Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

Four Gainesville residents are 'Sweet 16' Cade Museum finalists

By Preslie Martin | Mar. 22, 2015

Four Gainesville entrepreneurs are finalists in a state-wide competition.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Future unclear for UF Walk Safe program

By Zee Krstic | Mar. 19, 2015

The future isn’t certain for Walk Safe, the safety service that began in response to a string of on-campus assaults last semester.

METRO

City tables sleeping-in-public draft

By Emily Cardinali | Mar. 19, 2015

Gainesville city commissioners postponed a decision on Thursday to move forward with a proposed ordinance that would prohibit camping or sleeping in public areas.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville gunman of Wednesday shooting identified

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 19, 2015

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has identified the gunman who reportedly shot a local man Wednesday morning as Timothy Williams, 27.

METRO

Gainesville to host first congenital heart walk

By Lindsey Spatola | Mar. 19, 2015

Isabella Camacho founded Gators for the Children’s Heart Foundation last year to bring the Congenital Heart Walk to Gainesville.

METRO

5K to raise money for Equal Access Clinic Network

By Erica Brown | Mar. 19, 2015

The UF Equal Access Clinic Network is encouraging community members to participate in its annual fundraising run this weekend to help keep one of the clinics afloat.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police: man fatally shot attempting to break into motel room

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 18, 2015

Deputies are investigating a fatal shooting Wednesday of a Gainesville man who was looking for his ex-girlfriend.

Pictured is the historic Bethel Station building on 104 SE First Ave., which housed the Lunchbox restaurant until December.

METRO

Steamers owner to reopen restaurant in former downtown Lunchbox location

By Carla Vianna | Mar. 18, 2015

Artie Guy can’t say why he originally bought Steamers in 2000.

Harvey Budd and his wife Ilene Silverman react to the city commission election results at the Supervisor of Elections office on Tuesday. Budd, who received 33.31 percent of the vote, will run off for the at-large seat against Jay Curtis, who received 32.31 percent of the vote.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission election low turnout results in two runoffs

Mar. 17, 2015

While turnout was low for Tuesday night’s Gainesville City Commission elections, voters have another chance to cast their ballots during two run-off elections next month.

A white Tacoma pickup truck shows damage after it hit a man crossing University Ave in front of Mother's Pub.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pedestrian severely injured in car crash on University Avenue

By Alex Harris | Mar. 17, 2015

A Gainesville man is in critical condition after he was hit by a car early Tuesday. The accident closed down part of University Avenue for several hours.

METRO

Project crowdfunds to store homeless people's identifying documents online

By Ansley Pentz | Mar. 17, 2015

St. Francis House resident Scott LeValley has two things that show who he is: a social security card and a driver’s license.

John Denny, 45,  the founder of First Magnitude Brewing Company, chats with Randy Coleman, 50, as he and Wells The Losen, 43, guide a 30-barrel fermentation tank into the future brewing room at 1220 SE Veitch St. Thirty barrels of beer is about 930 gallons. The owners said they plan to be open for business by late July.

METRO

Humane Society to hold benefit at First Magnitude brewery

By Taylor Casala | Mar. 17, 2015

First Magnitude Brewing Company is teaming up with the Alachua County Humane Society to help homeless pets of Gainesville.

David Farrell, 48, displays a steak to a Ward's Supermarket customer on Tuesday.

METRO

Ward’s celebrates customers with appreciation week

By Lilianna Busto | Mar. 17, 2015

Ward’s Supermarket is taking time to appreciate its customers this week.

Lady Rider from the Blue Ridge Rollergirls and LeBrawn Maimes from the Gainesville Roller Rebels, both jammers, race across the rink. Identified by stars on their helmets, jammers are the only players who can score points for the team.

METRO

The Rebels roll into their new season

By Jennifer Jenkins | Mar. 17, 2015

The Gainesville Roller Rebels are preparing to crush the North River Roller Renegades in the first match of the roller derby season this weekend.

Michael Andreu, a UF associate professor of forest resources and conservation, shows a Westwood Middle School student how to identify a tree based on its leaf. Andreu was with the Kids in the Woods program, which was funded by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.

METRO

Westwood sixth graders embrace hands-on, outdoor curriculum

By Sophia Karnegis | Mar. 17, 2015

Local sixth graders returned to the woods last week to sow the seeds of their middle-school curriculum.

METRO | POLITICS

Obama right to call out Iran deal critics

Mar. 17, 2015

The Mexican standoff between Iran, the U.S. and Israel over the nuclear talks due to end this month have already caused a bunch of ruckus in their respective countries. The talks had wide-reaching effects, including Tuesday’s elections in Israel and the legacies of our sitting president and the legislators who’ve made it their life’s work to oppose him. The deal comes at a time when the Middle East is once again the center of world chaos and general upheaval.

METRO

Powdered alcohol legalized but may be banned in Florida

By Justin Ross | Mar. 16, 2015

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved last week four types of Palcohol, a powder intended to be mixed into liquid to make an alcoholic beverage.

Joan Canton, vice chair of Southwest Advocacy Group, cuts the ribbon in front of the new Southwest Health Clinic at 816 SW 64th Terrace. The clinic, which will offer health care services to Linton Oaks and surrounding neighborhoods, opens Tuesday.

METRO

New clinic brings health care to southwest Gainesville

By Carla Vianna | Mar. 16, 2015

Anthanette Manns can say goodbye to the three bus trips she used to take to see a doctor. As of today, all Linton Oaks residents — and those in surrounding neighborhoods — will have a clinic within walking distance.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GNV woman charged with DUI, hit and run

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 16, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a local woman Sunday evening with a blood alcohol more than three times the legal limit after she reportedly hit two cars.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Local man stabbed following fight about pack of cigarettes

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 16, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a local man Sunday afternoon after he reportedly stabbed another man over a fight about cigarettes.