WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Katie Hyson is finishing her time as a Report for America Corps Member for WUFT News. She is headed to San Diego to report on race and equity for the NPR/PBS station there, KPBS.
Read More »A goodbye letter from reporter Katie Hyson
East Gainesville residents clarify their needs for new urgent care center
Chanae Jackson came to Lincoln Middle School ready to voice her dissatisfaction. “We don’t trust you, and we don’t trust you for a good reason,” she said. Jackson, a local activist, was spurred to participate because of issues she had with her father’s experience with the UF Health system as …
Read More »Gainesville community comes together to form a ‘Chain of Peace’
Gainesville residents met at the Bartley Temple United Methodist Church Saturday in conjunction with The Rosa Parks Quiet Courage Committee on Saturday at 10 a.m. for the community “Chain of Peace” event. Twelve individuals gathered inside the church at 1936 NE Eighth Ave. on Saturday morning with heavy hearts to …
Read More »Retired cop never forgot unsolved case, helped convict rapist decades later
Nick VanderWal was a retired cop in Florida who couldn’t let go of his unsolved cases even decades later – especially a 1992 rape by an armed burglar who tied up his victim and placed duct tape over her eyes during an attack so awful that judges later called it …
Read More »Invasive Cuban treefrog extends its presence in Florida
Cuban tree frogs are a native species of Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas that came to the United States, more specifically Florida, in the 1920s. This species has had over a century to invade Florida ecosystems and negatively impact both human infrastructure and native species.
Read More »Archeologists encourage community involvement in cemeteries
While people looked to the living for comfort during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigel Rudolph turned to stories of the dead as a way to ride out the worst of spring 2020. During quarantine, Rudolph, his wife and daughter spent almost every day in a cemetery. “There’s something …
Read More »Sarah’s Sweetwater Greenway Loop Festival kicks off at Cotton Club
Sarah McKnight’s legacy will always have roots intertwined with the Gainesville community. As an African American woman whose impact as a musician, businesswoman and prominent nightclub owner was often unnoticed in the 1950s, McKnight’s ties to the city are now celebrated with the first-ever Sarah’s Sweetwater Greenway Loop Festival. The festival …
Read More »Local governments tackle pedestrian safety, panhandling
Panhandling and pedestrian safety are both prominent and continuing issues among communities in north central Florida. In the past 10 days, three local governments have started taking measures to keep pedestrians safe. They join Gainesville and Alachua County, which have also enacted ordinances in recent years. Gainesville Gainesville in 2021 …
Read More »Severe weather awareness series: Wildfires and extreme temperatures
It’s no secret Florida can get very, very hot. Locals are accustomed to it while visitors flock to the Sunshine State to escape colder temperatures. But this heat is not to be taken lightly and can threaten your life and safety. According to NOAA, the state just experienced its fifth warmest …
Read More »Severe weather awareness series: hurricanes and flooding
The Florida Public Radio Emergency Network recently compiled a series on the dangers of severe weather in the state and the value of residents being aware of weather safety best practices. Stay informed by following Florida Storms, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and your local National Weather Service office on …
Read More »