Sheltair Aviation is hosting its first annual MMA Fight or Flight event for local first responders at the Ocala International Airport on Saturday. This event involves a 5K run that will start in the morning, followed by MMA fights in the evening. Tickets cost between $30 to $100. The 5K …
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 »The Point, March 9, 2023: Man alleges abuse in Alachua County Jail
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Earleton man alleges abuse at the Alachua County Jail. “More than a year after his arrest on Dec. 2, 2021, Juan Sterk said his experiences at the Alachua County Jail …
Read More »How the Big Cat Public Safety Act affects a Melrose animal facility
Carl Bovard, owner of Single Vision, calls his establishment an animal sanctuary. Others regard it as a roadside zoo. Located in Melrose, Florida, at the end of a long dirt road, the 10-acre facility is home to about 50 exotic species. Controversy arose after several pictures and videos of visitors …
Read More »Then and now: How DeSantis’ State of State speeches have changed
For the first State of the State address of his second term on Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis is kicking off the Florida legislative session in a much different position than he was four years ago. When DeSantis took office in 2019, he had defeated his Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum by …
Read More »Alachua County Fire Rescue’s day-off policy credited with attracting new recruits
In the world of first responders, a pinning ceremony is a symbolic event that represents dedication and commitment to duty. For the 45 students who participated in this ceremony, it was the culmination of six weeks of rigorous training.
Read More »The Point, March 1, 2023: East Gainesville residents discuss new urgent care center
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: East Gainesville residents clarify their needs for new urgent care center. “Chanae Jackson came to Lincoln Middle School ready to voice her dissatisfaction. ‘We don’t trust you, and we don’t …
Read More »Mystery solved? Feds name man they say lived under another’s identity for 3 decades
TAMPA, Fla. – Who was pretending to be Kelvin Johnson, for more than three decades? Even serving 25 years in a New York prison for murder under what prosecutors say was a stolen identity? The mystery of the bizarre identity case that spanned the Eastern seaboard is a step closer …
Read More »Local governments tackle pedestrian safety, panhandling
Panhandling and pedestrian safety are both prominent and continuing issues among communities in north central Florida. In the past 10 days, three local governments have started taking measures to keep pedestrians safe. They join Gainesville and Alachua County, which have also enacted ordinances in recent years. Gainesville Gainesville in 2021 …
Read More »Severe weather awareness series: rip currents and marine hazards
The Florida Public Radio Emergency Network recently compiled a series on the dangers of severe weather in the state and the value of residents being aware of weather safety best practices. Stay informed by following Florida Storms, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and your local National Weather Service office on …
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