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The stories near you
• WUFT News: Alachua County School District makes changes to book challenge process. "Under the new guidelines, book challenges will go directly to school principals instead of a school-level library advisory council."
• Florida Storms: National Hurricane Center releases new forecast cone for 2024 season. "Previous NHC cones would show the projected path of a tropical storm or hurricane, as well as the timing of the storm and any watches and warnings for coastal areas. The new graphic will continue to have the same information but illustrate potential impacts for areas away from the coast."
• Mainstreet Daily News: Library governing board misses quorum to vote on director evaluation. "The Alachua County Library District (ACLD) Governing Board failed to form a quorum in its meeting on Thursday. The board was set to discuss its performance evaluation, and one from the Board of Trustees, for Library Director Shaney Livingston."
• Ocala Gazette: Prosecutors seek death penalty against Paddock Mall shooter. "Shell was indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 25 and charged with premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon."
• WCJB: Road resurfacing project set to begin in Levy County. "FDOT officials say the project will focus on a one-mile stretch of alternate US 27 from State Road 24 to Northwest 75th Street in Bronson."
• WUFT News: Alachua County man rejects stalking, burglary plea deal. "Troy-Baker Robinson, 35, was offered a 3-year prison sentence with 3 years of probation by prosecutors to resolve all burglary and stalking-related charges from his September 11 arrest."
• WUFT News: Kendall Jenner serves drinks at Gainesville bars promoting 818 Tequila. "On a typical Wednesday night in Gainesville most students can’t expect much, but this Wednesday night students were surprised to see supermodel and reality TV star Kendall Jenner bartending at the Social at Midtown and The Swamp Restaurant."
• WUFT News: A pirate's life: Levy County man steers toward entertaining as full-time buccaneer. "Keith Carson, 66, gets to live the life of which most children dream. As a full-time pirate entertainer — instead of pillaging towns and taunting girls and boys — he uses his powers for good."
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Around the state
• News Service of Florida: 'White supremacy' comments could jeopardize a Florida monuments bill. "Passidomo, R-Naples, said members of the Republican-controlled Senate Community Affairs Committee were still “upset” Wednesday morning because speakers supporting the bill cited a need to protect 'white culture' and 'white supremacy.'"
• Associated Press: A 4.0 earthquake rattles residents along Florida's east coast. "It occurred about 100 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral. The last known earthquake in the state was in the Florida Panhandle in 2020."
• WUSF-Tampa: Sarasota County begins distributing HUD money for Hurricane Ian recovery. "Resilient SRQ is the newly created county program tasked with administering more than $200 million in Hurricane Ian recovery funds from the federal government. Its first program launched this week."
• WLRN-Miami: Levine resigns as chair of FAU Board after vote of no confidence over presidential search 'mess.' "The head of the board of Florida Atlantic University has voluntarily resigned his position as chair — saying criticisms of his leadership have become a distraction as the school tries to find a new permanent president."
• News Service of Florida: 10 big issues at mid-session mark for Florida Legislature. "Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session reached its halfway point Wednesday. Here are updates on 10 big issues in the session."
• WMFE-Orlando: Nation's first Black military pilots one step closer to getting legal holiday in Florida. "Under a bill that’s in its third and final committee in the Florida Senate, the sacrifices of the Tuskegee Airmen would be remembered every year on a special holiday in Florida."
• Associated Press: NASA climate satellite blasts off to survey oceans and atmosphere of a warming Earth. "The satellite will spend at least three years studying the oceans from 420 miles (676 kilometers) up, as well as the atmosphere. It will scan the globe daily with two of the science instruments. A third instrument will take monthly measurements."
• WLRN-Miami: Palm Beach Zoo welcomes furry baby Hoffman's two-toed sloth. "Wilbur, who was the last sloth born at the Palm Beach Zoo 21 years ago, and her mate Dustin are part of a professional scientific breeding program called the Species Survival Plan. It manages the population of sloths in human care since their genetics may contribute to wild populations in the future, zoo officials said."
From NPR News
• Health: Research at the heart of a federal case against the abortion pill has been retracted
• Health: Senators ask CEOs why their drugs cost so much more in the U.S.
• Law: Justice Department will not charge Biden in classified documents probe
• Elections: Trump wins Nevada caucus, consolidating GOP power
• Health: It's no surprise there's a global measles outbreak. But the numbers are 'staggering'
• National: More than 5,000 Maui residents are still displaced after last summer's fires
• National: A year after Ohio derailment, U.S. freight trains remain largely unregulated
• Business: Snoop Dogg and Master P sue Walmart and Post for trying to sabotage their cereal
• Sports: Millions could place legal bets on the Super Bowl. Just not in California or Missouri
Kristin Moorehead curated today's edition of The Point.