Metro

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METRO

Gainesville nonprofit connects international students and Gainesville residents for the holidays

By Eluney Gonzalez | Nov. 20, 2023

As the holiday season approaches, most students flock from Gainesville to visit friends and family for Thanksgiving and Christmas, among other winter holidays, leaving many UF international students feeling estranged from the festivities. Alone and unable to return to their families abroad, this time of year can be isolating as cities shut down for the holidays.

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METRO

COVID-19 led to ongoing speech delays, attention struggles in elementary schools

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 20, 2023

Laura Holmes has witnessed firsthand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, both as a Gainesville mother of three and as a pediatric occupational therapist at Fundamental Therapy Solutions.

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METRO  |  BUSINESS

A Costco desert: Gainesville residents pine for Kirkland Signature

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 20, 2023

Costco Wholesale, beloved big-box warehouse chain and world’s largest organic food retailer, has 31 Florida locations. But Gainesville residents must drive two hours north to Jacksonville or two hours south to Orlando if they want to stock up on industrial-sized bags of coffee beans, browse free samples or feast on $1.50 hot dogs from the food court. 

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METRO  |  BUSINESS

High Springs restaurant owner faces another lawsuit

By Bea Lunardini | Nov. 20, 2023

Another lawsuit was filed against a High Springs restaurant owner, who’s being sued for defaulting on mortgages of the Pink Flamingo Diner and Great Outdoors restaurants, Nov. 7. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville resident drowned after fleeing from a traffic stop

By Jordan Ramos | Nov. 19, 2023

A person drowned after fleeing a traffic stop for a stolen scooter Thursday. They died at UF Health Shands Hospital early that morning, according to a Gainesville Police Department press release. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Gainesville community organizes third pro-Palestine protest in a month

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 17, 2023

Despite consistent rain, community members gathered on the corner of University Avenue and Northwest 13th Street to protest for Palestine on Thursday evening. Over 100 community members attended the event organized by the Gainesville Solidarity Network, Students for Justice in Palestine, Party for Socialism and Liberation and Jewish Voice for Peace. 

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

School board hears public comment on rezoning plan

By Alissa Gary | Nov. 15, 2023

In a continuation of its comprehensive rezoning plan, the Alachua County School Board heard community concerns and postponed the next hearing of the plan to January during a nearly two-hour meeting Tuesday night.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville finance director Sue Wang resigns

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 14, 2023

The City of Gainesville announced its director of financial services has submitted her resignation and will be leaving office Dec. 1. Sue Wang was hired in June 2022 as controller for general government, six months after an audit raised concern about the city’s financial accountability.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested after sharing child pornography over Kik and Discord

By Jordan Ramos | Nov. 14, 2023

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cybertip from Kik Sept. 10 because the man's account was reported for sharing child exploitation material, according to the arrest report. 

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METRO  |  POLITICS

Fact-checking DeSantis’ recent claims

By Jordan Ramos | Nov. 13, 2023

During his presidential run, Gov. Ron DeSantis has made many claims during stump speeches and debates. He has covered topics like his state’s financial stability, academic freedom and gender ideology. 

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METRO

Changing climate, changing gardens

By Claire Grunewald | Nov. 13, 2023

Community gardens, like the Grace Grows Garden, are green spaces in neighborhoods and towns for residents to grow their own plants and vegetables. These gardens can reduce urban heat islands, provide ecosystem services, increase stormwater retention and support food security, according to the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

A Gainesville police trainee put on administrative leave after receiving child abuse allegations

By Jordan Ramos | Nov. 8, 2023

Larry Prunty III was charged with cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm, according to court records. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County School Board elects Diyonne McGraw as new chair

By Alissa Gary | Nov. 8, 2023

The Alachua County School Board unanimously elected District 2’s Diyonne McGraw as its newest chair Tuesday. Leanetta McNealy, the current vice-chair from District 4, will retain her position through a unanimous vote after turning down a nomination for chair.

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Tax Collector’s office introduces translation device for clearer communication

By Nicole Beltran | Nov. 6, 2023

Pocketalk was installed into Alachua County’s three tax collector locations in September. The two-way translation device, resembling a cell phone, requires the user to speak into the device, which then translates speech verbally.

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METRO

Homeless vendors sell newspapers to Gainesville drivers

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 6, 2023

Every day, COSAC shelter residents are driven to one of several major Florida cities — including Tallahassee, Orlando and Tampa. From 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the vendors stand at major intersections offering newspapers to drivers in exchange for donations. Gainesville was the most recent addition to Homeless Voice’s roster. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Newest Alachua County sheriff speaks out on staffing shortages

By Sophia Bailly | Nov. 6, 2023

New Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey has spent his first month combatting staff shortages and advocating for increased funding from the state and county. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville police officer arrested after breaking into his girlfriend’s home and strangling her

By Jordan Ramos | Nov. 5, 2023

A Gainesville Police Department officer was arrested Oct. 28 after allegedly breaking into his girlfriend's home and strangling her following a night out the day before.

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METRO

Gainesville mayor presents Key to the City to punk rocker Laura Jane Grace

By Zoey Thomas | Oct. 30, 2023

The Fest, one of the world’s largest punk-rock music festivals, kicked off its 2023 festivities in an unexpected location. Festival goers clustered in the Gainesville City Hall courtyard instead of a strobe-lit stage, listening to Mayor Harvey Ward rather than moshing to Gorilla Biscuits.

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METRO

Pumpkins are a Gainesville church’s best friend

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 30, 2023

For several Alachua County churches, including this one, the month of October signals the beginning of one of the most anticipated fundraisers of the year: pumpkin patches. Across the country, Christian churches, particularly of the Methodist denomination, use the fall season as an opportunity to raise money by selling pumpkins

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METRO

Local domestic violence resources struggle with funding cuts, overcrowding

By Valentina Sandoval | Oct. 30, 2023

Federal and local funding issues for domestic violence resources have put centers like Peaceful Paths at risk. At the federal level, Congress slashed $700 million from The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) fund's annual budget for the 2024 fiscal year.