WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The Haile Plantation Village Center celebrated Oktoberfest recently after the event was suspended for three years due to coronavirus shutdowns.
Read More »Haile Plantation Village Center’s Oktoberfest returns
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 …
Read More »Migrant workers among those experiencing food insecurity after Hurricane Ian
Three weeks after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, some people are still finding it hard to feed themselves and obtain basic household supplies. State agencies like the Florida Department of Emergency Management are shifting their response from offering immediate assistance, like food and water, to providing long-term recovery assistance as communities begin to stabilize. But the need for those resources has not disappeared, especially among low-income residents who struggle year-round.
Read More »Rough times ahead: Hurricane Ian batters SW Florida economy
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Ian might have come and gone but it could deliver prolonged blows to the local economy, walloping small businesses heavily dependent on tourists and seasonal residents. The scenes of destruction in southwestern Florida will keep many winter tourists and snowbirds away as well as tasking local residents with rebuilding …
Read More »The Point, Oct. 13, 2022: The lawmaker who helped change Florida’s university president searches reacts to UF’s process
State Sen. Jeff Brandes says the school's move to name a single finalist wasn't what he intended.
Read More »New Gainesville policy may be the push aspiring recyclers need
Gainesville's zero-waste initiative reduces single-use plastic accessories like forks and ketchup in restaurants. It also requires apartment complexes to collect discarded but usable furniture and donate them. And it creates an expanded food network to redirect food that is past its sell-by date to Gainesville food pantries.
Read More »Driver accused of crashing into patrol cars during fast chase, punching police dog
A 23-year-old man is facing charges after deputies say he fled and eluded police after speeding on Archer Road, resisted arrest and punched a K-9. Matthew Cornish was driving 90 mph in a 45 mph zone on Sunday morning when he led police on a high-speed chase. He crashed into two police cars trying to get away and drove through a front yard causing $2,000 in damages. After eluding police multiple times, he crashed into a tree, and his truck rolled over. Deputies caught up to him at the 5300 block of Southwest 70th Terrace. When deputies searched his car, they found a bag of marijunana and two bags containing almost 7 grams of cocaine. He is being charged with eight offenses, including aggravated assault on law enforcement, marijuana and cocaine possession, leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and hitting a police dog.
Read More »The Point, Oct. 7, 2022: UF names one finalist in presidential search: U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse
The Nebraska senator is likely to resign to become the school's next leader.
Read More »Gainesville residents and restaurants deal with congested city on game weekends
Gainesville hotels, restaurants, businesses and city residents plan ahead to accommodate the influx of out-of-town visitors and locals on University of Florida game days, which bring in significant revenue to the city. But some residents complain of traffic and overcrowding on game weekends.
Read More »Downtown Fort Myers sifts through debris as it tries to regain identity as social hub
Downtown Fort Myers is the city’s social hub. Local restaurants, parks and landmarks are strewn with debris, but coming back to life. WUFT’s Jack Prator spoke with home and business owners taking stock of their damages from Hurricane Ian.
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