Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

Music venue to host Tom Petty tribute concert

By Jessica Giles | Oct. 17, 2017

Erica Penley found her first Tom Petty record in a thrift store when she was 16.

METRO

Local church sells pumpkins for national carving contest

By Noelle Kough | Oct. 17, 2017

Michelle Belanger wants to win a pumpkin carving contest and donate the $10,000 prize to build a public, handicapped-accessible playground at Southwest Methodist United Church.

George “Fodder” O’Brien performs a mock exorcism of Richard Spencer to about 25 residents on Monday night at Maude’s Side Car Bar, located at 101 SE Second Place. The exorcism event was hosted by the absurdist mock church the Tabernacle of Hedonism to satirize Spencer’s appearance at UF on Thursday, church host Tom Miller said.

METRO

Tabernacle of Hedonism hosts Richard Spencer exorcism

By David Hoffman | Oct. 17, 2017

With a gray, beaded skull in his left hand, a percussion instrument made of fake goat toes in his right hand and mumbled versus of Tibetan throat singing, George “Fodder” O’Brien brought a mock exorcism of Richard Spencer to a chilling end Monday night.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Two women arrested for stealing at Walmart

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 16, 2017

Two Gainesville women were arrested Sunday afternoon after they attempted to steal 77 items from Walmart, Gainesville Police Department said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Two UF students arrested after destroying roommate's laptop

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 16, 2017

One of two UF students who stole and destroyed their roommate’s laptop in July turned himself in Sunday, Gainesville Police said.

Erica Merrell and her associate from Wild Iris Books, Florida’s first feminist bookstore, laugh with patrons at the Pride Extravaganza event Sunday.

METRO

First Magnitude hosts fundraiser for queer history project

By David Hoffman | Oct. 15, 2017

As Jessica Holmer gazed at Mary Parrish’s portrait Sunday, she said she felt inspired.

Steven Edvalson raises his hands in victory after finishing his pumpkin pie on Sunday at Lucky’s Market. Edvalson ate his pie in fewer than seven minutes during a pie-eating contest at the grocery store.

METRO

Lucky’s hosts pie-eating contest, pumpkin decorating

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 15, 2017

When Cassidy Littrell, 4, won a pie-eating contest Sunday at Lucky’s Market, she said she would spend her winnings on candy.

Marie McGrath, a STRIVE lead peer educator, tells students about the fair’s T-shirts. “We had this idea for the cactus shirt, because a) succulents are so hot right now,” McGrath said. “Also, you can have prickly feelings, but that doesn’t mean you have to hurt your partner.”

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pop-up fair promotes healthy relationships between students

By Emily Nolan | Oct. 15, 2017

Students grabbed free succulent T-shirts with the phrase “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” and swarmed around buckets of colored dye Friday.

METRO | POLITICS

Let’s talk about the white supremacy that's in our own backyard

Oct. 15, 2017

A white supremacist coming to campus later this week has sparked calls for unity, but these only seem to falsely cover up divisions within our own campus communities.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Richard Spencer’s visit is not required by the First Amendment

Oct. 15, 2017

With the election of President Donald Trump, we have seen racism rise to the level of respectability.

METRO

Civic Media Center to celebrate its 24th anniversary

By Josephine Fuller | Oct. 15, 2017

A local activist organization and alternative library will celebrate 24 years of operation Friday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Man arrested for throwing a shopping cart at another man

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 15, 2017

A Gainesville man was arrested Saturday night after he threw CVS baskets and a shopping cart at a man and yelled slurs at him, Gainesville Police said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Woman arrested for driving drunk on 34th Street

By Meryl Kornfield | Oct. 15, 2017

A Gainesville woman was arrested for driving drunk after she turned the wrong way into traffic on Southwest 34th Street and called field sobriety exercises “fun” Saturday night, Gainesville Police said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UPD: UF student bought beer with stolen coworker’s ID, debit card

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 15, 2017

UPDATE: The charges filed against Chandler Thomas Haines were dropped on March 27. No additional charges were filed.

METRO

Yoga studio hosts Harry Potter-themed yoga class

By Iesha Jones | Oct. 15, 2017

At the start of Saturday’s yoga class, the instructor, Maggie Rucker, gave participants a yoga mat — and a wand.

METRO

Ticket distribution days announced for Spencer event

By Meryl Kornfield | Oct. 13, 2017

This article has been updated to reflect the National Policy Institute's statements.

Three-year-old Chloe Momanis, dressed as Tinker Bell, giggles as Gainesville Police Officer Ernest Graham readies a trick-or-treat package of candy, a slap bracelet and a free baggie to give her on Thursday evening at Gainesville Fire Rescue’s 11th annual Screaming for Safety event near its headquarters, located at 1025 NE 13th St.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GFR hosts 11th annual trick-or-treat, safety event for kids

By David Hoffman | Oct. 12, 2017

Dressed as Batman, BB-8 droids and Disney princesses, Halloween came early for dozens of trick-or-treaters.

Porthos, a boxer, looks lovingly at the camera as he sits by the sidelines during 4-Legged Friends Week at Swamp Sports on Thursday. Dogs were the theme for the third week of Swamp Sports Kickball. Read the story on pg. 8.

METRO

Sports league hosts dog kickball

By Jessica Giles | Oct. 12, 2017

Junior didn’t exactly meet the four-legged qualifications, but it didn’t stop him from cheering on his favorite kickball player Thursday night.

METRO

City golf course reopens

By Courtney Mims | Oct. 12, 2017

When Ironwood Golf Course closed May 1, Ron Irby felt like he had been evicted.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

MCSO: Teenager arrested after robbing two women

By Catie Wegman | Oct. 12, 2017

An Ocala teenager was arrested Wednesday for tying up two elderly women with their oxygen tubes and stealing their belongings and car in July, Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.