Several top administrators of the National Security Agency and the F.B.I. have been explaining to lawmakers on Capitol Hill why they feel justified in doing surveillance of people in the United States and abroad.
The testimony in Washington stems from news of the biggest intelligence leak in the NSA’s history. Former two-time Florida Governor and long-time U.S. Sen. Bob Graham has been following the news about the NSA surveillance revelations and the whistleblower behind them, Edward Snowden.
Graham talked about what he calls a fine line between national security and citizen privacy.
A satellite image of Tropical Storm Andrea from 10:45 a.m. June 6th, 2013
MIAMI (AP) — Heavy rain was pouring across much of Florida early Thursday as the first tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season headed toward the state’s western coast and a new tropical storm warning was issued for a swath of the U.S. East Coast.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect for a large section of Florida’s west coast from Boca Grande to Indian Pass and for the East Coast from Flagler Beach, Fla., all the way to Cape Charles Light in Virginia.
Tropical Storm Andrea’s maximum sustained winds increased to near 60 mph (95 kph) and the storm was expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area Thursday afternoon before moving across southeastern Georgia and the Carolinas. It was not expected to strengthen into a hurricane.
Updated Friday, 10:10 a.m.: Donna Green-Townsend and Brandan McCalla of WUFT News returned to Gainesville late Thursday night with audio, images and video of Tropical Storm Andrea’s impact in the Big Bend area.
Alachua County Voters had the chance in the 2010 November election to decide on an airboat curfew. This feature produced by Trent Kelly and aired on WUFT-FM examines the issues involved. (videographer and editor- Donna Green-Townsend)
The future of one of Florida’s oldest theme parks is at the heart of discussion among Marion County Commissioners and current park operator Palace Entertainment. The Silver Springs Nature Park is famous for its glass-bottom boat tours of the springs on the Silver River. WUFT-FM’s Phillip Marks reports. (Videographer- Donna Green-Townsend)
Mary Hausch announced earlier this month her decision to step down from her position as a producing director at Gainesville’s Hippodrome Theatre.
Hausch spoke for nearly 35 minutes about topics spanning the theatre’s history within Gainesville, pivotal moments, famous plays and playwrights, and her plans for life beyond the Hippodrome.
Theatre management hopes to have Hausch’s successor hired by Aug. 31.
Working oyster boats on Apalachicola Bay (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
Two unmanned oyster boats on Apalachicola Bay (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
Pile of oyster shells by Apalachicola Bay (photo by Donna Green-Townsend)
The severe drought in 2012 caused an historic collapse of Florida’s oyster industry. During the past year a variety of state agencies have been working for the Florida Sea Grant Program to try and understand all the causes for the fishery disaster. The cooperative effort is working toward designing a plan to help restore and manage the industry in the future. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the Director of the Florida Sea Grant College Program, Karl Havens, who is heading up the University of Florida’s Oyster Recovery Team,about the findings outlined in the group’s special report this week..
Earth Day flows into Gainesville Monday with a presentation by four local writers who write about water.
Organized by Florida’s Eden and The Blue Path, “Of Thirst, Beauty and Vision: Writing to Save Our Waters” showcases four of Gainesville’s Florida Book Award winners in honor of Earth Day. It is the final event of Primavera, a month-long celebration of the height of Gainesville’s spring cultural season.
This is the first time the writers, Cynthia Barnett, Jack E. Davis, Lola Haskins and Margaret Ross Tolbert, will be recognized in Gainesville.
Ron Cunningham, former editorial page editor of The Gainesville Sun, will also be awarded the first Florida’s Eden Vision Award. According to a press release, Cunningham will receive the award in recognition for his many editorials written about Florida’s water issues.
According to the release, the four writers will read and discuss their work, including Barnett’s new book about rain and Davis’ new book about the Gulf of Mexico.
“This book will be an environmental history of the Gulf of Mexico from geological formation to the present, and focusing on the five U.S.gulf states, not just Florida. I’m very interested in, not just simply the human impact on the gulf environment, but I’m also as an environmental historian, I’m interested in how nature shaped the course of human history,” Davis said.
Afterward, Cunningham and the writers will join in a discussion and answer audience questions.
The event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Building E Auditorium at Santa Fe College’s northwest campus. It is free to the public and guests will receive a free bookmark with a compilation of book titles that refer to the Gainesville area.
Shelley Fraser Mickle (photo courtesy of Randy Batista Photography)
The tragedy in Boston really struck home with Gainesville resident and local writer Shelley Fraser Mickle. She lived in Boston for several years while her husband, retired Shands pediatric neurosurgeon Parker Mickle trained in hospitals there. Her husband also ran the Boston Marathon several times. She talked with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about some of the positive and negative outcomes of the marathon bombings.
It’s opening night for the Hippodrome State Theatre’s production of “Robin Hood.” The action-packed play brings to life the adventures of the historic hero who is dedicated to taking a stance against injustice.
WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with Ric Rose, the lead actor playing Robin Hood, about this family friendly production.
