2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

City Commissioner-elect Cynthia Chestnut (center) stands with Gainesville NAACP President Evelyn Foxx (left) and School Board member Tina Certain (right) at her election watch party at Cypress and Grove Brewing Company on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Cynthia Chestnut, Matt Howland continue their work in the electoral process

By Melanie Pena | Jan. 31, 2022

In the days following the election, commissioner-elect Cynthia Moore Chestnut prepared for her position as city commissioner at-large seat B. Opposing candidate Matt Howland will be returning to his studies, flying between Gainesville and his classes at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

METRO

Pedestrian deaths spook Gainesville’s cyclists who want safer streets

By Troy Myers | Jan. 31, 2022

The Gainesville City Commission approved a speed reduction plan on Jan. 20 to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists around the city. The commissioners looked at studies of different traffic safety in other cities and found that speed was the number one determinant when it comes to fatalities and injuries.

The Alachua County Animal Services building is seen on Friday, Jan. 28.

METRO

Shelter volunteers speak out about the harsh reality at Animal Resources and Care

By Namari Lock | Jan. 31, 2022

Alachua County Animal Resources and Care euthanized 168 animals in 2021, and they could have euthanized 149 more last year and still held their “no-kill” title.

NEWS

Santa Fe’s Blount Hall nears completion, looks to expand the college’s downtown presence

By Lily Kino | Jan. 31, 2022

Construction of the 87,366 square-foot educational center is expected to be finished by the end of the Spring semester, and Santa Fe College plans to open the three-story building to students and faculty soon after, said Steve Doll, project manager with Parrish McCall Constructors LLC.

Florida's Nina Rickards pictured during a Feb. 15 game against Kentucky. Rickards scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in 35 minutes of action Thursday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators fall to No. 1 South Carolina, 62-50

By Brenda Bogle | Jan. 30, 2022

Aliyah Boston's 13 points and 19 rebounds helped South Carolina hand the Gators their third loss in SEC play.

Florida's Joseph Fahnbulleh competes during the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. / UAA Communications photo by Alex de la Osa. Fahnbulleh ran the 200-meter dash in 20.39 in Oxford, Mississippi.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators track and field notches 12 event wins at away meets in Clemson and Kentucky

By Ethan Eibe | Jan. 30, 2022

“I'm really excited about the future of the program and what we're doing right now.” Mike Holloway has a good feeling about what he has seen so far from his track and field teams. @EthanEibe gives us more on their efforts in this weekend’s meets in Clemson and Kentucky.

Florida's Tyree Appleby pictured during a Nov. 14 game against Florida State

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida completes comeback in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 29, 2022

“Whatever Mike White said to his team at halftime was a lot better than what I said.” Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton gave praise to the Gators after Florida men’s hoops came back from being down 16 in the first half to grab the win. Jackson Castellano has more on Saturday.

Megan Skaggs performs on the beam in a meet against Kentucky on February 19, 2021.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

No. 4 Gators gymnastics rolls over No. 13 Arkansas in another historic meet

By Madeline Lawson | Jan. 29, 2022

Leanne Wong became the second freshman in the nation to win the All-Around this season and posted the first 10 of her collegiate career. “One of my goals this year was to get a 10,” said Wong. “I’m happy I accomplished that goal.”

Center Jason Jitoboh catches his breath during a pre-season friendly against Embry-Riddle Nov. 1. Jitoboh scored 12 points without a miss in Florida’s loss to Ole Miss Monday night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators center Jason Jitoboh out for the season

Jan. 28, 2022

Florida men’s hoops loses another frontcourt weapon in center Jason Jitoboh. The junior shot 76% in four starts and tallied four blocks.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan argues with in the sixth inning of a 19-1 loss to South Alabama on June 5.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

O’Sullivan talks freshmen, motivation in opening press conference

By Carson Cashion | Jan. 28, 2022

Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan spoke with the media on Thursday afternoon, and discussed the outlook of Gator baseball heading into the season.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City commission fired GRU’s general manager, so he ran for mayor

By Melanie Pena | Jan. 28, 2022

The Gainesville City Commission’s vote to fire Gainesville Regional Utilities General Manager Edward Bielarski Thursday ended with a new bid for mayor. At the beginning of the meeting, City Commissioner Harvey Ward proposed the motion to fire Bielarski, which passed with a 4-2 vote. Commissioners Desmon Duncan-Walker and David Arreola opposed.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

A guide to vegan food options in Gainesville

By Elizabeth Dwyer | Jan. 28, 2022

The vast plant-based meal options in Gainesville provide citizens with an easy transition to this way of living without sacrificing their favorite dishes.

Shahmir Memon, a 21-year-old business administration junior, receives a fresh cut on the Plaza of the Americas lawn on Friday, Jan. 14. From bathroom stalls to street corners, Ju-Ray Kuo, a 24-year-old applied physiology and kinesiology master's student at UF, has been giving free cuts throughout Gainesville for the past six years.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Ju-Ray Kuo: The basketball barber of Gainesville

By Elena Barrera | Jan. 28, 2022

As the cheers of 10,000 Florida men’s basketball fans crescendo into a deafening roar, the quiet insight from their team manager rings loudest through the players’ heads. From the locker room bathrooms, Ju-Ray Kuo, an applied physiology and kinesiology masters student at UF, has become the unofficial barber of the Florida Gators men's basketball team — every returning player on the 15-player team has received a haircut from Kuo at least once.

Three cats play inside the cat room at the Feeline Good Cat Cafe on Jan. 19. There were a total of 12 adoptable cats at the cafe being fostered from the Humane Society of North Central Florida.

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville cat cafe successfully adopted out 200 cats after its seventh month open

By Jasper Wittig | Jan. 27, 2022

The Feeline Good Cat Cafe in downtown Gainesville reached its 200th adoption Jan. 23, seven months after its grand opening. Francesca Hall, the cafe’s 23-year-old founder and owner, said the cat cafe works as a foster home for adoptable cats, and she recently increased the number of cats the cafe takes in at a time from 10 to 12.

Around 400 attendees, most without masks, partied to Taylor Swift's classics at The Wooly's Swift-themed dance party Saturday night, Jan. 22.

THE AVENUE | NIGHTLIFE

Taylor Swift fans ‘shake it off’ at The Wooly’s sold-out show

By Alexis Carson | Jan. 27, 2022

A Taylor Swift-themed celebration for those at least 21 years old, was held at Downtown club The Wooly Saturday night. “You Need to Calm Down: A Taylor Swift Dance Party,” jammed on, blasting the entire discography of Taylor Swift’s music from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. About 400 people purchased tickets to the event, selling out within a few weeks of tickets being up online, said Courtney Gibson, 32-year-old CEO of Le Petite Fete, the touring company who hosted the dance party.

Lauren Lemasters, Gator Party's nominee for Student Government president, walks up to the podium outside of Library West at the announcement of the party's executive ticket on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Gator Party, Communist Party announce executive tickets for Spring 2022 elections

By Maia Botek | Jan. 27, 2022

Two Student Government parties announced their candidates for executive positions three weeks before elections start. Feb. 22 and 23, UF students can cast their votes for a new Student Body president, Vice President and Treasurer. Students will also choose 50 new senators to take over seats organized by college and credit hours.

Florida's Tyree Appleby holds the ball during a Dec. 6 game against Texas Southern. The point guard scored 16 points and dished out seven assists in a losing effort Wednesday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida falls late in back-and-forth bout against Tennessee

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 26, 2022

In a blow for blow matchup against Tennessee that came down to the final possession, UF couldn’t hang on and collected their sixth straight loss in Knoxville.

Following 10 weeks of campaigning, Cynthia Moore Chestnut won the Gainesville special runoff election Tuesday by 244 votes. Chestnut led with nearly 51% of the 12,280 ballots cast while Howland had about 49%. The city’s voter turnout for the special run-off election was about 13.6%, a 0.55% increase compared to the November special election.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Chestnut wins Gainesville special run-off election, newcomer concedes

By Alligator Staff report | Jan. 26, 2022

Chestnut led with nearly 51% of the 12,280 ballots cast while Howland had about 49%, according to preliminary results. Out of the 90,080 eligible voters, only 12,280 voted, or 13.6%, a 0.55% increase compared to the November special election.

Junior Marlee Zein and senior McCartney Kessler against Arkansas on March 14, 2021. The Gators overcame the Mississippi State Bulldogs Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 20 Gators start season with back-to-back wins

By Joshua Morgan | Jan. 26, 2022

A potential rise back to the top started off on the right foot Sunday with a 6-1 win over North Florida and a shutout performance against South Florida 7-0 the following day.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida basketball falls hard in Oxford

By Jesse Richardson | Jan. 25, 2022

Florida men’s basketball shot 14.3% from long range and gave up 48 points in the second half Monday night to cause their eventual downfall to the Ole Miss Rebels.

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