The Point

The Point, Sept. 13, 2023: State wants to toss residents' lawsuit against GRU law

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published September 13, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: Trenton man who hijacked an excavator caused an estimated $2 million in property damage. "Police say Smith has been charged with one count of grand theft, four counts of criminal mischief, one count of armed trespassing and one count of resisting arrest without violence."

• News Service of Florida: State seeks to toss out resident lawsuit against GRU law. "Lawyers for DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Secretary of State Cord Byrd on Monday filed motions seeking dismissal of the lawsuit filed in July by the non-profit group Gainesville Residents United and six individual plaintiffs."

• Mainstreet Daily News: ACPS updates school rezoning timeline. "Though the new schedule has pushed back the timeline by about a month, the plan will still be adopted by the end of 2023 and take effect in the 2024-25 school year."

• Ocala Gazette: MCSO announces “Respond with Care” program. "MCSO will now offer free stickers for the vehicles of people who routinely or occasionally travel with passengers who have special needs so, in case of an accident, first responders may know that a certain caution may be necessary to mitigate the crisis and care for the occupants."

• WCJB: Alachua County Sheriff’s Office second in command steps down, new sheriff prepares to take over. "The change in leadership at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office includes more than just the sheriff. Undersheriff Joel DeCoursey Jr. has submitted his letter of intent to retire at the start of next month."

• The Alligator: UF PhD student discovers record-breaking number of sea turtle nests at Disney Conservation. "The nesting season of sea turtles usually takes place between March and October, Smith said. The first record Disney Conservation broke at the Vero Beach Resort was 1,677 nests in 2017. Now, Smith and her team are over 2,800 nests in, with a month remaining before the season comes to an end."

• WUFT News:Poets and artists attend ARTSPEAKS event and let their art speak. "Close to 85 people were at the center Sunday evening for the 11th Annual 'ARTSPEAKS: Bringing Poetry & People Together' event. Artists young and old were able to present their art that evening."

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Around the state

• News Service of Florida: Federal appeal of Florida education law put on hold. "A federal appeals court has put on hold a battle about a 2022 Florida law that restricts instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, after attorneys said they were in settlement talks."

• WMFE-Orlando: All Aboard! Florida Professor breaks down Brightline's expected impact. "The excitement for Brightline is building, but the rail company has delayed the start of service between Miami and Orlando for a second time."

• Associated Press: Florida law restricting transgender adult care can be enforced while challenged in court. "Judge Robert Hinkle previously blocked the law’s enforcement on behalf of minors. He ruled Monday that adults seeking to expand his injunction haven’t proven they would be irreparably harmed until the case is resolved."

• News Service of Florida: Local experts say to remain ‘vigilant’ about mosquitoes. "After cases of malaria were found this year in Sarasota County, experts on Tuesday pointed to a continuing need in Florida to combat mosquito-borne illnesses as rain from Hurricane Idalia has increased breeding grounds for the insects."

• Florida Politics: Ron DeSantis says killing border crossers a ‘few times’ will deter future occurrences. "During a recent 'tele-town hall' with supporters, he said the American government is 'entitled' to render at least some illegal crossers 'stone cold dead.'"

• WUSF-Tampa: Florida's political climate and higher education policies are discouraging faculty. "Nearly half of the 642 Florida faculty surveyed said they plan to seek employment in another state within the next year. About 20% have already interviewed in other states since 2021."

• WGCU-Fort Myers: SWFL faces reading crisis: Proficiency falls below 50%. "Collier County had the highest rate of third-grade reading proficiency for 2022 at 59.2%. For Lee County, 47.7% of third graders achieved reading proficiency. Hendry County ranked lowest at 39.8%."

• WLRN-Miami: Wait, see - but do 'whatever it takes' on inflation, guides regional Fed leader. "And while Bostic has said patience is needed after a year-and-a-half of sharply higher interest rates, he also spoke more firmly about his conviction — and the Fed’s — to squeeze inflation more if it doesn’t continue dropping."