Metro

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | July 25

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip from Kik, an online messaging app, on “child exploitation” May 29 related to a user under the name “jamestk91.” The tip included 18 pornographic videos depicting both pre-pubescent and pubescent minors shared in private chats from April 19 to April 22, according to the arrest report. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church pastor arrested on accusation of rape

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 24

The Gainesville Police Department arrested a pastor Sunday on suspicion of raping his 15-year-old niece, who was booked into UF Health Shands Hospital for examination a day after the incident. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

‘I wouldn’t wish it on no other parent:’ thousands of teens tried as adults under Florida Statute

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 22

From fiscal years 2018 to 2022, 3,996 minors like Mikhail Lawson have been transferred to the adult judicial system. During the same period in the 8th Judicial Circuit, 132 minors have been taken to criminal court, with approximately 63% being Black, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Matheson Museum hosts ‘Voice and Votes: Democracy in America’ Smithsonian exhibit

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 22

In a partnership with the Matheson Museum, Alachua County Supervisor of Elections and League of Women Voters of Alachua County, the Smithsonian has made its way to Gainesville.

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METRO

One Community Family Resource Center holds launch event for new building

By Sara-James Ranta | July 22

The resource center was formed after surveys conducted within the community presented needs across five different social disparities — social economics, social assistance, transportation, housing and education. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

North Carolina peeping tom arrested after ‘peeking’ at a minor in a Gainesville women’s restroom

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | July 20

Gainesville police arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of voyeurism involving a minor after sneaking into a women’s restroom to meet a woman for sex.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville community discusses affordable housing options

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 20

The commission voted 4-3 in favor of smaller mandatory minimum lot sizes through its first reading, with Mayor Harvey Ward, Commissioner Casey Willits, Commissioner Reina Saco and Commissioner Bryan Eastman in the affirmative. If passed through a second reading, single family homes could be built on 1/12 of an acre with aims to increase housing density. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

‘No lesser of two evils’: Socialist presidential candidate campaigns in Gainesville

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 18

Over 70 community members packed into the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center Wednesday upon the arrival of Claudia de la Cruz, the Party of Socialism and Liberation’s 2024 presidential nominee. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

RTS Advisory Board discusses UF funding cuts, green energy federal grant

By Sara-James Ranta | July 18

The Gainesville Regional Transit System Advisory Board held a meeting Wednesday to discuss UF’s proposed funding cuts, a new federal grant for green energy and persistent app outages.  

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Teacher union members speak out against low wages

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 17

Alachua County Education Association representatives addressed the Alachua County School Board Tuesday concerning a lack of negotiations on faculty contracts. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Three men arrested on suspicion of targeting minorities in robberies, home invasions

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 15

Jeremiah Gibson, a 21-year-old Jasper resident, was arrested alongside 23-year-old Lake City resident Calvin Souter and 24-year-old Live Oak resident Demoundre Evans for committing crimes across Alachua and Suwannee Counties, including multiple burglaries, two attempted home invasions and a home invasion, according to the arrest report.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Future of Gainesville RTS system still uncertain following $24.6 million federal grant

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 15

Following community controversy over RTS funding cuts, the system’s most recent monetary contributions did not come from the university but instead came in the form of a $24.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration as a part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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METRO  |  BUSINESS

State funding cuts could bring the Hippodrome’s 51 years in Gainesville to an end

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 15

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed all state arts and culture grants without warning July 12. Over $1 million was requested from Alachua County organizations alone, and though some applications were initially approved, all funds were later denied. The Hippodrome is one of 600 Florida organizations reeling from the cuts to funding they historically relied on.

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Special Olympics bowling competition draws nearly 150 local athletes

By Sara-James Ranta | July 15

Nearly 150 Special Olympics athletes from Alachua and Bradford Counties gathered at Alley Gatorz to participate in the Area 3 Central Bowling Competition. During the free event, 17 coaches and 45 volunteers aided the athletes. 

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METRO  |  BREAKING NEWS

Potential shots fired at Pennsylvania Trump rally

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 13

Former President Donald Trump’s Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, ended minutes into his speech with potential shots fired and an injury to his ear. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville registered sex offender arrested on suspicion of sending sexually explicit material to a minor

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 10

The Gainesville Police Department arrested a 22-year-old registered sex offender Tuesday on suspicion of sending sexually explicit material to a minor in violation of her probation.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City of Gainesville awarded $24.6 million federal grant toward energy efficient RTS

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 10

The City of Gainesville Department of Transportation was awarded a $24.6 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration through the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to achieve zero emissions by 2025. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission reconsiders hosting World Masters

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 10

In its meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission discussed the budget for the World Masters Track and Field Championship, which the county won a bid to host in 2025. 

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Florida bill limits citizen-led school book objections to once per month

By Sara-James Ranta | July 8

Following state education reforms allowing the removal of elementary through high school level books containing themes including race, sexuality and gender among others, new legislation aims to limit the number of citizen book objections to school district library materials. Local politicians, teachers and parents expressed differing opinions concerning the state of Alachua County book challenges. 

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METRO

Unveiling Gainesville’s tolerance in the face of the AIDS pandemic

By Ben Nielsen | July 1

When 20-year-old UF anthropology major Fiona Garber and a group of her peers were tasked with a research project as a part of UF’s ​​Alexander Grass Scholars Program, she chose to delve into the impact of the condition and the effect of the AIDS pandemic on a local scale.