2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Judi Jackson, a 62-year-old election volunteer (left), sits outside Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office Jan. 22 with her fellow volunteer, checking early voting ballots. The special run-off election for City Commission At-large Seat B will be held Jan. 25.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Early voting for the Gainesville City Commission special run-off election ends

By Melanie Pena | Jan. 24, 2022

The Gainesville City Commission Special Election early voting began Friday and ended Sunday, with the official election date being Jan. 25. For voters casting their vote by mail past the early voting period, the mail-in drop box will be available Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at the Alachua Supervisor of Elections Office at 515 N. Main St. Suite 100.

Florida doubles pair Duarte Vale (above) and Abedallah Shelbayh opened Sunday's match against UCF with a dominant 6-1 doubles victory. Photo from UF-TCU game March 17, 2021.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 3 Gators dominate No. 14 UCF for 7-0 win

By Joshua Morgan | Jan. 24, 2022

Florida men’s tennis scored an emphatic shutout win against No. 14 Central Florida on Sunday.

English teacher Cassidy Klein is seen inside the A. Quinn Jones Center on Thursday, Jan. 20. Klein was named the 2022 Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health Teacher of the Year.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

A. Quinn Jones English teacher received regional award for dedication to Special Education

By Emma Behrmann | Jan. 24, 2022

Klein, a 25-year-old high school English teacher, received the 2022 Division for Emotional & Behavioral Health teacher of the year award. The DEBH is an international community of educators that dedicates itself to the success of students with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders. Klein traveled to Orlando Monday to receive her plaque.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF hasn’t offered any federal emergency relief this semester; some students worry they never will

By Lucille Lannigan | Jan. 24, 2022

A new federal grant has not been funded for Spring, causing some students to worry as they continue to face impacts from the pandemic.

COVID 19 | UF

UF offers conflicting information on isolation dorms, leaving students frustrated

By Fernando Figueroa | Jan. 24, 2022

UF will no longer provide isolation dorms for students who live on campus for a “proper quarantine or isolation length,” according to UF Health’s Screen Test & Protect. No further information on how long these periods last is available.

Florida Gators Athletic Department ambassador Steve Spurrier autographs the final steel beam at the James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center at the facility’s topping-out ceremony on Tuesday, June 8.

NEWS

Four Gator athletic teams will receive new or revamped facilities for their 2022 seasons

By Lily Kino | Jan. 24, 2022

Phase three of the UF athletic facilities master plan is expected to be completed this Spring, fostering a fresh start for four Gator sports teams.

Attendees browse Gainesville artist Steven Bradbury’s art at the Santa Fe Art Gallery opening on Friday, Jan. 21.

NEWS

Santa Fe Art Gallery reopens after nearly two years, sparks creativity back into the community

By Lily Kino | Jan. 24, 2022

The Santa Fe Art Gallery made its grand re-opening Friday night after nearly two years of being closed, attracting more than just inspired young artists.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

We chose UF — would we choose it again?

By Sara Lindsay | Jan. 24, 2022

Right now, our community cares about COVID-19. Students and faculty are sick, scared of getting sick or sick of the situation in general. And there’s no end in sight. Despite widespread symptoms of pandemic burnout, UF continues to implement a laissez-faire leadership style when it comes to the virus. UF leaders expect masks but won’t mandate them, online class alternatives are rarely offered and simple social distancing protocols in classrooms seem to be a thing of the past.

Florida's Kiara Smith pictured during a Feb. 28, 2021 game against Georgia. The senior scored 23 points and dished out eight assists in UF's upset victory over LSU Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators continue historic run with hard-fought upset of No. 11 LSU

By Caleb Wiegandt | Jan. 23, 2022

Florida earned its fifth straight SEC win by upsetting No. 11 LSU in Exactech Arena.

A Florida football helmet, pictured during a game against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 4, 2021.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Hayden Hansen commits to Florida

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 23, 2022

Billy Napier continues to bring over talent from his tenure at Louisiana-Lafayette, as three star TE Hayden Miller committed to Florida after decommitting from the Ragin Cajuns on November 28.

Kieran Smith, a senior who took home a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finished first in the 200-meter freestyle (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators swim and dive makes a statement against Auburn

By Ethan Eibe | Jan. 22, 2022

Florida was victorious in 23 of the 32 events between the men’s and women’s categories on the way to a 201-91 men’s final score and a 184-116 tally for the women, handing Auburn a pair of defeats.

Sophomore Jason Jitoboh at last year's game versus LSU. Jitoboh has stepped up in the absence of Colin Castleton, scoring eight points and grabbing 10 rebounds Saturday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators overpower Vanderbilt in conference victory

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 22, 2022

White’s squad maintained constant pressure, running away with the game. Florida (12-6, 3-3) defeated Vanderbilt (10-8, 1-5) on Saturday 61-42. The Gators were in control the whole way, never allowing Vandy to take a lead.

The team counts on Reed, the spark plug for this year’s Gators team, to keep the energy high. Photo from UF-Mizzou meet Jan. 29, 2021. Reed was nearly perfect on the vault Friday night, finishing with a 9.95.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

No. 3 Florida Gymnastics Bests Georgia in SEC Road Win

By Madeline Lawson | Jan. 22, 2022

Gators secured the win with a final score of 196.975-194.475. Florida has won 11 of the last 13 meetings against UGA.

Kowacie Reeves defends South Carolina guard Devin Carter in the first half of Florida’s Jan. 15 game against South Carolina

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Kowacie Reeves stays humble through three starts

By Jesse Richardson | Jan. 22, 2022

Reeves impacted the Florida Gators offense from the moment his sneakers stepped foot on the hardwood on Jan. 12.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Judge prevents UF from enforcing its conflict-of-interest policy

By Elena Barrera | Jan. 21, 2022

A federal judge prohibited UF from enforcing its conflict-of-interest policy, which the university had used to bar professors from testifying in court, Friday morning. Six UF professors suing the university over their academic freedom and First Amendment rights asked District Judge Mark Walker, a double Gator, for a preliminary injunction, an order to end UF’s policy.

Mike White has coached Florida men's basketball since 2015, leading the Gators to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Q&A: Gator’s men’s hoops through the lens of Bracketology expert

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 21, 2022

Joe Cook-Shugart of 1-3-1Sports, the eighth-most accurate Bracketology expert according to popular database Bracketmatrix, gives an in-depth look at Florida's chances at the NCAA Tournament.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

COVID-19 scare ended student communism vs. capitalism debate

By Maia Botek | Jan. 21, 2022

Concluding statements were cut short when Siddharth Krishnan, a member of the UF Communist Party, announced from the back of the room that a COVID-19-positive student was on the way to the debate.

Orlando vendor Brent Palmer directs customers to his racks of vintage clothes at the Florida Vintage Market Jan. 6, 2022.

THE AVENUE

Despite official cancellation, Florida Vintage Market rocks on

By Ben Crosbie | Jan. 21, 2022

The 20 to 30 mph winds and temperatures that hung around the mid-to-high 50s were not enough to keep dozens of vendors from selling to the Gainesville community Sunday. The dismal weather couldn’t stop the hundreds of customers from perusing the racks of retro merchandise at the Florida Vintage Market either.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

ACPS new COVID cases continue to rise

By Emma Behrmann | Jan. 21, 2022

Alachua County Public Schools saw an increase in the number of new cases from Jan. 9 to Jan. 16, after a record number of new cases the week prior. However, these numbers could increase as parents and employees report test results from before the holiday weekend, ACPS spokesperson Jackie Johnson said.

Tatyana Wyche protects the ball from a swarm of Ole Miss players looking to snatch it out of her hands.

SPORTS | BASKETBALL

‘If you have heart you can do it’: Twin Gator basketball stars rise at UF

By Brenda Bogle | Jan. 21, 2022

At first, Florida’s pregame routine looked unremarkable to the sparse crowd of college basketball fanatics at the O’Connell Center. It’s when 18-year-old freshmen forwards Tatyana and Taliyah Wyche sprinted and elevated to rattle the rim that passing fans took a collective gasp.