Florida is on track to become the 26th state to allow citizens to carry concealed firearms without a permit after one of Alachua County’s House representatives filed the bill.
UF alumni bogged down by student loans can take a breath, as some Gators will see much of their debt forgiven. President Joe Biden announced relief provisions for those with student debt from the U.S. Department of Education Wednesday.
Nine mayoral candidates — including David Arreola, Ed Bielarski, Ansaun Fisher, Gary Gordon, Adam Rosenthal, Donald Shepherd, July Thomas and Harvey Ward — are on the ballot in the upcoming primary election. On the campaign trail, they’ve focused on issues such as affordable housing, Gainesville Regional Utilities rates and climate change.
The League of Women Voters hosted the exclusive forum to allow about 80 retirement community residents to hear mayoral, city commission and school board candidates speak on topics from climate change to single-family zoning.
A Florida judge announced plans to block a GOP-backed 15-week statewide abortion ban one day before it and other controversial conservative laws, like the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” and “Stop WOKE Act,” went into effect Friday.
While a Florida judge halted the 15-week abortion ban, nearly 150 other state laws take effect Friday, including changes to education, school safety and music in cars.
About 1,000 protestors demonstrated outside the Stephan P. Mickle, Sr. Criminal Courthouse in downtown Gainesville for about three hours Saturday in response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
HB395 will require U.S. government teachers to cover communism and those who suffered under it for at least 45 minutes on Nov. 7, “Victims of Communism Day.”
Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida organized a protest outside Judge Stephan P. Mickle, Sr. Criminal Courthouse Tuesday, one day after Politico published an article including a leaked draft ruling that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
Alachua county was chosen to participate in the US Department of Energy’s Communities Local Energy Action Program at the end of March — a huge leap in the direction of equitable sustainability. The county is one of 22 participating communities and the only Florida recipient to participate in the program, which aims to help low-income and energy-burdened communities experiencing environmental justice or economic impacts.
Moms Demand Action is a nonprofit organization founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre in 2012. Its aim is to promote safer gun legislation and encourage responsible gun ownership. The organization has chapters in every state and has advocated for gun safety on a state and national level.
A GOP-backed proposal banning abortion procedures after 15 weeks of pregnancy could change the narrative for women’s reproductive rights in Gainesville. The Florida Legislature is expected to pass the controversial Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction bill, HB5. It passed the House with a 78-39 vote Feb. 17.
The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ companion bills, HB1557/SB1834, are circulating through the Florida legislature. The pair of bills would limit discussions about LGBTQ+ and transgender identities “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
In Florida’s bill, abortion would be allowed until detection of a fetal heartbeat, which generally happens about six weeks into a pregnancy. With proper documentation, exceptions are available or victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking.
DeSantis approved funding for a sports complex and vetoed two projects that would have funded transportation and medical resources to vulnerable Gainesville residents.
Solutions by The State News
