COVID-19

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ENVIRONMENT  |  ENTERPRISE

North central Florida farmers, experts find new ways to combat citrus greening

By Kylie Williams | Jan. 8, 2024

Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, has ravaged the citrus industry in Florida over the past two decades. Since the disease was first detected in 2005, it has reduced citrus production by over 75% and cost the industry billions of dollars in lost revenue.  Researchers have studied the disease for decades but have yet to find a lasting solution to citrus greening. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County Court Judge Walter Green retires: What is to come?

By Kairi Lowery | Jan. 8, 2024

Defense attorney Eric Atria applied to fill this vacancy. Atria, known across Florida for being “sucker punched,” by his defendant in 2022, hit the ground running with his judicial campaign by seeking endorsements from county commissioners. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

‘It’s just not worth it anymore’: Multiple Gainesville restaurants close, cite financial restraints

By Bonny Matejowsky | Jan. 8, 2024

During America’s holiday season, known for its boom in spending and time shared with loved ones, it would be easy to assume restaurants flourished along with the retailers. But Gainesville’s business landscape tells a different tale.

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Brothers Skip and Peyton Donald make the Florida dive team feel like a family

By Lacey Rogers | Jan. 8, 2024

Brothers Skip and Peyton Donald both transferred to UF’s dive team and are now competing side by side for Skip Donald’s final collegiate season.

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NEWS

Gators women’s tennis set to begin the 2024 season

Jan. 8, 2024

The Gators, who ended their 2023 season with an 18-8 record, enter the Spring looking for their first NCAA Team Championship since 2017.

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SPORTS  |  MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators look to regroup as tough SEC slate looms near

By Max Tucker | Jan. 8, 2024

Although the Gators (10-4, 0-1 SEC) kept the score close throughout, the Kentucky Wildcats (11-2, 1-0 SEC) escaped with an 87-85 victory at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Saturday. Florida’s inefficiency from both the 3-point and free throw lines in the second half of Saturday’s matchup will be an issue that UF head coach Todd Golden’s squad will seek to improve on. The Gators’ conference schedule will include highly anticipated matchups all season long.

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ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Local activists, politicians and community members discuss prospective bills for Florida’s 2024 legislative session

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Jan. 8, 2024

The 2024 Florida regular legislative session begins Jan. 9 with over 1,000 bills filed. The proposed legislation has sparked discussions on a wide range of issues including abortion access, firearm regulations, education reform, environmental protection, insurance rates and hurricane relief. 

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF faculty banned from recruiting Chinese, Iranian students under new Florida law

By Zoey Thomas | Jan. 8, 2024

The Florida law bans “partnerships,” including recruitment programs, between state universities and any non-U.S. citizen living in a foreign country of concern — including China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Cuba, Syria and North Korea. It was passed in May and went into effect Dec. 1. The UF dean’s office and upper administration has interpreted the law to mean faculty cannot offer any assistantship or fellowship to students in these countries for the 2024-2025 academic year.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF graduate assistants celebrate approval of historic raise

By Delia Rose Sauer | Jan. 7, 2024

After months of bargaining, UF Graduate Assistants United saw the fruits of its labor after the university Board of Trustees approved Article 10 of GAU’s collective bargaining agreement. Article 10 states graduate assistants on nine-month appointments will be paid $19,200, while those on 12-month appointments will receive a minimum of $25,600. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Judge lowers bail for former UF biological scientist accused of child abuse

By Daniel Bednar | Jan. 7, 2024

A Gainesville judge reduced bond Wednesday for a former UF biological scientist accused of locking her two children in cages while going to work.

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SPORTS  |  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators lose first road SEC matchup of 2024 against Vanderbilt

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 7, 2024

After a blowout loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks in their Southeastern Conference opener, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team fared much better in their second conference matchup of the season. Nevertheless, they have yet to secure their first SEC win of 2024. 

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SPORTS  |  MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators come up short against Kentucky in SEC opener

By Max Tucker | Jan. 6, 2024

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (10-4, 0-1 SEC) fell to the Kentucky Wildcats (11-2, 1-0 SEC) 87-85 in their first game of Southeastern Conference play.

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swim dominates first home meet of new year against South Carolina

By Shaine Davison | Jan. 5, 2024

The Florida Gators men’s and women’s swimming teams started the new year with strong performances across multiple events in both the men's and women's races.

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida diving rings in new year with high-scoring Tennessee Diving Invite

By Shaine Davison | Jan. 5, 2024

The Florida men’s and women’s diving team traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, to compete in the Tennessee Diving Invite from Jan. 3-5 for their first meet of 2024. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission hires permanent city clerk, agrees to 2.5% pay increases for charter officers

By Henry DeAngelis | Jan. 5, 2024

At its regular meeting Thursday, the Gainesville City Commission voted 6-0, with Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker absent, to appoint Interim City Clerk Kristen Bryant in a permanent capacity, filling the last of the city’s charter office vacancies.

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SPORTS  |  FOOTBALL

Florida signee DJ Lagway titled 2023-24 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year

By Krisha Sanghavi | Jan. 5, 2024

DJ Lagway, a senior and five-star Florida signee, was named the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Friday morning.

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SPORTS  |  MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball set to open conference play against Kentucky

By Max Tucker | Jan. 5, 2024

Florida men's basketball coach Todd Golden has led his squad to a 10-3 start in his second year at the helm. However, Florida will be tested right away in the new calendar year as it begins Southeastern Conference play Saturday against the No. 6 Kentucky Wildcats.

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SPORTS  |  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball falls flat in SEC opener against No. 1 Gamecocks

By Jack Meyer | Jan. 4, 2024

The Florida Gators women’s basketball team (9-4, 0-1 SEC) suffered an 89-66 loss to the No. 1 Gamecocks (13-0, 1-0 SEC) in the team’s 2023-24 SEC opener Thursday night.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Islamic Community Center of Gainesville vandalized Thursday morning

By Jordan Ramos | Jan. 4, 2024

The Islamic Community Center of Gainesville was vandalized early Thursday morning by unidentified suspect(s) who broke several windows. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man arrested for masturbating in front of children at Gainesville Target

By Daniel Bednar | Jan. 3, 2024

The Gainesville Police Department arrested a 57-year-old man Tuesday, on suspicion of masturbating in front of children at a local Target store.