WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The lengthy process of cleaning up started almost as soon as the rain and winds from Hurricane Idalia subsided Wednesday.
Read More »Idalia survivor of storm’s fury near landfall: ‘Don’t ever want to go through that again’
Gun instructors offer their perspectives as Florida becomes a ‘constitutional carry’ state
The permitless carry bill, House Bill 543, also dubbed “constitutional carry” by proponents, goes into effect July 1. The bill allows for the concealed carry of firearms without the need for a Concealed Weapon and Firearm License, which is acquired through a course. Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the …
Read More »Frustrations run high despite low attendance at protest against Sasse selection vote
The protesters assembled to voice their disapproval of the UF Board of Trustees’ final interview with its only candidate for president, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska.
Read More »UF Faculty Senate approves vote of no confidence in presidential selection process
The University of Florida Faculty Senate passed a resolution Thursday indicating it has no confidence in a selection process that designated Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, as the sole nominee to be UF’s 13th president. After two-and-a-half hours of debate, the Senate voted 72-16 to approve the resolution drafted last week stating the faculty was dissatisfied with a lack of openness in the selection process. Many faculty members were also displeased with Sasse’s lack of support for abortion and LGBTQ rights.
Read More »UF students and faculty voice their opposition before Sasse’s return to campus
Students and faculty at the University of Florida are preparing to again display their disapproval of the university’s sole presidential finalist -- U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse R-Nebraska. Opposition grew this week as the UF Faculty Senate was poised for an emergency meeting Thursday to consider a vote of no confidence in the selection process. This came as students were preparing another protest when Sasse returns to campus on Nov. 1 for a final interview with the UF Board of Trustees.
Read More »Before the protest, here’s what Ben Sasse said at UF forum
During his chance to speak before he had to flee from protestors, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse tried to assure faculty that he is the right person to become president of the University of Florida.
Read More »Forum turns into protest: Sen. Ben Sasse’s visit to UF spurs student unrest
About 300 protesters disrupted an introduction by taking over a campus auditorium where U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse was being introduced to students and faculty Monday as the presumptive University of Florida president.
Read More »Despite the pandemic and protests, Ocala Pride Fest is back and booming
Not for eight hours did the stage at the downtown Ocala Square go quiet during this year’s Ocala Pride Fest. Between live performances by local bands, vocalists and the dazzling drag queens and kings, Ocala’s downtown shimmered with the celebration of LGBTQ pride.
Read More »Ocala Pride Inc. leaders say Saturday’s return of Pride Fest is needed now more than ever
After two years of cancellations due to COVID-19, Ocala Pride Fest is back to celebrate LGBTQ culture with vendors, live music performances and an assortment of food. The Fest will take place at the downtown Ocala Square, 1 Northeast 1st Ave., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday The event organizers, Ocala Pride Inc., say that Pride Fest is needed now more than ever in light of the discourse around LGBTQ equality taking root in Florida and reverberating around the country. Coming after legislation like the Parental Rights in Education bill, or the “Don’t Say Gay” bill as its dubbed by critics, LGBTQ rights in Florida will take center stage in Ocala this weekend.
Read More »Residents of Hills of Santa Fe breathe a sigh of relief in the wake of Hurricane Ian
When Hurricane Ian was originally projected to make landfall around the Tampa Bay area and rampage up the center of Florida near Gainesville, the residents of Hills of Santa Fe held their breath. In a community with a long history of severe flooding, homeowners prepared for the worst. Then the storm changed course, heading northeast near Orlando and out into the Atlantic Ocean. Making landfall as a Category 4 storm near Fort Myers and Cape Coral before heading northeast, Hurricane Ian largely spared Gainesville of extreme damage.
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