The Point

The Point, Nov. 30, 2023: County project aims to turn motels into housing for homeless

WUFT | By WUFT News,

WUFT News

Published November 30, 2023 at 1:00 PM EST

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The stories near you

• WUFT News: A new project looks to create permanent homes as Gainesville grapples with finding temporary housing for the homeless. "Since the approval on Nov. 14, there have not been any residents who have signed papers. That’s because the inn is still waiting for a contract to be signed."

• WUFT News: Investigators: Young pilot who died in crash mistakenly flew into bad weather, became lost. "The young pilot who died when his small plane crashed in a state park south of Gainesville last month told air traffic controllers he mistakenly flew into bad weather and had become lost, according to a preliminary report published Wednesday by the federal investigators."

• Ocala Star-Banner ($): Man accused of fleeing catastrophic SR 200 street race has been found, arrested. "Law enforcement officials have arrested a man who they say was street racing with another driver earlier this month on SR 200. The race ended with a crash, and the other driver was seriously injured."

• WCJB: Parents of UFora Gainesville residents considering class-action lawsuit. "She and other parents claim UFora is requiring all potential residents who sign a lease to also sign a waiver of non-participation."

• Mainstreet Daily News: High Springs passes preliminary vote to increase water, sewer rates. "The High Springs City Commission voted 4-0 to increase water and sewer rates by the consumer price index (5.7%) at a Tuesday evening meeting along with a larger increase to solid waste rates."

• The Alligator: Top UF official departs for private Christian university. "Curtis Reynolds, UF’s vice president of business affairs, announced his resignation in a news release Wednesday morning. His departure comes after a series of shakeups in top level leadership at the university since President Ben Sasse took office in February."

• WCJB: Blueberries could soon grow in the off-season, say IFAS researchers. "Blueberries are usually harvested from February to May, but UF IFAS scientists say they have found the right genes to develop Florida-grown blueberries in their off-season."

• WUFT News: Local studio shipping new video game for the holidays. "WUFT’s Jacob Sedesse spoke with the company’s CEO, Thomas Williamson, about its history and its latest title, as well as where he would like to take the company in the future."

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Around the state

• News Service of Florida: 'Broken and arbitrary system': Plaintiffs fire back at DeSantis in felons' voting case. "Arguing that state and local officials have created a 'broken and arbitrary system,' plaintiffs are trying to fend off an attempt to end a lawsuit that challenges the way a 2018 constitutional amendment aimed at restoring felons’ voting rights has been carried out."

• WFSU-Tallahassee: Lawmakers say expanding telehealth could make pregnancy safer. "The risk of death for mothers during pregnancy or in the year following childbirth is rising and experts say one of the contributing factors is lack of access to healthcare. Now, as part of an effort to address the trend, Florida lawmakers are looking into a plan to expand maternal telehealth."

• WMFE-Orlando: Florida Legislative Black Caucus members lay out priorities for 2024 legislative session. "At the online event, Sen. Geraldine Thompson, District 44, and Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, District 40, discussed legislation on Florida’s property insurance, support for Israel, and education, as well as some of the Caucus’ plans for the next legislative session."

• WTSP-Tampa: 'Gabby Petito Act': Florida lawmaker files bill for domestic violence prevention. "The 'Gabby Petito Act' would change how law enforcement officers respond to domestic violence calls — with the goal of stopping dangerous situations from turning deadly."

• WLRN-Miami: State official wants 'serious consequences' for letting transgender athlete play on Broward team. "On Wednesday, for the second day in a row, students at the school in Coconut Creek walked out of class, according to reporting by the South Florida Sun Sentinel. That’s after Broward County Public Schools officials decided to reassign or suspend five staff members in connection to the incident."

• WUSF-Tampa: Tampa International Airport had its second busiest travel day over Thanksgiving weekend. "Tampa International Airport officials said over 89,000 passengers passed through it on Sunday, Nov. 26. It's the airport's second busiest day of travel in its history."

• WUSF-Tampa: A Pasco County distillery is making the Rolling Stones' new rum. "The Point Distillery in New Port Richey landed a contract to produce Crossfire Hurricane, the Rolling Stones’ first-ever spirit. It will carry out the entire rum bottling process before the product is packed into display cases and shipped to distributors."