Environment

Wildfires in North Central Florida continue to burn with the County Line fire causing most area smoke.  Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Michael Cadigan says the haze is causing problems along area roadways. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/04/CountyLineFireSmokeWrap.mp3] Osceola National Forest Firefighter Byron Hart captured this night scene on the County Line Fire on Saturday night. …

Fire continues to spread in the Osceola National Forest, leaving firefighters with a tough battle. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Katiana Krawchenko reports, a very large portion of land is still in flames. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/kkwrapfire.mp3]

Donna Green-Townsend / WUFT-FM Scene along the Suwannee River in Florida.   Nature-based tourism can benefit an area’s environment and economy.  That’s according to a newly released University of Florida study.  UF Associate Professor of Ecotourism and Natural Resource Management, Taylor Stein conducted his research in the popular tourist destination …

Heavy smoke this morning throughout North Central Florida has reduced visibility on roadways and made for hazardous driving conditions.  While the fire in Levy Prairie just over the Alachua-Putnam county line may bring in some smoke, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bond says the main source of the smoke is from …

With heavy smoke hanging in the air around North Central Florida, county health officials are urging people to stay indoors. Alachua County Health Department Medical Executive Director John Colon says even the healthiest person can expect to see some side effects from the smoke. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/04/COLON1.mp3] He says those with allergy …

Earth Day, as most people know it, falls on April 22nd each year. But as WUFT-FM’s Steven Gallo reports, the University of Florida is getting a jump start on promoting sustainability with its Campus Earth Day. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/farmersmarketChrisGilmoreStevenGallo.mp3] [jwplayer config=”News-video” file=”wuftnews/20120406-Earth-day.mp4″] UF’s all-male acapella group, “The Staff,” performs during the Campus …

An effort is underway to bridge the University of Florida and community at large around green efforts.  Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Brittany Bassler says there is produce and promise for the future. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/04/BRITTANYVOICER.mp3]

A proposed organic beef farm in Marion County drew a standing room only crowd in Ocala last night. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Kelsey Peck reports, concerned residents turned out for the public forum over a consumptive use permit for millions of gallons of water per day. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/FPADENAWATERKPWRAP.mp3] The St. Johns River Water …

Tuesday night’s public forum on the proposed Adeena Springs Ranch in Matrion County is expected to draw a large crowd. As Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Sanika Dange reports, one cattle ranch owner’s request for a large sum of water is causing many residents to speak up about proposal. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/AdenaSpringsRanchForumWrapSanikaDange4022012.mp3] The public forum from 6 to 8 …

With human and black bear populations on the rise in Florida, people in rural North Central Florida have had an increased number of encounters with this native species.  The Umatilla bear festival occurred this past Saturday to give humans a bear’s eye-view of life in the forest. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s …