Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

More than 800 marches for Saturday have been organized worldwide. This graphic shows the locations of the U.S. marches.

METRO

Five things to know before the Gainesville “March for Our Lives”

By Elliott Nasby | Mar. 24, 2018

1. Why are people marching?

Keenan Wayne Stickle, 25, was arrested Wednesday for sexual battery, according to a Gainesville Police Department arrest report. He was booked into the Alachua County Jail, where he remained as of Friday afternoon in lieu of a $50,000 bond, according to court records.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF bookstore worker accused of raping girlfriend, GPD says

By Robert Lewis | Mar. 23, 2018

A Gainesville man is accused of raping his girlfriend last year on her birthday.

METRO

Here's what to know about the Gainesville March For Our Lives this weekend

By Robert Lewis | Mar. 22, 2018

On Saturday, Gainesville residents will join a worldwide movement for gun reform.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Former county manager charged with simple battery

By Robert Lewis | Mar. 22, 2018

A former Alachua county manager was charged with simple battery after authorities said he tried to kiss a work acquaintance.

Alachua artist Sarah Whitmire, 37, participates in the beautification of a municipal parking lot located at 105 SW 3rd Street by painting a mural whose working title is: You are the Magic.

METRO

Local artists bring life and color to downtown parking garage

By Jessica Giles | Mar. 22, 2018

Sarah Whitmire poured herself a steaming cup of tea to warm her orange-and-blue-stained hands.

A girl stares out the window of an Alachua County school bus on West University Avenue.

METRO

Alachua County Public Schools opt to not arm school employees

By Amanda Rosa | Mar. 21, 2018

The Alachua County School Board unanimously voted to opt out of the Florida program to arm volunteer school employees, including some teachers, Tuesday night.

Gail Johnson, 40, celebrates winning City Commission at-large seat 1 after getting off the phone with her opponent, Harvey Budd, who conceded inside First Magnitude Brewing Company.

METRO | POLITICS

District 1 goes to runoff, Johnson wins At-Large seat

Mar. 20, 2018

Gail Johnson walked into First Magnitude Brewing Company with her arms raised to silence the crowd of about 60 supporters who were still watching voter results pour in.

Authorities are looking for Laurie Balthazar, who is described as being 5’3 and weighing 130 pounds. She went missing after she was last seen near the 5000 block of Northwest 27th Avenue, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. She’s described as a black female with black hair and brown eyes.

METRO

Authorities searching for missing 16-year-old Gainesville girl

By Melissa Gomez | Mar. 20, 2018

Authorities are looking for a missing 16-year-old girl who was last seen March 7 in Gainesville.

METRO

GRU monitors polling locations for power outages as Gainesville falls under tornado watch

By Amanda Rosa | Mar. 20, 2018

While the city remains under a tornado watch, Gainesville Regional Utilities is monitoring polling locations for city commission elections. Strong winds are likely to cause power outages.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Here’s what each candidate raised and spent for the city commission race

By Jessica Giles | Mar. 19, 2018

Heavy rain didn’t stop candidates for City Commission from last-minute campaigning efforts to secure votes before Tuesday’s election.

Students rush to class as torrential rainfall and thunderstorms cast gray clouds over Gainesville.

METRO

Severe storms cause power outages in west Gainesville

By Amanda Rosa | Mar. 19, 2018

7:25 p.m. Monday Update:

The owners of Visionary CrossFit, Carrie Martinez and Jesus Martinez, painted a Tom Petty tribute mural as a gift to Sidney Lanier Center.

METRO

Gainesville will pick one of these six options to honor Tom Petty

By Remi Storch | Mar. 18, 2018

The City of Gainesville is asking the public how to honor rock legend Tom Petty.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: UF student accessed child porn from UF printing lab

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 18, 2018

A UF student was charged Friday with possessing child pornography, which investigators said he accessed once from a UF printing lab IP address, Gainesville Police said.

Police vehicles surround the Windsor Terrace apartments on Southwest 20th Avenue following a shooting at the apartment complex Sunday afternoon.

METRO

GPD: Suspected shooter at Windsor Terrace apartments arrested near Southwest 20th Avenue

By Robert Lewis | Mar. 18, 2018

Following a four-hour standoff with police officers, a Gainesville man was arrested for allegedly shooting at a man he knew Sunday afternoon.

The Winn-Dixie at 2002 SW 34th St. is one of 94 underperforming stores under the parent company Southeastern Grocers that will be closed as the company prepares to file for bankruptcy at the end of March.

METRO

This Winn-Dixie is closing in Gainesville

By Christi-Anne Weatherly | Mar. 18, 2018

Parker Kaleo goes to Winn-Dixie every other week to pick up milk because the 2002 SW 34th St. location is conveniently close to where he lives at the Ridge Apartments.

METRO | POLITICS

Who will win the upcoming city elections? Here’s what former Alachua County politicians think

By Amanda Rosa | Mar. 18, 2018

An online panel of Alachua County and Gainesville politicians and political experts predicted City Commissioners Charles Goston and Harvey Budd will be re-elected in Tuesday’s municipal election.

Southwest 20th Avenue is closed as police negotiate with shooter inside Windsor Terrace apartments.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Southwest 20th Avenue closed as police negotiate with shooter inside Windsor Terrace apartment

By Meryl Kornfield | Mar. 18, 2018

Updates:

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

RTS drivers are asking Gainesville city officials for change

By McKenna Beery | Mar. 16, 2018

Gainesville Regional Transit System bus drivers showed up unexpectedly to the Gainesville City Commission meeting Thursday to speak about their concerns with insufficient wages, being overworked and not being respected.

Edgar Hathaway, shift manager at Leonardo’s Pizza by the Slice, puts tomatoes on a pizza in 2010.

METRO

Here’s what will replace Leonardo’s

By Amanda Rosa | Mar. 15, 2018

Clay Martin has been coming to Leo’s once a month since his first semester in college, Fall 2015, for his “sweet and sour” Greek slice. Topped with feta cheese, banana peppers and olives, the Greek has been Martin’s favorite slice since the beginning.

Five students, including one middle schooler, Skyped with Congressman Ted Yoho, who was in his Washington D.C. office Wednesday during the nationwide Walkout Wednesday protest.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

‘How long before I die?’

By Jessica Giles | Mar. 15, 2018

Whenever Catherine Sarosi heard a fire alarm at school, she’d grab her things, roll her eyes and trek to her assigned location while her classmates groaned at the inconvenience.