A Leon County circuit judge heard arguments Friday in a challenge by the city of Gainesville to a new state law overhauling control of the Gainesville municipal utility. Judge Angela Dempsey held a hearing on competing motions by the city and the state for summary judgment in the case filed …
Read More »Gainesville files lawsuit against GRU control law
TALLAHASSEE — The city of Gainesville has launched a wide-ranging constitutional challenge to a new state law that overhauled control of the region’s municipal utility, including saying it could violate bond agreements. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Leon County circuit court, seeks to block a law that created the Gainesville …
Read More »Florida in hot water as ocean temperatures rise along with the humidity
ORLANDO, Fla. — Record global ocean heating has invaded Florida with a vengeance. Water temperatures in the mid-90s (mid-30s Celsius) are threatening delicate coral reefs, depriving swimmers of cooling dips and adding a bit more ick to the Sunshine State’s already oppressive summer weather. Forecasters are warning of temperatures that …
Read More »Group files legal challenge against revamp of Gainesville Regional Utilities
TALLAHASSEE — Arguing that a new Florida law violates First Amendment and other constitutional rights, a non-profit group and Alachua County residents have filed a federal-court challenge to an overhaul of the electric utility in the Gainesville area. The group Gainesville Residents United and six individual plaintiffs filed an 88-page …
Read More »The Point, June 14, 2023: Gainesville to halve funding for Grace Marketplace
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. Today’s Florida stories • Gainesville Sun ($): Gainesville expected to cut funding for homeless services in half. What does it mean? “Jon DeCarmine, the executive director of Grace Marketplace, said city leaders estimate a 50% budget cut …
Read More »Here’s how 18 big issues settled from the 2023 Florida legislative session
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers ended the 2023 legislative session Friday. During the 60-day session, the Republican-controlled House and Senate passed numerous high-profile bills that lined up with priorities of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Here are snapshots of 18 different issues, with links to relevant WUFT coverage over the past several months: …
Read More »The Point, April 20, 2023: House committee approves GRU control bill
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: GRU control bill gets House committee approval. “The House State Affairs Committee approved Representative Chuck Clemons’ bill giving the state of Florida control of Gainesville Regional Utilities on Wednesday.” • …
Read More »Senate committee approves increased electricity bills for natural gas expansion
The Senate Rules Committee approved a bill Wednesday allowing utility companies to raise electricity bills so they can pass along the cost of building renewable natural gas facilities. SB 1162 would allow utility companies to purchase and use natural gas and hydrogen as fuel sources for electricity. This would help …
Read More »GRU solutions and opinions arise at latest city agenda meetings
Thursday afternoon marked the latest chapter in the battle among Tallahassee lawmakers, Gainesville city commissioners and concerned residents over the $1.7 billion debt amassed by Gainesville Regional Utilities. Through the regularly scheduled general policy committee meeting in the afternoon followed by the utility advisory board in the evening, city workers …
Read More »The Point, March 3, 2023: Lessons from a traffic stop bystander in Lawtey
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Lawtey police threatened to arrest a traffic stop bystander. What we can learn from the incident. “Lawtey Police Capt. Nathan Blom backed the officers’ response. He said (Jessica) Kreitzer could …
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