metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Kat Drawdy, 44, holds up a package of Canna Companion, a hemp-based supplement for pets. Drawdy and her partner, Joy, own the local pet store Earth Pets. The sale of the product touched off a controversy over the legality of hemp in Florida.

Metro

Pet cannabis raises questions about hemp's legality in Florida

By Alex Harris | Apr. 14, 2015

Joy Drawdy has an emergency arrest plan.

Commissioner-elect Charles Goston celebrates his victory over Yvonne Hinson-Rawls in the District 1 commissioner seat election in Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza on University Avenue on Tuesday night. Goston won with 913 votes against Hinson-Rawls’ 844.

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Budd wins At-Large, Goston upsets Hinson-Rawls for District 1 in runoff

By Alligator Staff report | Apr. 14, 2015

Harvey M. Budd and Charles Edward Goston Sr. emerged victorious in the City Commission runoff election Tuesday night.

Metro

ASO investigating after video of armored vehicle traffic stop

By Hunter Williamson | Apr. 13, 2015

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has launched an internal investigation following the release of a video showing officers driving an armored personnel carrier pulling over a Gainesville man.

Metro

Biden reveals details of Obama’s free community college

By Hunter Williamson | Apr. 13, 2015

A new plan from the Obama administration that could cut the costs for community college students is moving closer to fruition.

Metro

Police: 3 arrested on drug charges, connected to meth

By Melissa Mihm | Apr. 13, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested two men and one woman early Monday for reportedly using and cooking crystal meth.

Metro

Tuesday last day to vote in runoffs for City Commission

By Jaclyn Scott | Apr. 12, 2015

Tuesday is the last day to vote in the City of Gainesville runoff election.

Metro

UF student, alumna make prom possible for Gainesville student

By Conor Soper | Apr. 12, 2015

Lashayvia Searcy spent Friday night getting dolled up for her junior prom, a night she almost missed out on.

Metro

Somewhat reluctantly getting ready to get ready for Hillary

Apr. 12, 2015

Are you ready for Hillary?

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Gainesville student, 15, arrested in connection with six false bomb threats

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Apr. 10, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a local student Friday afternoon after he reportedly called six Alachua County schools to make fake bomb threats.

Metro

Florida makes moves to ban sale of Palcohol

By Caitlin Ostroff | Apr. 9, 2015

State legislators are considering a new bill that would ban the sale of powdered alcohol in Florida.

Ashley Whitehead, 25, first year pursuing her DVM (doctor of veterinary medicine) at UF's College of Veterinary Medicine, Alex M. Sanchez,22, Graduated 2014 in Photojournalism from UF, Leah Sanchez,23, Graduated from FSU 2013 in Enviro Studies, Hannah Itzler, 23, Graduate Student, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning at UF, and Bridget Anderson, 22, Senior, public relations with a minor in disability at UF.

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Cyclists prepare 20-Mile scavenger hunt to benefit affordable housing

By Brigitte Stambury | Apr. 9, 2015

Gainesville cyclists will host a bicycle scavenger hunt Sunday afternoon, and all proceeds will go toward affordable housing.

Metro

Body found, may belong to missing Gainesville woman

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Apr. 9, 2015

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office found human remains Thursday, which they believe belong to a local mother who has been missing since February.

Chris Thompson waits to run drills during Friday Night Lights a Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Metro

Florida wide receiver charged with misdemeanor battery

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Apr. 9, 2015

Gainesville Police filed a sworn complaint charging Florida wide receiver Chris Thompson with misdemeanor simple battery after he reportedly scratched and bruised his former girlfriend during an argument.

Metro

Gainesville parks to upgrade medical devices

By Carla Vianna | Apr. 8, 2015

An automated external defibrillator machine during cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death.

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Public Safety Committee talks underage drinking, crime prevention, safety

By Giuseppe Sabella | Apr. 7, 2015

Gainesville’s Public Safety Committee brainstormed solutions to fund a crime-prevention program, reduce underage drinking and improve the safety of Gainesville residents during Tuesday’s meeting.

Metro

Walk to honor survivors of child abuse to stop in Gainesville today

By Nicolette Hoffman | Apr. 7, 2015

Lauren Book will walk up and down the state of Florida in 39 days in honor of the 42 million survivors of child sexual and physical abuse in the U.S.

From left: Ellen Allen, 68, Shirley Roseman, 25, and Krys Davis, 28, hold signs outside of city hall on Monday morning protesting HB 583, which would require that single-sex public bathrooms only be used by persons of the biological sex the facility is intended for. "Everyone deserves to live their lives in a positive, equal way," Allen said.

Metro

Gainesville groups gather to protest state transgender bathroom bill

By Ariana Figueroa | Apr. 6, 2015

On Monday morning, a group of about 15 people called for Gainesville’s mayor and city commissioner to take a stand against a proposed bill that would affect the transgender community.

Metro

Free delivery service for people with disabilities raising funds

By Hunter Williamson | Apr. 6, 2015

A nonprofit is raising money to start its free delivery service for people with disabilities.

Pictured are solar panels outside ECS Solar Energy Systems Inc., the first licensed solar contractor in Florida, in February. The price of solar energy technology has dropped by 50 to 60 percent the past three years, according to Wendell Porter, lecturer and advisor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at UF.

Metro

Renewable energy taking off worldwide, stalling in Gainesville

By Chris Watkins | Apr. 6, 2015

Investment in renewable energy resources is up as costs for renewable energy drop.

Abby Kirksy, 2, picks strawberries for the first time with her mother, Melissa Kirksy, on Brown’s Farm in Hawthorne on Wednesday. Kirsky, from Starke, said it was their first time on the farm.

Metro

Strawberry season given cold shoulder by weather conditions

By Aaron Albright | Apr. 6, 2015

For one Florida farmer, this year’s strawberry season will come a little later than expected.