WUFT News

Real estate prospects looking less dim in Sunshine State

Front Page Edition on May 14th, 2012

By Forrest Smith – WUFT-FM

Florida’s real estate market outlook improved in the first quarter of 2012 according to a new survey from the University of Florida.  Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Forrest Smith spoke with Tim Becker, the director of the  Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies at the UF Warrington College of Business Administration about the findings in the quarterly report–not just the latest positive news but some potential dark clouds on the horizon.

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Business News, economy, Feature, Fire Report | Leave a comment

Reducing risk factors for SIDS

Front Page Edition on May 14th, 2012

By Maria Tridas – WUFT-FM

The Back to Sleep Campaign educates parents and caregivers to do just that, place infants on their backs while they sleep to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While the instances of the SIDS are generally rare, the causes remain unknown. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’S Maria Tridas discusses how a new study emphasizes new methods of prevention through reducing the external risk factors for an infant.

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Feature, Front Page Edition of All Things Considered, Health News | Leave a comment

Call center could bring 500 new jobs to Ocala

WUFT Newsroom on May 11th, 2012

By WUFT-FM Staff

An estimated 500 jobs could be coming to Marion County thanks to customer relations call center, Sitel Worldwide.  After some governmental incentives, the company plans to open a new branch in Ocala. Vice President of Marketing Andrew Coax says the company is looking to hire full-time workers, as well as taking on some stay-at-home positions

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Coax says training for the new positions should start in July.

 

economy | Leave a comment

AAA Study: Teen drivers more at risk for fatal crash when accompanied by a passenger

WUFT Newsroom on May 11th, 2012

By WUFT-FM Staff

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds an increase in the number of teens being involved in fatal car crashes when teens have passengers in the car.  Florida AAA traffic safety culture director Michele Harris says this study should encourage parents to talk to their teens about their safety behind the wheel.

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Harris says AAA has a parent-teen driving agreement that gives parents and teens the opportunity to discuss a safe compromise when their teens are behind the wheel.

Front Page Edition of All Things Considered, State News | Leave a comment

Six months out, Obama holds slight lead in swing state election polls

WUFT Newsroom on May 11th, 2012

By Chip Skambis-WUFT-FM

A new Gallup poll shows a slight lead for President Obama’s re-election bid in key swing states that could decide the 2012 presidential election. In the latest surveys, Republican Mitt Romney holds a slender one percent lead over the president nationally. However in the new Gallup swing state poll, Mr. Obama holds a two point lead over the presumptive GOP nominee. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Chip Skambis spoke with University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus about what this means for both campaigns

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Federal grant for UF for nuclear fuel cell studies

WUFT Newsroom on May 10th, 2012

By WUFT-FM Staff

As part of President Obama’s commitment to support higher education, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the University of Florida has been awarded close to $1 million in grant funds for the nuclear engineering program. Most of the money will fund research on advanced nuclear fuel and fuel cycle technologies that enhance the accident tolerance of light water reactors and safe sustainable fuel cycles. UF nuclear engineering professor James Tulenko says this research is particularly important in the wake of the nuclear disasters in Japan

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The research program that the grants will fund is set to go for three years, at which point it will bring the cooling technology to demonstration phase. Nationally, the energy department is giving out 143 awards totaling $47 million.

 

University of Florida | Leave a comment

Tiny bug, big problem

WUFT Newsroom on May 10th, 2012

By Emily Burris-WUFT-FM

If you’ve driven near the University of Florida campus this week, you may have thought the circus was in town. That’s because several buildings near University Avenue have been tented for termites. Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Emily Burris spoke with University of Florida assistant to the associate vice president for student affairs Sharon Blansett about what’s being done to protect some of UF’s historic buildings

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Blansett says the process should be complete and the tents gone by Saturday.

University of Florida | Leave a comment

A business that’s part of the community

WUFT Newsroom on May 9th, 2012

By Alex de Armas-WUFT-FM

While many businesses went under after the economic crash that affected the country, one area business somehow managed to survive.  As Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Alex de Armas reports, a local hardware store in High Springs has been up and running for decades, and it’s now a local institution

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economy | Leave a comment

Beloved author Sendak remembered

WUFT Newsroom on May 9th, 2012

By Emily Burris-WUFT-FM

Generations of parents and children have lost the creator of the beloved bedtime story, “Where the Wild Things Are.”  Children’s book artist and award-winning author Maurice Sendak has died at the age of 83. University of Florida English Professor John Cech is Sendak’s long-time friend and colleague. Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Emily Burris spoke with him about Sendak’s inspiration, influence and passion for children’s literature.

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“Where the Wild Things Are” will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year.

 

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Marion inmate dies

WUFT Newsroom on May 8th, 2012

By WUFT-FM Staff

Marion County Jail

Frederick Charles Kimball

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the death investigation of a Marion County Jail inmate who died late Monday.  The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says 37 year old Frederick Charles Kimball tried to kill himself around five o’clock yesterday.  The agency won’t say how he was trying to harm himself, only that corrections officers discovered what was happening and performed CPR on him.  Kimball was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.  Kimball was not on a suicide watch, and was jailed on a grand theft charge.  He was also not unfamiliar to corrections officers, it was his 23rd time in the Marion County Jail.  FDLE will perform an independent investigation of the death.

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