metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Metro

Gainesville activists condemn Florida’s 15-week abortion ban bill

By Lucille Lannigan | Mar. 28, 2022

This bill bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy and has raised alarm among people with reproductive capabilities. The ban would allow for exceptions involving “serious risk” to the pregnant person and fetal abnormality with no exceptions for rape or incest. Now, the closest place for Floridians to access abortion after 15 weeks is North Carolina.

Metro

Community members gather to discuss new community farm for Porters Quarters residents

By Erina Anwar | Mar. 23, 2022

About 15 people gathered at the Porters Community Center Sunday to discuss creating a community farm on the lot on Fifth Avenue. Williams, a 67-year-old community activist, explained why affordable healthy food options are necessary.

Becky Fields, a teacher at Talbot Elementary School, and Fields' two children hold a "We Say Gay" sign to protest Florida's Don't Say Gay bill at Heartwood Soundstage on Saturday, March 19. The bill has passed the state legislature and is on the governor's desk.

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Gainesville activists rally against Don’t Say Gay bill

By Emma Behrmann | Mar. 21, 2022

The Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, the Unspoken Treasure Society and PFLAG Gainesville hosted the We Say GAYnesville Rally Saturday at the Heartwood Soundstage in downtown Gainesville. Over 20 organizations participated in the rally, PCCNCF President Tamára Perry-Lunardo said.

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Two UF students victims of hit-and-runs last week

By Troy Myers | Mar. 21, 2022

Mackenzie Mullen and an unidentified student — two UF students — were involved in hit-and-runs last week. Mullen had serious injuries, and the other student was killed.

Model Asteria Kennedy shows off her hair to the judges at the Ultimate Braiding Battle at the Hilton hotel on Southwest 34th Street on Saturday, March 19. Kennedy's stylist Rashawnda Thomas won the $1,000 prize.

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Braiders battle for $1,000 cash prize in inaugural styling competition

By Thandie Brown | Mar. 21, 2022

Gainesville hair stylists hosted the first Ultimate Braiders Battle Saturday with a $1,000 cash prize. About 50 people watched the competitors braid and perused the tables of hair care products lining the walls.

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UF student killed in hit-and-run on Southwest 34th Street

By Troy Myers | Mar. 18, 2022

A UF student was hit and killed by a truck at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday while walking on the sidewalk along Southwest 34th Street. The driver, 19-year-old James O’Reilly, fled the scene after hitting the student on the 3600 block of Southwest 34th Street.

Metro

Alachua County School Board votes Shane Andrew as interim superintendent

By Emma Behrmann | Mar. 18, 2022

Alachua County School Board named Shane Andrew as interim superintendent two weeks after firing former superintendent Carlee Simon. The members voted 3-2 Tuesday, with Mildred Russell and Gunnar Paulson in dissent. Chairman Robert Hyatt asked for agreement in the board’s nomination at the March 2 meeting, but the vote was split again.

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UF student hospitalized after hit-and-run on West University Avenue

By Troy Myers | Mar. 17, 2022

A female UF student was hit on her scooter near University Park Arboretum Thursday evening. A car heading east on West University Avenue turned left onto Northwest 23rd Street and hit the unidentified student just after 6 p.m. in the opposite lane.

The Target location closest to UF located at 250 NW 13th Street is seen on March 15, 2022. The company announced recently that the underperforming location will close.

Metro

Target store beneath The Standard at Gainesville to close in June

By Carissa Allen | Mar. 16, 2022

The Target, beneath The Standard at Gainesville, at 250 NW 13th St. is closing its doors June 11 due to years of underperforming sales.

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Defendant in hit-and-run fatality lawsuit changes his plea

By Troy Myers | Mar. 16, 2022

The deaths of multiple UF students, including Paxton, sparked a campus-wide response with the inceptions of Florida Not One More and Gators Against Pedestrian Deaths.

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Split Alachua County school board votes out Superintendent Carlee Simon

By Emma Behrmann | Mar. 4, 2022

A divided Alachua County School Board fired Superintendent Carlee Simon Tuesday. The board voted 3-2, with Leanetta McNealy and Tina Certain dissenting. Chairman Robert Hyatt, who was part of the majority, named Deputy Superintendent Donna Jones acting superintendent until the board can nominate an interim superintendent at the next board meeting Mar. 15.

Gainesville High School students protest outside their school's campus, waving their flags for oncoming traffic in opposition to Florida's ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which would effectively ban discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in elementary schools and stigmatize it in upper grade levels.

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High school students protest ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill with walkout

By Emma Behrmann | Mar. 4, 2022

Honks, cheers and rainbow-decorated signs accompanied 30 Gainesville High School students as they walked down Northwest 13th Street Thursday afternoon. Hundreds more stood in protest on the baseball fields. GHS students joined Buchholz and Eastside High and students across the state in a walkout to protest the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which passed its final state senate committee Monday and awaits a final vote and signature from the governor. Officially known as the Parental Rights in Education Bill, the legislation would bar state educators from discussing LGBTQ+ topics that are not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

Metro

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

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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.

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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.

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

By Eileen Calub and Carissa Allen | 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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.