WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • Gainesville Sun ($): 2 arrested after protesting anti-abortion displays on University of Florida campus. “Taylor, 26, and Dinkla, 21, were protesting the large graphic images of aborted fetuses on display by the …
Read More »House bill proposes to drop gun-buying age to 18
Republican Florida House of Representatives Bobby Payne, Palatka, and Tyler Sirois, Merritt Island, are cosponsoring HB 1543, which proposes to reduce the minimum age at which a person may purchase, sell or transfer a firearm from 21 to 18. The measure is headed to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee for discussion March 13.
Read More »Forum turns into protest: Sen. Ben Sasse’s visit to UF spurs student unrest
About 300 protesters disrupted an introduction by taking over a campus auditorium where U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse was being introduced to students and faculty Monday as the presumptive University of Florida president.
Read More »E-Verify Opponents And Supporters Wait As DeSantis Begins To Sign Bills
If DeSantis signs the bill, as he is expected to do, all public employers, contractors and subcontractors must register with the E-Verify system to hire new employees beginning Jan. 1. Private employers have the option of using E-Verify or the documents required for an I-9 form, but they must keep copies of those documents at least three years.
Read More »Environmentalists Debate Energy Market Changes
The initiative, Florida Changes to Energy Market Initiative, has divided environmentalists by proposing a deregulated, competitive market for electric power. If approved, it would allow all Florida residents to generate, use and sell their own electric power, creating more opportunities for solar power usage.
Read More »Florida Democrats Discuss Their Political Platform In Orlando
More than 1,000 Florida Democrats gathered over the weekend in Orlando. At the general session on Saturday the party passed a series of resolutions continuing to support initiatives like stronger gun laws, addressing the opioid epidemic and supporting immigrant rights.
Read More »Airport Gun Bill Launched In Florida Senate
The Florida state legislature is considering a measure that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to continue carrying sidearms in the areas of airports that are before passengers go through the security-screening process. It is unknown how far the measure will fly this legislative session, as it has two additional committee appearances scheduled in the Senate, and the House version has not been heard in committees.
Read More »Florida Citrus Industry Not So Fruitful, Plagued By Disease
Although Marty Werts' Melrose farm has remained untouched by disease, the Florida citrus industry has faced devastating effects in the last decade due to citrus greening, citrus canker and declining sales. Even with $9.5 million allocated for citrus greening research by the Florida State Legislature between 2013 and 2014, all citrus trees are still dying faster than they are being replanted.
Read More »Florida Senate Approves Policy Change To Campus Concealed Carry
An amendment to the policy on concealed weapons on college campuses may be presented in the 2016 Florida legislative session. Already passed by Florida Senate and House committees, the policy needs to be approved by three more committees to be considered.
Read More »Florida State Student Fights Concealed Carry Rules On Game Day
FSU student Rebekah Hargrove and Florida Carry, Inc. filed a lawsuit against the school after the university prohibited Hargrove from leaving her firearm in her car during last weekend's football game.
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