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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Through social media, Gainesville residents organized more than three protests during the summer. At the protests’ peak about 70 Cubans, second generation immigrants, students and residents attended. Now, seven months later, where do Cuba and its displaced people stand?
With her hand on the Bible her mother gave her 49 years ago, Cynthia Chestnut repeated the oath of office during her City Commissioner swearing-in ceremony. On Thursday morning, Chestnut was sworn in as At-Large Seat B City Commissioner outside Gainesville City Hall after winning the special runoff election Jan. 25. The position will be a four-year term with elections every two years starting this year, according to a City of Gainesville press release.
Adopters can pay $14 during February and answer some basic questions about themselves and their lifestyle to be matched with their perfect companion, the county announced online.
At about 11:30 a.m., Gainesville Police Department school resource officers called for nine additional GPD officers to the school, including the University Police Department’s bomb dogs, Gainesville Police Department spokesperson Graham Glover said.
Kathy Stewart’s children, now teenagers, were always on the go. They needed a website that would be able to keep up with their active lifestyles. In response, Stewart founded Fun4GatorKids, a website that lists events for Gainesville families. The 12-year-old website was the first of its kind to provide an up-to-date calendar directory on events for Gainesville families.
The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ companion bills, HB1557/SB1834, are circulating through the Florida legislature. The pair of bills would limit discussions about LGBTQ+ and transgender identities “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
Before Ward and Bielarski announced last week, the only two candidates running for the position were Arreola, who announced his race in December 2021, and Shepherd, who filed his paperwork in June 2021.
Sistah’s Synergy decided to get together small Black businesses that wanted to flourish, but it didn't know where to start, Chaquala said. The owners started small events like the pop-up to promote their businesses.
After The Humane Society of Alachua County was robbed and employees were threatened, Gainesville gave an outpour of support to the nonprofit organization. Residents donated, gifted chocolates and cookies, and praised employees at The Humane Society in Gainesville after they were threatened with gun violence on the morning of Jan. 25 then robbed the next morning after a break-in.
The start of hit-and-run awareness month brings concerning news: fatalities from hit-and-runs have risen in Florida since 2018. In 2021, there was about a 17% increase of total hit-and-run crashes, about an 18% increase of fatalities and a 20% increase of all serious injuries compared to 2020, the Feb. 1 FLHSMV press release said.
Chronic late buses frustrate Alachua County Public School parents as the fifth month of school continues to be marked by delays of up to 90 minutes. Skylah Banks, 36, a Gainesville resident, waited to leave for her 2 p.m. shift until her two third-graders came home from Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary at 3500 NE 15th St.
Free parking is coming back to downtown Gainesville until June 1. The Gainesville City Commission voted 5-1 on Thursday to suspend the paid parking structure in the center of downtown Gainesville. Mayor Lauren Poe was the only dissenting vote.
Solutions by The State News
