The Point

The Point, Aug. 16, 2023: Protection spending for governor, family nearly doubles

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published August 16, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• The Alligator: DeSantis appoints UF alum as chief of staff. "After graduating from UF with a master of arts in political science in 2000, (Alex) Kelly began his career as a campaign manager for state Sen. Anna Cowin, R-20."

• WCJB: Alachua County public schools still without an updated support guide for LGBTQ students. "A scheduled discussion on the guide at the school board meeting involved only public and board comments about the desire to support the mental health of all students."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Newberry approves impact fees, fire truck debt. "The impact fees, one-time capital charges to new residential and non-residential developments, help cover the cost of expansion and infrastructure when new people and businesses move into the city."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): 'We've been busy': Moms' antidrug billboard campaign now extends beyond Florida. "The billboards show the faces of those who have died from drug overdoses. They also include a message of hope."

• Mainstreet Daily News: School board acknowledges helmet donation. "The Hawthorne Hornets received 60 new all-white football helmets for the upcoming season on Aug. 3, donated by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Gatorade."

• WCJB: Wanted Goats: UF searches for farm animals spotted on campus. "UF released a wanted poster for the goats on X, formerly Twitter. The animals have been spotted around campus including on rooftops near Dickinson Hall."

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Around the state

• Spectrum News: Florida nearly doubles spending on protecting Governor and First Family. "Florida Department of Law Enforcement spent more than $9 million dollars last fiscal year providing protective services to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the First Family."

•PolitiFact: DOJ indicts Trump over his actions, not for questioning the 2020 election. "'This is all conduct, not speech,' said E. Danya Perry, a white-collar criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor in New York. The indictment alleges Trump took specific actions to further the conspiracy."

• News Service of Florida: Florida regulators hit an abortion clinic with a $193K fine. "Health regulators Monday ordered an Orlando abortion clinic to pay a $193,000 fine for violating a law that requires women to wait 24 hours before having abortions, nearly three times the fine recommended by an administrative law judge."

• WFLA-Tampa: 51 schools in Polk County have areas without working air conditioning: Union. "In the days since the Polk Education Association filed a class action grievance, the number of schools reportedly with air conditioning issues has grown from 15 to 51."

• WTSP-Tampa: FDLE: Olympus Pools owner arrested for stealing $1.5M from customers for trips, Super Bowl tickets. "The owner of a Tampa-based pool company was banned from conducting business in Florida last month. Now, he's facing dozens of criminal charges."

• WUSF-Tampa: Our Changing State: understanding Florida's cultural history then and now. "Community members said they like the diversity and the infusion of new cultures old and new, and how the natural environment is an integral part of our identity."

• WFTS-Tampa Bay: Rare discovery involving threatened species found at Fort De Soto. "The threatened species is the American Oystercatcher, a bird native to Florida. However, it's a rare occurrence when it comes to successfully nesting at Fort De Soto."

• WLRN-Miami: It's been more than a month since FAU's presidential search was suspended. Tensions are flaring. "Things got heated Tuesday, during the first meeting of FAU’s Board of Trustees since the search was halted."