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 • Gainesville Sun ($): Sheriff Clovis Watson chose not to give employees 7% raise despite having funds to do so. “Alachua County officials are asking Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. to account for millions of …
Read More »Inmates face off in state culinary arts competition
The smell of various foods filled the air, pans of grilled chicken sizzled on the stove and inmates wearing aprons, hats and chef’s coats rushed around the industrial kitchen at Lowell Correctional Institution as they worked with their team to win the gold trophy. Wendasia Gipson, an inmate, kept her cool as she moved through the kitchen calling out “behind” to her teammates warning them not to bump into her as she helped prepare a dish called “Not the Taco." Four teams of male and female inmates from across the state competed in the first Culinary Arts Training Competition hosted by Lowell Correctional Institution Wednesday.
Read More »UF selects Sasse as its next president; conservative U.S. senator pledges ‘political celibacy’
The University of Florida on Tuesday formally selected Ben Sasse as its next president, setting aside concerns that the appointment of a conservative Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska would further politicize the state’s flagship higher education institution. The university’s board of trustees – largely appointed by Republican governors – voted …
Read More »The Point, Oct. 31, 2022: Antisemitic message at FL-GA game prompts UF response
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • The Alligator: UF, organizations respond to antisemitic message after Florida-Georgia game. “An antisemitic message was projected onto the exterior of TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville after the Florida-Georgia game Oct. 29.” • …
Read More »Meet the candidates running for Florida’s 3rd congressional district
Democratic candidate Danielle Hawk is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack for Florida’s 3rd Congressional District. Here is what voters need to know about them as they prepare for Election Day on November 8. WUFT spoke to Danielle Hawk about her campaign but was unable to hear from Cammack …
Read More »Deputies: Elementary teacher left gun in car that was found by students
A teacher is facing felony criminal charges after deputies say she had a loaded handgun in her car at Chiefland Elementary School. Paige Ehlers, a first-year teacher, sent two fourth-grade students to her car to get her medication Monday. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office said when the students went into the car they saw a gun and told school staff who contacted the school’s resource deputy. The school board said Ehlers was placed on administrative leave because having the loaded handgun is a violation of school policy. While it is legal for a person to carry a concealed firearm in a vehicle, school districts can have policies negating the law. Ehlers is facing charges of child endangerment. She was released from jail Tuesday and was not required to pay bond.
Read More »Judge orders former UF physician to mental health counseling, community service
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information from an interview with the doctor’s accuser. GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A former osteopathic physician who resigned from the University of Florida College of Medicine during a misconduct investigation has been ordered to attend mental health counseling and perform 15 hours of …
Read More »UK’s Liz Truss quits after turmoil obliterated her authority
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday — bowing to the inevitable after a tumultuous, short-lived term in which her policies triggered turmoil in financial markets and a rebellion in her party that obliterated her authority. Making a hastily scheduled statement outside her 10 Downing Street office, Truss acknowledged …
Read More »The Point, Oct. 20, 2022: Florida State Board of Education adopts new rules
Subscribe to The Point, arriving in your inbox Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. The stories near you • WUFT News: Chuck Clemons and Brandon Peters battle for House District 22 Seat “The Florida House of Representatives recently redistricted, which means the new representative will represent Levy, Gilchrist and the western portion …
Read More »Police K9 that mauled man’s eye quietly placed back on active duty
The Gainesville police K9 that mauled a man who fled a traffic stop and was the subject of warnings that he was prone to bite even fellow police officers has been quietly returned to duty, authorities said.
Read More »