The Point

The Point, Oct. 31, 2023: Long COVID support group brings hope

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published October 31, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: North Central Florida support group brings hope to people with long COVID. "Severe fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, depression and anxiety are some of more than 200 symptoms in Long COVID listed by The Patient-Led Research Collaborative. These symptoms can fluctuate and behave in unpredictable ways."

• WUFT News: Gainesville artist Laura Jane Grace given key to the city amid punk rock festival. "Laura Jane Grace arrived in Gainesville in 1997 to make music and create a life for herself. In the process, she formed a punk group considered iconic by fans, took part in initiatives to support her community and became one of the first visible transgender figures in popular culture."

• WUFT News: Study: Hurricane Ian unleashed deadly, flesh-eating bacteria into Florida coastal waters. "A Journal mBio study confirmed Hurricane Ian, which struck Southwest Florida in September 2022, unleashed various Vibrio bacteria that can cause illness and death in humans."

• The Alligator: Local domestic violence resources struggle with funding cuts, overcrowding. "As Peaceful Paths receives most of its funding from VOCA, the recent budget cuts could have drastic impacts on the center, Peaceful Paths Executive Director Theresa Beachy said. The center suffered a $500,000 cut to its yearly budget this month and will take another $400,000 cut next year, unless the Florida legislature steps in to address the funding gap."

• WCJB: Casey DeSantis announces Hurricane Idalia relief funding. "DeSantis says the more than $6 million in financial aid is mostly sourced from the Florida Disaster Fund. It includes $700 thousand dollars to create a grant program within the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association."

• WUFT News: Pride month events continue with a look at the past. "The exhibit is part of a large collection gifted to the Matheson by the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, which also planned the festival last weekend. It will now be up until Nov. 22."

• WUFT News: Florida minimum wage increase to $13 an hour could change the way local businesses operate. "Ben Guzick, a Gainesville bakery owner, is evaluating how he needs to run his business after the recent increase in Florida’s minimum wage to $12 on Sept. 30."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Air Force grants $5 million for joint UF, FSU, FAMU research. "The UF’s College of Engineering will research how high-speed planes and unmanned aerospace vehicles can change shape while flying."

• The Alligator: ‘Black Cat Bias’: The superstition behind black cats’ bad reputation. "Black cats are admitted into shelters at a higher rate than their less pigmented counterparts. They also get adopted less than any other coat color, meaning black cats often experience the highest chance of euthanasia, according to the National Library of Medicine."

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Around the state

• WFSU-Tallahassee: An appeal court will hear arguments over North Florida's congressional districts. "The state constitution prohibits the diminishment of a minority group's ability to elect their candidate of choice. The provision is part of the Fair Districts Amendments, which were added to the constitution by voters in 2010 in an effort to ensure fairly drawn federal and state voting maps."

• WLRN-Miami: Uninsured Floridians may soon shop for health insurance in federal marketplace. "Each year, the federal government sets an enrollment window for people to shop for health insurance coverage that goes into effect the following calendar year. That signup period begins Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2024 for plans on the federal marketplace."

• WUSF-Tampa: Here's the current state of abortion rights in Florida. "The Florida Supreme Court must decide whether to uphold a 15-week abortion ban signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, groups are trying to place a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights up to about 24 weeks of pregnancy on the 2024 ballot."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: DeSantis selects Col. Mark Thieme as new Florida State Guard Director. "Florida’s civilian military force, formerly known as the State Guard, is getting a new leader. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last Friday, that United States Marine Corps veteran Mark Thieme will take the helm as the next director of the Florida State Guard."

• News Service of Florida: Florida lawmakers will look at providing extra funding for school vouchers. "Florida lawmakers are gearing up to provide additional funding to a part of the state's school-voucher program that serves students with special needs, as some proponents of the scholarships say demand has outpaced supply."

• WGCU-Fort Myers: Sea and air drones coordinate to get data from Hurricane Tammy. "Saildrone and NOAA released footage on Monday from Hurricane Tammy, captured near the western and southern eyewall of the storm."

• WMFE-Orlando: Halloween can be a scary time for seniors living with Alzheimer's. "Groups that work with Alzheimer's caregivers are recommending a calm space with soothing music and no spooky surprises this Halloween."