Metro | Alachua County

Donation boxes pop up throughout the county when December rolls around, and events such as on-site toy drives begin lining calendars. Here are a few organizations operating toy drives in Alachua this year.

A Christmas miracle: Highlighting 4 Alachua County toy drives this holiday season

By Teia Williams | 5:32pm

Here are a few organizations operating toy drives in Alachua County this year.

Certain Alachua County residents will see improved internet service by 2030 thanks to a combination of federal, local and private funding toward broadband expansion.

Alachua County residents to receive internet upgrades after over $35 million of funding

By Noah Lantor | Nov. 16

Participants in Molecular Mania work on their projects at The Oaks Mall in Gainesville, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

Gainesville families explore hands-on science at Molecular Mania

By Alabama Weninegar | Oct. 27

A sign near City Hall lists rules for the surrounding area, including a prohibition on skateboarding and roller skating, on Oct. 16, 2025.

The long road to legalize skating in Gainesville

By Teia Williams | Oct. 22

Gainesville, Fla. reaches out to São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, and welcomes its twelfth sister city.

Gainesville signs newest partnership with Brazilian city

By Bruna Arnaes Baptista Moreira | Oct. 17

The Alachua County Library System offers workshops for families to learn English through storybooks and crafts.

Alachua County library builds community, language skills with English for Families program

By Ava DiCecca | Oct. 3

More Metro | Alachua County

Blaise Ingoglia, Florida's chief financial officer, speaks at a press conference in Alachua, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

State claims Alachua County mounted almost $85 million in wasteful spending

By Maria Avlonitis | Sep. 25

Alachua County wasted almost $85 million in taxpayer money after a state Department of Government Efficiency audit, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said in a press conference Thursday.

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 | ALACHUA COUNTY

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.

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 | ALACHUA COUNTY

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.

A City of Gainesville Public Works employee removes a green brick from the rainbow crosswalk on Northeast First Street to make room for new gray bricks on Monday, August 25, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Gainesville’s rainbow crosswalks are gone. For some, pride still perseveres.

By Teia Williams | Aug. 29

The city of Gainesville removed three rainbow-colored crosswalks, originally meant to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, to comply with new Florida Department of Transportation mandates. Towns across the state are painting over their rainbow crosswalks, too, as the state cracks down on street art that serves no traffic purpose.

Michael Tomaino plays frisbee with kids to spread kindness in Gainesville on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Former teacher uses Frisbee hangouts to inspire Gainesville youth

By Jeffrey Serber | Nov. 2

Through his Frisbee hangouts four times a week at One Love Cafe, a former Gainesville teacher is looking to maintain his impact on local youth, showing them the power of recognizing their own superpowers.

Colleen Tobin and Eddie at the Read with a Dog program at Alachua County Millhopper Branch Library on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Therapy dogs support young readers in Alachua County libraries

By Curan Ahern | Oct. 21

Sierra Joy padded softly across the carpet of the children’s area of the Millhopper Branch Library, her three legs barely slowing her down.

Kids reenact a battle scene from “Star Wars” during Fandomonium at Headquarters Library on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua Library District superpowers literacy and art with ‘Fandomonium’ event

By Logan McBride | Oct. 1

The six-hour Fandomonium event, held at the largest branch of the Alachua County Library District, featured artists, cosplayers and sword fights. Attendees, many of whom traveled from across the state, had the opportunity to participate in several different activities throughout the library, including read-alouds, art exhibitions and duels.

A group of customers take a photo with Frozen Frog Shaved Ice’s mascot during Waldo’s Third Annual Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Waldo, Fla.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Third Annual Waldo Homecoming rallies community in spite of rain

By Teia Williams | Sep. 29

Growing up, Julie Stokes remembers crossing Kennard Street to enter a wonderland of live music, food and endless booths and vendors.

David David, director of “La Frontera,” answers audience questions during the 21st Gainesville Latino Film Festival, presented by the Latina Women’s League, at the Harn Museum of Art on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

21st annual Latino Film Festival opens in Gainesville

By María José Cordero Castillo | Sep. 15

Salsa, merengue and bachata rhythms filled the Harn Museum of Art on Sept. 11 as guests gathered for the opening night of Gainesville’s 21st Latin Film Festival.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County Climate Action Plan to come in November

By Grace Larson | Sep. 10

Alachua County proposed a new Climate Action Plan to combat climate change. The goal: reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Alachua County by 80% by 2050.

Holding mallets in one hand and balancing with the other, members of the Gainesville Bike Polo Allstars practice their skills in a head-to-head match Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

What happens when bikes and polo mix? The Gainesville All Stars have the answer.

By Catalina Frias | Aug. 30

The Gainesville All-Stars, a bike polo team, welcome all to their two-wheeled group. Bike polo is similar to the traditional field sport of polo, but players ride bikes instead of horses as they use mallets to push balls into the opposing team’s goal. Gainesville jumped on the hype in 2009, and about 10 members now gather weekly at a Gainesville park to play until the lamp posts go out.

RTS service changes prompt new students to seek alternative transportation.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Crash course on Gainesville’s public transportation

By Logan McBride | Aug. 15

Between free bus routes, a network of bike paths and ride-hailing apps for when it’s pouring Florida rain, understanding local transportation helps UF students spend less time figuring out the system and more time living in it.

Planned Parenthood serves the Gainesville community on Northwest 13th Street on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Sexual health resources on campus, across Gainesville are available for all

By Alanna Robbert | Aug. 14

In Florida, where laws and lingering stigma can make conversations about sex feel like contraband, college comes with enough surprises — finding sexual health care shouldn’t be one of them. Here’s where to go, what to know and who’s got your back at UF and in Gainesville.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Gainesville City Manager Cynthia Curry resigns

By Logan McBride | Aug. 8

In a letter sent to the Gainesville City Commission Friday afternoon, Gainesville City Manager Cynthia Curry announced her resignation. Curry wrote she believed it was an appropriate time for the city to move forward.