Metro: Alachua County - The Independent Florida Alligator

Metro

Alachua County pedestrian, bicyclist crash deaths on the rise

By Samia Lagmis | Feb. 13, 2020

Florida was named the most dangerous state for pedestrians in 2019

Metro

Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell running for reelection

By Allessandra Inzinna | Feb. 12, 2020

She will be running for the fifth time

After explaining to Bee College 2018 attendees how to split beehives, Rob Horsburgh, 43, demonstrates the steps Friday, Oct. 14, 2018. The event was hosted by the UF IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab and offered a variety of classes on beekeeping.

Metro

Beekeeping clinic to be offered to Alachua County residents

By Katelynn Joyner | Feb. 10, 2020

This will be the second clinic in year-long series of four.

D. Ayoka Sowa-La and her husband, Nii Sowa-La, perform a drum libation, a spiritual ritual involving the pouring of drink as an offering to deities, during the Alachua County lynching memorial service at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church Friday evening.

Metro

Alachua County honors lynching victims nearly 100 years later

By Irfan Kovankaya | Feb. 9, 2020

More than 200 people gathered for the ceremony

This map shows the Alachua County public elementary schools graded A (green) and D (red) in 2019. Westside schools earn a bonus from the state for earning two consecutive A’s. Eastside schools, which face unique academic challenges that contribute to their low scores, do not.

Metro

Ranking schools doesn’t close achievement gap in Alachua County, experts say

By Hannah Phillips | Jan. 23, 2020

East Gainesville schools rank lower and face closure by the state

The dual degree program was created because NCF doesn’t offer an engineering option.

Metro

Alachua County graduation rates increase

By Stephany Matat | Jan. 15, 2020

Newberry High School had a 100 percent graduation rate for the 2018-2019 school year

FILE - In this March 22, 2019 file photo, Heather Randazzo, a grow employee at Compassionate Care Foundation's medical marijuana dispensary, trims leaves off marijuana plants in the company's grow house in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. New Jersey legislative leaders unveiled a proposed ballot question Monday, Nov. 18, that would ask voters whether the state should legalize recreational marijuana. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Metro

'The Green Rush:' Floridians discuss cannabis’ impacts

By Ana Escalante | Nov. 19, 2019

Leaders from around Florida met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the state’s budding industry: cannabis.

Metro

GPD: Man rapes woman after chatting on social media

By Dana Cassidy | Nov. 19, 2019

A man was arrested after police say he raped a woman he met on Snapchat and other applications.

Metro

Man accused of shooting girlfriend five times after argument

By Dana Cassidy | Nov. 19, 2019

It started with a cheating confrontation and ended in a driveby shooting.

Metro

ACORN Medical Clinic to close its doors by the end of the year

By Priya Dames | Nov. 17, 2019

After 45 years of providing medical care to lower income and uninsured residents, an Alachua County clinic stopping medical services.

Svetlana Scalise, 6, places a flower on the grave of a veteran Monday in Evergreen Cemetery. Her father said she had the day off and wanted to spend it giving flowers to veterans.

Metro

Veterans and supporters join together for a day of remembrance at Evergreen Cemetery

By Eli Rosen | Nov. 12, 2019

Veterans and loved ones joined together in silence among the graves to honor the veterans in their own community.

FILE- In this March 27, 2019, file photo, vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine sit in a cooler at the Rockland County Health Department in Pomona, N.Y. Research released on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, shows yet another reason to vaccinate children against measles. After a bout of measles, youngsters are more vulnerable to other germs _ from chickenpox to strep _ that they once could fend off. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Metro

Shortage of FluMist poses potential risks for vulnerable residents

By Jordyn Kalman | Nov. 7, 2019

As health experts predict a severe flu season in the U.S., Alachua County faces a shortage in a popular nasal flu vaccine, which could put elementary schoolers at risk.

Metro

ACSO warns of possible scam by High Springs company

By Alex DeLuca | Nov. 5, 2019

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is investigating claims that a local fence and tree service has scammed customers out of money or contracted work.

Metro

Two Buchholz High sophomores arrested after deputies say they threatened to kill students

By Dana Cassidy | Nov. 4, 2019

Two Buchholz High School sophomores were arrested after deputies say they sent death threats and images of guns to other students.

Protestors march through downtown High Springs Friday to oppose a permit that would allow Nestlé Waters North America to use 1.152 million gallons of water from Ginnie Springs per day for bottled water. Activists spoke about the environmental importance of the springs and sang songs, then marched around the downtown block.

Metro

Activists Rally for ‘Say No to Nestle Water Grab’ Protest in High Springs

By Jordyn Kalman | Nov. 3, 2019

Protesters young and old pumped large signs reading “SOS: Save our Springs” and “Water For life, not Profit” into the air as they marched in a single-file line on the sidewalk.

Metro

Alachua Conservation Trust receives $300,000 grant

By Alex DeLuca | Nov. 3, 2019

Alachua Conservation Trust plans to devote its most recent grant to the protection of one of the nation’s most endangered ecosystems: the Longleaf pine population.