Mike Loizzo
March 20, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM
University of Florida President Ben Sasse says the process to craft a new strategic plan will begin this summer. He made the announcement at Friday’s board of trustees meeting. Sasse covered a wide range of points he thinks the university needs to address. He says the items come from his …
Read More »
Bianca Papa
March 14, 2023 Transportation
90 miles. The 89-year-old man averages this distance on his purple tricycle in the blazing Florida heat six days of the week. This man is Roger Wright. Wright has been club cycling for more than 75 years. When he moved to Gainesville from Rhode Island in February 2020, he joined …
Read More »
Camille Hagins
March 8, 2023 Human Interest
Education in Florida is changing. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent policies to change K-12 education have restricted educators from teaching African American Studies and resulted in strict statewide book bans — punishable by felony charge. As he looks to the collegiate scale, DeSantis pushes for further restriction, including proposals to ban …
Read More »
Rae Riiska
March 6, 2023 Human Interest
Robert Diaz
March 3, 2023 Transportation
A 2014 City of Gainesville feasibility study on the use of streetcars and people movers has residents talking about ways to improve public transportation.
Read More »
Destiny Dunning
March 3, 2023 Human Interest, Racial equity, Rural equity
One of Barbara Johnson’s, 67, fondest childhood memories was when she would go outside and spend time around her farm animals. Some of her favorite parts of this were the things she would find around these animals, one being cow dung. She would then take chunks of the dried-up dung …
Read More »
Katie Hyson
March 3, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America
Kreitzer said she would observe from farther back, but the officers warned they’d arrest her if she didn’t drive away.
Read More »
Maria Dickson
March 2, 2023 Agriculture, Rural equity
Imagine having to walk more than 20 minutes to buy some fruit. This is the reality of nearly 40% of the U.S. population living in food deserts. As currently defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, a food desert is an urban area where you have to travel more …
Read More »
Katie Hyson
March 2, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America, Rural equity
Katie Hyson is finishing her time as a Report for America Corps Member for WUFT News. She is headed to San Diego to report on race and equity for the NPR/PBS station there, KPBS.
Read More »
Joseph Palus
March 1, 2023 Human Interest
Pickleball is on the rise, and the addicting sport has made its way onto college campuses throughout the state. A sport that was originally made popular by a “senior” aged crowd, is now played and enjoyed by college students. Promoting the perfect balance of a social interaction and competitive spirit, …
Read More »
Cristina Santiago-Espinet
February 28, 2023 Human Interest
A University of Florida student is one of 10 women who will cycle 1,700 miles along the Pacific coast in June to raise awareness of sex trafficking.
Read More »
Katie Hyson
February 22, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America
Bradley's injuries were so severe that he had to be airlifted to the University of South Florida medical hospital after the University of Health Shands Hospital was unable to treat him. The treatment left Bradley, who was uninsured, with more than a quarter-million dollars in medical debt.
Read More »
Rae Riiska
February 22, 2023 Human Interest
Verlon Webb has owned Webb’s Antique Mall since 1995. He has a rich family history in antiquing and at one point owned 12-14 antique malls around the country. Webb essentially invented the style of the antique mall by bringing multiple dealers together so the public can shop in a single …
Read More »
Lauren Suggs
February 20, 2023 Human Interest
More Americans are using coupons again thanks to inflation and the convenience of using digital coupon codes for products ranging from household items and groceries to beauty products and electronics
Read More »
Augustus Hoff
February 14, 2023 Holidays, Human Interest
More than 40 North Central Florida residents of all ages attended the Annual Senior Citizens Valentine’s Day Ball organized by Deeper Purpose Community Church in High Springs.
Read More »
Katie Hyson
February 14, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America
Two African American women in the service – both with Florida ties – speak to why that is, why it matters, and how to change it.
Read More »
Robert Quinn
February 11, 2023 Human Interest
The annual cancer fundraiser called Beer for Brains honoring Jeremy Payne, who lost his battle with brain cancer in 2020, is Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at High Springs Brewing Co.
Read More »
Mike Loizzo
February 8, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM
The American Political Order is rooted in its founding more than 200-years ago. That is one of the topics scholars will cover at the first event hosted by the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida. The discussion features Dr. Adam Smith, the Edward Orsborn …
Read More »
wgcu
February 8, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM
The Fort Myers nonprofit Alliance for the Arts is collecting stories as part of an oral history project called, “Storm Stories” from anyone who experienced Hurricane Ian. A dedicated, unmanned voicemail is set up to collect 3-minute audio submissions. The phone number is 239-744-3047. There’s also an online submission form …
Read More »
Mike Loizzo
February 7, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM
Tuesday is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). It was first observed in 1999 to acknowledge how HIV disproportionately affects Black people. The Florida Department of Health in Citrus County is offering free, rapid HIV testing. Spokesperson Amy Douglas says the goal is to stop the spread of the disease. …
Read More »
NPR News
February 6, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden will deliver the annual State of the Union address. Coverage of the event will begin shortly before 9 pm. In his speech, the president is expected to address his involvement in the 2024 election and his ability to hold Democrats and Republicans together. The war …
Read More »
Natalie Tajeddine Sleiman
February 3, 2023 Human Interest
Not much has changed more than a year after a national baby formula shortage had parents scrambling to find powdered formula at area stores. Today, mothers are still walking up and down aisles of empty shelves looking for the formula they need to feed their infants.
Read More »
Kristin Moorehead
February 3, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM, Human Interest, Longform
It’s been a little over three weeks since a heated debate broke out between Micanopy residents and officials at a town hall meeting. These weeks have raised questions about the town’s ordinance regulating pennant flags, equal enforcement and whether the place that’s believed to be Florida’s oldest inland town is …
Read More »
Richard Bennett
February 1, 2023 Transportation
One of the busiest roads in Gainesville is getting a facelift to modernize it and emphasize safety, the city announced on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city an $8 million grant to begin the work. The revitalization will affect a 4.15-mile stretch of the roadway, and improvements …
Read More »
Troy Myers
February 1, 2023 Transportation
GAINESVLLE, Fla. – Two new traffic lights are up along the westbound lanes of University Avenue on Northwest 16th and 19th Streets. The lights are being installed by the Florida Department of Transportation. “They were looking at where we are seeing pedestrians cross where we don’t have good signals. So, …
Read More »
Katie Hyson
February 1, 2023 Report for America, Rural equity
An Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson says facilities county-wide will soon be reviewed. Hawthorne Middle/High didn’t wait on upgrades to win.
Read More »
Xinyue Li
January 31, 2023 Holidays
The University of Florida Chinese Students and Scholars Association celebrated Chinese New Year during their Spring Festival by inviting students to participate in a variety of traditional Chinese activities and share food on the second floor of the J. Wayne Reitz Union on Sunday, Jan. 29. UF students from various …
Read More »
Derrah Getter
January 31, 2023 Transportation
Gainesville city commissioners adopted a Vision Zero policy in 2018, aimed at eliminating all traffic-related deaths and injuries by 2040.
Read More »
Claire Grunewald
January 30, 2023 Human Interest
Around 150 people gathered at The Old Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness to protest abortion rights at the annual Roe v. Wade Memorial Service.
Read More »
Silas Morgan
January 30, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM
The city of Gainesville announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with a nonprofit to participate in a nationwide initiative to protect local bee populations. Let's find out what all the buzz is about.
Read More »
digitaldesk
January 30, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America
These are not artifacts, challenge those seeking their return. They are human beings with family members. It’s time to bring them home.
Read More »
Katie Hyson
January 19, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America
Folston described demand for immediate community-wide equity, but said it’s a long game and the first step is addressing the issue within the city’s own staff.
Read More »
Jake Reyes
January 17, 2023 Human Interest, Immigration
It has been a year since Hakimullah Hamim, an Afghan refugee, arrived in Jacksonville. Adjusting to a new home and a new job as a data analyst for Stillwater Insurance Group, the 30-year-old has found a new life with his wife in North Florida. But he remembers the tough journey …
Read More »
Kristin Moorehead
January 12, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM, Racial equity
This year marks the centennial anniversary of the massacre in the town of Rosewood. WUFT’s Kristin Moorehead spoke to University of Florida history professor Steve Noll about the significance of this event. Editor’s note: This interview transcript and the audio above have been edited for length and clarity. Transcript: KRISTIN …
Read More »
Katie Hyson
January 9, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM, Racial equity, Report for America
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the destruction of Rosewood. Listen to a report from the Sunday wreath laying ceremony.
Read More »