Two Alachua men charged in Marion County mail thefts
MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Two Alachua County men were arrested in connection with a string of mail thefts in Marion County over a four-month period, according to the US attorney’s office. Marion County mail thefts On October 21, 2022, at 10:33 PM, a blue Dodge Charge is captured on surveillance video at the Canopy Oaks Center parking near the USPS Collection Box. (United States Postal Inspection Service)On Wednesday, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of the U.S. Watch: Helicopter video shows arrest of two Alachua men charged in Marion County mail thefts (WFTV)Read: Union leaders say postal police could protect mail carriersWhen investigators searched the car, they found several pieces of stolen mail and a USPS Arrow Key in the backseat. Both men were arrested and charged with theft of mail and possession of a stolen or reproduced postal key.
wftv.comUniversity of Florida recommends students, faculty stop using TikTok
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida is strongly recommending students and faculty stop using the popular social media app TikTok. The university sent out a letter explaining there could be a ban put in place for all university networks and devices. Watch: Police respond to deadly shooting near Sanford barOfficials said the security risks go beyond users themselves. Soon, federal employees will no longer be able to use TikTok on government-issued devices. Read: Woman pulled from storm drain for the third time in 2 years, Florida police sayFlorida already implemented a TikTok ban for state employees in 2020.
wftv.comReggie Bush, Tim Tebow headline 2023 College Football Hall of Fame class
The College Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2023 was announced Monday. The group features 18 players and four coaches and is headlined by two Heisman Trophy winners, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and USC running back Reggie Bush. Tebow won the Heisman in 2007 and also helped lead the Gators to two national championships during his time in Gainesville. Though he’s still not considered an official Heisman winner, Bush will now be a Hall of Famer following a vote from the National Football Foundation, which runs the College Football Hall of Fame. "We are extremely proud to announce the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said NFF chairman Archie Manning.
wftv.comLawsuit now ‘moot’ after UF resolves conflict-of-interest concerns, professors say
University of Florida professors are asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that challenged a controversial conflict-of-interest policy that gave school administrators discretion over allowing faculty members to serve as expert witnesses in litigation.
Florida Christmas tree farm closing after 38 years in business
For more than a generation, the Unicorn Hill Christmas Tree Farm has played host to countless holiday memories. Families select their tree from six different varieties of pine, cut it down and have it strapped to their car’s roof for a ride to its new home.
Florida formally dismisses QB Kitna amid child porn charges
Florida has formally dismissed quarterback Jalen Kitna from the team following his arrest on five child pornography charges that police said included an image of a man having sex with a young girl. Kitna, 19, returned with his parents, retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna and wife Jennifer, to Burleson, Texas. Although Kitna remained enrolled in classes Friday, the University Police Department issued him a trespass warning that bars him from campus for three years, pending the outcome of his court case.
news.yahoo.comIndoor protests banned at University of Florida after anti-Ben Sasse rally
The University of Florida is going to start enforcing a decades-old prohibition against indoor protests following a raucous demonstration earlier this month against the selection of U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse as a finalist for the school president’s job.
‘It could have been us:’ Central Floridians head to SWFLA to help Hurricane Ian victims
With just 12 hours’ notice, a handful of volunteers and a few thousand dollars’ worth of supplies, outreach groups from Alive Church in Orlando and Gainesville made the journey to Southwest Florida to help Hurricane Ian victims.
Woman in Georgia arrested for allegedly attacking a man with a meat cleaver
HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A woman in Gainesville, Georgia, was arrested for allegedly attacking a man with a meat cleaver. >> Read more trending newsAccording to WSB-TV, Cristal Hernandez, 28, was arrested early Monday morning at a house in Gainesville. Investigators told WSB-TV that Hernandez allegedly attacked a man during an argument in her garage. She allegedly used a meat cleaver. According to WSB-TV, Hernandez remains in jail with no bond.
wftv.comFlorida schools, South Carolina move home games ahead of Ian
South Florida relocated its Saturday game against East Carolina from Tampa, Florida, to Boca Raton. Although South Carolina is a safer distance from the major storm, the Gamecocks didn't want to wait to make a decision regarding their game against South Carolina State. South Carolina State also relies on its “paycheck game” from South Carolina. “There’s no perfect plan, but we’re trying to put together the best thing for our team at this moment,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. ___AP Sports Writers Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, South Carolina, and Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed.
wftv.comPolice: Child hit and killed while walking to school in Ocala
OCALA, Fla. — An Ocala boy was killed Thursday morning after being hit by truck while walking to school. According to police, the 13-year-old had been riding on the back of a motorcycle being driven by his mother on SW 20th Street, near SW 30th Court, when he saw a friend walking on the sidewalk. Read: Bond set for Palm Bay police officer accused of having sex with girl, 13, while on duty“Our hearts go out to his family during this extremely difficult time,” Ocala police said in a statement. Investigators have not released the name of the child or the driver involved in the crash and said the crash is still under investigation. See map of location below:Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
wftv.comUSF botches late FG, No. 18 Florida gets 31-28 win in Swamp
18 Florida rally to beat South Florida 31-28 on Saturday night. South Florida was a 24 1/2-point underdog and for the 20th time in 24 games under third-year coach Jeff Scott. THE TAKEAWAYSouth Florida: The Bulls fell to 0-3 against Florida, but this one was considerably closer than the previous two. It could be a sign USF is closing the gap on the Gators, who remain the only Sunshine State team that hasn’t lost to South Florida. Florida has been outscored 24-0 by Utah, Kentucky and South Florida in the frame.
wftv.comTurkish breakfast joint Sourdough Bread House reopens, Carolina-style barbecue joint Brother Jimmy's opens at Icon Park, and more Orlando food news
OPENINGS + CLOSINGS: Sweet Buns, the Tampa-based Asian bakery with a location in Gainesville, will open on East Colonial Drive in Colonialtown North early next...
orlandoweekly.comAlabama, Ohio State, Georgia top college football preseason coaches poll
The preseason edition of the USA Today coaches poll was released Monday and Georgia came in at No. 3 behind Alabama and Ohio State. Alabama, of course, lost to UGA in last year’s CFP title game while Ohio State fell short of winning the Big Ten championship for the first time since 2016. Alabama received 54 of the 65 first-place votes while Ohio State received five and Georgia received six. Michigan, on the heels of its first win over Ohio State since 2011 and its first outright Big Ten title since 2003, is ranked No.
wftv.comGeorgia woman allegedly killed elderly fiancé, lived with body for 2 months
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A Georgia woman has been arrested for allegedly killing her elderly fiancé and living with his body. >> Read more trending newsThe Associated Press says Tabitha Zeldia Wood, 45, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly killing her fiance, Leroy Frankin Kramer Jr., 82, and living with his body for two months. Deputies arrived at his home and found his body, according to the AP. Wood allegedly told them that he had died at the beginning of April and she had been living with his body since. An autopsy concluded that Kramer’s death was a homicide but no further details have been released, according to the AP.
wftv.comScientists grow plants in lunar dirt, next stop moon
Researchers had no idea if anything would sprout in the harsh moon dirt and wanted to see if it could be used to grow food by the next generation of lunar explorers. Plants actually grow in lunar stuff. Ferl and his colleagues planted thale cress in moon soil returned by Apollo 11′s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and other moonwalkers. Most of the moon plants ended up stunted. One solution might be to use younger geologic spots on the moon, like lava flows, for digging up planting soil.
wftv.comScientists grow plants in lunar dirt, next stop moon
Researchers had no idea if anything would sprout in the harsh moon dirt and wanted to see if it could be used to grow food by the next generation of lunar explorers. Plants actually grow in lunar stuff. Ferl and his colleagues planted thale cress in moon soil returned by Apollo 11′s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and other moonwalkers. Most of the moon plants ended up stunted. One solution might be to use younger geologic spots on the moon, like lava flows, for digging up planting soil.
wftv.comVoting groups sue over Florida congressional map
(AP Photo/Phil Sears) (Phil Sears)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Voting rights groups sued Florida on Friday over a congressional map drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis and passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature, saying it will diminish the state's Black representation and benefit Republicans. The League of Women Voters of Florida, the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, Equal Ground Education Fund and others filed the suit in a state court in Tallahassee. Democrats say the map strongly favors the GOP and would dismantles two districts currently held by Black members of congress. Many political observers have said the DeSantis map could give Republicans a 20-8 advantage, though Florida’s vast number of unaffiliated voters can swing elections.
wftv.comMatt Hagan gives Tony Stewart Racing first NHRA victory
Three-time Funny Car season champion Matt Hagan gave Tony Stewart Racing its first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series victory Sunday, racing to his first career win at the historic Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. In the final round, Hagan powered his Dodge Charger Hellcat SRT to a run of 3.910-seconds at 330.96 mph to beat Blake Alexander for his 40th career victory and first in three races this year with Tony Stewart Racing.
news.yahoo.comRare bird: Yellow cardinal spotted on University of Florida campus
Yellow cardinal: A rare yellow cardinal was spotted on the University of Florida campus last month. But this month, a yellow cardinal has soared to the top of the university’s popularity list. >> Read more trending newsThe rare bird, a male Northern cardinal, has been spotted in a wooded area on the Gainesville campus, the Gainesville Sun reported. A yellow cardinal was first spotted in Alabaster, Alabama, in late January 2018 in the backyard of Charlie Stephenson. Experts believe there are only 10 to 15 yellow cardinals in North America, the Sun reported.
wftv.com12-foot alligator that came within inches of Florida paddleboarder killed
Menacing gator: A nearly 12-foot alligator that came within inches of a paddleboarder last September has been killed. (Bob D'Angelo/Cox Media Group)GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A nearly 12-foot alligator that swam within inches of a terrified paddleboarder last September has been killed, Florida wildlife officials said Wednesday. The alligator had been a popular sight among kayakers and paddleboarders at the Central Florida state park, as it was usually seen sunning itself on the banks of the Silver River, WUFT reported. >> Watch: Paddleboarder films close encounter with alligator in FloridaFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Tammy Sapp confirmed to Fresh Take Florida that the alligator killed on Feb. 22 was the same one seen in the viral videos and photographs. In a separate video posted on Facebook after the encounter, Baker said she believed someone had been feeding the alligator.
wftv.comAppleby takes over, Florida rallies past No. 2 Auburn 63-62
The Tigers (24-3, 12-2 Southeastern Conference) lost their second straight on the road and dropped their first game in regulation. Appleby had everything to do with this one, which was Florida’s 14th straight over Auburn in Gainesville. The senior made 6 of 9 shots in the second half, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and was perfect from the free-throw line. Coach Bruce Pearl’s team used a solid second half – its opening 20 minutes were close to abysmal – to take control. Florida: The Gators needed a victory like this to improve their chances of making a fifth straight NCAA Tournament.
wftv.comUniversity of Florida’s first Black student reflects on making history
His father was the first black doctor to acquire membership in the Florida Medical Association, so it’s no surprise that when George Jr.’s opportunity to make history arrived, he took it. On a sunny September day in 1958, Starke Jr. walked into a classroom at the University of Florida and became the first Black student in the school’s history. “It had been in the news about desegregation had been ordered in Gainesville, and I decided to apply,” Starke said. A few years ago, he was recognized by the University of Florida with an honorary doctorate of law. He was also recognized last year by state leaders for his contribution to Florida history and education.
wftv.comResearchers: Shark attacks increase after 3 years of decline
Researchers with the International Shark Attack File recorded 73 unprovoked incidents last year, compared to 52 bites in 2020, according to a new report. The United States, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa each had a single unprovoked fatal shark attack. Provoked attacks are defined as when humans initiate contact, such as divers trying to touch a shark or fishermen removing a shark from a fishing net, according to the International Shark Attack File. Florida has led the U.S. and the rest of the world in unprovoked shark bites for decades, and the trend continued in 2021, researchers said. The single fatal unprovoked shark attack in the U.S. in 2021 was in California.
wftv.comBurgers, fries and marriage at Whataburger in Texas
GAINESVILLE, Texas — That will be one patty melt with jalapeños, one junior cheeseburger -- and one wedding ceremony. >> Read more trending newsA Texas couple stopped at a local Whataburger for a fast-food lunch and a quick wedding, KXII-TV reported. “She’s everything to me,” Mitchell told the television station. That is when he asked Phillips about a quick wedding at the Whataburger. “I was like, ‘I love you so as long as we’re married,’” Phillips told KXII.
wftv.comPreviously winless Texas Southern stuns No. 20 Florida 69-54
Texas Southern Florida Basketball Texas Southern forward Joirdon Karl Nicholas (5) celebrates with forward Brison Gresham (44) and guard PJ Henry (3) after playing against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) (Matt Stamey)GAINESVILLE, Fla. — (AP) — Previously winless Texas Southern stunned No. 20 Florida 69-54 on Monday night behind PJ Henry’s 16 points and Joirdon Karl Nicholas’ perfect shooting performance. Texas Southern became the first Southwestern Athletic Conference team to beat a ranked SEC program in The Associated Press poll era dating to 1936, ESPN Stats & Info said. The Tigers were coming off a 27-point loss at Louisiana Tech and catching a Florida team trying to rebound from its first loss. Texas Southern is led by former LSU coach Johnny Jones, who evened his record against White at 2-2.
wftv.comTom Petty receives posthumous Ph.D. for music from University of Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — (AP) — Nearly two decades after earning a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and more than four years after his death, rock icon Tom Petty has been awarded an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Florida. READ: Central Florida woman wins $1M from scratch-off ticketThe school’s board of trustees unanimously voted to award Thomas Earl Petty a posthumous doctoral degree in music during a Friday meeting. Born and raised in Gainesville, Petty once worked as a groundskeeper at UF as he tried to make it in the music industry, but he was never enrolled. READ: BP oil spill fund: $103M to projects in 3 Gulf statesPetty passed away from an accidental drug overdose in October 2017. Days later during a UF home football game, the song “I Won’t Back Down” was played at the stadium as a memorial to Petty.
wftv.comHouse panel probing free speech at University of Florida
A U.S. House subcommittee is investigating whether the University of Florida interfered with academic freedom and free speech when it stopped three professors from testifying as experts in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s controversial election law.
Florida beats rival FSU 71-55 to end 7-game skid in series
20 Florida State 71-55 on Sunday to end a seven-game losing streak in the series. Florida (2-0) won its first game against its biggest in-state rival since 2013 and took a huge step forward in coach Mike White’s seventh season. The last meeting was marred by Florida forward Keyontae Johnson’s collapse on the court in Tallahassee. POLL IMPLICATIONSFlorida State might fall out of the next AP college basketball poll, which gets released Monday. ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.
wftv.comUniversity changes course; professors may testify in lawsuit
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — (AP) — Reversing its previous position, the University of Florida said Friday that it would allow professors to testify as experts in a lawsuit challenging a new state law that critics say restricts voting rights. Fuchs said the outside work would have to be on the professors’ own time and not use university resources. Not allowing them to testify would be "an attack on all of us,” said Paul Ortiz, a history professor who is president of the union chapter at the University of Florida. The University of Florida's president answers to its board of trustees, which has six members appointed by the governor and five appointed by the state university system’s board of governors. DeSantis’ office, in a statement earlier this week, denied being behind the decision to block the faculty members’ testimony.
wftv.comUniversity of Florida’s academic freedom reviewed after testimony ban
The University of Florida has been asked by its accrediting body to explain how denying a request by three professors to serve as paid experts in a voting rights lawsuit conforms to standards for academic freedom and avoids undue political influence.
Emory Jones comes up big, No. 11 Gators rout Tennessee again
11 Florida to a 38-14 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night and extending nearly two decades of dominance in the series. Jones ran for 43 yards on Florida’s next drive and capped it with a 9-yard TD pass to Rick Wells. Jones completed 21 of 27 passes for 209 yards on the night and ran 15 times, with a long of 49 yards. He became Florida's first QB to top 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing since Tim Tebow in 2009 against Florida State. Tennessee came into the game allowing just 54.3 yards rushing a game.
wftv.com1st Florida school district gets US cash for virus mask vote
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — (AP) — A Florida school district has received cash from President Joe Biden's administration to make up for state pay cuts imposed over a board's vote for a student anti-coronavirus mask mandate. Alachua County school Superintendent Carlee Simon said in a news release Thursday the district has received $148,000 through a U.S. Department of Education program. Simon says Alachua, where Gainesville and the University of Florida are located, is the first district in the nation to receive such a grant. Ron DeSantis and state education officials have begun cutting salaries paid to school board members in Florida who voted to require masks for students. In Alachua County, the pay reductions so far for four school board members who voted for the mask mandate amounted to $27,000, Simon said.
wftv.comYoung holds up, No. 1 Alabama holds off No. 11 Florida 31-29
APTOPIX Alabama Florida Football Alabama running back Jase McClellan runs past Florida cornerback Avery Helm, left, and linebacker Jeremiah Moon, right, to score a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (John Raoux)GAINESVILLE, Fla. — (AP) — Bryce Young’s first collegiate road start was a rousing success, a three-touchdown performance that helped top-ranked Alabama hold off No. 11 Florida 31-29 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams Saturday. 1-ranked teams at Florida Field. Florida seemingly got a break when Alabama (3-0, 1-0) was flagged for a false start on fourth-and-goal at the 1. That gave the Gators a chance to tie, and play-caller Mullen and quarterback Emory Jones directed a masterful drive.
wftv.comRon DeSantis will fine Florida cities over 'fundamentally wrong' vaccine mandate
JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Monday he will issue steep fines on local officials who fire employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and is supporting a lawsuit to stop the city of Gainesville from imposing the requirement.
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