WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Fish Island is one of the last remaining undeveloped waterfront properties in St. Augustine.
Read More »Florida Cabinet Agrees To Buy And Conserve Fish Island In St. Augustine For $6.5M
With Weather Extremes Projected For Jacksonville, Elected Officials Cool To Aggressive Climate Action
By Brendan Rivers & Ayurella Horn-Muller for Climate Central In September of 2017, flooding caused by Hurricane Irma destroyed the house that Tom Davitt was renting on Jacksonville’s Westside and wrecked tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of his uninsured possessions. “I rolled out of bed because I thought it was my alarm, and it was a tornado warning. And I stepped into a foot and a half of water,” the 56-year-old yacht broker said in February. “I’m basically starting all
Read More »Sandy Soil And Rising Seas Spell Septic Tank Disaster In Florida
By Brendan Rivers Communities across Florida are already grappling with aging septic tanks, which leak into groundwater and are considered a leading cause of toxic algae blooms. As sea level rise is expected to worsen that situation, the state and cities are beginning to tackle the expensive task of converting septic systems to sewer or newer septic technologies. It’s no small challenge. Floridians are estimated to be using 2.6 million septic systems, most of them the conventional variety with two
Read More »Archer Cemetery Seeks Grant For Restoration And Preservation
The restoration organization for a cemetery with graves belonging to former slaves seeks out a $25,000 grant for its restoration and preservation. The University of Florida and the Archer City Commission partnered with the organization.
Read More »Potions And Profits: Modern Witches Making A Living In Gainesville
There are about 1 million practicing witches in the U.S. and several in north central Florida. These are a few of their stories.
Read More »Push For More Diaper Changing Tables In Restaurant Restrooms Gains Support Online And With Two Florida Lawmakers
Florida state Sen. Lauren Book in February filed a bill that will require the Florida Building Commission to incorporate baby-changing tables into the Florida Building Code requirements.
Read More »Theater Production Spotlights Local Racial History To Inform, Educate
“From Colored to Black” is a Gainesville play that reflects on past and current race disparities within the north central Florida African American community.
Read More »What’s The Future Of Sunscreen In Florida? Environmentalists And Doctors Burn In Disagreement
Dermatologists disagree with a Senate bill prohibiting the sale of sunscreen containing chemicals that could pose a threat to coral reefs. Similar bills have already been passed by Hawaii's state legislature and The Key West City Commission.
Read More »First Jewish Utopia In U.S. Founded In Micanopy
A Jewish utopia was created near Micanopy in the early 1800s. Now, almost no evidence of this society remains.
Read More »After Community Outcry In St. Augustine, Fish Island Property Owner Plans to Sell Land for Conservation
A Fish Island property owner told Regan they intended to sell the land to the North Florida Land Trust for conservation, he said.
Read More »