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

Price hikes in both fuel and food are taking a toll on residents. As Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Catherine Awasthi reports, local farmers are also struggling to keep up with cost inflation: [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/CATHERINEWRAPFP.mp3]

A chemical explosion on the University of Florida injured one student on campus this morning. UF Police Department Assistant Director Brad Barber says Zhi Zhou was working on an experiment in the Materials Engineering Building . [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/Barber1.mp3]

Hurricane season starts next month and meteorologists, emergency managers, first responders, and government officials are already preparing. The annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference is currently underway in Fort Lauderdale. Attendees at the conference will participate in workshops and discussing budgets. The six-month Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1. Levy County Director …

Hibernating bats are facing a growing epidemic of what’s known as white-nose bat syndrome—a fungus that clings to the facial fur on bats, causing them to wake up early. As WUFT-FM’s Brittany Wienke reports, this syndrome has economic consequences, though Florida seems to be safe [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/BATWRAP.mp3]

Marion County’s Public Schools Superintendent says he will propose a 4-day school week to the school board. The money saving proposal will go before the board June 28th, at which point they will accept or reject the plan.

There are now some major changes to Florida’s election law in effect. Governor Rick Scott signed the bill, passed during this year’s legislative session, into law today (Thursday). The law cuts the number of early voting days in half, but keeps the same number of early-voting hours. Voters must vote …

Alachua County commissioners requested a delay of hearing Sheriff Sadie Darnell’s budget appeal yesterday. County Commissioner Susan Baird said the 45-day delay is meant to give Governor Rick Scott time to sign an important piece of legislation. “We decided to go ahead and sign the letter, and the sheriff did …

The U.S. department of defense, in a news release, announced the deaths of four soldiers, including a Gainesville man, who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Private Lamarol J. Tucker, 26, of Gainesville is among the four soldiers. According to the news release, they died May 16, of wounds suffered when …

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be investigating a shooting that occured earlier today at the High Springs Community School, 1105 North Main Street. High Springs police chief Jim Troiano talked with WUFT-FM’s news director Tom Krynski. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/troianoFP.mp3]

The Ocala/Marion Chamber of Commerce will host two informational orientations to travel abroad to China during the month of October. The group will host two sessions on June 3rd and June 20th for travelers wishing to experience the wealth of chinese culture first-hand. Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce Director Felicia …

Santa Fe College students will head to Ghana today on a study abroad trip – but this one isn’t like others – with these students bringing schools supplies over due to another studen’t helpful efforts here in Gainesville to another student constructing an instrument to help better preserve food. As …

Governor Rick Scott says the Legislature did a good job in implementing policy changes that will create more jobs in Florida. Days after the close of session Scott went on an all out media tour, an unusual move since he’s known for keeping the media at bay. But Florida’s 45th …

The increase in internet usage along with a shaky economy have brought about a decrease in the volume of mail circulated through the United States Postal Service. Now that decrease is affecting a local USPS distribution center’s full operating presence in North Central Florida. WUFT-FM’s Brittany Thompson has more. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/USPSWrapfinalforWEB.mp3]

While Governor Rick Scott says the recently ended legislative session was largely a success for his policy goals, Democrats in the state legislature say they’re also relatively satisfied with the recently-concluded session. WUFT-FM’s Chris Peralta spoke with Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith about the bills the legislative session produced, …

Gainesville Police are asking anyone with information relating to this weekend’s shooting death of 15-year-old Jearicka Mack to come forward. GPD Lieutenant Steven Weaver says they are offering a $1,000 reward for information about the firearm used in the shooting. “We would like to receive some more information about the …

Dry conditions and high winds throughout North Florida are expected to stoke the Honey Prairie fire out of South Georgia. Georgia Forestry Commission Spokesman Eric Mosley says this weekend’s rain was not enough to stop the fire’s spread long term. “We definitely have put our crews on high alert and …

The Republican party, in the span of a few days, has seen two potential presidential candidates for the party’s nomination announce they will not seek the presidency. Over the weekend, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee announced he wouldn’t run. And today, businessman Donald Trump said he isn’t running either. Alachua …

Although a storm brought some moisture this weekend, officials monitoring the Honey Prairie fire say it wasn’t enough to dampen the dry conditions. WUFT-FM’s Stephanie Brown spoke with Georgia Forestry Commission Spokesman, Eric Mosley about where the fire is heading and how to be fire wise around your home in …

Space shuttle Endeavour is finally on its way. Endeavour blasted off on the next-to-last shuttle flight this morning under the command of Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The wounded congresswoman watched the launch in private from Kennedy Space Center. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator from Florida, Bill Nelson spoke …

P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, affiliated with the University of Florida announced today it will have a new director starting July 1st, but the person assuming the position isn’t a new face on P.K. Yonge’s campus. Current Director of Research and Outreach at the school, who is also a professor …

The efforts of bus loads of many young people in the early 1960s is remembered for how it affected the Civil Rights movement and segregation in the Jim Crow south. WUFT-FM’s Tom Krynski talked with Dr. Paul Ortiz, the University of Florida’s director of the Proctor oral history program about …

Dignity Project Second Generation Incorporated is celebrating its first birthday from 11 to 2PM on May 19th, with a celebration that’s open to the public. As Florida’s 89.1 WUFT FM’s Juliza Monterroso reports, organizers planned the celebration to thank the community for the continued support. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/FPDignitydepth.mp3]

Limo Rides, overnight vacations and a range of other prizes are up for grabs in this weekend’s Amazing Race in Gainesville. Alachua County Hospitality Council Member Erica Chatman says participants don’t get the reward without a fair amount of effort. “We’ve had them dig coins out of a fountain… sometimes …

The nation’s largest food drive is hitting North Central Florida tomorrow in an effort to “Stamp Out Hunger”. North Central Florida United Way Marketing and Communications Vice President Mindy Underberger says families in the community need this help, especially at this time of year. “It provides much needed staples for …

The smell of burning foliage has been noticable in Gainesville as a thin cloud of smoke has blown into town several days this week. Firefighters on the state border with Georgia continue to battle the ever-growing Honey Prarie Fire that so far has managed to burn over 100,000 acres of …

Studies estimate that approximately 17 million people suffer from depression in the United States, yet many do not seek treatment. Mental health expert and author Carol Kivler says this may have something to do with a stigma about depression. WUFT-FM’s Dan Katz spoke with her about the stigma of depression, …

Less than a year ago 26 year old Andres Farfan fulfilled a dream when he received a degree from the University of Florida with a major in photojournalism. His love for taking pictures took on an added dimension when he had the opportunity to travel to Haiti with a non-profit …

After Florida Sustainables took home the Cade Prize for innovation last night, the future may still be in plastics. Two University of Florida innovators, Dr. Stephen Miller and Ryan Martin created Florida Sustainables to create plastic that is both cost effective and more environmentally friendly. Earlier today, Dan Katz spoke …

After weeks of speculation about who is going to run against President Obama in the 2012 presidential elections, the field of prospective Republican challengers finally began to take shape over the past couple weeks with big names like Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul officially announcing their candidacies and big names …

The 27th annual Windsor Zucchini festival gets underway tomorrow morning. Activities get underway at 8:00 a.m. in front of the fire house on CR 234. It’s a day for “everything squash” in the little town of Windsor to benefit the volunteer fire department there. Donna Green-Townsend talked with the fire …

An advocate for displaced women is being honored at Santa Fe College as she retires after 25-years of service as the coordinator of the Displaced Homemaker program. Nancy Griffin says there is still a need to help women. “There was much more I think counseling involved in the beginning of …

Gas prices are continuing to rise and as many know, petroleum is not a resource that will be around forever. As Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM’s Samantha Taub reports, new alternative fuel developments are getting a boost at the University of Florida with federal grant money. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/BIOMASSWRAP.mp3]

While looking at the destruction left in the wake of a large tornado that tore through Tuscaloosa, Alabama, some Florida engineers wondered whether the damaged buildings would have fared better had they been built to Florida building codes, which account for strong weather conditions produced by hurricanes. WUFT-FM’s Chris Peralta …

U.S. Democratic Senator from Florida Bill Nelson says photos of slain Osama bin Laden should eventually become part of the public record. Senator Nelson today reviewed the still-classified photographs showing the deadly wounds inflicted by Navy SEALS during their mission eleven days ago. Nelson is a senior member of the …

This week, republicans and democrats continued negotiations about raising the U.S. debt ceiling. Negotiations are becoming particularly heated Republicans demand more cuts to the budget as their price for agreeing to raise the ceiling. But would they really make good on their threat? Chris Peralta talked with University of Central …