Government and politics

After determining they would need to cover the expenses for moving ‘Old Joe’, the Confederate soldier statue, the Matheson History Museum Board of Directors have declined the donation. The statue currently stands outside the Alachua County Administration Building.

Political action committee Floridians for Freedom are taking their fight for marijuana legalization to the 2016 ballot. The committee has started a 34-county tour around the state to encourage Floridians to sign a petition for citizens 21 and older to have the right to possess, use and cultivate cannabis.

St. Francis House will be one of the Gainesville nonprofit organizations that participate in the Cold Night Shelter Program this year. The program awards $25,000 to nonprofits throughout the City of Gainesville to shelter people in need during the winter months when temperatures go below 45 degree Fahrenheit.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved a special-use permit for a poultry harvesting facility in Marion County. The facility has been slaughtering 200 chickens a week without a permit.

A candlelight vigil was held Friday for victims of the recent string of campus shootings in the country. A controversial bill in the Senate will determine if guns can legally be carried onto campuses.

Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson spoke at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday about the federal budget, tax code, Social Security and health care. Simpson discussed the nation’s fiscal situation and how it affects local businesses with Gainesville regional leaders.

The Alachua County Commission approved the distribution of funds for the CAPP and Choices programs for 2016 fiscal year, putting the future for some local nonprofit agencies in question.

An already stressful process is about to get more complicated now that the City of Gainesville Billing and Collections Office, formerly located at the Thomas Center, moved to City Hall. Now the hundreds of students looking for neighborhood parking decals every year will have to worry about getting a parking ticket while they wait in an hours-long line for the decal that allows them to park.

Students Taking Action Against Racism held a panel at the Bob Graham Center to discuss the issue of mass incarceration. Panelists lamented the lack of true due process in American society.

Joel Ainsworth plays piano at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Wednesday morning. He said Pope Francis is welcoming more people to the Catholic Church. Elena Castello, a sophomore at UF, has wanted to see the pope since she was a young girl. She has been to Italy, but said she wishes she …