Katie Campbell

Charles Goston and Harvey Budd won their Gainesville City Commission seats after Tuesday's run-off elections. Goston took the District 1 seat, and Budd won the at-large seat.

University of Florida professor John Schueller, Ph.D., was in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for a conference was he was detained for taking photos of two embassies. Schueller returned home on Wednesday.

Two bills proposing changes to existing state standings on concealed weapons and firearms in schools won favorable votes in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. HB 4005 and HB 19 will now be put to a vote on the House floor before moving on to the state Senate.

A vote on SB 180 has been postponed in the Committee on Education Pre-K-12. This Florida bill would allow designated public school employees or volunteers to carry concealed weapons with a permit.

University of Florida professor John Schueller, Ph.D., is still detained after being arrested in Abu Dhabi on March 9. The circumstances of his arrest, though, are not uncommon.

The Gainesville City Commission District 1 and City Commission At-Large elections ended Tuesday night with two run-offs. The final election will be held on April 14.

Environmental groups across the state sent supporters to the capital on Wednesday to discuss the allocation of funds set aside by Amendment 1, the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative. The Florida legislative session will begin in March, and the bill will take effect on July 1.

An explosion and resulting fire at Southwest Villas on Jan. 22 that displaced 12 residents was caused by arson. Two suspects have been charged with grand theft and fraudulent insurance claims.

Charges against an 11-year-old girl for the shooting death have been dropped by State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister. Her 15-year-old sister, who police say shot and killed their 16-year-old brother, could still be charged. The girls' parents are also being investigated.

The economic recession in 2007 led to the unemployment of millions of Americans. However, one University of Florida graduate turned the downturn into opportunity.