CORRECTION: The original version of this story did not include that the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners moved to reconsider Durr’s appointment at the end of the meeting on Tuesday. Durr is no longer appointed to serve on the Historical Commission. Original story below: ___ GAINESVILLE, Fla. – …
Read More »DeSantis takes over Disney district, punishing company
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that gives him control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district, punishing the company over its opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law. The bill requires DeSantis, a Republican, to appoint a five-member board to oversee the …
Read More »Mobile home donated to deter crime in Marion County
The home comes in all different shapes and sizes. It sets in many different places. Sometimes it sets in the middle of a park. At least, that’s the goal of Marion County Parks and Recreation Director Jim Couillard. “We will dedicate an area of the park,” Couillard said, “We’ll give …
Read More »Alachua County’s Human Rights Board has a new member, and she is seeking change
Erin Field, who uses a wheelchair, is the newest Citizen at Large on the Alachua County Human Rights Board and the Citizens Disability Advisory Committee. She doesn't know everything about her new work but is trying her best to help.
Read More »Lake City debates new public records policy
At a city council meeting on Tuesday, the Lake City Council debated a new public records policy. The old policy provides the first 15 physical pages of a record for free, and does not charge for the first 15 minutes a city employee spends looking for a record. The proposed …
Read More »Marion County Commissioners unanimously approve construction of Buc-ee’s in Ocala
Marion County Commissioners unanimously approved a zoning change Tuesday to allow for the construction of a Buc-ee’s gas station in Ocala.
Read More »Archeologists encourage community involvement in cemeteries
While people looked to the living for comfort during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigel Rudolph turned to stories of the dead as a way to ride out the worst of spring 2020. During quarantine, Rudolph, his wife and daughter spent almost every day in a cemetery. “There’s something …
Read More »Gainesville residents hopeful of University Avenue becoming safer after $8M grant
Addison Sutton, 22, was making her way to Midtown for a night out with friends one evening in 2022. While waiting at the intersection of Southwest 13th Street and West University Avenue, she saw lights from a private ambulance service heading west on University Avenue. She stopped and waited to …
Read More »Alachua County Commission moves forward with plans for surtax revenue
Alachua County’s elected leaders have approved two new plans on how they will use $188 million in taxpayer money. In November 2022, voters in Alachua County helped pass an infrastructure surtax that will be in place for the next 10 years. It’s a 1% sales tax, equating to one cent …
Read More »Local governments tackle pedestrian safety, panhandling
Panhandling and pedestrian safety are both prominent and continuing issues among communities in north central Florida. In the past 10 days, three local governments have started taking measures to keep pedestrians safe. They join Gainesville and Alachua County, which have also enacted ordinances in recent years. Gainesville Gainesville in 2021 …
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