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 • WUFT News: Gainesville homeless campers told to move by Dec. 1. “The camp is a microcosm of both this year’s housing crisis and the cracks in the local shelter system. Its uncertain future hints …
Read More »Food banks in Alachua County facing new barriers this season
Food banks and pantries in Alachua County are facing more challenges than usual this season thanks to a rise in the price of groceries, the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and an increase in demand.
Read More »Gainesville residents call on city commission to abolish K9 unit
The Gainesville City Commission's special meeting on the K9 unit largely pitted law enforcement officers pleading to preserve the unit against community members calling to dismantle it.
Read More »The Point, Nov. 16, 2022: NASA’s Artemis I moon rocket mission blasts off in spectacular display against the night sky
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Artemis I gets off the ground, propelling historic mission. “Cheers and applause erupted from spectators at Kennedy Space Center in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday morning as NASA’s Artemis I moon …
Read More »Creating community and confidence through hair
Bouncing hair beads, bright bows, braids, and bubble ponytail holders are a rite of passage for most Black girls. Most have their own satin hair bonnets as soon as they begin to grow hair. And “wash day” for Black hair is an experience, whether that be good or bad, not …
Read More »Harvey Ward wins Gainesville’s 2022 election for mayor
Harvey Ward won Tuesday's runoff election for Gainesville mayor against Ed Bielarski with more than 57% of the vote.
Read More »A nonprofit’s free hair styling for girls builds their self-esteem
Twelve-year-old Jasmine Lassiter said kids used to make fun of her hair. Now, thanks to an organization called Her Natural Wreath, classmates admire her beautiful braids. That’s the kind of news Rachel Eloy, the organization’s founder, likes to hear. Eloy, a third-year University of Florida student, recently launched Her Natural Wreath, a Gainesville nonprofit organization that offers free braiding services to girls ages 3 to 17.
Read More »Voter guide: Gainesville’s 2022 election races
The contentious Gainesville mayoral race has generated over $100,000 in total campaign contributions; Bielarski has fundraised more than $58,000, while Ward has collected more than $63,000. Ward, currently in his second term as a Gainesville City Commissioner, voted in January to fire Bielarski as general manager of Gainesville Regional Utilities. …
Read More »New jazz club and accomplished performer amplify Gainesville music scene
Smooth sounds of the saxophone and bold beats from the drums fill the air of Baby J’s Bar every night from Monday through Saturday, lingering in visitors’ ears long after closing. Since opening on April 26 and bringing jazz music to downtown Gainesville, this retro venue has become a hub for all styles from the boogie to the blues.
Read More »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 twice as many calls from 2021 compared to 2015. Numbers from 2022 are still rising. As a state, Florida saw nearly five times as many opioid-related emergencies from 2021 compared to …
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