WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville

The oil spill in the Gulf took another toll on the tourism industry in Florida’s panhandle. The July fourth holiday weekend is usually lucrative for hotels on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Not this year. But in the Florida Keys it was business as usual, at least for now. Donna Green-Townsend travelled …

Panhandle counties impacted by the Gulf oil spill will now have a “seat at the table” at the unified command in Mobile to assist with decisions on how to deal with the spill. Also, officials have rolled out a new state concept for the issuance of swimming advisories, even though …

The limit on the number of people the St. Francis House can feed in one day has been lifted for Sunday, July 4th. The house has obtained permission from the city to feed more people. St. Francis House will be providing traditional American meals for the holiday. This comes one …

The gulf oil spill and a rainy forecast are putting a damper on visitation to the western Panhandle this 4th of July holiday weekend. Sandra Averhart reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/oilyd.mp3]

Not a whole lot is known about the long term impact of oil on coastal ecosystems. A researcher at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota studied a spill near the mouth of Tampa Bay back in 1993…and did a follow up study 8 years later. Mike Kiniry reports on what she …

Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida celebrated the opening of its new Pediatric Oncology Unit on Thursday. The NASCAR and V Foundations combined their efforts to donate $500,000 toward renovations. WUFT-FM’s Patrick Colden spoke with V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano about his organization’s contribution to the unit. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/oncology.mp3]

We’ve all seen lots of stories about gulf coast hotels besieged by oily gunk on their doorstep…with their rooms empty as frightened vacationers stay away. It’s conventional wisdom by now. But the statistics tell a different story. Gulf coast hotels are doing pretty well on average, at least for now.  …

The Florida Department of Agriculture is partnering with three major grocery retailers to promote the state’s seafood products. Florida Public Radio’s Trimmel Gomes reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/seafood.mp3]

BP is still working on streamlining its claims process. While small claims under five-thousand are moving relatively quickly, larger business claims are not. Wednesday the state’s Oil Spill Task Force heard updates from BP on how many claims it’s paid so far. Lynn Hatter reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/oiltaskforce.mp3]

The commute from Gainesville to South Florida no longer has to take six hours. WUFT-FM’s Andrea Gazmuri reports how American Airlines and Gainesville Regional Airport gave details at a press conference today to say how they are coming together to provide a much needed service. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/flight.mp3]

Vice President Joe Biden visited NAS Pensacola on Tuesday to assess the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill cleanup efforts. As Dave Dunwoody reports, Biden was joined by Florida Governor Charlie Crist and National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/3bidend.mp3]

Santa Fe College and members of the Gainesville community send care packages to Florida soldiers serving in Iraq and Kuwait every month. As Erica Cordell reports, on Wednesday “Operation Care Pak” sent more than 18 packages to show support for the troops. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/3carepak.mp3]

BP and the coast guard sent oil-scooping skimming ships in the Gulf of Mexico back to shore because nasty weather was churning up rough seas and powerful winds. On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden took a firsthand look at the oil spill response in the Pensacola area. Florida emergency managers …

Governor Charlie Crist talked with reporters in Escambia County on Monday and expressed how he wants to trust BP but not without verifying all the details on the cleanup efforts of the oil spill in the Gulf. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/cristraw.mp3]

Even as Tropical Storm Alex tracks away from oil looming in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S Senator from Florida Bill Nelson is urging the Coast Guard to prepare for what he calls a “capacity surge.” Steve Brown talked with Senator Nelson to talk about what a “capacity surge” might look …

Massachusetts is now reconsidering its position on wood-burning power plants, after a new study found use of New England forest biomass emits more greenhouse gases than coal. Activists in the state are pushing a ballot question, restricting the amount of carbon dioxide the power plants can emit. Gainesville was recently …

A recent study in Massachusetts might be adding fuel the biomass plant debate. The six-month study by Massachusetts state environmental officials found biomass-fired electricity would result in a three-percent increase in carbon emissions compared to coal-fired electricity by 2050. The Florida Public Service Commission approved Gainesville’s proposal to build a …

President Barack Obama wrapped up his fourth visit to the Gulf Coast since the Deepwater Horizon blast and spill began 57 days ago, with a stop aboard N-A-S Pensacola. Dave Dunwoody reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/obamaDD.mp3]

President Barack Obama’s announcement to deploy the National Guard in the cleanup of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill is getting approval from a number of Escambia county officials who are also looking to blaze their own trail. Dave Dunwoody Reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/3escambi.mp3]

A large area of oil is about 30 miles off the coast of Panama City Beach. Officials there are asking for help from the National Guard. Emily Balazs from WKGC-FM reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/pcoil.mp3]

BP CEO Tony Hayward testified before Congress today saying he is “deeply sorry” for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But, Florida Congressman for District 1, Jeff Miller, says BP is not paying enough attention to Florida. He adds, the $20 billion escrow fund BP has set up …

Crews cleaning up oil tar on Florida Panhandle beaches began their new night shifts Wednesday evening, to avoid the daytime heat and humidity. From member station WUWF in Pensacola, Dave Dunwoody reports. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/cleanup.mp3]

This weekend, 31 University of Florida students are participating in an international solar energy competition. UF is one of 17 universities in the world to compete in the 2010 Solar Decathlon Europe. As WUFT-FM’s Erica Cordell reports, the goal of the ten day race is to finish a completely solar …

Experts are predicting a significant Atlantic hurricane season this year. WUFT’S Andrea Gazmuri tells how a California-based charity is sending assistance before the storms even hit. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/4relief.mp3]

Florida hotels and resorts are trying to stay afloat despite negative news about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This past Monday the online travel booking company Orbitz launched what it calls an “Open Beach Guarantee” to help travelers and the hotel industry. Donna Green-Townsend talked with Orbitz …

As the oil spill continues to spread across the Gulf of Mexico, turtle researchers and trained volunteers are springing into action because it’s sea turtle nesting season and time is of the essence. Directing the activity is David Godfrey, the Executive Director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation. This not-for-profit organization …

No one is watching the traveling oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico more than David Godfrey. Godfrey is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, which next week will change its name to “The Sea Turtle Conservancy”. This not-for-profit organization is continuing the turtle research and conservation efforts …

When Florida lobbyists and lawmakers pushed to eliminate the long-standing ban protecting the Gulf of Mexico against oil drilling last Fall, a group of Florida writers decided to make their voices heard. Susan Cerulean along with other Florida writers got to work on the book “Unspoiled: Writers Speak for Florida’s …

Millions of gallons of oil continue to drift around in the Gulf of Mexico. As Gulf Coast towns brace for tar balls and oil sheens, WUFT-FM’s Sarah Curran tells the story of one town where residents are playing a waiting game to see what will happen to their way of …

As BP continues to look for ways to stop the massive oil spillage in the Gulf, Governor Charlie Crist has declared seven more Florida counties are in a state of emergency. Meanwhile former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham says he hopes this disaster will not change Florida forever. …

Jean-Michel Cousteau has spent his entire life either on the ocean or educating the public about protecting the ocean. Jean-Michel is the eldest son of the late Jacques Cousteau who will forever be remembered as an ambassador of the sea. Jean-Michel spent much of his life traveling aboard the famous …

Tar balls have begun washing up on the shores of Pensacola Beach in Florida’s Panhandle. Escambia County emergency managment officials are working with state officials to make sure Pensacola Beach and the outlying areas receive as much aid as possible. WUFT-FM’s Lynsey Saunders talked with Senior Producer for Florida Public …

The Hipppodrome State Theatre in Gainesville is bringing back the “laugh out loud, critically acclaimed” comedic masterpiece Shear Madness to the stage for an extended summer run. As WUFT-FM’s Andrea Gazmuri reports, the play is back by popular demand after its successful run in 2003. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/4shear.mp3]

A senior official from the U.S. Department of Education paid a visit to two Gainesville schools today (June 2nd). Deputy Assistant Secretary for External Affairs and Outreach Massie Ritsch toured Eastside High School and Stephen Foster Elementary Schools and met with members of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce. Ritsch talked …

He’s had many songs top the Country Music Charts, but Quincy native Billy Dean never forgets his roots. Dean is the headliner tonight (May 28th) at the 58th Annual Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. Donna Green-Townsend reports on the man and his music. For more information about the festival …