Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF Levin College of Law Graduate and Southern Legal Counsel attorney Simone Chriss addresses the media’s questions outside of the Burns Building in Tallahassee Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

METRO

Gainesville youth, medical professionals wary of gender-affirming care ban for minors

By Claire Grunewald | Feb. 20, 2023

The Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine voted Feb. 10 to finalize the ban on prohibiting doctors in Florida from providing gender-affirming care to trans minors. Gender-affirming care, which helps treat people who suffer from gender dysphoria, can include sexual reassignment surgeries, the use of puberty blockers or hormone replacement therapy.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student arrested for felony battery of passerby outside White Buffalo

By Aidan Bush | Feb. 18, 2023

A UF student was put into the Gainesville Police Department’s custody Thursday evening on suspicion of punching a passerby until unconscious.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission fails to lift lot restrictions for single family zoning

By Siena Duncan | Feb. 17, 2023

The Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 against easing zoning restrictions for single family homes Thursday afternoon.

METRO

Black Gainesville leaders urge students to not forget Black history

By Jake Lynch | Feb. 15, 2023

A panel of some of Gainesville’s most prominent Black advocates took on conversations and questions as a part of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program Monday evening.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission clarifies position on meat processing facility, passes clean water resolution

By Siena Duncan | Feb. 15, 2023

Alachua County commissioners clarified at a Tuesday meeting that the commission is looking into building a local meat processing facility, but they haven’t solidified anything yet.

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward (center) delivers the State of the City address at the Cade Museum while accompanied by the rest of the City Commission members onstage Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville holds annual State of the City Address

By Claire Grunewald | Feb. 14, 2023

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward delivered his first-ever 2023 State of the City Address Tuesday, detailing the progress of different city projects and initiatives alongside the newest slate of city commissioners.

Police escorted about 100 supporters of the transgender community out of the Department of Transportation Auditorium in Tallahassee, some leaving without the rights they had only hours prior.

METRO

Florida finalizes ban on care for transgender youth

By Jack Lemnus | Feb. 13, 2023

The tension erupted after the Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine voted Friday to preserve rules prohibiting doctors in Florida from providing gender-affirming care to trans minors. This includes sexual reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers or hormone replacement therapy.

Members of the Richard E. Parker Alumni Band of Eastside High School perform across Bo Diddley Plaza Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

METRO

Gainesville’s Eastside Alumni, R&B group rock downtown Gainesville

By Aidan Bush | Feb. 13, 2023

The Richard E. Parker Eastside Alumni Band excited the crowd in a brief, but passionate performance as part of the city’s concert Friday. The alumni band, as well as R&B group 24/7, played from 6:30-9 p.m. in part of a series of events the city is holding this year for Black History Month.

METRO | BREAKING NEWS

Gainesville resident killed in motorcycle accident

By Aidan Bush | Feb. 13, 2023

A Gainesville resident died in a motorcycle accident early Monday morning.

METRO | POLITICS

Republicans file for Florida House of Representatives District 22 seat

By Claire Grunewald | Feb. 13, 2023

The Florida House of Representatives District 22 seat is likely to remain red as two Gainesville Republicans announced their candidacies and aren’t yet facing Democratic opposition.

METRO

Gainesville’s bee city status promises pollinator benefits

By Aubrey Bocalan | Feb. 13, 2023

The Gainesville City Commission voted to become a bee city in 2022 and was officially granted the designation Jan. 25 by the Xerces Society, a group committed to insect conservation.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville to provide $7.2 million for affordable housing grants

By Siena Duncan | Feb. 13, 2023

The city of Gainesville announced Feb. 7 it will put $7.2 million toward grants for apartment complexes willing to build housing for families at or below 65% of the city’s average median income level — amounting to $26,609, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested in connection with double homicide shooting

By Claire Grunewald | Feb. 11, 2023

A Gainesville man was arrested Friday for his alleged role in a Feb. 2 shooting that left two people dead and one critically injured.

Elementary schools are desperate to fill teacher positions across both the state and county.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

‘Survival mode’: Worsening post-COVID-19 quarantine student behavior contributes to classroom issues

By Peyton Harris | Feb. 10, 2023

The issue is widespread across the U.S. — teachers are noticing worsened, aggressive behavior following virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested for downloading more than 100 child pornography photos

By Aidan Bush | Feb. 10, 2023

A Gainesville man was taken into custody Wednesday on charges of child pornography possession, court records show.

METRO

Alachua County Public Schools adult English second-language classes continue to grow

By Valentina Sandoval | Feb. 10, 2023

Alachua County Public Schools’ adult ESOL classes participation decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the classes have managed to grow back to pre-pandemic levels.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission approves plan to spend $151 million on parks, land conservation

By Siena Duncan | Feb. 8, 2023

The Alachua County Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a spending plan worth millions for funding conservation and parks across the county.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

California woman sentenced after traveling to Gainesville with over 60 pounds of weed

By Aidan Bush | Feb. 7, 2023

Mandy Lee Carlson, 31, was found guilty and sentenced Jan. 27 after she tried to fly across state lines with 60 pounds of the marijuana in her luggage.

Karen Kearney speaks at the Teacher of the Year Ceremony after winning Teacher of the Year for Alachua County.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Buchholz High School’s Karen Kearney wins ACPS Teacher of the Year

By Peyton Harris | Feb. 6, 2023

On Jan. 26, Karen Kearney won the Alachua County Teacher of the Year award among 39 nominees from every school in the county.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City attempts to address East Gainesville needs with $14 million plan

By Jake Lynch | Feb. 6, 2023

The GCRA informed the Gainesville City Commission Jan. 19 of updates to the plan. It has already spent $13 million on city projects such as developing the innovation district zone near UF campus and intends to put the largest chunk of funds into the Eastside Food/Mobility Hub, which is set to finish in 2024.