The Point

The Point, Dec. 21, 2023: Florida's largest teachers union could lose contract

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published December 21, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

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The stories near you

• Fresh Take Florida: Losing Democrat asks Florida judge to block newest Republican lawmaker from seat in Legislature. "The losing Democrat in a state House election in South Florida is asking a county judge to block the newest Republican member of the Legislature from holding his seat over a dispute about his residency in the district, as Gov. Ron DeSantis this week led the effort to formally certify the race results."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Gainesville sets special meeting over GRU request delayed last week. "The special meeting will come one week after the Gainesville City Commission voted 4-1 to table the item until the first meeting in January."

• Ocala Gazette: Voting precincts change for 2024 general election. "As election season nears, the Marion County Supervisor of Elections Office has announced changes in precinct or polling locations for 16,000 voters."

• WUFT News: Florida manatees may be returning to the endangered species list – here’s why. "The ongoing unusual mortality event is prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider reclassifying Florida’s state marine mammal as an endangered species."

• WCJB: Inglis Town Commission special meeting leads to 3 resignations. "Three Inglis Town Commissioners stepped down tonight and three new ones were appointed. The mayor and one more commissioner are planning to do the same next week."

• Mainstreet Daily News: HCA North Florida Hospital meets goal to feed 50,000 for 50th anniversary. "HCA Florida North Florida Hospital announced Tuesday that the hospital colleagues had raised more than $8,000 to provide 50,000 meals through the Bread of the Mighty Food Bank."

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Around the state

• WLRN-Miami: Florida's biggest teachers union could lose its contract after failing to get enough paying members. "United Teachers of Dade announced this week that its members failed to meet that requirement — and some 30,000 union members could ultimately be left without representation as a result."

• WUSF-Tampa: Recess is still in session after changes to sweeping education bill. "The provision, which has since been removed, would have allowed schools to break up the 20-minute recess time. It also gave educators the option to prescribe tasks or activities to students during the break."

• News Service of Florida: Florida is suing the federal government over Medicaid records. "As it tries to fend off a potential class-action lawsuit over dropping people from the Medicaid program, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration this week alleged that federal health officials have violated an open-government law by not providing records that could be relevant to the case."

• Miami Herald: 30 Florida counties sue, saying consumers at risk in expansion of a home loan program. "As Florida’s insurance crisis makes hurricane hardening more important than ever, consumer advocates have pressed to reign in a popular — but controversial — loan program that allows homeowners to pay for new roofs or impact windows through their property tax bills."

• News Service of Florida: Descendants fight to maintain historic Black communities. Keeping their legacy alive is complicated. "Historic Black communities have dwindled from their once-thriving existence in the United States and efforts to preserve what's left encounter complicated challenges."

• News Service of Florida: Florida Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to felon gun law. "Justices on Monday issued an order rejecting an appeal by William Edenfield, who was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after a 2020 shooting incident in Leon County. Edenfield went to the Supreme Court in August after the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected his Second Amendment arguments."

• WMFE-Orlando: Ridership of high-speed rail service Brightline is on the rise. "The service from Miami to West Palm extended to Orlando in September. Brightline’s Katie Mitzner said the holiday traffic is only increasing as families explore Brightline as an alternative option for being on a plane or in a car."

• WUSF-Tampa: After the harvest, farmers let their crops rot. These volunteers come to the rescue. "Gleaning involves picking perfectly good fruits and vegetables from farmers' fields after the harvest, so they can be donated to food banks."

• Tampa Bay Times ($): Florida Christmas trees might be a little ugly, but they’re better for the planet. "Forestry managers and sustainability experts say both artificial and shipped trees have their drawbacks. But there’s a third, overlooked option: Native Florida pines."