The Point

The Point, Oct. 27, 2023: Gainesville finalizes ban on open containers

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published October 27, 2023 at 12:00 PM EDT

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: Police arrest man sought in attempted robbery, shooting at employees, police. "Gainesville Police arrested a man Thursday they said is responsible for a sensational armed robbery over the weekend at a fast-food restaurant where the gunman fired at employees and later shot at police while escaping."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Gainesville finalizes open container ban with two special districts. "Even within the two exception areas—called Arts, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) districts—the open container regulations will tighten compared to the current regulations. The new regulations will begin on Jan. 1."

• WUFT News: Citizens help Ocala Police catch ‘career criminal.' "A high-speed chase in Ocala ended with the arrest of a man police officials called a ‘career criminal’–but two citizens jumped into action to make it all happen."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Clemons calls for Gainesville mayor to resign, Ward says ‘no.' "State Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, has called for the resignation of Mayor Harvey Ward over a bond delay and an extra $2.9 million in debt incurred by Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU)."

• WUFT News: Florida Supreme Court rejects Jacksonville man’s death sentence appeal. "A Jacksonville man who was convicted for the 2004 murders of a man and his 13-year-old son was denied an appeal for his two death sentences by the Florida Supreme Court."

• The Alligator: UF Jewish community gathers for prayer service Thursday. "In light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, about 40 students and community members gathered in Turlington Plaza to pray for the Israeli Defense Force and to celebrate their Jewish heritage around noon Thursday."

• Ocala Gazette: Ocala’s qualms on reinstating impact fees send school district back for more data. "The Marion County school district has been fighting a long battle to have impact fees reinstated so that developers will help pay the cost of building new schools to support growth in the county that comes with these new homes."

• Mainstreet Daily News: Got potholes? New Alachua County map shows road renovations through 2032. "The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has scheduled more than $242 million for road maintenance in the next decade—more than tripling the annual road budget—and a newly released map shows where the construction will occur."

• WCJB: Love Bugs Disappear at an Alarming Rate. "Lovebugs are very sensitive to moisture and temperature. And given that Florida just endured one of it’s hottest summers on record, this may have played a role."

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Around the state

• WUSF-Tampa: The troubled Mosaic phosphate mine reports a possible gypstack liner tear. "One of Florida's biggest phosphate mines is reporting a possible tear in the lining that keeps waste from polluting the environment. But officials say the effects are still unknown."

• Politico: DeSantis administration claims it helped send weapons to Israel — but provides few details. "The moves come as the governor slammed the Biden administration — as well as former President Donald Trump — over Israel."

• Associated Press: Brightline plans a stop between its Orlando-to-Miami route. "Brightline officials said they were soliciting site proposals for a station along Florida's Treasure Coast in Martin or St. Lucie counties. The proposed stop would open the train service to an area of Florida that is less densely populated and hosts fewer tourists than South Florida and the Orlando area."

• News4Jax: Former Publix employees file federal lawsuit, accuse supermarket of making them work overtime without pay. "According to the lawsuit filed by former hourly assistant department managers who worked in Tennessee, Florida and Georiga, they performed work off-the-clock both inside and outside of the store without compensation and were denied overtime pay."

• News Service of Florida: A north Florida judge faces discipline for an improper discussion. "A North Florida judge could face a 30-day suspension and a public reprimand because of an improper discussion with a prosecutor after a court hearing held on Zoom, according to documents filed Wednesday at the Florida Supreme Court."

• Miami Herald: Visiting the Everglades? New hotel offers AC, bug protection and elevation from storms. "In the the sea of biting mosquitoes and swampy air that makes up the Everglades, there’s just one place to sleep in a king-sized bed with ice-cold AC without a long drive back to the city."

• WGCU-Fort Myers: Loggerhead sea turtles nested in record numbers the summer after Hurricane Ian. "The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported this week that they discovered loggerhead turtles created a record 1,177 nests on the two islands, while green sea turtles had a more normal nesting season with 24 nests."

• WUSF-Tampa: Black cattle rancher Huey Howard reflects on the racism and rewards of his six-decade career. "Huey shares why he’s passionate about raising cows, his favorite way to enjoy Florida beef and how he managed to buy his first plot of land after all."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Before you try to rescue an animal, find out if it really needs help. "People in North Florida often come across wild animals, including some that are sick or hurt. Knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death for them."