Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

The south side of Infinity Hall is seen from Southwest Second Avenue on Monday.

METRO

Infinity Hall construction half-finished

By Nicole Gomez | Feb. 2, 2015

Infinity Hall has reached its vertical limit.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Battery on officer this weekend in Gainesville

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Feb. 1, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a local man early Friday after he reportedly shoved an officer outside of Balls Bar.

METRO

Study shows shopping malls are threatened by online retailers

By Ansley Pentz | Feb. 1, 2015

Instead of going to The Oaks Mall to buy a blue and orange sweatshirt, Rony Schutz stayed at home and ordered it from Amazon.

METRO

New chef doubles food sales at Gator City

By Ansley Pentz | Feb. 1, 2015

With black paint, young Adam Cooper painted over a purple Easy Bake Oven and transformed it into his first oven. Fifteen years later, he catered for Rep. Ted Yoho’s re-election party at Gator City’s nightclub, Envy. Today, the 25-year-old has doubled Gator City’s food sales in the seven months he’s worked as a chef there.

ReShonda Billingsley signs a book for a fan in the Alachua County Library Headquarters on Saturday afternoon. Billingsley was at the library as a speaker for The Opinionated Ladies Book Club of Gainesville’s 7th anniversary.

METRO

Best-selling author visits Alachua county library

By Amaury Sablon | Feb. 1, 2015

Avid readers throughout Gainesville had the opportunity to meet a distinguished author Saturday.

METRO

What the Health app shows nearby restaurants’ health inspection scores

By Carla Vianna | Jan. 29, 2015

There’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s cracking down on restaurants via your smartphone.

METRO

Gainesville ranked among best cities in Florida for millennials

By Shannon Dudzinski | Jan. 29, 2015

A recent survey listed Gainesville as one of the top 10 cities for millennial job seekers in Florida.

METRO

RTS to move all operations to a new facility on Monday

By Lilianne Busto | Jan. 29, 2015

Gainesville Regional Transit System’s new facility will move into full operation Monday after opening its doors in November.

METRO

Genetically modified mosquitoes might be released in Florida Keys

By Veronica Garcia | Jan. 29, 2015

There are a lot of misconceptions about the genetically modified mosquitoes that could be released in the Florida Keys. The experiment has been conducted in other countries, such as the Cayman Islands, and experts say it isn’t as dangerous as it seems.

METRO

Sandra’s Lunchbox delivers healthy, homemade lunches

By Marcus Holton | Jan. 29, 2015

A new business is serving up healthy lunches that can be delivered straight to your door.

From left: City Manager Russ Blackburn, Mayor Ed Braddy, and interim General Manager for Utilities Kathy Viehe answer questions from the press after the state of the city address Wednesday afternoon.

METRO

State of the City praises Gainesville progress, says there’s still work to do

By Cyanne Dunn | Jan. 28, 2015

In his State of the City address Wednesday, Mayor Ed Braddy said things are looking up for Gainesville.

METRO | POLITICS

The Access Party could change UF's Student Government, or not

Jan. 28, 2015

So, uh, the Access Party.

Nicole Giaquinto, a 20-year-old UF public relations sophomore, displays a chocolate-covered ice pop at The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops on Monday evening. The Hyppo opened its doors for the first time this weekend.

METRO

UF graduate expands downtown ice pop business with two locations

By James McLaughlin | Jan. 27, 2015

A gourmet ice pop store is expanding across town with the addition of two new pop shops.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police: Man fights with officer, committed under Baker Act

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Jan. 27, 2015

A Gainesville man was admitted to the hospital under the Baker Act on Monday night after he reportedly fought with a police officer.

METRO

Gator Stompin’ 2015 will go on despite debt issues

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Jan. 26, 2015

The Gator Stompin’ tradition will live on in 2015 in order to pay off debt from last year’s event.

A meeting was held in March at Gainesville City Hall by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which provided this photo, to discuss black bears. The bear population is growing across the state.

METRO

Black bears could soon be fair game for Florida hunters

By Stella Heekin | Jan. 26, 2015

The hunt could be back on after two decades of banning black bear hunting in Florida.

METRO

Gainesville-based Lazy Delivery expands to Tallahassee

By Michelle Tapia | Jan. 26, 2015

Business is booming for Lazy Delivery as it expands its services to Tallahassee.

METRO

Uninsured get help signing up for health insurance at Wooly

By Kendall Prior | Jan. 25, 2015

Uninsured members of the community were able to compare medical insurance options and enroll online at The Wooly over the weekend.

Cody Anderson, a member of the Military Support Group of Alachua County, holds a flag during the protest against Clock Restaurant on Saturday morning. “I felt it was important to support Mr. Woods,” Anderson said. “I felt that the way he was treated was not only illegal but immoral.”

METRO

Protest supports veteran, service dog outside the Clock restaurant

By Jenny O'Donnell | Jan. 25, 2015

Protesters rallied in front of Clock Restaurant on Saturday morning in response to the manager’s treatment of a Gulf War veteran and his small dog.

UF materials science associate professor Richard Hennig, 42, watches over an attendee of Stargazing at Paynes Prairie on Saturday. Hennig set his telescope to focus on the Orion Nebula, which a collection of dust and gas lit up by surrounding stars.

METRO

Attendance doubles at Paynes Prairie stargazing event

By Cresonia Hsieh | Jan. 25, 2015

Paynes Prairie is usually only filled with bison, wild horses and white-tailed deer, but Saturday night, clear skies and social media brought in a record-breaking crowd, and its following traffic, to the annual stargazing event.