Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

County Commission, ACSO disagree over marijuana laws

By GRAHAM HALL | Aug. 5, 2015

Alachua County commissioners and county attorney Michele Lieberman are in the process of investigating whether the county can legally begin issuing civil citations for marijuana possession — a move similar to Miami-Dade County, which voted June 30 to allow police to issue $100 civil citations or give the option of community service for the possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana.

Kendra Phillip (left), 22-year-old UF health education graduate, and Athena Wong, 19-year-old UF accounting sophomore, sign a giant card for Roselle Derequito at Blaze Wednesday. Derequito's sorority, alpha Kappa Delta Phi, held a fundraiser to raise money for her medical expenses.

METRO

GoFundMe for ill UF alumna raises more than $16,000

By Patricia Potestades | Aug. 5, 2015

Roselle Derequito started feeling sick a few weeks ago. She had a fever and a mild headache — nothing too out of the ordinary.

METRO

GoFundMe for local man raises more than $16,000

By Ansley Pentz | Aug. 3, 2015

When her friend was shot about two weeks ago, Clara Edwards decided to make a GoFundMe page to help cover his medical expenses.

Daniel Roth, 6, snuggles his newly adopted boxer, Barney Collier, during a group photo of the “Paws on Parole” graduates. The dogs were named after characters in the movie Mission Impossible as the theme for their graduating class was "Mission Pawsible." Roth was able to take Barney home after the ceremony.

METRO

Paws on Parole brings dogs, inmates together

By Ansley Pentz | July 29, 2015

Tania Rivera has been out of jail for less than a week, and she decided to go back.

METRO

Survey: Floridians want to learn about endangered animals

By Ansley Pentz | July 29, 2015

Katy Taggart went to Kenya last summer on a wildlife ecology trip and decided to create a UF club.

METRO

UF entrepreneur serves curry in honor of Greenberg

By Ansley Pentz | July 27, 2015

Parker Van Hart didn’t go to his friend and Grooveshark founder Josh Greenberg’s memorial service.

Sam Tarantino (left), co-founder of Grooveshark, a Gainesville-based music streaming service, speaks to family and friends of fellow co-founder Josh Greenberg, who was found dead on July 19.

METRO

Grooveshark co-founder leaves behind a legacy

By Melissa Gomez | July 27, 2015

From now on, April 17 will be known as Josh Greenberg Day in Gainesville.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, poses for a photo at a rally, Sunday, July 26, 2015, in Kenner, Louisiana.

METRO

Bernie Sanders’ grassroots movement reaches Gainesville

By Ramon Peña | July 27, 2015

Gainesville is “feeling the Bern” as Gainesville Wants Bernie, a local group, is hosting a meet-up Wednesday at High Dive bar per request of Democratic Party nominee Bernie Sanders.

Lily Woodard, who goes by the derby name Slang Blade, chases a group of runners during the Bull Run 5K.

METRO

Gainesville has own Running of the Bulls

By Nina Cusmano | July 27, 2015

Allie Munch’s New Year’s resolution was to run a 5K race every month for the entire year.

METRO

Co-founder of Grooveshark found dead in home

By Melissa Mihm | July 20, 2015

The co-founder of Grooveshark Music was found dead Sunday evening.

METRO

A Tinder for shopping? There's an app for that

By Melissa Gomez | July 20, 2015

If you’ve ever wondered if there would be an application like Tinder but for shopping, look no further.

METRO

Newberry branch library expands

By Sedona Huffty | July 15, 2015

As of Saturday, the Newberry branch library now offers a Snuggle Up Center, Teen Space and several other additions.

[FILE PHOTO] John Nordman, right, hands 8-year-old Micah Reed a chocolate milk at the Reichert House on Tuesday. Nine newly hired police officers served 128 students lunch.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

New police officers give back, serve lunch to at-risk youth

By Patricia Potestades | July 15, 2015

For children at the Reichert House, discipline and routine are what their teachers aim to instill in them daily.

METRO

UF students bring home titles at national business conference

By Jenny Eason | July 15, 2015

Two UF students won national titles at the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Chicago.

Captain Brian Helmerson of the Gainesville Police Department moves Thursday evening to separate protesters on the site of a monument on the corner of West University Avenue and North Main Street dedicated to fallen Confederate soldiers. One group called for the removal of the monument while the other called for the monument to stay.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Confederate Controversy

By Laura Gomez | July 13, 2015

Based on the Confederate statue on the corner of Main Street and East University Avenue on Thursday, a crowd of protesters held signs that read, “End white supremacy” and “Tear it down.”

METRO

Survey: Public schools should require Spanish

By Dana Hatchett | July 13, 2015

The results of a survey conducted at UF showed that 67 percent of Floridians support requiring Spanish education in K-12 schools.

METRO

Amazon giving away birthday deals

By Ashley Martin | July 8, 2015

In lieu of getting cake and ice cream on its 20th birthday, Amazon has decided to pass the gifts on to its members.

METRO

City program encourages respect, sportsmanship

By Mireillee Lamourt | July 6, 2015

Screeches of laughter and excitement from the crowd mixed with the screeches of neon-colored tennis shoes as they slid across the court at the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center.

METRO

Downtown Confederate statue causes a stir

By Dana Hatchett | July 6, 2015

A whirlwind of controversy is making its way across the nation regarding the flying of the Confederate flag on state grounds following the slaying of nine black people by a white supremacist in a Charleston, South Carolina church.

District Senator Rob Bradley, center, celebrates the legalization of 64-ounce growlers at First Magnitude Brewing Co. on Wednesday.

METRO

Gainesville breweries celebrate legal 64-ounce growlers

By Patricia Potestades | July 1, 2015

Gainesville breweries were more crowded than usual Wednesday, as craft beer lovers celebrated the lift of Florida’s ban on 64-ounce growlers, the most popular size of to-go containers for craft beer.