The Point

The Point, Aug. 7, 2023: GNV gun violence summit, AP psych okayed, new space images

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published August 7, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: More than 400 people gather at first Gainesville gun violence summit. "Sunday, the first day of the event, was open to the general public and featured a panel discussion about the role of the community in addressing gun violence, a resource fair, educational breakout sessions and a youth town hall."

• WUFT News: Public school teacher shortages remain top of mind as classes resume. "Teaching and education have been some of the biggest hot-button topics in the state of Florida as of late, with teaching vacancies among the most pressing issues on the minds of Floridians."

• The Alligator: Several UF Board of Trustees donate $1.3 million to DeSantis’ presidential PAC. "Board Chair Mori Hosseini donated $1 million to Never Back Down through his companies ICI Homes Residential Holdings LLC, Intervest Construction of Jax Inc., MHK of Volusia County Inc. and CC North Central LLC."

• WUFT News: Community partners band together against homelessness, fundraise for GRACE Marketplace. "The party sought to build momentum for the Tech Battle of the Bands scheduled for Aug. 18 at The Wooly hosted by startGNV, an organization supporting the growth of local tech companies."

• The Alligator: Summer housing crisis leaves students temporarily homeless. "Students whose yearlong leases ended are now displaced, and many still have Summer B courses until Friday. Most leases end July 31, and the dates for move-in vary."

• WCJB: Gator fans catch first glimpse of 2023 football team at open practice. "The practice lasted about two hours and fans could see players go through individual and team drills."

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Around the state

• Associated Press: After clash over teaching on gender, psychology class may be available to Florida students. "In a letter to state superintendents, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the state believed the psychology course could be taught 'in its entirety.'"

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Voters could decide the future of abortion access in Florida. "So far, organizers say they've collected almost half a million petitions—nearly half of what they're aiming for. A total of 891,523 verified signatures are required to get the proposed amendment on the ballot and organizers know some will get thrown out."

• News Service of Florida: Faculty unions file suit against state law banning arbitration in employment disputes. "The United Faculty of Florida, its New College chapter and professor Hugo Viera-Vargas filed a lawsuit Thursday in Leon County circuit court alleging the law violates collective-bargaining rights and unconstitutionally 'impairs' an existing union contract."

• WLRN-Miami: Rare good news for Florida's bleaching reefs: rescued coral from Miami spawn. "While it’s too soon to know whether they’ll become viable, making babies could definitely be a good sign for coral that have endured weeks of punishing heat."

• WUSF-Tampa: A look at how storms drive mold-related health issues, as Hurricane Ian’s anniversary approaches. "He said patients living with mold, like Childers, were often healed and discharged only to be readmitted after returning to their homes, where they were exposed anew."

• News Service of Florida: One of Florida’s major citrus growers sees its harvest decrease by about 50 percent. "The Fort Myers-based company’s president said in a filing that “box production” was down 51.4 percent from the 2021-2022 season — though Alico fared better than Florida’s overall citrus industry, which had its worst season in nearly a century."

• Associated Press: Shots again fired at site of Parkland school massacre in reenactment after lawmakers visit. "The reenactment is part of a lawsuit by the victims’ families and the wounded that accuses the Broward County deputy assigned to the school of failing in his duty to protect them and their loved ones."

• WLRN-Miami: As Florida heats up, architects go back to the past for ‘passive cooling’ home designs. "Jack Parker, a longtime environmental science professor at Florida International University, built his house from the ground up to use as little electricity as possible and take advantage of South Florida’s natural cooling forces."

• NPR: NBA players' union says Orlando Magic donation to a DeSantis super PAC is 'alarming.' "A Magic spokesman said the donation was made on May 19, which was days before DeSantis announced his intent to seek the GOP presidential nomination."