The Point

The Point, Nov. 21, 2023: Alachua County considers shipping container homes for homeless

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published November 21, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: Alachua County investigates a proposal for permanent shipping container housing for the homeless. "The housing units will be crafted from recycled shipping containers. The containers are used as the structural element of the shelter, and interior elements like walls, floors, roofs and beds are added afterwards."

• WUFT News: Monkey business: Gainesville primate sanctuary builds hurricane-proof facilities. "To guarantee the monkeys never have to face the cramped cages again, Bagnall and her husband, Andrew Grant, started a project in 2020 to build additional indoor enclosures where the monkeys can take shelter during extreme weather."

• WUFT News: Gainesville’s noise ordinance debate continues to bring tension between Gainesville city officials and neighbors. "Gainesville city commissioners unanimously decided Thursday against hiring a consultant to look over its noise ordinance."

• Mainstreet Daily News: High Springs commission selects new mayor, city manager resigns. "After the meeting, city manager Ashley Stathatos submitted a resignation letter. Her last day with the city will be Feb. 29 if the City Commission sees fit."

• Politico: Sasse dismisses Florida Republican’s claim that UF professor compared Israel to Nazi Germany. "Florida’s only Republican Jewish lawmaker publicly called on the University of Florida to terminate a professor for sharing a social media post comparing Israel to Nazi Germany — but UF President Ben Sasse, in a sharp rebuke, asserted that the instructor hasn’t worked at the school for years."

• The Alligator: COVID-19 led to ongoing speech delays, attention struggles in elementary schools. "When it was finally safe to return to grocery stores after the COVID-19 lockdown, Laura Holmes took her 5-year-old twins to Publix. Sitting side by side in their race-car cart, the twins ducked at the sound of the store’s public address system."

• WUFT News: 75 years of tradition and history: Camp Crystal Lake shares ‘camp magic’ with Alachua County. "The mission of the reunion is to provide 75 camp scholarships, one for each year the camp has been in existence, to continue a legacy of summer fun and tradition. The celebration continues with another reunion on Dec. 9."

• WUFT News: NPR’s ‘Books We Love’ list recommends great reads in time for holiday gift giving. "WUFT’s Kristin Moorehead spoke with NPR’s Andrew Limbong about the list and his recommendations."

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Around the state

• PolitiFact: Does DeSantis want to cut Social Security and Medicare? What his record shows. "PolitiFact checked DeSantis' congressional record, his comments as governor and and his comments as he seeks the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The ad contains an element of truth, but ignores critical facts."

• News Service of Florida: A new hearing is sought in a lawmaker subpoena fight involving Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act.' "Plaintiffs' attorneys Monday asked a full federal appeals court to take up a dispute about whether 14 current and former Florida lawmakers should have to turn over documents in a challenge to a state law that Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the 'Stop WOKE Act.'"

• News4Jax: Florida gas prices hit new low ahead of Thanksgiving travel this year. "Sunday’s average price of $3.04 per gallon is 15 cents less than a week ago and the lowest daily average price since late December 2022. It’s also 37 cents less than what drivers paid last Thanksgiving ($3.41)."

• Associated Press: The flu is soaring in Florida and 6 other states, the CDC reports. "Florida Department of Health data show the bug seems to be affecting kids the most, with a majority of state outbreaks in child care facilities."

• WMFE-Orlando: Florida teachers unions scramble to collect dues or risk decertification. "Under a new Florida law, teachers unions that don't collect dues from at least 60% of their members risk decertification."

• WLRN-Miami: 'Just the beginning': How Miami's syringe exchange program plans to grow. "Critics have expressed fears that syringe exchange programs increase drug use and crime into local communities, and do little to reduce illicit drug use. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, says researchers have found such programs to be effective in curbing drug use and stopping the spread of infections like HIV and hepatitis C."

• WMFE-Orlando: Need a ride home? AAA will activate Tow to Go program in Florida on Thanksgiving Eve. "Anyone who has been drinking or using other substances, can call the service for a free ride home for themselves and their car, within a ten-mile radius."