The Point

The Point, Sept. 14, 2023: State suspends controversial political ideology surveys

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published September 14, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• Fresh Take Florida: Exclusive: Florida temporarily suspends political ideology surveys to nearly 2 million in state colleges, universities. "After only one year, Florida has temporarily suspended a highly controversial, statewide survey required under a new state law compelling public colleges and universities annually to ask students and faculty to identify political bias in college classrooms."

• WUFT News: Man accused of crashing excavator into Walmart ordered to face mental health evaluation. "Smith remains in the county jail, subject to a new order for a mental health evaluation by Alachua County Senior Judge Peter K. Sieg. His bail is set at $160,000."

• Gainesville Sun ($): Black male students 'hand-selected' for newly formed GHS club spurs parent complaint. "Approximately 30 Black male students were 'hand-selected' to be part of a discrete and newly created club at an Alachua County high school to better prepare them for graduation while also being given statistics about how they are less likely to succeed."

• Mainstreet Daily News: GNV attorney asks for another $250K for lawsuit. "If approved, Thursday’s item would bring Gainesville legal funding to half a million dollars. The state is expected to provide a response to the city’s filings by Friday and oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 22—less than two weeks before the state’s authority board is slated to start."

• Ocala Gazette: City election is Sept. 19. "Three seats were open in the city of Ocala government this election cycle: two on the city council and the mayoral seat. Only one city council seat, however, will be on the ballot for the Sept. 19 election."

• WUFT News: Peace conference in Gainesville: Bridging divides in the Middle East. "In 2020, Fatema Al Harbi was one of the first Bahraini activists to visit Israel after the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations. On Tuesday, she visited Gainesville for the first time to discuss her grassroots peace-focused initiatives."

• Ocala Gazette: Officer is released from hospital. "The Ocala Police Department sergeant injured Aug. 26 when a driver reportedly fleeing from a fatal crash rammed his parked police vehicle head-on at 90 mph in southwest Ocala was discharged Tuesday from a local hospital following a 17-day stay."

• WUFT News: The Hippodrome Cinema reopens after $335,000 renovation funded by Wild Spaces, Public Places. "The cinema primarily focuses on foreign, independent and art house films. This gives Gainesville residents an opportunity to revisit classics and watch films that traditional movie theaters don’t always offer."

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Around the state

• Florida Storms: Three storms brew in the Atlantic. "While Lee is projected to make landfall somewhere between Maine and the Eastern Canadian provinces this weekend, Margot is expected to remain over water, not posing a major threat to any land."

• News Service of Florida: The Seminole Tribe of Florida gets a win in a sports betting lawsuit. "Gov. Ron DeSantis and Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola in 2021 signed a 30-year gambling deal that included giving the tribe control of sports betting."

• WMFE-Orlando: Private schools in Florida take up the fight against African American history standards. "In her classroom at Monarch Learning Academy in Orlando, Marsha Hall is surrounded by images and quotes of civil rights icons as she plans a trip with fourteen of her seventh grade students to Alabama."

• WUSF-Tampa: Here's how some Florida universities rank for free-speech culture and climate. "Stevens said UF’s ranking reflects a number of incidents over the past few years, one example being when professors were temporarily prevented from giving expert testimony."

• News Service of Florida: A new proposal would add a fee for Florida EV drivers. "Florida electric-vehicle owners would pay a registration fee aimed at helping make up for lost gas-tax dollars, under a bill proposed Tuesday by Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater."

• WUSF-Tampa: A USF professor's photos show Idalia's devastating effects on Pinellas beaches. "Storm surge caused by the Category 3 storm resulted in significant damage to the beaches, and now officials are determining how to restore them amid a dispute over property rights."

• Florida Politics: Proposed boating bill would change license scheme, require insurance for alcohol offenders. "Sen. Ileana Garcia recently filed a bill (SB 30) that would require all Florida boaters to carry proof of boater-safety training. It also adds penalties for those who boat under the influence."

• WLRN-Miami: Could the Key West International Airport be renamed in Jimmy Buffett's honor? "More than 19,000 people have signed a petition, created last week, to rename the Key West International Airport in honor of the singer-songwriter synonymous with the island, who died earlier this month."