Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | BUSINESS

A. Quinn Jones Museum hosts Driveway Theater Project’s “Blackademics” play

By Erina Anwar | Mar. 2, 2022

Blackademics is a one-act satire play written by playwright Idris Goodwin in 2012. The play centers around two Black women in academia and serves as a commentary toward colorism, racial stereotypes and socioeconomic backgrounds. It portrays these messages through its bold dialogue and whimsical humor.

Robin Lillie sings “The Greatest Love of All” at the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America's Day of Action on Sunday, Feb. 27

METRO | POLITICS

Moms Demand Action encourages Gainesville to stand against gun violence in Day of Action Event

By Erina Anwar | Mar. 2, 2022

Moms Demand Action is a nonprofit organization founded after the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre in 2012. Its aim is to promote safer gun legislation and encourage responsible gun ownership. The organization has chapters in every state and has advocated for gun safety on a state and national level.

Mayor Lauren Poe delivers his final State of the City Address on at the Cade Museum for Creativity & Innovation on Monday, Feb. 28.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City of Gainesville hosts annual State of the City Address

By Melanie Pena | Mar. 2, 2022

The plan, Imagine GNV, is a collaborative effort between Gainesville neighbors and the city government. The plan lays out actions the city will take to address elements including racial inequity, affordable housing and education — an area that hasn’t been included in previous city plans. The plan is in the works with nine draft chapters published online.

METRO

‘This is our home’: Gainesville multigenerational residents recount the evolution of a segregated Gainesville

By Carissa Allen and Eileen Calub | Feb. 28, 2022

For Paula Sanders, home is a quaint one-story, white and red accented cinder block house. It’s been home for 54 years. In response, multigenerational Gainesville residents must take it upon themselves to preserve their heritage through food, photographs and oral histories. For some Black residents, they experienced the hasty integration of schools and the inequitable transformation of the city.

Jessica Morey, Buchholz High School history teacher, poses for a portrait inside of her classroom on Thursday, Feb. 17. She said she's always been passionate about teaching African history and working with diverse groups of students.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Black history education extends beyond February in Alachua County

By Emma Behrmann | Feb. 28, 2022

Alachua County Public Schools’ curriculum promises Black history education to extend beyond the month of February and the few names repeated in history textbooks. However, not every classroom fulfills this promise.

METRO

Historically Black Community, Porters Quarters, forced to reckon with gentrification

By Gregorio Ruiz-Perez | Feb. 28, 2022

Although Burton admitted this development in Porters was a necessity and good to return to, a lot of recent changes weren’t welcomed by the community. Burton, along with other Porters residents, said it’s important that further development be responsible and consider the wants and needs of residents. She began to understand what was happening to the Porters community: gentrification.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville’s first Black Mayor and City Commissioner since Reconstruction is remembered by family

By Melanie Pena | Feb. 28, 2022

Butler was elected into the city commission in 1969, becoming the first Black man elected to the body since Reconstruction, an era marked by post Civil War opportunities. Later, in 1971, he became the first Black Mayor to hold that office in 100 years. However, he wanted to be remembered for who he was rather than being the first.

METRO

A doula works to “create space” for Black mothers’ voices

By Lucille Lannigan | Feb. 28, 2022

When Julia Rainer had her first daughter, she felt silenced. Her experience pushed Rainer to take action to ensure other mothers didn’t experience what she had. She began researching doulas, professional labor assistants who provide prenatal, birth and postpartum care. Rainer became certified about five years ago. She has assisted 15 births since. This mistreatment of Black women is a small part of a larger healthcare issue, seeping into the foundation of systemic marginalization and discrimination.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Semi truck crashes into bus Friday morning, hospitalizes seven people

By Lily Kino | Feb. 26, 2022

The 2007 Freightliner bus had 39 passengers on board during the collision at 6:30 a.m., according to FHP. One person was in critical condition when they arrived at the hospital, one in serious condition, three in fair condition and two in good condition, said Ken Garcia, Shands Hospital spokesperson.

METRO | POLITICS

Florida’s 15-week abortion ban bill stirs up students, residents, local representatives

By Thandie Brown and Carissa Allen | Feb. 25, 2022

A GOP-backed proposal banning abortion procedures after 15 weeks of pregnancy could change the narrative for women’s reproductive rights in Gainesville. The Florida Legislature is expected to pass the controversial Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction bill, HB5. It passed the House with a 78-39 vote Feb. 17.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

More than 20 people say they were scammed by a man who lived in Gainesville

By Troy Myers | Feb. 25, 2022

For around a month, UF students Jeremiah Gu, Luke Morris and Mitch Valdes’ cash and food was disappearing. The three roommates began to find themselves in what they describe as a roommate nightmare. Once their cash and food started disappearing, the roommates suspected their 26-year-old roommate Kody Moniz was responsible for the thefts from video camera footage. After kicking him out, they discovered Moniz’s criminal record.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

A mother’s car stolen with her toddler still inside

By Troy Myers | Feb. 25, 2022

A Gainesville woman’s car was stolen Thursday morning at around 7 a.m. with her toddler in the back seat. Her car was stolen off of Southwest 35th Place and found about 40 minutes later with her unharmed child still inside.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

ACPS signs the highest salary package in district history

By Emma Behrmann | Feb. 24, 2022

Alachua County Public Schools and the Alachua County Education Association agreed to the largest salary package offered in the district’s history Wednesday. The salary package amounts to $10.5 million, the largest offer that has ever been on the table for employees in Alachua County, ACEA President Carmen Ward said.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Firefighters responded to fire alarms at a Gainesville daycare

By Troy Myers | Feb. 23, 2022

Gainesville Fire Rescue crews arrived at Kid City USA at 1127 NW Seventh Ave., about eight minutes after a fire alarm system notification at 3:45 a.m., according to a GFR press release.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Two arrested after shooting at Gainesville apartment complex

By Troy Myers | Feb. 23, 2022

The pair planned to rob a neighbor’s apartment, according to the arrest report. When the neighbor’s friend confronted him, an argument broke out.

Judge Gloria Walker of the Eighth Judicial Circuit leads the first-ever Alachua County Youth Activities Advisory Council members in an oath at the council's induction at the Thomas Center on Monday, Feb. 21.

METRO

Youth Council swearing-in event seeks to bring new solutions to gang violence

By Erina Anwar | Feb. 23, 2022

The new council was sworn in Monday at the Thomas Center. About 60 parents, city and county commissioners, executives of youth organizations and other community leaders attended.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Education Association offers salary proposal

By Emma Behrmann | Feb. 21, 2022

The ACEA and the ACPS bargaining teams reviewed the proposed salary increases for teachers and education professionals, like librarians, media specialists and school psychologists. The proposal would provide education support to professionals and teachers with an additional $0.55 per hour.

The Alachua County Animal Services building is seen on Friday, Jan. 28.

METRO

Alachua County hopes to improve animal shelter conditions with new facility

By Carissa Allen | Feb. 21, 2022

As of Friday, the shelter holds 148 dogs and 46 cats, Williams said, but not all of these animals are up for adoption. For about a year, the shelter has been coordinating with Animal Arts Design Studios, a consulting firm which specializes in designing spaces for the care and shelter of animals, including vet clinics and shelters. It generated a needs assessment for the new shelter, recommending an increased animal holding capacity of 149 dogs and 61 cats.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UFPD identifies the suspect who recorded a victim in a dorm shower in December

By Lily Kino | Feb. 21, 2022

Deontre Donnell Mason, 24, was arrested and released from a $10,000 bond Dec. 7 after University of Central Florida Police Department officers arrested him, according to a police report.

Co-founders of Flavorful, a Gainesville catering service focused on African cuisine, tell their story during the A. Quinn Jones Museum's Black Literature and Love event on Saturday, Feb. 19.

METRO

A. Quinn Jones Museum celebrates Black love with weekend events

By Erina Anwar | Feb. 21, 2022

The A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center partnered with the UF Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere to host two back-to-back events: one virtual event celebrating music and one in-person event celebrating Black artistry. Both events celebrate Black love in creative outlets and give insight toward the history that made this expression possible.