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 »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 at what may be ahead for many more.
Read More »Homeless, broken woman struck by sheriff’s deputy in crash seeks $15 million from Florida lawmakers
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Julia “Jenny” Perez says her life was destroyed by a sheriff’s deputy who slammed his cruiser into her motorcycle and was found to be at fault. Her lawsuit has languished in the courts for years. Now, a desperate Perez – unable to work, homeless and in …
Read More »The Point, Nov. 11, 2022: Tropical Storm Nicole causes major damage to A1A sections, other parts of Florida’s east coast
From Brevard County to Jacksonville, the storm damaged chunks of coastal homes and infrastructure.
Read More »See who won Citrus and Hernanado counties’ 2022 midterm elections
Citrus County School Board District 5 Joseph “Joe” Faherty vs. Linda Powers Joe Faherty collected 57% of the vote, making him the Citrus County School Board District 5 member. Incumbent Powers has 39 years of experience in education, working as a teacher at the elementary, middle, high school and community …
Read More »Gainesville’s mayor candidates have sparred, but they share a common goal
After being narrowed down from nine to two candidates, Harvey Ward and Ed Bielarski will be pitted against each other in the Nov. 8 general election. Ward, who has served as Gainesville city commissioner since 2017 and is term-limited, had a 300-vote lead over Bielarski in the Aug. 23 primary …
Read More »It’s McCray vs. McCray for the District 3 school board race in Lafayette County
Marion McCray and Mary Anne McCray are running for the District 3 School Board position in Lafayette County. Here is the information that voters should know.
Read More »Citrus and Hernanado counties’ 2022 midterm election races
For more information about statewide and national races, check out WUFT’s election coverage on: State House and State Senate races U.S. House races U.S. Senate race Florida’s gubernatorial race What will my ballot look like? On a midterm election ballot, Florida voters will be asked to vote on local school …
Read More »League of Women Voters and Bob Graham Center host candidate forum for 2022 General Election
Candidates facing voters in less than a month discussed a variety of issues spanning from housing to healthcare on Sunday.
Read More »Two men arrested on charges related to running a human sex trafficking business in a Gainesville group home
Two men were arrested Tuesday and accused of running a human sex trafficking business in a Gainesville group home. The arrests happened at a Gate gas station on 3001 NW 13th Street at 4 p.m. The suspects' identities were confirmed as 20-year-old Kevarius Nyrtell King and 25-year-old Justin Terrel Hoyt. The victim was living in the Safe Hands Group Home, a housing service partnered with homeless shelters and co-owned by King since a little less than a year ago. The two men forced the victim into multiple sexual acts, sometimes without her consent, with dozens of men in the group home. Police were able to report the crime as the victim had told the staff at the Tower Road Branch Library that she was a victim of human trafficking and to alert the authorities. Through a search warrant of the group home, police were able to confirm the identities of King and Hoyt and later arrest and charge them with human sex trafficking. King and Hoyt are currently booked in the Alachua County Jail, each with release bonds set at $250,000.
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