The Point

The Point, Oct. 17, 2023: Commission considers proposal to replace City Hall ponds

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published October 17, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: City Commission considers landscaping proposal for City Hall Plaza ponds. "The two ponds, now empty, would be replaced with grass and concrete as part of a $35,000 beautification plan under consideration by the city."

• WUFT News: Veterinary technician in UF promotional video arrested in sexual assault case. "A former veterinary radiology technician at the University of Florida who was featured in a promotional video by the school volunteered to sheriff’s investigators that he sexually molested a young teenager in his care. He was released from jail Monday after his arrest."

• WUFT News: New Florida law lifts ban on all dog breeds, pit bulls remain controversial. "On Oct. 1, House Bill 941 went into effect in Florida, prohibiting governmental public housing authorities from banning dogs based on their breed, weight or size. The law also overturned remaining breed bans by local governments."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Gainesville PRCA Department receives perfect accreditation score. "On Friday, the city of Gainesville announced that its Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) was reaccredited with a perfect score for the first time ever."

• The Alligator: Historic High Springs restaurant facing foreclosure. "The bank is seeking over $2 million in damages in addition to lawyers’ fees, interest on the loan and reclamation of the properties."

• WUFT News: “Cheers to Swifties”: The Eras Tour takes over theaters around north central Florida. "Wherever fans may be, the film takes the audience to Swift’s concert — the Eras Tour — which stands as the singer’s sixth headlining concert tour of her albums and songs during the last decade."

• WUFT News: Peanut Butter Challenge encourages counties to help food-insecure Floridians. "The challenge encourages community members to donate jars of peanut butter to their local extension office. The counties that collect the most jars will be named the winners."

• WUFT News: Cuban sculptor lets his art take flight in Gainesville. "Titled 'Hybrid of a Chrysler,' the 1953 Chrysler limousine boasts a set of airplane wings attached to the roof. It was designed to embody the dreams of Cubans attempting to emigrate from the country and start a new life elsewhere."

• WUFT News: A local dog pub holds its first “Barktoberfest” event. "The event drew around 30 people and at least 15 dogs of all different breeds and sizes, from puggles and pit bulls to beagles and schnauzers."

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Around the state

• WMFE-Orlando: Central Floridians testify at UN about what it's like at school in Florida in 2023. "A group of Florida teachers, students and activists will address the United Nations in Switzerland this week over what they call the 'authoritarian experiment' in the state."

• WLRN-Miami: Waiting for America: WLRN News evaluates a key plank of the Biden administration's immigration agenda — one year later. "After months of reporting, WLRN has found that the program has been hampered by bureaucratic problems that undermine its success: Demand is higher than the Biden administration had anticipated. It's difficult if not impossible for some migrants to find sponsors and get passports. Work permits are taking months to secure."

• News Service of Florida: GOP leaders and medical groups clash over Florida's restrictions on gender-affirming care. "Republican attorneys general from across the country and major medical organizations are trying to help sway a federal appeals court as it considers Florida restrictions on treatments for transgender people."

• WLRN-Miami: 'One size doesn't fit all' says state legislator on consolidating Florida circuit courts. "State Rep. James 'Jim' Mooney, who represents Florida’s Southernmost district, told WLRN that he doesn’t think the proposal to consolidate circuit courts across the state is a great idea because it may not benefit those who need them the most — constituents."

• News Service of Florida: Florida's reported COVID cases continue to fall, but deaths pass 91,500. "The latest data from the state Department of Health showed yet another decrease in cases during over the past month, with 6,380 positives during the week that started Oct. 6."

• WMFE-Orlando: New study projects sea level rise to drain Florida’s financial future. "One million Florida properties are projected to become chronically flooded: properties that today fund nearly 30% of local revenues for more than half of the state’s municipalities, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Cornell and Florida State Universities."

• News4Jax: Florida flies back 270 citizens from Israel on charter. "The state of Florida chartered the flight and partnered with a nonprofit to get families back home. It was the end of a long journey for American families who had been living in Israel, as well as those who were traveling there when the conflict began."

• WMFE-Orlando: 'Veteran' fencers, like Georgina Love, stay sharp as they get older. "They’re in three age categories, 50s, 60s and 70-plus. Wearing protective gear and masks and beeping with every sword touch, the fencers parry and thrust backward and forward on narrow strips."

• New York Times: For Book Fairs, Scholastic Will Separate Titles That Deal With Race and Gender. "Schools can opt to display these books — or not. The list includes biographies of the civil rights icon John Lewis and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson."