Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man accused of being part of August home robbery

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Feb. 19, 2019

He has a $300,000 bond

UCF President Dale Whittaker sent a letter offering to resign on Tuesday to the chairman of the UCF Board of Trustees.

METRO

UCF president offers to resign after money mishap

By Kelly Hayes | Feb. 19, 2019

University of Central Florida President Dale Whittaker offered his resignation to the chairman of the UCF Board of Trustees after criticism over misuse of funding.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Two men accused of stealing from stolen car

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Feb. 19, 2019

They have a bond of $15,000 and $5,000

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student accused of rape on campus

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Feb. 18, 2019

He has a $275,000 bond

The bridge over 13th Street, nicknamed the DNA bridge, is empty early Thursday morning.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Redevelopment agency will discuss projects coming to Gainesville

By Karina Elwood | Feb. 17, 2019

After overhauling how it affects change in Gainesville, the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency will meet to talk about what it will do in the community.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

He couldn’t rob a pizzeria, so he robbed a school instead, police say

By Tien Le | Feb. 17, 2019

His bond is $170,000

Northeast 31st Avenue Park, at 1700 NE 31st Ave., will be relocated away from high-voltage lines and be renamed to Unity Park. It will have a new playground and activity spaces for the community. The area on the right is Northeast 31st Avenue Park and the area on the left will be Unity Park.

METRO

Gainesville park to get new name and lose high-voltage lines

By Taylor Girtman | Feb. 17, 2019

High-voltage transmission lines loom over children playing on rusted metal swings and a merry-go-round at a park in northeast Gainesville.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Santa Fe College student accused of drunkenly driving into pole

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Feb. 17, 2019

He caused about $500 in damages

Joseph Clayton Sperring's 2017 mugshot. His most recent mugshot was unavailable.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Former ACSO deputy accused of kidnapping woman for six hours

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Feb. 17, 2019

He was given a $155,000 bond

METRO

Suck it up: City Commission discusses banning plastic straws

By Karina Elwood | Feb. 14, 2019

The City Commission already banned bags and styrofoam containers

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man stole master key to break into hotel rooms, police say

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Feb. 14, 2019

Marcus Alexander Cromartie wasn’t a normal hotel guest. He was accused of stealing a master key and robbing a hotel room Wednesday.

The Alachua Conservation Trust signed a contract to buy Orange Lake Overlook, a 71-acre patch of land off U.S. 441 near McIntosh, Florida, for $1.35 million. The trust has until July 5 to raise the funds.

METRO

Alachua Conservation Trust to buy third property in March

By Tien Le | Feb. 14, 2019

The Orange Lake Overlook will cost $1.35 million

Offset, left, and Cardi B arrive at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

METRO | POLITICS

Stop putting celebrities on pedestals. They aren’t going to save us.

Feb. 14, 2019

In the age of social media, we’re pretty accustomed to celebrities chiming in with their opinions on a range of topics. Recently, rapper Cardi B posted a series of videos condemning President Donald Trump for the government shutdown. She shamed him for leaving thousands of government employees without pay for over a month and defended previous administrations’ government shutdowns as being over more worthy causes than a border wall. The videos went viral, and people on both sides of the political spectrum commented on them. Not everyone loved it but, of course, her fans praised her for using her social platform to push an agenda.