Metro: Alachua County

A phase 1 water shortage has been declared in Alachua County, requiring residents to follow strict irrigation schedules and reduce voluntary water use.

Alachua County navigates water restrictions during severe shortage

By Olivia Lofaso | Mar. 15

Alachua County has also asked residents to report wasteful watering, including leaking irrigation systems, water-intensive activities and overwatering.

The Fire Rescue Station 30 building in Gainesville, Florida, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.

Alachua County Fire partners with Santa Fe College to address paramedic shortage

By Raven Miranda | Mar. 13

A waste collection bin at Alachua/High Springs Rural Collection Center, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.

Gainesville’s Food Waste Ordinance is 4 years old. Why don’t people know about it?

By Lily Hartzema | Mar. 13

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly spoken about statewide property tax increases, potentially impacting Gainesville property taxes and homeowners.

Alachua County officials worry property tax bill will affect public services

By Kaitlyn McCormack | Mar. 7

The Standard apartment complex is pictured along West University Avenue and SW 13th St., Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Gainesville luxury apartment growth still raising concerns as The Standard approaches 10th anniversary

By Lily Hartzema | Mar. 3

Gainesville woman sues local businesses for not complying with ADA website guidelines.

Some Gainesville businesses still fighting after mass ADA compliance lawsuits

By Lily Hartzema | Feb. 28

More Metro: Alachua County

The Children’s Trust of Alachua County office stands along NW 25th Place in Gainesville, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (Alyvia Logan/The Alligator)

Metro

From firefighting to baby-clothes sales, TeensWork program trains Alachua students

By Grace Larson | Feb. 27

The six-week program provides students from seventh to 11th grade the opportunity to intern with local businesses around Gainesville. The goal is to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.

Rosa B. Williams Center located at 524 NW 1st St, Gainesville 32601 pictured on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026.

Metro

Remembering Gainesville civil rights legend Rosa B. Williams

By Kaitlyn McCormack | Feb. 25

Gainesville civil rights activist Rosa B. Williams, known affectionately as “Miss Rosa,” died Feb. 12 at age 92. She was a local pioneer for the Black community, and those who knew her remember her as a catalyst for change who touched countless lives in Gainesville.

Newly retired police dog, Ozzie, plays with a toy in his new backyard, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Melrose, Fla.

Metro

Alachua County K-9 retires after 8 years of service

By Vanessa Norris | Feb. 22

A canine employee of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office celebrated his last shift Feb. 6, trading his drug-detecting talents for downtime with family.

Isabella Owens, a freshman at UF, picks strawberries at the Strawberry Festival at Bryer Patch in Newberry, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.

Metro

Strawberry celebration spreads smiles in Newberry

By Jayden Cáceres | Feb. 22

The Bryer Patch, located on Boyd Farm in Newberry, is known for its produce and flower picking.

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward speaks to a crowd at the Matheson History Museum as he launches his reelection campaign, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Metro

Harvey Ward kicks off reelection campaign at Matheson History Museum

By Bailey Diem | Feb. 21

To Ward, conversing with voters is easy. It’s the state and federal governments he’s found more difficult to work with.

Metro

Gainesville mayor calls for more respectful interactions between city, GRU Authority

By Maria Arruda | Feb. 19

The Gainesville City Commission unanimously approved a Gainesville Regional Utilities authority board resolution granting its CEO and Chief Financial Officer the power to carry out financial negotiations at a Thursday meeting.

Gainesville voters decided to return control of GRU to the City Commission, dissolving the state-appointed GRU Authority.

Metro

GRU authority cautions higher utility rates if city denies new resolution

By Maria Arruda | Feb. 19

The CEO and CFO hold full authority to control its bond issues as long as they get board approval.

Gina Uhl points at a proposed rezoning map draft at a community rezoning meeting held at A.L. Mebane Middle School in Alachua, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.

Metro

As ACPS wraps up community rezoning meetings, tensions remain high

By Grace Larson | Feb. 18

About 50 community members gathered at Westwood Middle School for the district’s final community input meeting Wednesday.

Jancie Vinson speaks at a school rezoning town hall meeting hosted by the Visionaries and NAACP Alachua County branch in Gainesville, Fla., Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.

Metro

East Gainesville community proposes plan to counter ACPS rezoning initiatives

By Grace Larson | Feb. 16

Over 50 members of the East Gainesville community gathered at Day Springs Missionary Baptist Church Monday to discuss Alachua County Public Schools’ rezoning plans.

A one-way street sign stands along SE Second Place, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, Gainesville, Fla.

Metro

Gainesville’s new one-way streets draw mixed reactions from commuters

By Mia Giannicchi | Feb. 16

The goal of the one-way conversion is to reduce conflict points — areas where vehicles cross paths and crashes are more likely, she said. By removing opposing traffic, drivers no longer have to turn across oncoming lanes.

Tiara Murdock holds a sign in support of Duval Early Learning Academy at a community rezoning meeting held at Eastside High School in Gainesville, Fla., Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Duval Early Learning Academy is considered for closure under the proposed rezoning maps.

Metro

Second week of ACPS rezoning meetings brings concerns of closures, transportation

By Grace Larson | Feb. 13

Alachua County Public Schools finished its second week of community input meetings to gather feedback on its rezoning initiatives Thursday.

Metro

Alachua County greenlights Melrose Wildflowers Music Festival after 6 hours of debate

By Kaitlyn McCormack | Feb. 11

Nearly 250 community members attended the meeting

Metro

Gainesville and GRU take their battle over utilities to Tallahassee

By Bailey Diem | Feb. 10

The hearing was the latest in a yearslong battle between the city, the authority and the state.

The Alachua County Administration building presides at 12 SE 1st St., Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

El Caimán

‘Absurd’: Gainesville reacts to ban on non-English driver’s license testing

By Dulce Rodriguez-Escamilla and Angelique Rodriguez | Feb. 8

As of Feb. 6, the driver's license exam and its instructions will be administered exclusively in English, following a new directive from Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.