2 - The Independent Florida Alligator

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 11: Jaimie Hoover bats during an NCAA Softball game between the St. John's Red Storm and Florida Gators on February 11, 2017, at the USF Softball Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio)

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball team sweeps South Carolina

By Cassie Amundson | Mar. 19, 2017

With two outs in the top of the third inning, Jaimie Hoover was up to bat.

UF forward Devin Robinson guards a Virginia player during Florida's 65-39 win against the Cavaliers in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Orlando.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida rocking a Final Four defense ahead of Sweet 16

By Matt Brannon | Mar. 19, 2017

The Gators basketball team is riding a wave of momentum back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in three seasons. For that, Florida fans can thank the Gators defense, which put on a truly absurd display of dominance in No. 4 seed UF’s 65-39 win over No. 5 seed Virginia on Saturday in Orlando.

UF coach Roland Thornqvist looks on during Florida's 4-2 win against Oklahoma State on Feb. 18, 2017, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF ‘hell bound on changing’ after devastating loss to Georgia

By Spencer Thompson | Mar. 19, 2017

After Friday’s match against Georgia, the Gators women’s tennis team’s players walked off the court with their heads down. As fans left the Ring Tennis Complex, they voiced their disbelief.

UF players and coaches celebrate during Florida's 65-39 win against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Orlando.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

‘Anything can happen’: UF advances to Sweet 16

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 19, 2017

Twenty minutes after the game ended, Kasey Hill sat in front of his locker, still wearing orange and blue.

UF third baseman Jonathan India stands at his position during Florida's 5-4 win against William & Mary on Feb. 17, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators get swept at Auburn in SEC-opening series

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 19, 2017

Jonathan India didn’t even reach for the ball. Instead, he watched as it zipped past him, carrying the game with it.

Anti-Muslim graffiti was found in a bathroom stall in McCarty Hall B on Thursday. Among the writings were statements like, 'Muslims kill gays.' The graffiti has since been taken down.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Fuchs to discuss hate on campus during town hall

By Romy Ellenbogen | Mar. 19, 2017

UF President Kent Fuchs will hold a town hall meeting today at 6 p.m. in Emerson Hall to gauge students’ opinions about racially charged incidents on campus.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

FHP: GNV woman drives drunk through front yards

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 19, 2017

As patrons of Gainesville’s bar scene celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, one woman was arrested for driving drunk through people’s front yards, Florida Highway Patrol said.

METRO

Search continues for Ocala cobra following escape

By Molly Vossler | Mar. 19, 2017

After disappearing from an Ocala home a week ago, a 2-foot-long cobra has popped up on Twitter.

METRO | POLITICS

Ride-hailing app Lyft brings competition to Gainesville

By Molly Vossler | Mar. 19, 2017

For the first time, Uber will have competition in Gainesville.

On Dec. 5, a fire burned down Satchel Pizza’s gift shop and open-bar waiting area, Lightnin’ Salvage Enterprises. Now, owner Satchel Raye is working to rebuild it and hopes to reopen it by December.

METRO

Satchel’s to resume live music three months after fire

By Max Chesnes | Mar. 19, 2017

Satchel’s Pizza is resuming live music five nights a week three months after a fire destroyed part of the restaurant’s property.

Larry King, 76, loosens a rack holding a roasted pig as Jim Ferrer, 66, makes a tent out of aluminum foil to keep it warm for a day-after-St. Patrick's Day party at the corner of Northwest 14th Avenue and Northwest 18th Street on Saturday. King and Ferrer roasted the pig for about four hours before serving it.

METRO

Former UF administrator hosts annual St. Patty’s Day feast

By Romy Ellenbogen | Mar. 19, 2017

Larry King spent the morning of his 56th wedding anniversary roasting a nearly 41-pound pig.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF SG resolutions condemn hate on campus, defend free speech

By Paige Fry | Mar. 19, 2017

After anti-Muslim graffiti was found inside an on-campus bathroom Thursday, the UF Student Government Judiciary Committee passed two resolutions condemning hate — while defending free speech.

NEWS | CAMPUS

In national ranking, UF Law climbs seven spots to No. 41

By Jacqueline Disla | Mar. 19, 2017

UF’s Levin College of Law ranked 41st in the nation this month — up seven spots from last year.

METRO

Grand opening for Cade Museum set for 2018

By Scottie Andrew | Mar. 19, 2017

Gainesville residents will have to wait five more months for the new Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention to open.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Keep PBS funding for the kids

Mar. 19, 2017

If you grew up with the basic cable package while the rest of your kindergarten classmates were watching “SpongeBob SquarePants,” you tuned into shows like “Arthur,” “Sesame Street” and “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” on your local PBS station. This was before the days of Netflix and Amazon Prime, and if your parents didn’t have one of those fancy satellite dishes, then you were limited to just a handful of basic channels, and your days of television included Barney the dinosaur and “Dragon Tales.” If you’re one of those people, we hope you’re smiling fondly. Even if you were fortunate to have Playhouse Disney or Nickelodeon, you’ve probably at least seen some of the old PBS Kids shows.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF's administration needs to support graduate-student parents in need

Mar. 19, 2017

You’re in your late 20s or early 30s. It’s time to get married. It’s time to have children. It’s time to build a better future for yourself and your family while contributing to society.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republican response to Obamacare will cost us

Mar. 19, 2017

It’s no secret the Affordable Care Act — colloquially known as Obamacare — wasn’t perfect. It succeeded in helping those who weren’t insured, because of preexisting conditions or otherwise. There is an individual mandate, which attempts to decrease the costs brought on by emergency room visits, but it didn’t address the ballooning costs of health care or the fact that the U.S. still has one of the highest numbers for health care spending per capita, according to the World Bank.

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

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

UF women’s swimming and diving team disappoints at NCAA Championships

By Sean Denison | Mar. 19, 2017

The Gators women’s swimming and diving team capped off their season at the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, March 18.

Florida's Alex McMurtry performs her floor routine in front of teammates during the SEC Gymnastics Championships on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators take second at SEC Gymnastics Championships

By Lauren Staff | Mar. 19, 2017

JACKSONVILLE - At the end of the first rotation, LSU’s Ashleigh Gnat sprinted towards the vault and perfection. With her yurchenko double full, the senior from Lake Mary, Florida notched her third perfect 10 of the season on the apparatus, putting the Tigers up .20 over the Gators.

UF forward Devin Robinson walks off the court during Florida's 65-39 win against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Orlando.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Robinson could lead Florida deep into the NCAA Tournament

By Ray Boone | Mar. 18, 2017

ORLANDO — With five minutes left in the game, Chris Chiozza rifled a pass to Devin Robinson on the right wing.

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