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The stories near you

• The Alligator: Santa Fe college admissions on the rise. "The college’s reputation for successful transfers makes it an attractive option for students who wish to attend UF. According to UF, the university’s acceptance rate for the class of 2026 was roughly 22.8%, a steep drop from last year’s 32.8%. Santa Fe's first-time applications are up 4% this year. 68% of students who graduate from Santa Fe with their Associate's degree successfully transfer to UF, according to the community college."

• Main Street Daily News: City of trees prepares for storm season. "While the city works year-round to maintain trees on public property, it’s up to Gainesville residents to monitor trees on their private property before the storm season arrives. Gainesville is one of the first three Florida cities to achieve "Tree City" status."

• Main Street Daily News: Alachua County Education Foundation seeks mentors. "According to an ACEF announcement, the Take Stock in Children is a scholarship and mentoring program that helps break the cycle of poverty through education. Students in the program receive college and career readiness coaching and mentoring and, when they graduate from high school, they will receive a two-year Florida Prepaid Scholarship to the college or university of their choice."

• The Gainesville Sun: Library district offers in-person, online programs for all ages at Summer at the Library. "Patrons are encouraged to register and kick-off the summer at Reader Palooza from 10 a.m.- noon Saturday, June 4 at Depot Park. If you can’t make it to Reader Palooza, register online at aclib.us/summer or at any library branch."

• WCJB TV20: North Central Florida school district scores drop in latest Florida Standards Assessment. "Most counties in the area reported a drop in reading scores in this year's FSA. According to the department of education, Alachua county dropped 2% since last year; only 50% of students scored at or above a level three. Marion County reported the lowest scores in the region at 42% this year. The FSA will be replaced with the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) starting next year." 

• WUSF: CDC places about half of Florida at high risk for COVID transmission. "A number of counties across the state are at a high risk of transmission with case counts as high as they’ve been since mid-February. They are: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Sarasota, Alachua, Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach. At high level, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and on public transportation, staying current on COVID vaccines and getting tested if showing symptoms. If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions." 

• Ocala StarBanner ($): 'Mother Nature ultimately decides' where a hurricane will go, and Marion County should prepare. "Hurricane season runs from June 1 thru Nov. 30. Meteorologists predict 19 named storms in 2022, up from the season average of 14. Marion County emergency management director Preston Bowlin is worried about the 31k-plus mobile homes in his county and how they will communicate with snowbird residents." 

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Around the state

• The New York Times ($): F.B.I. Investigates Basquiat Paintings Shown at Orlando Museum of Art. "The F.B.I.’s Art Crime Team is investigating the authenticity of 25 paintings that the Orlando Museum of Art says were created by Basquiat and are on exhibit there, according to a federal subpoena and several people with knowledge about the situation."

• ABC7: Florida lawmakers push for national red flag gun control laws. "Red flag laws temporarily remove guns from people deemed a threat. Former Republican Governor Rick Scott enacted the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act in 2018, raising the age of owning a gun to 21. Some republicans would like to see a similar law enacted nationally in hopes of preventing another mass school shooting. Some democrats want to allow family members to red flag relatives-- an ability only granted to Florida's law enforcement."

• Bay News 9: Science breakthrough makes beaches safer. "A new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wave and ocean model can predict the hourly risk of dangerous rip currents six days into the future. It includes most of the East and Gulf Coasts, parts of California, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. The NOAA is working on using webcams and artificial intelligence to identify rip currents."

• First Coast News: Law firm providing free legal aid to Ukrainian families resettling along First Coast. "The law firm of Shook, Hardy and Bacon are working to provide free legal aid to at least six Ukrainian families who recently resettled in Jacksonville. Families can apply for temporary protective status, which the US Department of Homeland Security announced in March. 

• The Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams won't resign, awaits opinion on his move to Nassau County. "The sheriff said Monday he does not see 'any scenario' where he would resign as sheriff in the midst of an Office of General Counsel investigation into whether he unwittingly vacated the office by moving to Nassau County a year ago. The Jacksonville City Charter explicitly states the sheriff must live in Duval County while serving in the office. A special election for sheriff may be necessary in August." 

• FOX35: ‘This is the real deal’: Kennedy Space Center's new immersive journey into future of spaceflight. "'Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex' opens to the public on June 15, and a preview is available to KSC Visitor Complex pass holders on June 1. The exhibit includes not only spacecraft, rockets and engines, but also an interactive program and flight simulator." 

From NPR News

• Education: How Gun Violence Affects American Children

• Law: Pelosi's husband was arrested on suspicion of DUI in California

• International: Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead at 28

• National: Schools around the U.S. increase security after the Uvalde shooting

• Art: A man in a wig was detained after throwing a piece of cake at the Mona Lisa

About today's curator

I'm Fareeha Haque Abrar, a journalist at WUFT. Originally from North Carolina, I grew up reading Florida stories since moving to Jacksonville at 4 years old. I am a senior journalism major and am a part of a team searching for local and state news each week that's important to you. Please send me feedback about today's edition of The Point or ideas for stories we may have missed.