The 2010 Florida Medical Examiners Commission reported 5,647 people die with one or more prescription drugs in their system. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Nickelle Smith reports, the state of Florida is making strides to lower this number. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/FLOxycodoneDrop.mp3]  

With 8 candidates vying for the Gainesville At-Large 1 city commission seat, most candidates were not able to gain enough support to move forward to the run-off.  Realtor Donna Lutz finished fourth, but she is happy with the campaign she ran. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/01/Lutz6.mp3] She says the one thing she would like …

Each year rescue personnel are called to beaches and home swimming pools in child drowning cases. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Nickelle Smith reports, an Olympic swimmer brought a message to Gainesville parents this week encouraging them to get their kids into swimming lessons. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/OlympicSwimmerWrap.mp3]

From crushing walls of concrete with their bare hands to ripping phone books in half, Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Nickelle Smith reports how a group of professional athletes is using these feats to motivate Gainesville area students. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/StrengthTeam.mp3]

Local newspapers, Gainesville Sun and Ocala Star Banner and 14 other print publications, may soon have a new owner. The New York Times Company is talking about selling it’s regional media group to Halifax Media Holdings. The regional papers currently reach more than 430-thousand subscribers and employ more than 17-hundred people.  …

The holiday season may bring an increase in crime for the Gainesville area. Gainesville Police Department Corporal Angelina Valuri says the department is stepping up patrol to act against criminals who take advantage of people going out of town. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2011/12/Valuri4.mp3] Valuri says GPD is especially keeping an eye out for …

 A trip to the doctor is not only becoming more pricey for the average Gainesville resident but for our four-legged friends as well.  WUFT-FM’s Nickelle Smith says the rising costs of veterinary services is affecting pet owners and vets alike. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2011/12/RisingVetCosts.mp3]

The Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force has apprehended the third suspect in a series of recent home invasions in Gainesville. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Todd Kelly says Christopher Charles Mcintosh was detained without incident and faces charges for aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, false imprisonment, larceny …

With Veterans Day coming, this weekend’s All American Liberty Fest will honor those who fought with car shows, live music, activities and more. University of Florida and Santa Fe College Veteran Affairs Spokeswoman Lauren Cook says the event hopes to reconnect veterans to the community. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2011/11/Cook2.mp3] She says veterans need …

Florida tops the list of states with doctors dispensing  the prescription drug Oxycodone.  Florida lawmakers are starting a statewide prescription monitoring system.  While that may combat prescription drug abuse, University of Florida Professor in the College of Pharmacy Paul Doering says it may lead to violence in pharmacies. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Doering4.mp3] Doering says  a former student of …