COVID-19 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Wynton White (left) and Amy Nicholas (right), Change Party's candidates for Student Body president and treasurer, watch a live stream of the UF Student Government election results on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Gator Party won the executive ticket.

University

Gator wins executive ticket for the second year in a row and gains further control of the Senate

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 25, 2021

There were 6,650 total ballots cast, Supervisor of Elections Haley Price announced on a live stream Wednesday evening. Student Body President-elect Cooper Brown and Student Body Vice President-elect Faith Maniti won with 4,629 votes, or 69.78% of the vote. Student Body Treasurer-elect Giovanna Mompremier won with 4,515 votes, or 68.85%.

Pictured is the Santa Fe College clock tower.

University

Santa Fe College COVID-19 update: Nine students and employees tested positive last week

By Juliana Ferrie | Feb. 25, 2021

Santa Fe’s total number of reported positive cases is now 687, according to a report provided by Santa Fe spokesperson Jay Anderson. Since Feb. 1, the college’s weekly confirmed positive COVID-19 cases have decreased each week.

Lisa Blum and Jenice Bushnell stand in front of Gator Mania with their 12-foot fiberglass alligator. [Photo courtesy of Lisa Blum]

Metro

Family-owned UF apparel store Gator Mania goes out of business

By Jiselle Lee | Feb. 25, 2021

Gator Mania was one of the last local family-owned UF merchandise stores in Gainesville. In the last year, the city has seen the closing of many other staple businesses near the university, such as The Swamp restaurant and Daybreak Pleasant Street.

Elizabeth Hightower Junior Elizabeth Hightower has an ERA of 0.74 entering Thursday’s game.

Sports

Florida looks to improve to 9-0 as it hosts UNF

By Noah Ram | Feb. 24, 2021

The Gators will play their sixth straight home game when they face UNF on Thursday evening.

Outside hitter T'ara Ceasar during the Gators' match against the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, November 20, 2020 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.

Sports

Gators return to action against Tennessee

By Michael Hull | Feb. 24, 2021

Florida is 51-13 all time against the Volunteers.

Brianna Alderman (Left) and Camile Hagins (Right) hold up homemade signs as they march in support of antiracism on Feb. 20, 2021.

University

UF students march to honor Black history in Gainesville

By Isabella Douglas | Feb. 24, 2021

On Saturday, about 80 UF students gathered outside the Reitz Union and walked to Prayers By Faith Family Ministries, the original location of Gainesville’s NAACP chapter, in honor of Gainesville’s Black history.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem shoots against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

University

Prominent UF alumni and athletes endorse Student Government candidates

By Declan Walsh | Feb. 24, 2021

Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem and former Gators football players Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts endorsed the Change Party's Student Body presidential candidate Wynton White along with other UF athletes. Kansas City Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend showed support for the Gator Party candidate Cooper Brown.

Early voting for Student Government elections began Monday, Sept. 28 in the Reitz Union.

University

Students decide on new leadership and senators during Spring SG elections

By Alligator Staff report | Feb. 24, 2021

The first day of voting for the UF Student Government Spring Election included some technical difficulties, short lines and about an 80% decrease in voter turnout from last Spring's election.

Pedestrians walk down West University Avenue on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. Signs down the road redirect traffic due to ongoing construction on the road, near UF campus and Midtown.

Metro

Gainesville will take over control of a stretch of West University

By Jack Prator | Feb. 24, 2021

Gainesville City Commissioner and MTPO Chair David Arreola exchanged excited glances with the other commissioners in the room upon hearing this news. Gaining jurisdictional control over the taste road has been a priority of Gainesville's for the past month.

University

COVID-19 Update: 169 UF-affiliates test positive in last week

By Manny Rea | Feb. 24, 2021

UF’s COVID-19 cases for students and staff continue to fall in daily positive results and quarantines.

News

More than 250 Alachua County Public School students and staff in quarantine

By Daniella Sevares | Feb. 24, 2021

There are 17 active student cases and four active staff cases as of Tuesday afternoon. These cases represent students and staff who have reported a positive test result to ACPS within the past 10 days.