A bill proposed today in the Florida Legislature would allow the killing of bears in self-defense. House Bill 87, proposed by Representative Jason Shoaf, faces an uphill battle as it passes through the legislature. Under the bill, people can kill bears without authorization or permits if the person feels threatened. …
Read More »Hurricane Ian, 1 year later: A story of resiliency and hope
Floridians are still picking up what was lost a year ago during Hurricane Ian, a deadly and destructive Category 4 storm. Sept. 28 marks the one-year anniversary of Ian plowing through the state, making landfall near Cayo Costa in Lee County. Ian was the third-costliest natural disaster to hit the …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 26, 2023: Alachua County school gyms struggle without A/C
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Not cool for school – Alachua County students struggle inside gyms without A/C, with no plans of installation. “At least four Alachua County public schools have no air conditioning units …
Read More »Cedar Key recovers slowly from Hurricane Idalia storm surge
Hurricane Idalia flooded Cedar Key and uprooted entire families’ homes. Two weeks later, residents are still picking up the pieces. The Category three storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Aug. 30, bringing high winds and storm surge to the coastlines and neighboring cities. When the storm cleared, it …
Read More »Gainesville Regional Utility maintains power for customers amidst severe weather events
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida and Santa Fe College students received a warm welcome back to Gainesville… literally. Students were slammed with excessive heat warnings and a hurricane within the first two weeks of classes. As Hurricane Idalia threatened a direct path to Gainesville, students began scrambling to prepare …
Read More »Crystal River dance studio damaged by Idalia, determined to reopen
A dance company in Citrus County tried its best to protect its studio from the seven foot storm surge of Hurricane Idalia, before the category four storm rolled through Crystal River on Aug. 30. Employees at Centerstage closed the business days ahead to prepare for the impending heavy rain and …
Read More »Peak Hurricane Season has arrived. How is it looking so far?
In a typical Atlantic Ocean hurricane season, August through mid-September is the busiest time for tropical storms and hurricanes. This season is no different. Historically, more than 85 percent of all major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 and 5) form after August 20, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm …
Read More »DeSantis requests aid for Big Bend fishing industries
Governor Ron DeSantis requested assistance for North Central Florida’s fishing industry to repair damage from Hurricane Idalia. He wrote a letter on Wednesday to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to issue a federal fisheries declaration providing federal funding for offshore, nearshore and inshore fisheries to rebuild. In DeSantis’ letter, he …
Read More »Florida, other states want to move forward with flood insurance lawsuit
TALLAHASSEE — Florida and other states are trying to fend off an attempt by the Biden administration to end a lawsuit challenging changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that have led to higher premiums for many property owners. Attorneys for 10 states and local government agencies in Louisiana filed …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 5, 2023: Pres. Biden visits hurricane-stricken community
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Pres. Biden and First Lady visit hurricane-ravaged Florida community. “Biden’s day began with an aerial tour and continued with visits to the hardest-hit locations in Live Oak. He assessed the …
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