The Point

The Point, Aug. 14, 2023: With heat wave continuing, distinguish between heat-related illnesses

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published August 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• Florida Storms: Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke: Know the difference. "With this dangerous heat wave forecasted to keep smothering the southern U.S. and Florida the next several weeks, it is important to know the key differences between heat-related illnesses."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Chief Jones to retire after 48 years with GNV. "Still known as Chief, Tony Jones will retire in October from his Gainesville post as special adviser for juvenile justice and community support programs. Jones has worked for the city since 1975 when he joined as a public safety cadet with the Gainesville Police Department."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Elimination of Gainesville bus routes causes concern for those who use them most. "In July, members of the Gainesville City Commission voted to eliminate five routes as part of an updated Regional Transit System fall schedule due to a driver shortage and low ridership numbers."

• WTSP-Tampa Bay: Citrus County man among those waiting for settlements from Camp Lejeune toxic water exposure. "The Camp Lejeune Justice Act aimed to streamline the compensation process for veterans, families, and others who may have been exposed to toxic water. Now, more than 1,100 people are suing, according to the Camp Lejeune Claims Center. 'None of us are asking for a free handout. We want our day in court,' Mike Partain of Homosassa said."

• News4Jax: Horses recovering in Palatka after being removed from property in Glynn County. "Seven horses are now in Putnam County recovering after being removed from a property in Georgia, following an animal welfare check. Daniela Catana, the owner of Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary, said she rescued the animals Sunday."

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Around the state

• Politico: Former Rep. Al Lawson’s Florida congressional seat could come back under new agreement. "A major legal challenge to Florida’s disputed congressional map could result in the reinstatement of a north Florida district formerly held by a Black Democrat under a sweeping agreement reached late Friday."

• Miami Herald ($): Forced to fire undocumented workers, owner of landmark Florida restaurant seeks change. "Richard Gonzmart, the fourth-generation owner of the iconic Columbia Restaurant chain based in Tampa, says it’s time for politicians to start listening on immigration. When federal immigration authorities arrived at his Sand Key restaurant in Clearwater to find outdated and noncompliant work documents for 19 of his employees, he was forced to fire them all — including seven people who had worked with his family for decades."

• WGCU-Fort Myers: Lake O level 30 inches higher than 2022 as hurricane predictions rise. "Far warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures are causing hurricane forecasters to raise the number of tropical storms expected in coming months, but it's not motivating the man in charge of Lake Okeechobee's elevated water level to lower it. The Big Lake’s average depth late last week was 15.31 feet, which is about six inches deeper than last month and 30 inches higher than one year ago."

• WLRN-Miami: Could a slowing Gulf Stream bring Florida more flooding? UM study will find out. "Monitoring the strength of Florida Current will help scientists figure out whether or not that conveyor belt, known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), is actually slowing down."

• WUSF-Tampa: Florida is receiving $910M for Hurricane Ian recovery. Officials say that's a fraction of what's needed. "The estimated cost of long-term disaster recovery after Hurricane Ian is $2.5 billion. The latest installment of federal funds gives Florida counties less than half of that."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: FSU has until August 15th to decide whether to leave the ACC. "Driving the decision are recent shifts in college athletics that have brought about highly paid amateur athletes, and big-money television deals. FSU’s decision will have a major financial impact either way."

• WMFE-Orlando: 'Living in the shadow': A family of Mexican immigrants tells their Florida story. "Immigrant families are everywhere in Florida. A third of the state’s children live in those families, according to 2021 data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation Many of the families are a mix of immigration statuses."

• WFLA-Tampa: ‘Full circle moment’: 1st-grade teacher now colleagues with her own teacher from 1st-grade. "Two 1st-grade teachers at Oakhurst Elementary School in Largo are having déjá vu this school year. Alj Edwards and Syndey Connell seem like two ordinary colleagues. But their history goes back to when Edwards taught Connell nearly 20 years ago."

• USA Today ($): Florida kayaker captures video of dolphin swimming in bioluminescent waters for its food. "It may have appeared that the dolphin in the video was glowing, but the light emitted in the water came from none other than organisms there. Dolphins are often spotted swimming in glowing water, but do not glow themselves."