WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Turnover in the Florida Senate could signal brighter prospects this year for a renewed proposal that would prevent local governments from regulating app-based transportation services such as Uber and Lyft
Read More »Thrasher Takes Aim At Guns On Campus
In his annual “state of the university” address on Wednesday, Florida State University President John Thrasher reiterated his strong opposition to allowing guns on university and college campuses. As a member of the Florida Senate, Thrasher helped kill a bill in 2011 that would have allowed gun owners with concealed-weapons …
Read More »Impact of Abortion Ruling on Florida Law Unclear
Florida abortion providers are breathing sighs of relief following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Monday striking down a Texas law that would have greatly limited access to legal abortion in that state.
Read More »State Senator To Retire After 4 Decades In Public Service
State Sen. Gwen Margolis will retire come November, ending her 40-year-long political career. She announced the decision via email after the Miami Herald reported that she had dismissed her five opponents during a meeting with local democrats.
Read More »UF voices requests to new Florida Senate president as part of ‘listening tour’
The incoming Florida Senate president asked the University of Florida what the state could do for it. On Tuesday night, students, faculty, and UF President Kent Fuchs answered. More stipends for graduate students, increasing need-based student aid and better compensation for faculty were some of the answers that Sen. Joe Negron received …
Read More »Medical Marijuana Bill Heading to Florida Governor
Florida’s contentious medical marijuana legislation is headed to Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida Senate approved a House version of a bill (HB 307) that expands the use of the Right to Try Act, allowing medical marijuana use for patients with terminal conditions. A similar measure, which allows all strengths and …
Read More »UF Students Welcome Bill Proposing Tax-Free Textbooks
A new law in Florida could help students save money on expensive textbooks. The bill looks to eliminate the sales tax from textbooks to give students a break on the hundreds they already spend on required texts.
Read More »Fla. Senate Backs Bill to Ban Selling E-Cigarettes to Minors
Electronic cigarettes could be regulated by a Florida Senate Bill to prevent minors from buying them.
Read More »Florida State Senator: Hit Unlicensed Assisted Living Facilities ‘With A Hammer’
Heritage Senior Living of Ocala was identified as an unlicensed assisted living facility by the Agency for Health Care Administration on June 5, one of seven such citations in North Central Florida in 2013. There have been more statewide, spurring a call for legislative review in 2014.
Read More »Florida House of Representatives passes raise for state employees
The Florida House of Representatives passed House Bill 5001 Friday, giving state employees a $1,400 across-the-board pay raise. The raise has been split into two tiers: a $1,000 pay raise and $400 performance-based bonus.
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