CLEARWATER, Fla. – Nancy Velardi has negotiated with Pinellas County Schools, one of the largest school districts across Florida, for 18 years, securing affordable health insurance for teachers and their families and working to increase salaries. But in her last term as president of the Pinellas County Teacher Association, the …
Read More »The Point, March 2, 2023: Woman with ‘deplorable’ home conditions could never own animals again
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Woman accused of animal cruelty faces potentially never owning another animal. “Patricia Garibaldi is accused of cruelty toward animals — her 15 cats — which were found living in ‘deplorable’ …
Read More »Alachua County Fire Rescue’s day-off policy credited with attracting new recruits
In the world of first responders, a pinning ceremony is a symbolic event that represents dedication and commitment to duty. For the 45 students who participated in this ceremony, it was the culmination of six weeks of rigorous training.
Read More »DeSantis takes aim at teacher union dues
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled that he will make a priority of passing a long-debated proposal that would prevent teachers from having union dues deducted from their paychecks.
Read More »The Point, Dec. 20, 2022: After years, Florida adopts new medical marijuana rules
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: After Hurricane Ian, sowing hope. “Hurricane Ian trampled over 5 million acres of agricultural land in Florida. The storm ranks among the top storms in U.S. history. For small, family …
Read More »Updated training program brings the heat to Gainesville firefighters
Gainesville Fire Rescue firefighters train all year and complete live fire training to keep them sharp and efficient in every situation. As the older generation of firefighters retires, GFR training officials need to do everything they can to refresh returning firefighters and get recruits up to speed.
Read More »911 dispatchers overlooked, miss out on $1,000 bonuses from DeSantis
As Hurricane Ian swept across the beachfront towns of southwest Florida, when panicked callers to 911 reported they were crouched in attics or standing in high water and fearful they would drown as floodwaters rose, Christine Hodges was a reassuring voice on the other end of the line. Find a …
Read More »Ed Book wins tight, ‘clean’ race over James Ingle for Gainesville City Commission seat
Ed Book is headed for a seat on the Gainesville City Commission after a tight race concluded Tuesday night.
Read More »What Florida voters need to know about Amendment 3 before Election Day
Legislators in favor of Amendment 3 tout it as a lifeline for Floridians struggling in a volatile housing market, but those against it say the measure wouldn’t do enough. If passed, the amendment would increase the homestead exemption for K-12 teachers, police officers, correctional officers, firefighters, emergency-medical technicians, paramedics, child-welfare …
Read More »The Point, Oct. 24, 2022: Special session for Hurricane Ian relief
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Alachua County health authorities see rise in opioid emergencies despite Naloxone program. “Alachua County has seen an overall increase in opioid-related 911 calls over the past six years — more than …
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