Kylie Williams - The Independent Florida Alligator

Lillie Rooney sits on RTS Bus 35 on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021.

Julia Cooper

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Proposed RTS cuts could impact future Gainesville, UF climate action plans

By Kylie Williams | Apr. 15

The RTS system was established in 1974, and much of its history has been entwined with UF. For the 2024 fiscal year, UF contributed $13.7 million out of the total $28.5 million in RTS funding — making up about half of the program’s total revenue. Under the newly proposed plan, UF would switch to a contract of monthly payments and reduce its total funding to $6.8 million annually. This reduction of more than 50% would be detrimental to the RTS system, the city said.

CLEO member Ellen Siegel stands in front of Temple Shir Shalom on Saturday, March 30, 2024.

Gabriella Aulisio

SPANISH

Comunidades religiosas de Gainesville utilizan la fe para inspirar la acción climática

By Kylie Williams and Nicole Beltran | Apr. 1

En comunidades alrededor de Gainesville, la idea de "cuidado de la creación", o la responsabilidad religiosa hacia el medio ambiente, se está volviendo cada vez más común. A medida que persiste la amenaza del cambio climático, las personas están utilizando la fe como punto de partida para la acción ambiental.

Gabriella Aulisio

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Gainesville religious communities use faith to inspire climate action

By Kylie Williams and Nicole Beltran | Apr. 1

In communities around Gainesville, the idea of “creation care,” or a religious responsibility to the environment, is becoming increasingly common. As the threat of climate change persists, people are using faith as a launching point for environmental action.

Melanie Pena

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Experts work to manage invasive species across Florida

By Kylie Williams | Mar. 25

The state is home to roughly 500 non-native species, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida’s subtropical climate, multiple ports of entry and rampant animal trade makes the state a global hotspot for invasives, the FWC reports. UF researchers are monitoring some of the most high-profile non-natives, especially those that could be harmful to Florida. However, some Floridians find benefits in their new neighbors, and have advocated for certain species to stay.

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Cleanup of Gainesville hazardous waste site continues to stall

By Kylie Williams | Mar. 4

Since the 1990s, the companies responsible for the Cabbot Koppers Superfund site cleanup have been working to remove contaminants from the site and the surrounding Stephen Foster neighborhood. The hazardous chemicals from the site have raised concerns for Pearce and other residents, who worry about potential risks to human and environmental health. The future of the site is also in question, as remedial efforts are extending years longer than originally planned. The superfund site contains two properties: a charcoal and pine tar plant previously owned by Cabot Carbon, and a wood treatment facility operated by Koppers Inc. Activity at the site began in the early 1900s and lasted almost a century, with Koppers being the last to end operation in 2010.

Gainesville Chief Climate Officer Dan Zhu held an open discussion with a group of citizens and activists at a Climate Action Plan meeting on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024.

Kylie Williams

METRO

Gainesville chief climate officer presents update on City Climate Action Plan

By Kylie Williams | Feb. 27

The Climate Reality Project and local activists met Monday afternoon to hear an update on Gainesville’s climate action plan from Chief Climate Officer Dan Zhu. The city official outlined the plan and focused on two main aspects: adaptation and mitigation.

Farmer John Nix moves a bale of hay with a tractor near his cow pasture on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Gabriella Aulisio

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Alachua County initiatives work to protect land from increasing development

By Kylie Williams | Feb. 19

In Alachua County, more than 30,000 acres have been protected under similar land agreements. In January, the trust facilitated an agreement with a 550-acre dairy farm in Gilchrist County. The farm has been owned for multiple generations by the Watson family, who will receive $1.54 million through the easement.

Kylie Williams

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Gainesville community implements urban farms to fight food insecurity

By Kylie Williams | Feb. 12

In Alachua County, 11.1% of the population is food insecure, according to the Florida Department of Health. In the last decade, several urban farms have sprouted in an effort to combat local food insecurity. These community gardens also tackle other issues stemming from food insecurity, including educating citizens and addressing systemic inequality.

Melanie Pena

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

Gambling revenue may be used for Florida’s environment under new bill

By Kylie Williams | Jan. 29

In 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The compact provided the Seminole Tribe exclusive rights in running gambling activities on tribal lands. In exchange, the tribe agreed to give $2.5 billion of its revenue to the state for the first five years the compact is in place. Under SB 1638, 96% of these annual funds would go to Florida’s environmental resources.

Local animal artist, Samm Wehman, stands in front of her painting of a manatee at the Crystal River Manatee Festival on Jan. 14, 2024

Gabriella Aulisio

ENVIRONMENT | ENTERPRISE

The manatee may re-enter endangered species list after population decline

By Kylie Williams | Jan. 16

Florida’s manatee population has struggled over the past few years, leading many petitioners to call for its re-entry to the endangered species list. In 2017, the manatee was reclassified from “endangered” to “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Save the Manatee Club filed a joint petition in 2022 to put the Florida manatee back on the endangered species list.