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 • Fresh Take Florida: Exclusive: Florida temporarily suspends political ideology surveys to nearly 2 million in state colleges, universities. “After only one year, Florida has temporarily suspended a highly controversial, statewide survey required …
Read More »Peace conference in Gainesville: Bridging divides in the Middle East
In 2020, Fatema Al Harbi was one of the first Bahraini activists to visit Israel after the two countries agreed to establish full diplomatic relations. On Tuesday, she visited Gainesville for the first time to discuss her grassroots peace-focused initiatives. “I went to Israel and that sort of started the …
Read More »The fight with Disney is overshadowing DeSantis’ overseas trip
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hoped his first international trade mission would generate lucrative business deals and boost his foreign policy resume ahead of an expected presidential run. Instead, he faced questions about losing ground to former President Donald Trump and being taken to court by Walt Disney World. The trip reflected the intensifying …
Read More »The Point, April 28, 2023: Boltin Center to be partially restored
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Gainesville City Commission votes to partially restore Boltin Center. “The Gainesville City Commission unanimously voted Thursday to spend $5.6 million on a partial restoration of the Thelma A. Boltin Activity …
Read More »Florida Gov. DeSantis says Disney lawsuit is political
JERUSALEM — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday shrugged off Disney’s lawsuit against him as politically motivated, and said that it was time for the iconic company to stop enjoying favorable treatment in his state. Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday over the Republican’s appointment of a board of supervisors in its self-governed theme …
Read More »Hidden violence: Elder abuse was already hard to track – then a pandemic made it more difficult
Amy Thomas wasn’t new to social work. She had been helping vulnerable children and adults for more than 20 years when she started working at Elder Options, a Gainesville-based nonprofit designated by the government to serve elders in 16 north-central Florida counties. What was new to Thomas was the COVID-19 …
Read More »The Point, April 21, 2023: Gainesville drag community reacts to drag ban bill
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Gainesville drag community wary of Florida drag ban bill. “For Gainesville-based drag queen Star Shine, drag has always been connected with family.” • Mainstreet Daily News: GNV reapproves solar after …
Read More »Jewish holiday of Purim is ‘relevant in a different way this year,’ says UF Hillel rabbi
Gifts, costumes, groggers, and above all: hamantaschen. All of these items commemorate the jolly Jewish holiday Purim. Each year, it is celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month “Adar,” which falls between late winter and early spring each year. For 2023, the holiday begins Monday, with celebrations set …
Read More »University of Florida students “Chomp Hate” in Plaza of the Americas
Just steps away from the hubbub around a suspicious package alert at Turlington Plaza on Thursday afternoon, a sea of people crowded the heart of the University of Florida’s campus. While the nearby area around Turlington Hall was deserted as authorities cleared the area and determined the package posed no …
Read More »The Point, Feb. 2, 2023: Gainesville gets $8M for University Ave.
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Gainesville awarded $8M in federal funds to overhaul University Avenue. “The rework of the road will affect areas of high foot traffic, including the border of the University of Florida …
Read More »