Metro

From railroad depot to park: Depot Park celebrates 10-year milestone

By Addison Gload | 9:03pm

A decade ago, a 32-acre swath of land at the heart of Gainesville was an unusable wasteland. Now, it’s a lush park celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Alachua County Public Schools issued nonrenewals and reassignments to teachers amid a nationwide teacher shortage.

ACPS teacher reassignments create confusion ahead of preplanning week

By Grace Larson | Aug. 1

Alachua County residents speak with vendors at a disability awareness expo in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

Alachua County provides community outreach with Disability Awareness Expo

By Teia Williams | July 31

Alachua County School Board Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton listens to a speaker at 620 E University Ave. in Gainesville, Fla., Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Alachua County School Board votes to move forward on Citizens Field proposal, considers alternate sites

By Grace Larson | July 31

Extreme heat warnings and heat advisories continue to be issued for many Florida counties throughout the summer.

Gainesville animal shelters work to keep dogs cool as heat advisories soar across Alachua

By Emily Medina-Finsen | July 31

Cars drive down Southwest 13th Street with some merging onto Archer Road, Sunday, July 26, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

New Archer Road and Southwest 13th Street intersection project disrupts Gainesville traffic

By Savannah Higgins | July 29

More Metro

Kamilah Marion looks to the sky as she listens to the sermon for Dominick Anthony Occhicone to demonstrate against his execution and the death penalty in front of the Florida State Prison in Raiford Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Metro

Florida executes two men hours apart in the state's first double execution since the 1960s

By Julianna Bendeck | July 28

Florida carried out a rare double execution Tuesday, putting two men to death — just under six hours apart — for the first time in 62 years as the state continued its historic pace of executions under Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The state of Florida has passed a bill making the use of AI-generated content to create child pornography a felony.

Metro

A new Florida law makes the creation of AI-generated sexual material of children a second-degree felony

By Teia Williams | July 27

The creation or transmission of child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence went from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony in Florida at the start of July.

Average teacher salaries have increased in Florida, but the state continues to rank second to last in the nation for educator pay.

Metro

Average teacher salaries increased throughout Florida, but the state still struggles to meet the national average

By Grace Larson | July 27

Though average teacher salaries are on the rise in Florida, the state still ranks 50th in the nation.

A new policy was proposed and voted on by the Florida State Board of Education to prohibit undocumented students from attending any of Florida's 28 public colleges.

Metro

Florida State Board of Education bans undocumented students from state colleges, GED programs

By Logan McBride | July 27

Under a new Florida ruling, undocumented students will lose access to 28 state colleges.

Gainesville City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker speaks at a community meeting in East Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Metro

East Gainesville residents gather for community event

By Olivia Lofaso | July 23

More than 50 Gainesville residents and local leaders gathered Wednesday to discuss the future of East Gainesville.

Board member Leslie Hayes-Morrison speaks during a Newberry Charter School board meeting, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at The Little Red Schoolhouse in Newberry, Fla.

Metro

Newberry Community School Board says goodbye to Chuck Clemons, accepts Title I plan

By Grace Larson | July 21

The Newberry Community School Board wished Chuck Clemons, a former board member, farewell at a meeting Monday. They also confirmed Title I plans ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

The door opens at the Outreach Thrift store on 927 NW 13th St. at 9:30 a.m. every day, except on Sundays at noon.

Metro

‘It’s just lost’: Outreach Thrift moves forward after April fire

By Addison Gload | July 20

On April 28, a fire severely damaged the multi-story blue-and-red building on Northwest Sixth Street that housed Outreach Thrift for 12 years, prompting a temporary relocation to 927 NW 13th St.

Metro

Gainesville City Commission postpones decision on local anti-ICE petition amid federal funding risks

By Olivia Lofaso | July 17

The Gainesville City Commission discussed a resolution responding to the Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative’s anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement proposal on Thursday, but commissioners postponed the decision after 17 people spoke during public comment.

Harvey Ward Jr., incumbent mayor and City of Gainesville mayoral candidate, speaks at the candidate forum for the Alachua County Democratic Party on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Metro

Gainesville mayoral and commission candidates address GRU, housing, East Gainesville

By Logan McBride | July 16

The Alachua County Democratic Party held its fourth and final candidate forum Wednesday ahead of the Aug. 18 primary elections.

The Alachua County Animal Services building is located along NE 53rd Avenue in Gainesville, Fla.

Metro

Alachua County concludes Animal Resources investigation, finds several claims unsubstantiated

By Olivia Lofaso | July 16

The whistleblower investigation into the Alachua County Animal Resources shelter concluded earlier this month. The 31-page report dated July 1 found several of the initial allegations against the shelter were unsubstantiated.

University Club removed a registered sex offender DJ from its roster July 13, 2026. Multiple drag performers allege management knew about his background for months.

Metro

‘Gainesville's worst-kept secret’: Concerns rise over former sex offender DJ at University Club

By Julianna Bendeck | July 16

University Club said it acted immediately after learning concerns about a DJ who is a registered sex offender, but some drag performers said management had known of his background for months.

Protestors demonstrate against the death penalty and the execution of Dennis Sochor, in front of the Florida State Prison in Raiford Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Metro

After four decades on death row, Florida executes Dennis Sochor

By Julianna Bendeck | July 15

The state of Florida executed 74-year-old Dennis Sochor at 6:16 p.m. on Tuesday.

Metro

Alachua County Commission considers funding Gainesville Thrives, purchases land

By Grace Larson | July 15

The Alachua County Commission voted at a Tuesday meeting to look into financially supporting Gainesville Thrives, a literacy nonprofit. It also voted to purchase land near Watermelon Pond and Lake Alto Preserve.

Gainesville local, Bach Ngo, will be competing in the U.S. Junior Chess Championship. 18-year old Ngo is an international master of chess and will be competing against nine other junior players.

Metro

Gainesville teen sets sights on U.S. Junior Chess Championships

By Grace Larson | July 14

Beginning Sunday and lasting until July 24, 10 junior chess players will face off in the U.S. Junior Chess Championship. This year, Gainesville’s got a stake in the competition.