Amy Thomas wasn’t new to social work. She had been helping vulnerable children and adults for more than 20 years when she started working at Elder Options, a Gainesville-based nonprofit designated by the government to serve elders in 16 north-central Florida counties. What was new to Thomas was the COVID-19 …
Read More »Gainesville drag community wary of Florida drag ban bill
Performers and venues worry about the implications — but believe that drag will survive For Gainesville-based drag queen Star Shine, drag has always been connected with family. Star, who asked to use her stage name out of fear for losing her job, was first introduced to drag by her mother …
Read More »Meet Alachua’s Resident Horse Riding Teacher and Wiccan Priestess
Kami Landy found her bright yellow dress just in time for the spring equinox. It was a floral robe she made with fabric she bought from a garage sale months ago. But that night, her forgotten passion project was perfect for the night’s spiritual occasion. Yellow represents air, the east …
Read More »Bill Requiring Mandatory Moment Of Silence In Florida Public Schools Passes House – But Not Without Controversy
Under the proposal, which would cover all K-12 public school classrooms, teachers can not recommend what students do with that time but should encourage parents to have that conversation with their children.
Read More »Facebook Streamers, Lectern Stealers: These Floridians Are Facing Charges In Capitol Siege
Weeks later, twenty-three Floridians have been charged in the Jan. 6 raid on the Capitol, representing nearly one-in-10 of the total.
Read More »Finders Not Keepers? Florida Considering Ban On Keeping Found Spacecraft Parts
Lawmakers in Florida, where private firm SpaceX is increasingly launching missions to outer space, are considering a bill to add criminal penalties for anyone who finds a spacecraft or parts of one and tries to keep it.
Read More »Florida Black Man Shot By White Officer In 2001 Still Waiting On Payout From His City
It’s been nearly 20 years, but Reginald Jackson thinks often about the night a police officer here fired a bullet into his neck after a traffic stop.
Read More »Florida Wrestles With Surrendered Newborns: Bill Would Standardize ‘Baby Boxes,’ Give Mothers 30 Days To Give Away Infants Without Penalty
The bill would standardize the use of a newborn safety device, or “baby box,” at drop-off locations like hospitals, fire stations or emergency medical stations.
Read More »Marion County Homeless Shelter Receives Over $250,000 In COVID-19 Funding
The Marion County Board of Commissioners in September had approved a contract that gave $65,000 to IES. On Tuesday, the board added an extra $277,524 — over four times the original amount.
Read More »‘An Inspiration To Us All’: First Openly Transgender Woman To Run For Florida Senate Dies Weeks Before Election Day
Melina Farley-Barratt died of cancer on Oct. 13 at 41. She left behind numerous accomplishments as an activist, politician and humanitarian, including being the first transgender woman to run for Florida Senate.
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