WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
As the Florida Legislature prepares to consider major legislation impacting the state colleges this spring, a new focus has emerged over the college names
Read More »State College System Faces Rebranding
2018 Looms As Scott, Putnam Ready For Session
In appearances Tuesday before reporters and editors, Republican leaders Gov. Rick Scott and Adam Putnam laid out their legislative agendas, while declining to speculate on their political futures.
Read More »Cash Pours Into Scott, Putnam Political Committees
At least at this point, Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam haven't announced plans to be on the ballot in 2018. But with Scott widely expected to run for U.S. Senate and Putnam likely to run for governor, closely aligned political committees are collecting big contributions that could help position the Republicans for their next races.
Read More »Steve Crisafulli Won’t Run For Agriculture Commissioner
Former House Speaker Steve Crisafulli bowed out of a potential race for agriculture commissioner on Tuesday, leaving the 2018 campaign for the Cabinet position without a clear front-runner.
Read More »University of Florida Leads State Universities — In Total Debt
While state debt has declined 9.5 percent over the past five years, debt for Florida’s state universities has risen by 41 percent, according to a report reviewed Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet. State debt has fallen by $2.7 billion in that period, for a total debt of …
Read More »Citrus Decline Continues In Florida
Citrus production continues to plummet in Florida, as the first forecast for the 2016-2017 growing season indicates a 14 percent drop in the state’s orange crop. The forecast Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that Florida growers will harvest enough oranges to fill 70 million 90-pound boxes in the coming …
Read More »Florida Congressman Says Storm May Worsen Zika Outbreak
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan warned in a letter that rainfall from tropical storms may create a "fertile breeding ground" for mosquitoes carrying Zika.
Read More »Zika Tourism Effects Could Take Time To Play Out
With Florida battling a Zika virus outbreak in Miami, the full impacts of federal and international travel advisories on the state's tourism industry won't be known for months. The state's tourism-marketing arm Visit Florida, following Gov. Rick Scott and other officials, has maintained a message that Florida is safe and open for business.
Read More »Scott Says Florida Remains ‘Safe State’ Amid Zika Battle
Florida political leaders say controlling the spread of the Zika virus is doable but will take everyone’s help, as travel advisories have been posted about visiting the state. The assurances came just hours before the Florida Department of Health reported that it was investigating an additional case of a person …
Read More »Florida’s Orange Crop Drops 16 Percent
Florida's citrus season will produce enough oranges to fill 81.5 million 90-pound boxes this year, down nearly 16 percent from the prior season. A major cause for the decrease in oranges has been citrus greening, a disease that is deadly to the crop.
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