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Thursday, October 01, 2026

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Trees recovering from April wildfires off of County Road 23, Friday, August 28, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Enterprise

Residents, city reflect on spring wildfires as drought conditions continue

Three wildfires threatened Gainesville’s city limits in the spring. Smoke clogged the air, and State Route 26, North Main Street, state Route 121 and the surrounding regions were impacted by road closures and forced evacuations. The blazes, which sparked fear and confusion among residents but may ultimately benefit the ecosystem, point to shifting weather patterns as the county nears a year of drought conditions.


Florida wide receiver Vernell Brown III (1) runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against FAU, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Sports

Immediate Takeaways from Florida’s Season-Opening Victory

The Jon Sumrall era was officially unleashed in front of the Gator faithful after 280 days without action at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida dominated the opener early, tallying 624 yards of total offense. While just one contest into 2026, the Gators’ offense looked nearly unstoppable. Here are the key takeaways from Saturday’s win:


“Buddy” brings dark humor to the now-familiar world of mascot horror.
The Avenue

‘Buddy’ delivers all the nostalgic horror of our childhood

Horror movie “Buddy,” directed by Casper Kelly — who’s known for his work on “Too Many Cooks” — released Friday after a successful festival run, where it screened at events like the Sundance Film Festival. It was highly anticipated by theater-goers, especially following the stream of hit horror movies over the summer, like “Obsession,” “Backrooms” and “Leviticus.” 


Officer Jenna Cuevo poses with UFPD’s newest police dog, Maverick, in front of the UF Public Safety Building, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
News

Meet Maverick, UFPD’s newest K-9

The UF Police Department welcomed a new four-legged detective — and his name is Maverick. A black labrador retriever, Maverick joins three other furry officers at UFPD, older colleagues Libby, Beto and Bailey.


Florida football head coach Jon Sumrall observes practice during spring camp at the Heavener Football Training Center in Gainesville, Fla., on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Alyvia Logan/The Alligator)
Sports

Florida vs. FAU: Keys to the first contest of the Jon Sumrall era

Every season opener marks a debut of sorts, but Saturday's contest between the Gators and the Florida Atlantic Owls is the most anticipated one The Swamp has seen in years. As Jon Sumrall and the rest of the new-look staff gear up to take on the season’s first opponent, both a new era and the mission to bounce back from Florida’s 4-8 season begin. 


Enterprise

Florida Board of Governors bans undocumented students from public universities

The Florida Board of Governors delivered another blow to undocumented immigrants seeking higher education in Florida during a Thursday meeting in Fort Myers. The board, which is made up of 17 members, with 14 appointed by the governor, voted to block Florida’s 12 public universities from offering admission to undocumented immigrants starting at the beginning of the 2027-28 school year.



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