Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Gainesville city commissioners listen to residents express approval or opposition toward the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning Thursday, Aug. 4, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission approves zoning changes despite resident outcry

By Mickenzie Hannon | Aug. 5, 2022

Gainesville will be the first city in Florida to eliminate exclusionary zoning after a 4-3 vote Thursday. Hundreds of residents crammed into City Hall, for the meeting, which the city scheduled to finish at 10 p.m. Going nearly two hours over the allotted time, the vote finally came shortly before midnight.

Gainesville residents attend the Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church to voice concerns about the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

‘The fight will continue’: Gainesville community rallies against citywide zoning changes

By Mickenzie Hannon | Aug. 4, 2022

Gainesville residents attend the Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church Wednesday to voice concerns about the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning.

Thousands of Alachua County residents including students, parents and teachers filled Santa Fe College’s gymnasium Saturday, July 30, 2022.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Rally addresses Gainesville gun violence prior to school year’s start

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Aug. 1, 2022

Thousands of Alachua County residents including students, parents and teachers filled Santa Fe College's gymnasium Saturday for Alachua County's 23rd annual Stop the Violence Back to School Rally.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

College of Education, Alachua face Florida's teaching vacancies

By Jackson Reyes | Aug. 1, 2022

About 9,000 teacher vacancies need to be filled statewide for the upcoming school year, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Midtown Apartment residents said propped doors, like the one pictured above July 27, 2022 contribute to the security breaches seen in the complex recently.

METRO

Midtown Apartments residents fear security breach, management denies allegations

By Mickenzie Hannon | Aug. 1, 2022

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office received 132 calls to the apartment site since May 2019.

Terrell Bradley sits at a police advisory council meeting Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

METRO

Protestors pressure police advisory council for law enforcement accountability

By Omar Ateyah and Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Aug. 1, 2022

Demonstrators at the police advisory council meeting Wednesday demanded law enforcement accountability and justice in the wake of the recent Terrell Bradley and Dovico Miles incidents.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested for child pornography, lewd material

By Omar Ateyah | July 29, 2022

A Gainesville resident used Snapchat to interact with a 13-year-old girl in a sexually explicit way and also obtained a nude picture from her.

Florida’s first presumptive case of monkeypox was identified May 22.

METRO

Alachua County sees first monkeypox case

By Carissa Allen | July 25, 2022

Days before the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency, the Florida Department of Health reported Alachua County’s first confirmed case.

Residents attending a walking teach-in for Terrell Bradley cross Northeast 15th Street Saturday, July 23, 2022.

METRO

Police chief suspends K-9 involved in man’s mauling

By Omar Ateyah and Jackson Reyes | July 25, 2022

Three days after the man who was mauled by a Gainesville Police Department K-9 was released from jail, the new police chief suspended the dog involved in the incident.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Back-to-school rally revolves around youth violence

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | July 25, 2022

The Stop the Violence Back to School Rally will present parents and students with backpacks, school supplies and safety lessons in the Santa Fe College gymnasium Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

La Chua Trailhead overlooking the water as seen January 30, 2022.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Alachua County breaks ground on new trail, man arrested in nature walk sexual harassment incident

By Fernando Figueroa | July 25, 2022

Alachua County Public Works began construction on a new trail along Archer Road July 14, nine days after a man allegedly sexually harassed a woman on the popular nearby Hawthorne Trail.

Anastasiya Naplekova plays the piano for Oak Hammock residents to raise money for Ukrainian musicians, Wednesday, July 20, 2022.

METRO

Ukrainian university students, retirement residents maintain steady support amid Russia invasion

By Jackson Reyes and Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | July 25, 2022

A UF College of Music graduate from Kharkiv, Ukraine, raised more than $1,000 in donations to help Ukrainian musicians by gliding her fingers across Oak Hammock retirement community’s piano in two concerts this past week.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville police make arrests in home invasion killing

By Omar Ateyah | July 23, 2022

Gainesville Police arrested four Gainesville residents, including a man defending his home, in connection to a home invasion that led to the death of a woman this week.

Terrell Bradley’s father Victor Bradley speaks with local activist Danielle Chanzes as they both await Judge Walter Green’s decision outside of the Alachua County Stephen P. Mickle Criminal courtroom Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Judge releases man mauled by K-9

By Omar Ateyah | July 22, 2022

Terrell Bradley was mauled by a Gainesville Police Department K-9 July 10, when police pulled him over for an alleged traffic violation and he then fled. .

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Sheriff’s son faces charge for driving with suspended license

By Omar Ateyah | July 22, 2022

Police served a warrant to 30-year-old Clovis Watson IV early Thursday morning at the Alachua County jail. The court released Watson on the condition he not drive without a valid license.

Corry Village Apartments sit at 278 Corry Village about half a mile from UF Bat Houses on Thursday, July 21, 2021.

METRO | BREAKING NEWS

UF student arrested on sexual assault, kidnapping charges

By Mickenzie Hannon | July 21, 2022

Zhishen Wang, a 27-year-old UF pharmaceutical sciences graduate student, was arrested for assaulting an acquaintance July 8 at Corry Village Apartments — UF’s graduate and family housing behind the campus’ bat houses — according to a UPD arrest report.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Four Gainesville men charged after downtown drive-by shooting Sunday

By Omar Ateyah | July 20, 2022

Four Gainesville men face charges after a drive-by shooting downtown early Sunday.

A sign in front of the Alachua County Public Schools district office building is seen Sunday, June 6, 2021.

METRO

ACPS targets mental health after clear backpack mandate reversal

By Fernando Figueroa | July 18, 2022

This summer, ACPS trained about 2,700 employees in youth mental health, and more employees will complete this training before the school year begins.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City split on residential zoning changes

By Mickenzie Hannon | July 18, 2022

Gainesville may become the first Florida city to eliminate single-family zoning in an effort to offer additional housing near campus and in residential areas.

Protesters gathered in the streets chanting “No Justice, No Peace” for Terrell Bradley Sunday, July 17, 2022.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Residents protest police brutality after K-9 injured Gainesville man

By Omar Ateyah | July 18, 2022

About 200 people gathered at the Santa Fe Blount Center, located at 401 NW 6th St., to demonstrate their anger and demand change after a Gainesville Police Department K-9 allegedly mutilated Bradley’s eye.