The Point

The Point, July 19, 2023: FDLE is investigating GPD death in-custody

By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published July 19, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• Mainstreet Daily News: FDLE investigates GPD in-custody death. "According to the GPD release, the circumstances of the event are under investigation and the identity of the prisoner will not be released until his next of kin have been notified of his death."

• WCJB: Captain suspended months after winning court battle against Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. "Sheriff’s Office officials confirm Cpt. Rebecca 'Becky' Butscher was suspended with pay effective last Thursday. Officials would not clarify why she was suspended."

• Mainstreet Daily News: FDOT to consider $23 million change to Waldo Road. "The proposed project would cut SR 24 (Waldo Road), starting west of NE 141st Drive to US 301, from two eastbound lanes to one, adding pedestrian crossings, a parking lane and bicycle lane. The changes would impact less than two miles of road and cost $23.4 million, according to FDOT documents."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Sheriff Billy Woods wants a third term in office. "Woods filed his paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections Office on Tuesday, signaling his intention that he wants to remain sheriff."

• The Alligator: Roll race hits Gainesville Raceway track for the first time. "Roll racing has similar standards (to drag racing), but instead of starting from a standstill the cars will start at an average speed of 30 mph. Once they see the light flash green, racers will step on the gas and race to the end of the track."

• WCJB: Alexander Springs closed after second alligator incident in a week. "US Forest Service officials say the park will remain closed indefinitely until their investigation ends."

• Mainstreet Daily News: GNV airport gets $6.3 million in federal funds. "The Gainesville Regional Airport received a $6.3 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration that will help pay for a new firefighting rescue vehicle along with pavement rehabilitation on the general aviation side."

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Around the state

• NPR: Judge hears arguments for the timing of the Trump classified documents trial. "Federal district Judge Aileen Cannon did not immediately rule on the start date for the classified documents trial for former President Donald Trump."

• Talking Points Memo: Neo-Nazis Surged Into Central Florida And Found A Tough-Talking Sheriff Who’s Determined To Take Them Down. "For the past few months, a sheriff who employs a distinctly old school style of policing has been clashing with a very new-school band of extremely online neo-Nazis."

• WUSF-Tampa: Health officials report a seventh case of malaria in Sarasota County. "Sarasota and Manatee counties remain under mosquito-borne illness alert. Polk and Orange counties are under advisories. Meantime, a third case of dengue was confirmed in Miami-Dade."

• WMFE-Orlando: A decade after Trayvon Martin's death, Sanford continues conversation around equity. "Wednesday, July 19 is the first of two Sanford Speaks events aimed at ensuring the city is a more safe, inclusive and equitable place for anyone who lives or works there."

• News Service of Florida: Two states removed from list of those with licenses voided for many undocumented immigrants. "Vermont and Rhode Island have been removed from a list of states with certain types of driver’s licenses deemed invalid in Florida."

• WJCT-Jacksonville: Rising saltwater is threatening marine ecosystems. "Increased salinity in oceans and coastal areas — the result of climate change and poor land use — has potentially devastating effects on coastal and nearby ecosystems, a new study concludes."

• WTSP-Tampa: Crews cover up sinkhole in Seffner. "A sinkhole in Seffner that killed a man 10 years ago and reopened twice in the years since — most recently earlier this month — has now been refilled."

• USA Today ($): Video shows fuzzy lionhead rabbits take over a Florida suburb. But they 'need to be rescued.' "If snakes and pythons were not enough, people in Florida now have to deal with another variant of invasive species: the lionhead rabbits. Fortunately, these ones are not as dangerous – but they are destructive enough that residents are trying to find a way to relocate them."