TALLAHASSEE — After years of legal battling, an administrative law judge Tuesday supported renewing a permit to allow piping hundreds of thousands of gallons of water a day to a North Florida bottling plant. Judge Francine Ffolkes rejected arguments raised by the Florida Springs Council and said the Suwannee River …
Read More »A construction landfill in Archer faces another hazardous waste violation after 36 years of business
Since 1987, Watson C&D, a company that operates a construction landfill in Archer, hasn’t passed Alachua County inspections. In August, the latest violation included oil leaks on the ground from a fuel storage container, which can contaminate the groundwater, according to an inspection report. The inspections are completed every 24 …
Read More »Where the buffalo roam: new Ken Burns documentary explores North America’s largest mammal
Early in the new Ken Burns’ documentary “The American Buffalo,” a map depicting the national mammal’s native range dips down into Florida. While the state never had huge herds like out west, these free-roaming, majestic animals lived in Florida for many thousands of years before the species faced extinction in …
Read More »Feds consider listing manatees as endangered
Federal wildlife officials will consider whether manatees should be classified as an endangered species, pointing to issues such as a loss of seagrass that serves as a key food source for the animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday issued a document that said the agency will conduct …
Read More »From wetland to wasteland: trees on Gainesville woman’s property removed
Julianna Witte, 61, watched her two sons grow up in her 11-acre backyard, running wild, letting nature be their teacher. She did not anticipate the backdrop to their childhood would be bulldozed years later. “As widows, we feel deceived, vulnerable and taken advantage of by the county,” Witte said, gazing …
Read More »70-year-old man accused of killing or wounding gopher tortoises
An arraignment hearing on the Archer man's case is scheduled for Nov. 2. If convicted, he could face a fine not to exceed $1,000, plus court costs and fees.
Read More »Florida’s champion live oak tree stands tall – a new statewide record-holder in Alachua
Standing tall between the I-75 corridor and a rapidly expanding suburb, an aged giant spreads its arms around a world of chirping squirrels, scuttering anoles and choral songbirds. And now, this giant holds a statewide title: It’s Florida’s new champion live oak tree, the largest of its species in the …
Read More »Young Gainesville leaders educate community on wildlife conservation
Sevaral organizations shared information about the issues harming the ecosystem, including invasive species and groundwater contamination.
Read More »From heat-tolerant cattle to racial inequality, Gainesville leaders search for solutions at climate change summit
While climate change is a global challenge, Alachua County residents also have a role to play. About 70 people spent part of their weekend at a Gainesville church to talk about climate threats and responses, with recent extreme weather events like Hurricane Idalia fresh on their minds. Jacqueline Patterson, longtime …
Read More »Gatorland is new home for alligator that survived in the wild for months without upper jaw
The alligator was located and captured on Sept. 8 and remains in quarantine as Gatorland, the theme park and wildlife preserve, decides how best to take care of it.
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