Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

Sustainable Santa to make an appearance at local fair

By Olivia Ooten | Dec. 1, 2016

In an effort to promote sustainability, Santa Claus will wear a green suit Saturday.

Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, a 62-year-old typically solo pianist, Tampa DJ and Ocala resident, warms up on his keyboard for Willie Green’s band performance in the Phillips Center’s Squitieri Studio Theatre on Wednesday before his performance today. Wirtz said blues was considered “devil music.” “Gospel says no matter how bad things get, with a little bit of hope, things will get better,” he said, while “blues says don’t count on it.”

METRO

From streets to stage: 83-year-old blues singer makes his TV debut

By Catherine Dickson | Nov. 30, 2016

When Willie Green strums his guitar and belts out the blues today, he’ll be going off memory.

METRO

Alachua County to implement fertilizer ban today

By Karla Arboleda | Nov. 30, 2016

Alachua County waters are not meeting standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, so the county is implementing a fertilizer ban to improve them, a county official said.

METRO

With cold weather ahead, Gainesville to activate cold shelter program

By Martin Vassolo | Nov. 30, 2016

With cold temperatures expected today and Friday night, Gainesville will activate its Cold Night Shelter Program.

METRO

Local hopes to publish novel

By Melanie Mueller | Nov. 30, 2016

It took Derek Cummings 30 days to create a dystopian world.

METRO

Officials concerned due to decrease in child flu immunizations

By Paige Fry | Nov. 29, 2016

After a switch from nasal sprays to the old-fashioned needle prick, fewer Alachua County students have received flu immunizations this year, UF Health Shands Hospital announced Tuesday.

Gainesville’s Morningside Nature Center hopes the de-stressing allure of fuzzy barnyard animals attracts more students — and other residents — to its weekly “barnyard buddies” events.

METRO

Nature center hopes finals week draws high event turnout

By Mercedes Leguizamon | Nov. 29, 2016

Stressed about finals? Go pet a cow.

METRO | BUSINESS

LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant coming to Gainesville

By Jessica Rodriguez | Nov. 29, 2016

Gainesville will get its first LongHorn Steakhouse on Monday.

METRO | POLITICS

UF professor picked for Trump transition team

By Melissa Gomez | Nov. 28, 2016

A UF business professor was chosen last week to join one of Donald Trump’s transition teams.

METRO

New app features best-selling local dishes

By Dakota Williams | Nov. 28, 2016

When Emilia Echeveste first moved to Gainesville in Fall 2015, she mostly ate at Subway, Blaze Pizza and the on-campus dining halls.

METRO

Local McDonald’s to offer digital ordering machines

By Kendal Barker | Nov. 28, 2016

Gainesville McDonald’s customers can soon order meals through a digital, self-service kiosk.

METRO

Alachua County announces author speaker series lineup

By Sarah Coleman | Nov. 28, 2016

In an effort to bridge the gap between author and reader, the Alachua County Library District will host a series of author appearances beginning in January.

From left: Ron Larris, a 30-year-old trainer at Nigie Hoops and former Gainesville High School basketball player, cheers “Team!” with 46 kids and some Eastside High School basketball coaches during a free basketball clinic held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center on Monday night.

METRO

City offers free basketball clinic for kids

By Emma Green | Nov. 28, 2016

Professional basketball player Ron Larris returned to Gainesville from Denmark to give back to his community.

METRO

Gainesville charities hoping to take part in Giving Tuesday

By Robyn Wilbar | Nov. 28, 2016

Following the start of the holiday shopping season, Gainesville nonprofits hope they are the recipients in a global day of giving.

METRO

More people turning to digital deals for Cyber Monday in GNV

By Morgan Rynor | Nov. 28, 2016

Following Black Friday, some shoppers in Gainesville turned to their tablets, phones and laptops to find digital deals for holiday shopping.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man tried to put officer in headlock, police say

By Caitlin Ostroff | Nov. 28, 2016

After being pulled over for speeding early Monday morning, a Gainesville man tried to put an officer in a headlock and wound up in jail, Gainesville Police said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Java Hut Coffee employee arrested in connection with bomb threat

By Caitlin Ostroff | Nov. 27, 2016

Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Waldo woman Tuesday in connection to a handwritten bomb threat found in UF’s New Engineering Building last week.

Two people wave Cuban flags as they are driven down Bird Road in Miami on Saturday night. People were either passing by or parking at La Carreta, a Cuban restaurant, to celebrate and cheer on the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

METRO

Emotions high for Cuban faculty, students after Castro’s death

Nov. 27, 2016

Early Saturday morning, Pedro Luis Perez screamed until he lost his voice.

METRO

During post-election Thanksgiving, students, families avoid discourse

By Molly Vossler | Nov. 27, 2016

For UF professor Stephen Craig, Thanksgiving dinner provided more than a whiff of homemade food — it was a breath of fresh air following a divisive election cycle.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: While evading police, man waved newspaper out of window

Nov. 27, 2016

As he led police on a mile-long chase Thursday, a Gainesville man waved a newspaper out of his car window and nearly hit someone with his car, Gainesville Police said.