White House sources report ground troops in Pakistan have killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the plan to fly jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Bin Laden is responsible for the deaths of 2,974 Americans nearly a decade ago. He’s been called the number one enemy of the United States and a face of evil. Reports from Washington indicate the United States has his body and his identity has been confirmed through DNA tests.
All posts by Donna Green-Townsend
President Obama addresses the nation about the operation which killed Osama bin Laden (05/01/2011)
U.S. President Barack Obama told the families of the victims of September 11, 2001 that he never forgot who was responsible. He says with the killing of Osama bin Laden, one of the top 10 fugitives in the world, justice has been done. Bin Laden is blamed for the murders of thousands of people in the United States and around the world. The President said since taking office it has been his goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat bin Laden, but bin Laden has avoided capture for nearly a decade. The President says through a successful operation, U.S. military personnel engaged in a fire-fight at a compound deep in Pakistan and killed the leader of Al-Qaeda operations and took custody of his body. In his televised speech just after 11:30 EST, the President said the U.S. is not at war with Islam, but with Al-Qaeda. He asked everyone to remain vigilant at home and abroad because of possible retaliation from other Al-Qaeda operatives.
Crowds begin to gather outside the White House (05/01/2011)
Singing “God Bless America” and shouting “U.S.A.” thousands of people are pouring into the streets around the White House in Washington D.C. and Ground Zero in New York. They’re celebrating the news that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the events of September 11, 2001, has been killed in a U.S. military operation at a compound in Pakistan.
Dance Alive National Ballet gets help from sales of ‘Big Bunny’ (04/11/2011)
Aired on WUFT on April 11th, 2011
What do you get when you take a childrens’ book about a “Big Bunny” and blend it with a national ballet company? That’s what is happening this afternoon at the Pofahl Dance Studio where local author and illustrator Colleen Rand is signing copies of her new children’s book and donating proceeds to the Dance Alive National Ballet organization. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the resident choreographer for Dance Alive, Judy Skinner about the book and the effort to keep Dance Alive going.
‘Passport to Cowboy Florida’ Saturday event will raise funds for programs at the Florida Musuem of Natural History (03/18/2011)
Aired on WUFT on March 18th, 2011
The community is invited to “mosey on down” to the Florida Museum of Natural History tomorrow evening for a fundraising event called “Passport to Cowboy Florida.” Coordinators hope folks will dress in blue jeans and bandanas and plan to kick up their heels and pony up some dollars to support the museum’s year long activities. WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with coordinators Chris Machen and Eileen Silverman about how the fundraiser is in conjunction with the current exhibit “Five Centuries of Cracker Cattlemen.”
Delay at Crystal River nuclear plant worries area environmental organizations (03/17/2011)
Aired on WUFT on March 17th, 2011
One North Central Florida environmental organization closely monitoring the situation with the nuclear reactors in Japan is Citizens for Affordable and Renewable Energy in Gainesville. The founder of the organization Rob Brinkman talked with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend. Brinkman is critical of Progress Energy’s plans to try and bring its Crystal River plant back online given the recent problems with a recent crack in a containment wall.
12 UF students studying abroad in Japan are okay (03/11/2011)
Aired on WUFT on March 11th, 2011
A dozen University of Florida students are currently studying abroad in Japan. The Executive Director of the International Center at UF, Susanne Hill immediately tried to communicate with the students following the 8-point-nine-magnitude earthquake off Japan’s coast. Hill spoke with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend:
UF earthquake researcher describes Japan’s quake as one of the strongest in recorded history (03/11/2011)
Aired on WUFT on March 11th, 2011
One researcher who’s closely monitoring the situation in Japan is Assistant Professor of Geological Science at the University of Florida, Mark Panning. Panning specializes in earthquake research. He spoke with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend.
2011 Will McLean Song Contest Winner and Finishers
Here are the 2011 winner, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers of the Will McLean Best New Florida Song Competition:
Winner Ron Johnson and Mary Matthews “Rescue Train”
2nd place Al Scortino (tie) “Something You Should Know”
2nd place Frank Julian (tie) “Songs of Florida”
3rd place Michael Denney “Your Florida”
Back to the list of winners by year
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Click here to go to the Will McLean Festival website
Walter Strauss
Aired on WUFT on January 28th, 2011
Walter Strauss brings his globally-inspired acoustic music to Gainesville to benefit Conservation Burial Inc.
This Sunday January 30th musician and singer songwriter Walter Strauss from California will bring his global acoustic music to the Gainesville area. Strauss is a many-layered, sensual guitar player with a world flair. His 4 p.m. concert at the Prairie Creek Lodge near Rochelle east of Gainesville will be a benefit for the Conservation Burial Inc. and the Alachua Conservation Trust for Florida. Strauss talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend about his musical style and influences.