The Point, July 29, 2021: In-State Tuition For Florida Grandparents’ Grandkids Is Now Possible Under State Law

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• Fresh Take Florida: In-State College Tuition Program To Help Grandparents Lure Grandkids To Florida. “Next year, out-of-state college students could be eligible to attend Florida’s public universities at the same cost as in-state residents – if they have a grandparent living in the state. The legislation, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law June 29, allows Florida to waive out-of-state fees for as many as 350 students each academic year – saving tens of thousands of dollars for each family over four years.”

• WLRN: Broward School Board Mandates Masks For New School Year, Despite Expecting ‘Trouble’ From DeSantis. “The Broward County school board is defying Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis by requiring masks, triggering yet another battle between local elected officials and state leaders over COVID-19 policy.”

• WFSU: Leon Mandates Vaccines For County Employees. “County Administrator Vince Long says he’s not concerned about blowback from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. The governor has resisted vaccine mandates.”

• Florida Politics: How many Floridians are dying of COVID? Depends on where you look. “State reports suggest about 50 die each week. Actual death tolls are more than 200.”

• News4Jax: Greater Jacksonville leads Florida, nation in COVID resurgence. “Nassau County has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases per capita of any large metropolitan county in the United States, according to a News4Jax analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Baker, Clay and Duval counties are also in the top five counties in large metropolitan areas in America, based on the rate of new infections in the last seven days.”

• News Service of Florida: DeSantis Administration Fires Back In Challenge To Florida ‘Passport’ Ban. “With a hearing scheduled next week, attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration are asking a federal judge to reject arguments by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings that a state ban on so-called “vaccine passports” is unconstitutional.”

• WUFT News: Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried Holds COVID-19 Briefing As Delta Variant Cases Rise. “During the question and answer period, Fried criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom she’s challenging in next year’s gubernatorial race, for his confusing messaging regarding the vaccine. She cited the fact that DeSantis elected not to receive the vaccine in front of the public and that members of his administration are just now receiving the shot.”

• WUFT News: Expect A Traffic Shift Next Week On U.S. 441 Through Paynes Prairie. “One lane of northbound traffic is scheduled to be shifted on Monday to the newly rebuilt northbound lanes if weather conditions permit. Traffic has since been directed so that both lanes of travel are on the southbound side of the roadway.”

• Miami Herald ($): The fight over the condo collapse area: Surfside wants in. Miami-Dade still says no. “The mayor of Surfside says the town has waited long enough for Miami-Dade County’s permission to inspect the remains of the Champlain Towers South condo building that killed 98 people in a June 24 collapse that remains under investigation by county and federal authorities.”

• Ocala Gazette: Historic Reddick High School set for demolition. “On Tuesday, the Marion County School Board voted to accept the cost to demolish the old school building at just under $500,000. No immediate date was set for demolition, but Allstate Construction, which was awarded the contract, hopes to finish the job by early November, according to a letter to the school board.”

• Health: Do You Need To Wear A Mask Indoors Where You Live? Check This Map

• Health: You Don’t Have To Be An Olympian To Prioritize Your Mental Health

• Politics: The DOJ Won’t Defend Rep. Mo Brooks In Court Against Claims He Incited The Jan. 6 Riot

• World: An Olympic Swimmer Who Battled COVID-19 Twice Is Now A Gold Medalist

• World: U.S. Swimmer Caeleb Dressel Wins His First-Ever Individual Olympic Gold Medal

• Business: Google And Facebook Mandate Vaccines For Employees At U.S. Offices

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