WUFT News - WUFT News

Photos: Kirbiicon comes to Gainesville

On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, Kirbiicon came to Gainesville, Florida’s Heartwood Soundstage. The event, which prides itself on its combination of live music, gaming and anime, attracted fans dressed in their best cosplays. Kirbiicon acts as a beacon for lovers of all things eccentric. …
Judge sides with state, tosses Gainesville’s GRU lawsuit

Leon County Judge Angela Dempsey on Friday sided with the state and upheld legislation that removes the city’s sole control of Gainesville Regional Utilities. The judge’s ruling appeared to be made largely on technicalities. She ruled the lawsuit improperly named Attorney General Ashely Moody, Gov. …
Parents plead for rehabilitation for son charged with stalking and burglary

Troy-Baker Robinson, 35, of Gainesville, had a bond hearing Thursday in regard to charges filed against him earlier this month for occupying a vacant apartment and stalking a University of Florida student. …
Supreme Court of Florida returns Florida Power and Light case settlement to commissioners

The Supreme Court of Florida released a series of court opinions Thursday morning — most notably its opinion in the case of Floridians Against Increased Rates, Inc. v. Gary F. Clark, etc., et al. Floridians Against Increased Rates, Florida Rising and others, previously challenged a decision made by …
Alabama man found in submerged vehicle in Steinhatchee River 28 years after disappearance

The Houston County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama said a Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out of Steinhatchee River during cleanup after Hurricane Idalia contained the remains of James Toole, who disappeared 28 years ago. …
Gatorland is new home for alligator that survived in the wild for months without upper jaw

The alligator was located and captured on Sept. 8 and remains in quarantine as Gatorland, the theme park and wildlife preserve, decides how best to take care of it. …
Florida proposes bill to permit bear killing in self-defense

A bill proposed today in the Florida Legislature would allow the killing of bears in self-defense. House Bill 87, proposed by Representative Jason Shoaf, faces an uphill battle as it passes through the legislature. Under the bill, people can kill bears without authorization or permits if the person…
Hurricane Ian, 1 year later: A story of resiliency and hope

Floridians are still picking up what was lost a year ago during Hurricane Ian, a deadly and destructive Category 4 storm. Sept. 28 marks the one-year anniversary of Ian plowing through the state, making landfall near Cayo Costa in Lee County. Ian was the third-costliest natural disaster to hit the U…

Heard It On WUFT FM

Two Black Farmers get licenses to grow medical marijuana, and one will do so in Alachua County

News Service of Florida July 24, 2023 Agriculture, Racial equity

TALLAHASSEE — Two Black farmers have received licenses to grow, process and sell medical marijuana, after a new state law helped clear the way for the long-awaited licenses. The Florida Department of Health issued the licenses July 11 to Suwannee County farmer Terry Donnell Gwinn and Bascom-based Shedrick McGriff. The …

UPS employee charged with grand theft

Aileyahu Shanes July 21, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM

An Ocala United Parcel Service employee was arrested Wednesday and charged with grand theft after police said he attempted to sell stolen merchandise on Facebook Marketplace. The employee, 33-year-old Jose Flores Franco, was caught trying to sell around $12,000 worth of electronics and jewelry he stole from UPS packages, according …

State funding renews effort to save historic Priest Theatre in High Springs

Mike Loizzo July 17, 2023 Heard It On WUFT-FM

The City of High Springs is taking another look at saving the historic Priest Theatre.The state budget includes $1,040,450 to purchase and renovate the building, but it requires the city to match the appropriation with $250,000.The city commission voted to get an appraisal of the building and an updated structural …

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Fresh Take Florida

Exclusive: Florida temporarily suspends political ideology surveys to nearly 2 million in state colleges, universities

September 13, 2023

Destruction seen from above: New video, photos reveal hurricane damage in Florida’s hardest hit region

September 1, 2023

Photos capture aftermath of Hurricane Idalia in Perry and Cedar Key

August 30, 2023

Idalia survivor of storm’s fury near landfall: ‘Don’t ever want to go through that again’

August 30, 2023

Historic Florida fishing village sees record storm surge

August 30, 2023

Florida evacuates 4,000 prisoners from 35 facilities ahead of Hurricane Idalia

August 29, 2023

One night, two lives changed forever: Case against shooter of neighborhood burglar ends in plea deal

July 13, 2023

Florida university graduates share inspiring personal stories

May 9, 2023

Underage drinking in a college town: How strictly should police, prosecutors enforce laws?

May 8, 2023

Former death row inmates slam new Florida law making it easier to impose capital punishment

May 3, 2023

Florida’s skating rinks look for insurance relief from Legislature

May 2, 2023

‘Stop being racist:’ Tickets for loud music nearly 3 times more likely for Black drivers under new Florida law

May 2, 2023

Longform

Micanopy divided over pennant flag displays

February 3, 2023

Growing, growing, gone: Marion County residents bemoan development surge

December 28, 2022

Gainesville’s first trans minister makes a mark through social justice initiatives

December 23, 2022

After Hurricane Ian, sowing hope

December 19, 2022

A tale of two cities: How two Florida towns are handling the tiny home movement

December 14, 2022

‘It’s Wakanda’: Inside a Gainesville public charter school defying the achievement gap

August 25, 2022

Watershed: A lake named Alice

August 22, 2022

Watershed: Wellspring

August 22, 2022

Watershed: Loving Florida, losing Florida

August 22, 2022

Watershed: On a fish and a prayer

August 22, 2022

Watershed: Spillover

August 15, 2022

Watershed: Wake Up Now

August 8, 2022

Environment

Law and public safety

Florida Good

Photos: Former members commemorate 101-year anniversary of UF Women’s Club

September 21, 2023

Peace conference in Gainesville: Bridging divides in the Middle East

September 13, 2023

Resilience amidst adversity: How Gainesville’s homeless population weathered Hurricane Idalia

September 2, 2023

World Equestrian Center Ocala opened free stall space for equine owners during Idalia

August 31, 2023

Florida Museum of Natural History staff safeguard butterflies for Hurricane Idalia

August 29, 2023

Outreach Thrift Store sees and sorts it all, serving Gainesville’s local communities for decades

August 14, 2023

988 hotline, one year later: mental health professionals talk positives and pitfalls

August 9, 2023

Community partners band together against homelessness, fundraise for GRACE Marketplace

August 4, 2023

Gainesville business builds homes out of shipping containers

June 15, 2023

Santa Fe College students help build home with Habitat for Humanity

June 8, 2023

Families gather at Rockwood Park for ACT’s ice cream event

June 5, 2023

Fisher House of Gainesville offers respite to caretakers of sick veterans

June 5, 2023

Alachua County student competes in Scripps National Spelling Bee

May 31, 2023

UFxFAMU1963: Reporting From the U.S. Civil Rights Trail

May 22, 2023

Rev. Milford Griner has personal experience with gun violence. It’s driven him toward solutions for 54 years

May 18, 2023

The Brazilian community in Gainesville: bringing culture and investment into the area

April 24, 2023

Arts and Entertainment

Photos: Kirbiicon comes to Gainesville

October 2, 2023

North central Florida’s diversity of languages on display at the Matheson History Museum

September 25, 2023

Local artists prepare to celebrate 100 years of Gainesville fine arts at the downtown Artwalk

September 20, 2023

High Springs residents prepare for closure of century old theater

September 19, 2023

Micanopy antique stores navigate the digital age

September 19, 2023

From dance to research, celebrating the wide range of Hispanic culture

September 18, 2023

Animals

Invisible Aftermath

A team of WUFT journalists looked into the unseen trauma of weathering a storm like last year’s Category 4 Hurricane Michael, which devastated the Florida Panhandle. WUFT spoke with survivors and researched solutions help children and families overcome the mental and emotional aftermath of a hurricane.

Peak Florida

Florida’s population growth has rebounded since the recession — now back to nearly 1,000 people a day like in the ’80s, but with weakened development regulations and accelerating climate change. Our special report examines the state’s latest growth wave, and whether we can welcome newcomers without losing what makes Florida, Florida.

Generation Gunned Down

Across America, nearly 230,000 children have experienced gun violence on their school grounds. A team of 15 journalists from WUFT News traveled to Littleton, Colorado, Parkland, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Toronto, Canada to learn about these tragedies. Everyone who has attended school from 1999 onward are part of Generation Gunned Down. Here are their stories.

Life After Maria

On Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria pounded Puerto Rico, destroying nearly everything in its path and cutting off the island from the rest of the world. A team of 11 journalists from WUFT News and Noticias WUFT traveled to the island for a week to document life after Maria. What captured their attention were the stories of resilience and determination to keep moving forward.

Silenced

In this WUFT News Special Report, we explore the fight Florida felons face after they leave the prison gates with housing, employment and voting.

Grade Expectations

For kids in East Gainesville, failing third grade can be a prison sentence. It’s a cycle of poverty, so the School Board, police and other educators are trying to figure out how to stop it.

Locked Out: Florida Sentences Are For Life

In the news, we often hear about people going to prison. But, we never hear about what happens to inmates once they leave. We wanted to find out. Our team of eight journalists at WUFT News followed the lives of seven people, some just minutes after they were released. Locked Out: Florida explores how the label “felon” has followed six people long after their prison sentences ended.

The Cost of Sunshine

A public records investigation by WUFT News revealed Florida lacks accountability for fees at local and state agencies.

Energy Burden

Energy comes at a much greater cost for Gainesville’s poor, from the portion of income spent on utilities to the days without power after Hurricane Irma. A special report on why the poor pay more, and what we can do.

Florida Voices

From veterans to community leaders to average citizens making a difference, hear the stories of Floridians in their own words. These are oral histories from WUFT News.

Hurricane Irma

On the morning of September, 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall as a Category 4 storm at 9:10 a.m., at Cudjoe Key before continuing its assault up the spine of the Florida peninsula. WUFT covered the storm from before it made landfall through the recovery efforts. These are our stories.

Our Gainesville

This summer, WUFT reporters focused on a community-engagement project that celebrates and highlights the rich diversity of the people who live here. We asked them why they made Gainesville home. All of them came here for different reasons, but one thing kept them here— it's a place where we belong— all of us. The project, Our Gainesville, is comprised of individual stories of people living, working, praying, performing and more. It dives into our past and present. It tells the stories of who we are, where we are and what we are. It shows what makes Gainesville, Gainesville.

Sunshine Lost

Florida’s Public Records Act Lacks Effective Enforcement Mechanism A statewide investigation of compliance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Public Records Act has revealed that the state lacks a uniform system to enforce the public records law. WUFT News investigated compliance with the state public records law in all 20 Florida district state attorney’s offices.

A Tale of Two Gainesvilles

The construction — happening city-wide, but mostly on University Avenue and on 13th Street — comes as part of plans by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency and the university to renew Gainesville.

The Low of Highs

Facing jail, a drug-addicted grandmother struggles to stop using and start over. Drifting in a small town in Marion County — a county where people are dying close to every other day from a drug overdose — Becky Clifford is desperate to survive in the face of addiction.

Earth's Storytellers

The Earth is wondrous, complicated, precious, damaged. How can we do its story justice, from the awe to the peril? Graduate students studying Nature & Adventure Journalism in the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications asked some of our most captivating environmental storytellers. WUFT News published their responses in a multi-week series of interviews and stories that celebrate science, environmental communication and the natural marvels that inspire it all.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, WUFT-TV presents “Pearl Harbor: 75 Years Later,” a short documentary that tells the stories of veterans who survived those two infamous hours that greatly altered the course of American history.

Project: Blue Ether

A reporting and engagement project to explore the stories and science of water in North Central Florida.

This special project is funded by the Online News Association.

Bear Down

The first Florida black bear hunt in 21 years pitted staunch conservationists against hunting enthusiasts. Over one October weekend, hundreds of bears perished.

WUFT followed the story from the protestors to the taxidermy.