2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Pictured are “Big Mike,” a graduate of the “Quit Smoking Now” classes held at the Helping Hands Clinic, and Cathy Cook, the “Quit Smoking Now” program coordinator. “Big Mike” was awarded a bicycle for completing the program.

METRO

Anti-smoking classes offer support to homeless population

By Molly Donovan | Jan. 25, 2016

It all started with teamwork and a grant.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Research Roundup: Diseases, DNA and forecasts

Jan. 25, 2016

UF professor researches foodborne diseases

UF’s Chris Chiozza drives down the court during Florida’s 95-63 win against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Chris Chiozza adjusting to starting role for Florida

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Jan. 25, 2016

Chris Chiozza replaced Kasey Hill as Florida’s starting point guard on Dec. 12 at Michigan State.

Mandy Moss, a 20-year-old UF mechanical and aerospace engineering junior, squeezes a stress ball as she donates blood in one of the LifeSouth buses on the Reitz Union North Lawn on Monday afternoon. UF is competing against the University of Kentucky to see who can collect the most blood as part of LifeSouth’s “What Colors Do You Bleed?” blood drive.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF hopes for 1,500 student blood donors

By Catherine Dickson | Jan. 25, 2016

UF is trying to beat the University of Kentucky in the annual “What Colors Do You Bleed?” blood drive.

Coach Roland Thornqvist said his team will try to learn from its mistakes after Florida fell to Vanderbilt in Sunday's SEC Tournament championship game. “We can start from zero in our preparations," he said.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF women's tennis team expecting success in 2016

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 25, 2016

The first topic discussed when coach Roland Thornqvist met with the media on Monday was junior Belinda Woolcock and her doubles match at the Australian open.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

911 Report: Stabbing threat, car chase, burglary ring

By Martin Vassolo | Jan. 25, 2016

Woman threatens to stab government employee, authorities say

METRO

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire returns to Gainesville

By Andrea Benaim | Jan. 25, 2016

It’s been 30 years since the first knights and maidens gathered in Gainesville.

METRO

GFR firefighters claim first place at fire rescue competition

By Lauren Rowland | Jan. 25, 2016

Local firefighters brought the heat at a statewide competition Saturday.

UF coach Jenny Rowland waves to the crowd prior to Florida’s win against UCLA on Jan. 15, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators gymnastics looking to feed off of coach Jenny Rowland

By Alejandro López | Jan. 25, 2016

For Florida gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland, last weekend presented a slew of firsts.

UF coach Gregg Troy encourages his swimmers during Florida’s meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators swimming and diving team looking for improvement

By Sean Doty | Jan. 25, 2016

The No. 4-ranked men’s and No. 11-ranked women’s swimming and diving teams found success and failure on Saturday against a tough conference opponent.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It's greed versus the planet

Jan. 25, 2016

It’s been three weeks since the governor of California, Jerry Brown, issued a state of emergency regarding the ongoing Aliso Canyon gas leak that has spewed up to 58,000 kilograms of methane per hour since Oct. 23. Without doing too much math, that equates to about two and a half months since the natural gas well released a trove of delightful job-creating and completely harmless vapors into the atmosphere before any declaration of emergency took place.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Not enough responsibility with drones

Jan. 25, 2016

Drones are not the silver bullets we’ve made them out to be. On one hand, they facilitate our objectives by killing high-value targets without risking American lives. But on the other hand, we have to deeply consider the consequences, ranging from civilian deaths to the deception and secrecy with which our government conducts these drone strikes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

"Making a Murderer": vigilante or voyeuristic?

Jan. 25, 2016

Like so many college students with a Netflix subscription and a tendency to procrastinate, I devoured all 10 episodes of “Making a Murderer” within the course of four days. The hype surrounding the series was unavoidable, and after a fervent recommendation from a close friend, I happily shirked all responsibilities and dove in. As a courtesy spoiler alert, anyone who has exhibited the self-control to avoid the show and doesn’t want to know how it ends, avert your eyes.

UF track and field coach Mike Holloway talks with mid-distance runner Andres Arroyo on the final day of the 2015 Florida Relays on Saturday at the Percy Beard Track.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida track and field not paying attention to rankings as season begins

By Lauren Staff | Jan. 25, 2016

Rankings are calculated by a computer before any competition for a season begins.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Editorial: Responsibilities, drinking and the codification of decision-making

Jan. 25, 2016

On “The Perfect Kiss,” Bernard Sumner of New Order sings, “I have always thought about/Staying here and going out/Tonight I should have stayed at home… I said ‘let’s go out and have some fun.’” Besides belonging to the finest song ever released by the Manchester, England-based rock band, these seemingly nonsensical and contradictory lyrics speak to a dilemma faced by nearly all college students possessing both a taste for the nightlife and a desire to bring home a degree: staying in or going out?