WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The exhibit "Under the Spell of the Palm Tree: The Rice Collection of Cuban Art," which includes more than 70 works from 54 artists, will continue through Jan. 7.
Read More »Cuban art exhibit at Harn Museum connects Gainesville’s Hispanic community
Gainesville organizations react to proposed bills targeting illegal immigration
Danielle Chanzes, the Florida Immigrant Coalition organizer for north central Florida, said she worries about anyone qualifying as a criminal if proposed House Bill 1617 and Senate Bill 1718 get signed into law. These bills were proposed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and Rep. Kiyan Michael and specifically target unlawful immigration. …
Read More »Mystery solved? Feds name man they say lived under another’s identity for 3 decades
TAMPA, Fla. – Who was pretending to be Kelvin Johnson, for more than three decades? Even serving 25 years in a New York prison for murder under what prosecutors say was a stolen identity? The mystery of the bizarre identity case that spanned the Eastern seaboard is a step closer …
Read More »Invasive Cuban treefrog extends its presence in Florida
Cuban tree frogs are a native species of Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas that came to the United States, more specifically Florida, in the 1920s. This species has had over a century to invade Florida ecosystems and negatively impact both human infrastructure and native species.
Read More »After Taliban takeover, a former Afghan Air Force pilot recounts his journey from Kabul to Jacksonville
It has been a year since Hakimullah Hamim, an Afghan refugee, arrived in Jacksonville. Adjusting to a new home and a new job as a data analyst for Stillwater Insurance Group, the 30-year-old has found a new life with his wife in North Florida. But he remembers the tough journey …
Read More »Gainesville immigrants lean on community in the face of challenges
Paula and her family left their native Mexico to chase their dream of opportunity in the United States. A lot of paperwork and a two-day bus ride later, they arrived in Gainesville in May. Since then, Paula’s family has struggled to get their feet on the ground. Paula and her husband do not have the legal documentation to work in the U.S. Their efforts to find schools for their sons and a way to earn an income while dealing with their legal status have been nearly impossible to navigate, said Paula, who is waiting for her family's 2024 court date to seek asylum. Paula’s story exposes the challenges that immigrants face in Gainesville and other parts of the country.
Read More »Migrants sue Florida governor over Martha’s Vineyard flights
Gov. Ron DeSantis is being sued by a group of migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Critics are calling the decision "political theater" as Republicans attempt to bring attention to Biden's "failed border policies."
Read More »Attacks on Ukraine ignite UF student support
Every time Roksolana Nykytiua gets a text message from her mom in Ukraine, she said her heart jumps out of her chest. For the past two weeks, her morning routine has consisted of waking up, checking her phone and messaging her Ukrainian friends and family members to check in on …
Read More »Upcoming food truck rally in Gainesville will benefit Afghan and Haitian refugees
The Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally, which will be held on Saturday starting at 4 p.m., will benefit Welcoming Gainesville and Alachua County, an organization that aims to eliminate prejudice, celebrate diversity and help newcomers to the community. The event, sponsored by the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, will have a free concert at High Dive, about 10 food trucks and a cultural student talent show.
Read More »In Limbo: Syrian Man In Gainesville Has Waited Eight Years To Plead His Case For Asylum
Jehad was born into a powerful family in Syria. But in America, where his asylum case has been pending for over eight years with no updates, he learned what it means to be powerless.
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