola News Journal ($): Matt Gaetz calls for DOJ to investigate Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for lying to Congress."U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (serving Florida's 1st congressional district) is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for making false statements to Congress."
• WUFT News: Florida Schools’ Athletic Programs Prepare To Return For Fall."High school sports had been scheduled to resume (Monday) statewide. But Thursday night, the Florida High School Athletic Association’s board voted to delay the first day of practices to Aug. 24, with games pushed to mid-September or later."
• New York Times ($): For the N.B.A., a Long, Strange Road Trip to the Finals. "The league has transported 22 of its 30 teams to a complex in Disney World in Florida to play out the season in a worsening pandemic. Can it succeed without the virus piercing the bubble?"
From NPR News
• National: U.N. To Install Asylum-Seekers' Housing In Mexico
• National: Exotic Australian Fruit May Help Save Florida's Citrus Industry
• World: Deaths And Missing People Reported From Tropical Depression Hanna In Mexico
• Politics: University Of Notre Dame Withdraws As Host Of 1st Presidential Debate
• Business: Senate GOP To Release $1 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill
• Race: Mayors Demand Congress Block Trump From Deploying Federal Agents To Cities