Katie Hyson
January 9, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM, Racial equity, Report for America
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the destruction of Rosewood. Listen to a report from the Sunday wreath laying ceremony.
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Katie Hyson
January 6, 2023 Racial equity, Report for America
Following last year’s internal investigation into the camp’s management and use of taxpayer funds, the school board advised a series of changes, aimed partly at addressing equitable access to the summer camp.
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Kristine Villarroel
January 3, 2023 Immigration
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.
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Ericka Garcia
January 2, 2023 Human Interest
Dr. Laura Ellis, a professor and Associate Director in the School of Music at the University of Florida, has been on the faculty since 2003.
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digitaldesk
December 29, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
Artificial intelligence powers tools in use every day – Siri, Amazon Alexa, unlocking iPhones with facial recognition. But these tools serve some people better than others.
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Thandie Brown
December 28, 2022 Human Interest
Jay Brooks transforms into drag queen KellyTKelly in Gainesville.
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Alexis Ashby
December 26, 2022 Human Interest
Bobby Two Hats, whose official name is Robert Johnson II, spends his mornings in front of Wawa on University Avenue, across from the University of Florida, in Gainesville, Fla. He always has a cup of coffee in hand and sometimes a side of bacon, too. He’s never had a bank …
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Erina Anwar
December 24, 2022 Human Interest
The first time Deborah Willis went dumpster diving, it was out of curiosity. She soon realized that most grocery and general stores throw out an abundance of fresh, unexpired food. Now she holds regular food giveaways at her home
for families in her community who are in need.
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Katie Hyson
December 21, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The Remembering Rosewood Centennial Committee has curated a week of events to mark the 100th anniversary of the destruction of Rosewood.
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Associated Press
December 19, 2022 Holidays, Transportation
ORLANDO, Fla. — The holiday travel season this year is expected to rival the busiest seasons before the pandemic at Florida’s two most bustling airports, which will see millions of travelers passing through them, officials said. Orlando International Airport, the state’s busiest airport and the seventh busiest airport in the …
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Katie Hyson
December 16, 2022 Heard It On WUFT-FM, Racial equity, Report for America
The ordinance prevents employers from running a criminal background check on a candidate until after making a conditional offer of employment.
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Katherine Corcoran
December 14, 2022 Human Interest
Five to 6 million years ago, the area of the Montbrook fossil dig site in eastern Levy County was likely a river. Now, eight years after the discovery of bones in the area, it is one of the most productive fossil sites in the Southeastern United States. Over 70,000 specimens have been collected by the Florida Museum of Natural History and crews of volunteers.
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Keziah Moses
December 13, 2022 Human Interest
Step up and get bucked down. It’s as simple as that. And the Infamous Diamonds of Gainesville always bring their A-game. Majorette-style dance began in the 1960s, with dance lines at historically Black colleges and universities that typically accompanied marching bands. Shows such as “Bring It!” popularized the hip-hop style of majorette dance and competition in 2014, making it a household dance style for many who were unfamiliar with it.
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Keziah Moses
December 9, 2022 Human Interest
Every Saturday and Sunday, Project Downtown Gainesville sets up camp in the same spot, where volunteers provide hot meals and other resources for individuals facing homelessness. On some weekends local barbers like Ju-Ray Kuo partner with the organization Project Downtown Gainesville to provide haircuts free of charge to homeless individuals.
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Matthew Quartararo
December 8, 2022 Human Interest
The four recipients of the Rosa Parks Quiet Courage award this year are Devondrick Slater, Sheila Payne, Tony Jones and Desmon Duncan-Walker, who were recognized recently for their work in the community that “demonstrates a commitment to the cause of justice, equality and peace.”
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Katie Hyson
December 6, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
It was impossible to feel settled with the threat of arrest and deadly force hanging over them. But where else could they go?
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Nicholas Valdes
December 5, 2022 Holidays
The city of Newberry has worked tirelessly to put together its first annual Gingerbread Village holiday celebration.
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Emily Ferguson
December 5, 2022 Human Interest
CEDAR KEY, Fla. — Hurricanes are destructive forces of nature that take with it memories, valuables and for this Florida city, its history. The Cedar Key Historical Society started research on the Cedar Key Cemetery five years ago, where they found out that 30 unmarked graves were located there. Thirty …
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Paris Coughlin
December 1, 2022 Human Interest
Of the thousands of motorists who drive southbound Interstate 75 every day, hundreds take the Exit 374 ramp toward Micanopy, and they all pass Sharon James and Tim Rader. James and Rader have been “off and on” homeless for over 20 years and have been in Florida since 2016. They spend their days panhandling at the exit and return to their tent in the woods at night, where they weathered Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Nicole.
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Kimberly Iglesias
December 1, 2022 Human Interest
An accurate record of the number of families experiencing homelessness in Alachua County and surrounding areas is nonexistent. According to Patrick Dodds, the director of Continuum of Care in Gainesville, there are currently about 10 homeless families in the coordinated entry system in need of housing assistance. “I think the number’s probably 10 times that,” Dodds said. “Families are often kind of the invisible homeless.”
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Katie Hyson
November 28, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The camp is a microcosm of both this year’s housing crisis and the cracks in the local shelter system. Its uncertain future hints at what may be ahead for many more.
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Katie Hyson
November 18, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America, Rural equity
The Emerging Artist Program was developed in response to a challenge: What would it take to diversify the Downtown Festival and Art Show?
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Paris Coughlin
November 17, 2022 Human Interest
While women in Iran protest national religious mandates to wear a headscarf, Florida women who wear a hijab worry they may face backlash for their decision to wear the veil.
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digitaldesk
November 17, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The Gainesville City Commission's special meeting on the K9 unit largely pitted law enforcement officers pleading to preserve the unit against community members calling to dismantle it.
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Emma Behrmann
November 15, 2022 Human Interest
His Compassion Food Bank in Ocala has canceled Thursday food distribution for the last three weeks because of a lack of food supply. An increase in the number of families in need and a decrease in donated food products are problems food banks face throughout the state and nationwide as a result of inflation.
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Katie Hyson
November 4, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
It highlights a paradox: To win a license intended to remedy historic inequalities in wealth and access, you might need to be rich and well-connected.
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Kaylamarie Bailey
November 2, 2022 Human Interest
Twelve-year-old Jasmine Lassiter said kids used to make fun of her hair. Now, thanks to an organization called Her Natural Wreath, classmates admire her beautiful braids. That’s the kind of news Rachel Eloy, the organization’s founder, likes to hear. Eloy, a third-year University of Florida student, recently launched Her Natural Wreath, a Gainesville nonprofit organization that offers free braiding services to girls ages 3 to 17.
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Lindsay Schindler
October 31, 2022 Human Interest
Brice and Beth Keith have gone to the Oaks Mall nearly every day for years. But the couple hasn’t spent a penny on merchandise. In fact, they haven’t even entered a store. Instead, they go to the Oaks Mall each morning before shops even open simply to walk laps. They walk twice around the mall, which equals around 1.6 miles.
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Serra Sowers
October 24, 2022 Human Interest
St. Peter Cemetery in Archer has been designated a Florida Heritage Site, and a state historic marker was unveiled Saturday commemorating the space. About 120 people from the St. Peter and Pinesville communities attended the dedication ceremony to celebrate the rich history of their families. The historic Black cemetery, active since the 1840s, is the final resting place for many former slaves.
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Katie Hyson
October 19, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The number of Black-run farms has dwindled from almost one million to just 50,000 today. John "Ronnie" Nix is fighting to preserve what's left.
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Jake Reyes
October 17, 2022 Heard It On WUFT-FM
City officials have discussed for the past few years the best way to solve gun violence in Gainesville. The question of whether legal or illegal gun ownership is to blame is the question now driving the city's solutions.
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Katie Hyson
September 30, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
Misconduct charges were sustained against five Gainesville police officers. Community members say it won’t change a problematic culture.
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Katie Hyson
September 15, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative announced Wednesday progress made in the six months since they unveiled a blueprint for Gainesville to become a welcoming city.
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Katie Hyson
September 9, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The investigations found no policy violations in the arrest of Terrell Bradley, the Gainesville resident who lost his eye to a K9 after running from a traffic stop.
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Katie Hyson
September 8, 2022 Racial equity, Report for America
The former officer's allegations describe a culture of normalized racism on the K9 unit now under scrutiny for the mauling of a Black resident.
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