The Point

The Point, June 21, 2023: Marion County approves $21 million contract with fire union

By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published June 21, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: Marion County approves $21 million fire union contract agreement. "The contract, approved unanimously by the commission, raises the starting pay of all firefighters and emergency services employees and includes a two percent annual cost of living adjustment and a loyalty incentive bonus."

• WCJB: Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. will not seek reelection. "The sheriff has faced criticism of his union negotiating tactics and his handling of internal affairs investigations during his one term in office."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Update: I-75 reopens following chemical spill. "The collisions involved two tractor trailers, two pickup trucks, one SUV and one passenger vehicle. One of the tractor trailers overturned, spilling its load of liquid Styrene."

• Ocala Gazette: Second fatal shooting in 2 weeks claims 18-year-old in Ocala. "An 18-year-old man died Tuesday morning after he was shot the evening before in Northwest Ocala, the second fatal shooting in the area in two weeks, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office."

• Mainstreet Daily News: GNV to study Ironwood, present plan next year. "After initially removing Ironwood Golf Course from the proposed budget, the city of Gainesville has placed the municipally owned course onto a watch list, giving a year to solve issues."

• News4Jax: Starke votes to keep city fire department after heated debate over potential merger with county. "The merger was part of a proposal to save the city about $2 million a year to pay for renovations to the city’s water treatment plant."

• Mainstreet Daily News: UF Health Cancer Center receives recognition. "The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has designated the University of Florida Health Cancer Center as one of the country’s most distinguished."

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Around the state

• Florida Storms: Tropical Storm Bret continues to track toward the Caribbean. "Bret will likely be a depression by Sunday and is still expected to stay away from the U.S. mainland. Enough uncertainty remains that the storm will need to be monitored closely through next week."

• WUSF-Tampa: New College of Florida trustee saw an influx of cash to his foundation, according to a new report. "New reporting from the news organization The Intercept, follows money coming into the foundation of right wing education activist Christopher Rufo."

• Health News Florida: DeSantis signs measure allowing CNAs to become qualified med aides at nursing homes. "The law allows qualified CNAs to administer 'routine' medications to residents, freeing up registered nurses to provide other needed care."

• Florida Politics: FRF warns consumers about illegal, potentially deadly vaping products. "More illegal, potentially dangerous vapes are landing in Florida than anywhere else in the country, according to new data highlighted by the Florida Retail Federation (FRF)."

• News Service of Florida: Florida out-of-state students could soon be paying higher tuition. "Pointing to Florida’s relatively low tuition costs and saying universities face increased demand from out-of-state students, university system officials are floating the idea of raising tuition for students who come from other states."

• WMFE-Orlando: FAU/FIU Study shows Florida housing and rental markets are overpriced. "FAU real estate economist Ken H. Johnson is one of the report’s researchers. He told WMFE's Talia Blake in Central Florida are paying a higher premium on rental and housing prices."

• NPR: A pair of rare cotton-top tamarin monkeys were just born at Walt Disney World. "Walt Disney World is celebrating the birth of two rare cotton-top tamarin monkeys that arrived last week — the first new births of the species at the Florida destination since 2001."