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The stories near you

• The Alligator: DeSantis orders Florida universities to waive certain transfer requirements for Jewish students. "The executive order waives credit hour requirements for first- and second-year university students and application date windows for all transfer students. DeSantis also encouraged universities to grant out-of-state tuition waivers on a case-by-case basis for financially disadvantaged students."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Alachua County to host WMA Indoor Championships. "More than 4,000 athletes participated in the 2023 WMACi championships held in Torun, Poland. Over 10,000 visitors, with over 60% coming from outside the U.S., are projected to visit Alachua County in March 2025."

• WCJB: Prosecutors won’t charge the parents of a young boy who drowned in a pond in Gainesville. "Police investigators had raised the possibility of manslaughter charges after they say they found a crystalline substance at the business. Prosecutors say blood tests did not show drugs were involved."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Farm Share to distribute food at Lake City Police Department. "There is no income or household size restriction, and the event is free for everyone."

• WCJB: Mayor, council member appointed in Dunnellon say there’s no concern over Form 6. "Some familiar faces are back to serve the City of Dunnellon after other council members stepped down due to concerns of Form 6."

• Mainstreet Daily News: December rainfall marks third highest North Florida total since 1932. "According to the Suwannee River Water Management District’s (SRWMD) monthly Hydrologic Conditions Report released on Wednesday, the 8.28 inches of rainfall was over 2½ times the normal average since 1932."

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Around the state

• WFSU-Tallahassee: The Florida House and Senate disagree on changes to the state's child labor laws. "A proposed controversial bill set to roll back child labor protections in Florida passed its second committee stop Wednesday, but further changes are likely coming due to differences in its Senate companion."

• News Service of Florida: Florida's Senate president opposes further restrictions to voting by mail. "Asked by a reporter if she agreed with the proposal (SB 1752) by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, Passidomo simply replied, 'No.' The Naples Republican said many seniors in her district prefer voting by mail."

• WUWF-Pensacola: A 'major win' for PEN America, publishers, and parents in book ban lawsuit. "A lawsuit challenging the Escambia County School District’s removal of books from school libraries will move forward toward a jury trial, in a closely watched case that could have implications for parents and students across the state."

• Associated Press: Suspended Hillsborough state attorney Andrew Warren's case is headed back to trial. "An appeals court sent the case back to a trial judge after Warren was suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, citing First Amendment issues."

• WMFE-Orlando: First female president of Rollins College passes away at 88. "In a statement, President Grant Cornwell said under her leadership entering students’ SAT scores rose, along with annual rankings of the college."

• Associated Press: Rays shortstop Wander Franco faces a lesser charge as judge analyzes evidence in ongoing probe. "Wander Franco is facing a lesser charge after a judge in the Dominican Republic analyzed evidence that alleges the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent."

• Jacksonville Today: St. Augustine and Amelia Island vie for state’s Black history museum. "Few would dispute that Northeast Florida’s Black history predates the United States. Now, two communities that are older than the republic, St. Augustine and Amelia Island, are competing to house the Florida Museum of Black History."

• WMFE-Orlando: Y'all come back now ya hear! Country Bear Jamboree temporarily closes this month. "An iconic band of singing bears, will take their first break from performing since 1971, as Disney reworks its iconic attraction the Country Bear Jamboree at Disney World in Orlando."

From NPR News

• Weather: Parts of the Northeast and South are recovering after a huge, deadly winter storm

• National: Don Scott becomes first Black speaker in Virginia Legislature's 400-year history

• Law: Police release video of officer shooting boy, 11, who had called 911 for help

• National: Golden Gate Bridge puts up net after decades of requests for suicide deterrents

• World: This American is one of the few allowed into Gaza. This is the horror she saw

• Politics: Hunter Biden makes a surprise appearance at his own contempt hearing

• Politics: House Republicans start process to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

• Business: U.S. says yes to new bitcoin funds, paving the way for more Americans to buy crypto

Kristin Moorehead curated today's edition of The Point.