COVID-19 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida junior golfer Sarunchana Rattanasin records her score after finishing up a hole at the Gators Invitational on Friday, March 1, 2024.

Sports

Florida women's golf fails to defend Inverness Intercollegiate title

By Brooke Bastedo | Sep. 17

Florida women's golf

Alachua County Sheriff's Office deputies blocked West University Avenue after responding to an armed suspect on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Metro

New footage sheds details deputy-involved Alachua shooting from July

By Grace Larson and Delia Rose Sauer | Sep. 17

An armed suspect was killed by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies after barricading himself in his apartment in July.

Metro

UF student arrested for child pornography

By Alexa Ryan | Sep. 17

Gainesville Police and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrested 21-year-old UF political science senior Tyler Do on Tuesday for viewing and distributing child pornography.

Students can trade favors on the FavorIt app.

News

Goodbye, delivery fees: New student-made app lets UF users give and get favors

By Madeline Herring | Sep. 17

The concept is simple. Need a favor, give a favor.

A protester leads a chant at an ICE Protest held at the Alachua County Public Schools District Office in downtown Gainesville on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.

Metro

Advocates protest ICE access in Alachua County schools

By Ariana Badra | Sep. 17

Parents, students and community activists rallied outside the Alachua County Public Schools board meeting Tuesday afternoon to voice concern over policies that grant U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to public schools.

News

Mini crossword for Sept. 17, 2025

By Rohit Paranjape | Sep. 17

Play The Alligator's original mini crossword.

“Welcome to Death Valley” sign is displayed at Tiger Stadium before a football game between the Louisiana State Tigers and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sept. 13th, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La.

Sports

Gators RB coach Jabbar Juluke receives three-game suspension for LSU altercation

By Luke Adragna | Sep. 16

Florida Gators associate head coach and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke received a three-game suspension following his involvement in a pregame scuffle against Louisiana State on Saturday.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) and head coach Billy Napier talk during warmups before a football game between the Louisiana State Tigers and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sept. 13th, 2025, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Opinion

Florida beat LSU by every metric — except the final score

By Riley Brinser | Sep. 16

Three hundred sixty-six total yards. Almost 40 minutes of possession. Twenty-three first downs. And yet, the scoreboard read LSU: 20, Florida: 10.

Survivor Florida players gather for the 16th season of the on-campus game, honoring the hit TV show "Survivor."

The Avenue

Survivor Florida contestants brave tears, torches and tribal councils for cash prize

By Christopher Rodriguez | Sep. 16

The yard behind Hume Hall Sept. 13 looked more like the set of the 49-season hit CBS reality show “Survivor” than a soccer field.

The Florida Gators football team runs onto the field before
a football game between the South Florida Bulls and the Florida Gators on Sept. 6, 2025, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Sports

I attended my first Gator football games as a freshman. I get the hype now.

By Isabella Cabrera | Sep. 16

Before arriving at UF, I never truly understood the thrill of college game day. My parents were never particularly big football fans, let alone college football. Even though I grew up in Miami, I only went to one University of Miami football game (don’t worry, I believe orange goes much better with blue than green), and even then, the atmosphere wasn’t as impressive as what I have already experienced here.

Trenton's Law will raise the maximum sentence for repeat offenders convicted of killing someone while driving or boating under the influence from 15 to 30 years, starting Oct. 1.

Metro

New Florida law raises penalty for DUIs and vehicular homicide

By Alexa Ryan | Sep. 16

After a driver struck and killed teenagers on two separate occasions — while driving recklessly in 2001 and again in 2023 — the victims’ parents came together to further punish repeat offenders.

Metro

Police fatally shoot Gainesville man after 40-minute negotiation

By Alexa Ryan | Sep. 16

Alachua County Sheriff Office deputies fatally shot 55-year-old Darian Holmes in the early morning of Sept. 13 after he pointed a gun at an officer.

“The French Fries” stand between the Computer Sciences and Engineering Building and Marston Science Library on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

News

False alarm prompts evacuation of UF Marston Library and CSE buildings

By Daniela Peñafiel | Sep. 16

On Tuesday morning, an electrical malfunction in the first floor of Marston Science Library set off fire alarms.

Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler (left) talks with ownwe of Honeybee’s Doggie Cafe Donna Ruby about the future of the Waldo Sweet Potato Festival & Car Display in Waldo, Florida, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.

Metro

Waldo’s Sweet Potato Festival revives spudtacular small-town spirit

By Lindee Walker | Sep. 16

The smell of fall drifted through Waldo City Square as families lined up for sweets, cars and games at the town’s first-ever Sweet Potato Festival and Car Show.

News

Mini crossword for Sept. 16, 2025

By Rohit Paranjape | Sep. 16

Play The Alligator’s original daily mini crossword

Gender norms are still present in heterosexual relationships, even when it comes to who pays at dinner.

Opinion

Feminism ends at the dinner table

By Eriel Pichardo | Sep. 15

Women want a feminist who pays for stuff.

David Jolly, a former Republican who became an independent in 2018, throws his hat into the ring as the next Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Florida.

Enterprise

Q&A: Florida Democrats’ gubernatorial front-runner David Jolly on his campaign

By Kaysheri Haffner | Sep. 15

Former U.S. Rep. David Jolly has previously pledged allegiance to three different political parties. He entered Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race in June as a Democrat to mixed reactions of celebration and chagrin.

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier during a football game between the Louisiana State Tigers and the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sept. 13th, 2025, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Sports

After USF spit ejection, Brendan Bett returns against LSU

By Curan Ahern | Sep. 15

In college football, punishments can come for a slew of reasons and range from fines to suspensions. When Florida redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Brendan Bett was ejected for spitting on USF junior offensive lineman Cole Skinner, head coach Billy Napier looked for remorse, kept the discipline internal and allowed Bett to continue play in UF’s third game of the season.

Anthony Lee searches for a Short-tailed Hawk on the observation tower at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Enterprise

North Central Florida could host the country’s next national park, just miles from UF

By Sofia Bravo | Sep. 15

U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, R-F.L., proposed turning 2,800 square miles of preserved land in North Central Florida into a national park. The bill hasn't yet moved through Congress — but the public remains divided on whether the designation would help protect the land.

K-INACUP, a family-owned food truck, serves Korean dishes at the Midpoint Park and Eatery on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

The Avenue

3 Gainesville food trucks bring international flavor

By Victoria Riccobono | Sep. 15

Campus dining and meal prepping can feel predictable at times. But Gainesville’s food truck scene offers a flavorful escape — from oxtail platters to Korean lunch boxes — that brings new culture and comfort to the community.