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Category Archives: Features
After Holder’s Speech, “Stand Your Ground” Laws Are Again In The Spotlight (07/17/2013)
By Dyann Lesnever and Donna Green-Townsend on July 17th, 2013
Florida’s “stand your ground” law continues to be debated across the country following the not guilty verdict for George Zimmerman. Florida’s law was the first of its kind in the nation, and many other states have followed in the years since. The stand your ground law states people have the right to use deadly force to defend themselves when in fear of “imminent peril of death or great bodily harm…”
While delivering a speech this week at the NAACP Convention in Orlando, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder encouraged attendees to take a stand against stand your ground-style laws.
But other lawmakers say they feel instead of changing the law, the nation needs to promote a less violent society. Jimmie Smith, Republican state representative in Citrus and part of Hernando counties, said legislators want people to be able to defend themselves.
“The stand your ground law gives you the right to not have to flee a situation. So if somebody breaks into your home, you do not have to run. If somebody tries to take your car, you can stand and defend yourself,” said Smith.
Although Smith is not surprised some would like the government to reevaluate these laws, he hopes they will remain unchanged. Dennis Baxley, Republican state representative from Ocala, co-authored Florida’s law in 2005. Baxley said the law has become a political football that has put the U.S. attorney general under a great deal of pressure to do something.
“I’m very disturbed by the fact that we are playing that as a race discussion when this is truly about respect for human life and what will keep our people safe,” said Baxley. Baxley said he wouldn’t be surprised if lawmakers introduce new bills during the next legislative session to make possible changes in the law.
Donna Green-Townsend talked with Republican State Representative Dennis Baxley:
Meanwhile in Tallahassee, members of the group Dream Defenders have been holding a sit-in outside Gov. Rick Scott’s office pushing for changes to the stand your ground law.
“There are tons of things going on in our state that just disproportionately affect people of color,” said Nailah Summers, University of Florida Dream Defenders president. Summers said the Dream Defenders do not plan to leave until Scott hears their concerns.
Baxley said he’s aware of the Dream Defenders and others’ concerns about the law. Still, he said, “you don’t build policy just on that kind of emotion.”
FedEx Truck Driver Dies from Injuries After Collision with CSX Train (07/11/2013)
By Sarah Reichert and Donna Green-Townsend on July 11th, 2013
Updated, July 11: Martin Beckles has died from his injuries, Florida Highway Patrol announced Wednesday afternoon.
The accident report stated he was to be treated at UF Health Shands Hospital, though Shands officials never confirmed his stay there. That was likely because he was brought in under an alias due to the severity of his injuries, an FHP investigator told WUFT News.
Prior to Beckles’ passing, David Westrick, FedEx spokesman for media relations, could not confirm how long the company had employed Beckles, though he did say FedEx was working with authorities on the investigation to determine how the crash happened.
“Our thoughts and well wishes are extended to Mr. Beckles and his family,” Westrick said.
Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman, wrote the following in an email to WUFT News:
The CSX freight train was southbound and had begun its trip at Jacksonville with a destination of Tampa. The train had two locomotives and 34 rail cars. The speed limit for trains in that particular area is 60 mph and the train’s event recorder indicates it was traveling 53 mph when it collided with the delivery truck on July 3. The crossing is a private one for the access of a property owner in the area. It is marked with cross bucks (the “X” sign indicating a crossing). We are cooperating with authorities looking into this collision. Our thoughts are with the injured driver.
There are no railroad crossing arms at the area where Beckles was hit, and a blog comment posted by a witness Sunday mentioned the difficulty of seeing a train coming due to the rain at the time of the accident.
“You could not see more than 30 feet in front of you,” wrote Ashley Schneider, an employee at Walt’s Tree Service, 11106 SE US Highway 301. “The conductor was trying very hard to hold back the tears wishing there was something he could do to change the event.”
No charges have been filed in the investigation, which is ongoing.
Original story, July 4: The driver of a FedEx vehicle suffered critical injuries after a train collided with his truck at a railroad crossing Wednesday afternoon just south of Hawthorne.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports Martin Beckles, 51, of Ocala was attempting to cross railroad tracks from a private drive off U.S. Highway 301 south of Hawthorne at 3:55 p.m. when a southbound CSX train hit the truck’s passenger side.
The railroad crossing does not have cross arms and FHP reports heavy rain at the time of the accident. Beckles was rushed to UF Health in Gainesville. Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Bruce Simmons said the investigation into the accident is continuing.
Due to Popular Demand, ‘Avenue Q’ Will Continue at the Hippodrome
Aired on WUFT on July 10th, 2013
The coming-of-age musical “Avenue Q,” which features a unique blend of actors and puppets, is in its final three weeks at the Hippodrome State Theatre in downtown Gainesville.
The original play garnered Tony Awards for best musical, best score and best book. WUFT-‘s Donna Green-Townsend talked with two New York actors who are in the play, Michael Hull and Jennifer Lauren Brown, about the popularity of this “adult-themed” comedy.
For more on the show, visit the Hippodrome’s website.
Click here to see this story on the WUFT website with an additional video from the puppets.
Sno Rogers Band
The Sno Rogers Band has gone through a few changes. At the time this feature was produced the members were David McBrady on Banjo, Terry Miller on guitar and Barbara Johnson on bass. The band was known for its high energy!
During the 2015 Will McLean Music Festival at the Sertoma Youth Ranch near Dade City two of the former members of the Sno Rogers Band, David McBrady (bass) and Terry Miller (guitar) jammed together along with Lee Townsend on banjo and Jordan Cherkinsky on mandolin for old times sake. It was one of those memorable festival campground moments.
Marketing Florida Citrus Products
The Florida Citrus Commission wants consumers to count on Florida’s ability to provide a citrus product. Not only is that reliability important, but the citrus commission also wants consumers to expect a quality product. To that end, the commission has to come up with clever marketing strategies ways to market the state’s oranges and grapefruit. Donna Green-Townsend talked with the Director of Marketing for the Florida Citrus Commission, Bill Gordon. This story originally aired statewide on the IFAS program, Florida File in 1990.
Hotel Recycling Project
Orange County is home to thousands of hotel rooms. The amount of trash hauled away to landfill sites costs hotels a lot of money. In 1990 Orange County Energy Extension Agent Jo Townsend talked with Donna Green-Townsend about an award-winning hotel recycling project designed to save the hotel industry money while doing something positive for the environment. This story ran on the statewide IFAS television program Florida File in 1990.
4-H Oyster Project
In an effort to increase oyster harvesting in Dixie and Suwannee Counties in Florida, the Florida Sea Grant Program in cooperation with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute teamed up with 4-H students in a special oyster aquaculture program. As Donna Green-Townsend reports, the project involved placing oyster seeds in a variety of mesh bags out in the Gulf of Mexico. (this feature originally aired on the statewide IFAS program Florida File in 1990)
Singer Songwriter Amanda Garrigues
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Mike Miller- NBA Rookie of the Year
In March of 2000, University of Florida Sophomore forward Mike Miller sank the final shot in the 69-68 buzzer beater against Butler to take the Gator Basketball Team from the Final Four to the National Championship game. The dramatic win led to a celebratory pile-up on the basketball court. The Gators lost to Michigan State in the championship game. Despite the loss the city of Gainesville held a celebration for the team in the Odome. Despite the pleas from Gator fans to play one more year at UF, Mike Miller went pro with the Orlando Magic. He was the 5th overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft in 2000. As Donna Green-Townsend reports, after another successful year on the hard court, Miller became the NBA rookie of the year. From my audio archives from the summer of 2001
Miller currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. He has also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, and Miami Heat. Not only was he named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2001, but also the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2006. Miller won back to back NBA titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.