Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: New lawsuit seeks to block DeSantis’ appointments to control city’s utility. “Members of Gainesville Resident United Inc. filed a lawsuit Monday against Gov. Ron DeSantis for his appointees to the …
Read More »Air Force base could threaten Florida’s endangered Rice’s whale
In 2021, scientists confirmed a new species of whale in Florida after one washed up in the Everglades in 2019. The Rice’s whale, also known as the Gulf of Mexico whale, was previously considered a Bryde’s (pronounced broodus) whale. The Rice’s whale has an estimated population of less than 50, …
Read More »The Point, Oct. 3, 2023: Super Bowl streaker not fazed by new Florida law
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • Fresh Take Florida: ‘I would still do it’: Super Bowl streaker says new Florida law won’t work. “Starting this week, Florida has a new law stiffening penalties on attention-grabbers who sprint across …
Read More »Gainesville residents reject housing development plan on wetlands
Five months after a housing development plan was approved, homeowners are still trying to find a way to shut it down. The Gainesville 121 development plan was approved by the Gainesville City Commission in April. City commissioners voted 6-1. Mayor Harvey Ward was the only one who voted against the …
Read More »From heat-tolerant cattle to racial inequality, Gainesville leaders search for solutions at climate change summit
While climate change is a global challenge, Alachua County residents also have a role to play. About 70 people spent part of their weekend at a Gainesville church to talk about climate threats and responses, with recent extreme weather events like Hurricane Idalia fresh on their minds. Jacqueline Patterson, longtime …
Read More »Volunteers remove invasive species for Gainesville’s 30th National Public Lands Day
For the first time, the 30th National Public Lands Day was open to volunteers from the public. West of the Bass Pro Shop in Celebration Pointe, 13 volunteers participated at Lake Kanapaha Park by pulling invasive coral ardisia, a non-native plant that displaces native trees and shrubs in the forest. …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 22, 2023: Domestic violence nonprofit execs accused of stealing millions
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Florida Supreme Court rejects execution appeal for man convicted of killing two women. “The court upheld the death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis signed on Aug. 17. Zack is …
Read More »Pedestrian safety focus of joint City Commission and UF Student Senate meeting
UF Student Government Senators asked for major changes to university-wide pedestrian safety at the joint annual Gainesville City Commission meeting. Five pedestrians have died in Gainesville so far this year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. At the meeting, commission members heard students’ demands for …
Read More »A tropical system may impact Florida this weekend
Parts of the Sunshine State will likely see an increase in the rain and wind this weekend as an area of disturbed weather may turn into a tropical system. The National Hurricane Center is highlighting an area off the Florida east coast for possible development later this week. A non-tropical low pressure …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 18, 2023: East Gainesville gets a half million-dollar HUD grant
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: HUD grant money to go toward improvements in East Gainesville. “Gainesville is one of the 14 cities nationwide that will receive a Housing and Urban Development neighborhood planning grant.” • …
Read More »