The Point

The Point, Feb. 6, 2023: Over 100 attend vigil for Alachua County Jail inmate

WUFT | By WUFT News

Published February 6, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.

The stories near you

• WUFT News: Vigil held at Bo Diddley Plaza following man’s death at Alachua County Jail. "One hundred people gathered Thursday night at Bo Diddley Plaza for a moment of silence in the wake of an inmate’s death at the Alachua County Jail in late January."

• WUFT News: Gainesville City Commission vows to end gun ‘crisis’ after 3rd Avenue shooting. "The plan would rely heavily on community involvement, public safety research, improving access to opportunity and housing, and fine-tuning or developing programs aimed at preventing and stemming gun crimes."

• WUFT News: Gainesville residents want state investigation into GRU; city credit rating gets downgraded, "Members of a Gainesville Facebook group described the relationship between Gainesville Regional Utilities and the people of Alachua County as toxic."

• WUFT News: Teachers from Putnam County reflect on mentor-mentee program. "The highs and lows of teaching are the only guarantees in a school day. But new Putnam County teachers do not have to navigate them alone."

• The Alligator: Commission approves zoning for affordable housing units in complex to be built in Innovation District. "The apartment would be one of the first in Gainesville to place affordable housing within walking distance of a grocery store, Willits said."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Ward talks UF relationship, Sasse start. "Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward said he hopes for a pleasant and conversant relationship with incoming UF president Ben Sasse, who starts Monday."

• WUFT News: Community gives back to Gainesville waiter after he survives motorcycle accident. "One wrong turn from an uninsured driver left him with 30 staples in his neck, nine broken ribs, a broken wrist — and no way to pay for it."

• WUFT News: Marion Therapeutic Riding Association celebrates 40 years of service in the community. "The celebration — at the College of Central Florida Vintage Farm in Marion County — highlighted the association’s mission of helping those who live with physical and mental challenges in Marion County and nearby communities by offering equine-assisted learning and therapeutic horseback riding for all ages."

Today's sponsored message

Around the state

• WUSF-Tampa: President Biden is set to speak in Tampa on Thursday. "The stop is happening two days after the president delivers his State of the Union speech at the Capitol."

• News Service of Florida: Health officials move forward on marijuana licenses. "Florida health officials will accept applications for 22 medical-marijuana licenses in late April, in a long-awaited move announced Friday by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Another Florida special session starts Monday. Here's what's on the schedule. "Typically, a special legislative session focuses on just one—maybe two—subjects. This time, lawmakers are tacking a full slate of issues."

• WJCT-Jacksonville: UF Health and Flagler Health+ work toward merger. "The two health systems announced this week that they have entered into a nonbinding letter of intent that would make Flagler Health+ part of UF Health. "

• Florida Politics: Disney World union rejects latest contract offer. "Disney World’s biggest union coalition overwhelmingly rejected the company’s contract offer Friday for $1 annual raises as some cast members said that’s not enough money to earn a living wage at a time when Disney parks generate record profits."

• WUFT News: The baby formula shortage crisis is not over. "Today, the issue continues to make its impact as parents find themselves walking up and down aisles of empty shelves, looking for the formula they need to feed their infants."

• News Service of Florida: Visit Florida takes aim at tourism 'misperceptions' left by Hurricane Ian. "Visit Florida is set to move into the final phase of a $5 million marketing effort aimed at offsetting 'negative' impressions the tourism marketing agency says were created by media coverage of Hurricane Ian."

• News Service of Florida: The Florida Supreme Court drops fairness and diversity courses for judges. "The Supreme Court, which determines rules for the system, issued a decision on Thursday that revised continuing-education requirements. Part of the decision dealt with a requirement that judges receive training in judicial ethics."

•NPR: A Black History Month-themed police car in Miami draws criticism. "The newly designed cruiser has been under criticism since its debut on Thursday, with critics calling it tone deaf and ill-timed in light of the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols by police officers in Memphis, Tenn., last month."