2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

A crowd of protestors gathered in front of Tigert Hall to advocate for RTS funding on Friday, April 26, 2024.

METRO

RTS funding extended temporarily through 2024

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 13, 2024

After over a month of student protests and community criticism, UF and the city came to an agreement at a City Hall meeting May 1 allowing RTS to continue providing its current level of service until Jan. 1, 2025. The compromise extended existing bus routes and schedules for six months beyond the June 30 contract deadline in anticipation of a permanent funding solution.

Quincy Allen-Flint performs an acoustic set at the High Dive, located at 210 SW 2nd Ave., during the Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally on June 5, 2021.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Over thirty years of music packed up in 30 days: High Dive closes its doors

By Sydney Johnson | May 13, 2024

High Dive, a popular venue and staple in Gainesvilleu2019s music scene, is disappearing from its familiar spot on Second Avenue, as announced by owner Pat Lavery in an Instagram post. The music hall, which hosted live events since the 90s, gained notoriety for giving local musicians a starting point.

Coterie Market pictured on Sunday, May 12, 2024.

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Coterie Market ‘happy to announce’ store closure nearly one year after opening

By Noor Sukkar | May 13, 2024

Coterie Market announced the closure of its brick-and-mortar store on its Instagram, adding to the list of small businesses Gainesville will lose this month. However, unlike other closures, this is a happy announcement, Coterie said.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF professor sues Florida officials over law restricting international student employment

By Grace McClung | May 13, 2024

After losing his top pick for a postdoctoral assistantship, UF professor Zhengfei Guan is suing top state officials to block a law restricting international student employment at Florida public universities.

Florida baseball first baseman Jac Caglianone stares the pitcher down in the team's opening night loss to St. John's University on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida unable to outlast No. 3 Kentucky in extra innings

By Max Tucker | May 12, 2024

Despite showing signs of fight in the late frames, Florida (26-25, 11-16 SEC) was edged by No. 3 Kentucky (36-11, 20-7 SEC) 7-5 at Condron Ballpark in Gainesville Sunday.

Florida senior Flomena Asekol sprints in the Gators SEC Outdoor Championships on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida’s track and field team takes six gold medals at SEC Championships

By Liana Handler | May 11, 2024

The Gators women’s team ended the three-day event at Percy Beard Track in third with 101 points. Meanwhile, the men’s team finished in fourth place with 100 points.

Florida right-handed pitcher Ava Brown subbed in the fifth inning during the Gators’ 8-0 win over UIC, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators softball takes home its sixth SEC Championship Title

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | May 11, 2024

The No. 2-seeded Florida Gators (45-12, 17-7 SEC) defeated the No. 5-seeded Missouri Tigers (43-14, 13-11 SEC) 6-1 Saturday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama, for its tenth appearance in the SEC Championship.

Gators baseball left-handed pitcher Cade Fisher throws the ball in Florida's 9-5 loss to St. John's University on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida evens series against Kentucky in dominant fashion

By Max Tucker | May 11, 2024

Florida (26-24, 11-15 SEC) dismantled No. 3 Kentucky (36-11, 19-7 SEC) 10-1 at Condron Ballpark in Gainesville Saturday.

Florida men's golf head coach JC Deacon and redshirt freshman Matthew Kress embrace after the Gators' victory over the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC Championship Semifinals Saturday, April 22, 2023. / Photo by Leslie White

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf to begin postseason on May 13

By Aiden Wacksman | May 11, 2024

After an appearance in the match play quarterfinals of the SEC championships, the No. 14 Florida men’s golf team will fight to defend its 2023 title in postseason competition at the three-round West Lafayette NCAA regional from May 13-15.

Gators softball pitcher Keagan Rothrock does the Gator chomp before the team's game against Oklahoma State on Monday, February 19, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball defeats Texas A&M to clinch a spot in SEC Championship

By Hailey Hurst | May 10, 2024

The freshman’s performance helped lead the Gators (45-12, 19-7 SEC) to a 7-3 victory over the Aggies (40-13) in Auburn, Alabama, and secured their championship spot in the SEC Tournament.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida edged by Kentucky in extra inning

By Max Tucker | May 10, 2024

Florida (25-24, 10-15 SEC) fell just short in an extra-inning thriller to Kentucky (36-10, 19-6 SEC) 12-11 at Condron Ballpark Friday.

Freshman defender Ashley Dyer runs up the field during the Florida Gators’ Lacrosse game against the Jacksonville Dolphins on Wednesday, February 28. Photo by Ryan Friedenberg

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida defeats North Carolina in First Round of NCAA Division I Tournament

By Max Bernstein | May 10, 2024

The No. 10 Gators (18-2, 6-0 AAC) avenged their most recent loss resoundingly Friday evening, cruising to a 17-8 win over North Carolina (10-7, 6-3 ACC) in the First Round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Tournament.

Florida softball freshman pitcher Keagan Rothrock fields a ball in the Gators' 3-0 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Monday, February 19, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

No. 2-seed Florida softball defeats No. 7-seed Georgia in SEC quarterfinals

By Hailey Hurst | May 10, 2024

Due to poor weather conditions, the Gators softball quarterfinals matchup against the No. 7-seed Georgia was postponed to Friday morning. After an hour and a half delay, both teams endured a seven inning battle.

Florida senior Annabell Fuller recorded her third straight top-15 finish of the fall at the Windy City Classic. Photo courtesy of the UAA.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida women’s golf season ends at East Lansing Regional

By Aiden Wacksman | May 8, 2024

No. 15 Florida placed 13th in the SEC tournament and failed to claim the top-8 mark to qualify for match play in the quarterfinals.

Florida Gators women's golf practice Monday, February 14, 2022 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Leslie White

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida women’s golf season ends at East Lansing Regional

By Aiden Wacksman | May 8, 2024

The Florida Gators women’s golf team’s regular season was defined by tournament wins and top-five finishes. UF carried itself with one-on-one victories over top-ranked teams in the country. However, Florida finished seventh in the 12-team NCAA Regional and failed to advance in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

A sign in front of the Alachua County Public Schools district office building is seen Sunday, June 6, 2021.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

School board shares updates on literacy programs, union membership

By Megan Howard | May 8, 2024

The Alachua County Public Schools district office was packed with student athletes, coaches and speech language pathologists ahead of the May 7 school board meeting.

Governor Ron DeSantis addresses campus protests at the Plaza of the Americas on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 amid chants for UF to divest funds to weapons manufacturers involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

NEWS | CAMPUS

‘We will not let the inmates run the asylum’: DeSantis condemns pro-Palestinian protestors at UF

By Garrett Shanley | May 8, 2024

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at UF Wednesday morning about ongoing campus protests in solidarity with Gaza across the state and country.

Gators baseball right-handed reliever Fisher Jameson strides to the plate in the team's loss to St. John's University on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida grinds out midweek victory over South Florida

By Max Tucker | May 7, 2024

The Florida baseball team put together an strong pitching performance to come away with a midweek win against USF.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is seen on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean steps down

By Timothy Wang | May 7, 2024

The dean of UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will be stepping down from his position effective June 30, according to a UF news release.

THE AVENUE | FASHION

Avenue Roundtable: The 2024 Met Gala

By Avenue Staff | May 7, 2024

On a runway clad with whimsical florals and woodland imagery, decorated stars took to the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to attend yesterday’s 2024 Met Gala. Renowned as “fashion’s biggest night,” A-listers arrived at the coveted event donning unique haute couture inspired by “The Garden of Time” dress code.

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