TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill that will allow school districts to use cameras designed to capture images of drivers who illegally pass school buses. The law (SB 766), which will take effect in July, could lead to drivers facing $225 fines if they get nabbed. …
Read More »Tropical disturbance in Gulf will keep organizing and impacting Florida into this weekend
The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season kicks off Thursday with a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that will continue to impact Florida this weekend. The area of low pressure is becoming better organized and now has a 50% chance of tropical formation. The latest data indicate there may be …
Read More »The Point, May 31, 2023: Ocala Police hold town hall for deaf community
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • Florida Storms: Potential tropical disturbance will bring heavy rain and flash flood threat to Florida. “A system in the Gulf of Mexico will bring periods of heavy rain and gusty winds to …
Read More »The Point, May 30, 2023: Nine injured after Memorial Day shooting
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Gainesville’s Evergreen Cemetery hosts Memorial Day service to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. “Gainesville’s Evergreen Cemetery Memorial Day service held on Monday offered a chance for community connection …
Read More »The Point, May 26, 2023: Alachua County Sheriff loses employee lawsuits
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WCJB: Judge rules against Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson in employee lawsuits. “Eighth Circuit Judge Donna Keim issued an order granting ‘extraordinary relief’ in three cases involving employees of the Alachua County …
Read More »The Point, May 24, 2023: New Twitter account tracks DeSantis’ air travel
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Marion County Sheriff arrests 20 in undercover online predator investigation. “An undercover investigation in Marion County last week resulted in the arrest of 20 online sexual predators trying to meet …
Read More »Here’s how 18 big issues settled from the 2023 Florida legislative session
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers ended the 2023 legislative session Friday. During the 60-day session, the Republican-controlled House and Senate passed numerous high-profile bills that lined up with priorities of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here are snapshots of 18 different issues, with links to relevant WUFT coverage over the past several months: …
Read More »‘Stop being racist:’ Tickets for loud music nearly 3 times more likely for Black drivers under new Florida law
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Darius Jermaine Ned Thomas Jr. was driving west on the Florida parkway in Jacksonville that runs along the St. Johns River, listening to music on a Friday afternoon in August in his Chevrolet Malibu sedan, when a sheriff’s deputy in a marked SUV pulled him over. “When …
Read More »Rounds of heavy rain, strong thunderstorms possible this week in Florida
An unsettled period of weather will bring periods of heavy rain and strong thunderstorms to the Sunshine State this week. Rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms will make for a soggy end to April across the Sunshine State. Surface observations Monday morning shows a tale of two tales across the …
Read More »Hidden violence: Elder abuse was already hard to track – then a pandemic made it more difficult
Amy Thomas wasn’t new to social work. She had been helping vulnerable children and adults for more than 20 years when she started working at Elder Options, a Gainesville-based nonprofit designated by the government to serve elders in 16 north-central Florida counties. What was new to Thomas was the COVID-19 …
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