Metro | Alachua County - The Independent Florida Alligator

Around 60 protestors gather on the corner of University Avenue and 13th Street in support of Palestine on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Gainesville community organizes third pro-Palestine protest in a month

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 17, 2023

Despite consistent rain, community members gathered on the corner of University Avenue and Northwest 13th Street to protest for Palestine on Thursday evening. Over 100 community members attended the event organized by the Gainesville Solidarity Network, Students for Justice in Palestine, Party for Socialism and Liberation and Jewish Voice for Peace.

The Alachua County Tax Collector stands on University Avenue on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Tax Collector’s office introduces translation device for clearer communication

By Nicole Beltran | Nov. 6, 2023

Pocketalk was installed into Alachua County’s three tax collector locations in September. The two-way translation device, resembling a cell phone, requires the user to speak into the device, which then translates speech verbally.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Newest Alachua County sheriff speaks out on staffing shortages

By Sophia Bailly | Nov. 6, 2023

New Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey has spent his first month combatting staff shortages and advocating for increased funding from the state and county.

Jack Patton, 54, displays a taxidermy deer in his studio located in Steinhatchee, Florida, on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Taxidermist’s artwork resonates with clients throughout the state

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 6, 2023

When he’s not busy driving fire trucks for the Alachua County Fire Rescue, 54-year-old Patton, who goes by “JJ” with his friends, runs Wildlife Transitions Taxidermy, a company that grew from his passion for taxidermy.

Protestors gather at the Florida State Prison in Bradford County in support of abolishing capital punishment on Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Man executed for 1996 murder Tuesday at Florida State Prison

By Ella Thompson | Oct. 4, 2023

Michael Duane Zack III woke up Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m. and met with his first wife, Ann-Kristin. He declined a last meal, met with his spiritual advisor and died by lethal injection by 6:14 p.m. that same day.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County to greet new sheriff Monday

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 2, 2023

Emery Gainey, a Republican veteran of sheriff’s duties across Florida, will ascend into the role of Alachua County Sheriff Monday following his appointment to the position by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Project Continuity with UF Health educating the public about Pap tests and cervical cancer on Sept. 30, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County immigrants fear new SB 1718’s impact on health care

By Valentina Sandoval and Jinelle Vazquez | Oct. 2, 2023

Senate Bill 1718 took effect July 1 and is among the strictest immigration laws in the country. One of the controversial aspects of the law is the provision requiring any hospital that accepts Medicaid to ask about patients’ immigration status. Local advocacy organizations, health care workers and community members worry about the impacts the law could have on immigrant households across Alachua County.

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office on Southeast Hawthorn Road on Monday, May 3, 2021. (Photo by Mingmei Li)

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Emery Gainey as next Alachua County Sheriff

By Alissa Gary | Sep. 8, 2023

Emery Gainey will take over the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office beginning Oct. 2, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press release Thursday.

A large tree is uprooted in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Bank at 4210 NW 37th PIace on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Hurricane Idalia leaves Alachua County mostly unscathed, slams Big Bend region

By Kylie Williams | Sep. 5, 2023

As Florida’s Big Bend communities recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Idalia, the Alachua County community is grateful to not have met the storm's eye. Alachua County suffered minor damages. Several trees and power lines came down across Gainesville, and some roadways were blocked.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County seeks to expand drug rehabilitation efforts

By Ella Thompson | Aug. 28, 2023

In Alachua County, emergency services responded to 1,451 overdose calls in 2022. The previous year there were 1,405 overdose calls with 62 fatal overdoses. In an effort to combat overdoses, Alachua County and the city of Gainesville have implemented multiple services to assist people with addictions seeking help and recovering addicts like the now 51-year-old farmer who requested anonymity.

The Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry is seen at the Reitz Union North Lawn on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Students across Gainesville struggle with food insecurity

By Jinelle Vazquez | Aug. 28, 2023

The food insecurity rate in Alachua County has remained higher than the overall rate in Florida since 2014. A 2021 report from the city based on USDA data identified 11 food deserts — low-income areas where a substantial number of residents have low access to a supermarket or large grocery store — in Gainesville.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County RV parks: Finding friends and financial freedom on the road

By Aidan Bush | Aug. 16, 2023

Alachua County resident Catherine McGuire dreamed of living the ‘van life’ since van lifestyles videos started trending on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NKwanda Jah sits in her office at Wilhelmina Johnson Center on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. Jah runs an afterschool science program from her office.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

NKwanda Jah: a lifetime of community advocacy

By Gabriel Velasquez Neira | June 19, 2023

NKwanda Jah never obtained a degree or had Black female role models throughout the majority of her life. Yet today, she leads the non-profit organization Cultural Arts Coalition, which serves disadvantaged Gainesville residents' needs through summer employment, cultural enrichment programs and after-school programs.

Dawayne Bryan, a construction worker, pulls the modular home into place at High Springs on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua Habitat for Humanity and Santa Fe builds more affordable housing for local residents

By Gabriel Velasquez Neira | June 12, 2023

For the 12th consecutive year, local families have an opportunity to change their future trajectory and access affordable mortgages, largely due to Santa Fe College and Alachua County Habitat for Humanity.

Farmer John Nix feeds bread to one of his escaped cows before taking them back to the pasture Saturday, April 15, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Feeding Florida in a changing climate

By Jack Lemnus | Apr. 17, 2023

Amy Van Scoik is driven by her passion for feeding people, but this mission grows harder each year as the climate becomes more unpredictable. It’s never clear what extreme weather to expect during the next season.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County Commission to allow free, unlimited jail phone calls

By Siena Duncan | Apr. 10, 2023

The Alachua County Commission voted 4-1 April 6 to provide free and unlimited prison phone calls by Oct. 1, an idea proposed by a UF student group. Only Commissioner Chuck Chestnut was in dissent.