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Metro

Collard greens, strawberries and onions: Alachua County debuts plant program

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 15, 2021

The Alachua County Commission announced its Plant of the Month Program Sept. 1 in a county newsletter. It aims to bring community members together and encourage county residents to grow their own food for their benefit. Alachua County Commissioner Mary Alford partnered with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Working Food, a local nonprofit, to plan her idea.

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Buchholz High School student arrested for two counts of false bomb threats

By Isabella Douglas | Sep. 13, 2021

A Buchholz High School student was arrested by Alachua County Sheriff deputies Monday in connection with false bomb threats. The student could be charged with a second-degree felony with the potential to pay fines up to $10,000, Behl said.

The Gainesville Fire Rescue and Gainesville Police Department joint honor guard does a presentation of colors at Reserve Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. The three flags represent the city, state and country (from left to right).

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Gainesville stands in unity for 20th anniversary 9/11 commemoration

By Faith Buckley | Sep. 13, 2021

Roughly 50 members of the Gainesville community came together at Reserve Park Sept. 11 and recognized those who were forever impacted by the day of Sept. 11, 2001, and the effects on our country thereafter.

Outside the entrance of F. W. Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida.

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Investigation continues into Buchholz High School bomb threats, campus security questioned

By Renee Hancock | Sep. 13, 2021

Buchholz is the largest public school in Alachua County, with more than 2,200 students. The string of recent false bomb threats at the school has led to work disruption, missed class time and curriculum setbacks for the thousands of students, teachers and parents involved.

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Publicly-owned internet proposal coming to Gainesville City Commission

By Troy Myers | Sep. 13, 2021

Connected Gainesville advocates for accessible and high-speed internet for the community through publicly-owned internet to solve the digital divide — the gap between those with and without reliable technology and internet.

Gainesville City Manager Lee Feldman attends a city commemoration of 9/11 at Reserve Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. There have been four resignations of city officials in the past four months — two of whom cited him as a reason for submitting their resignations after an investigation into his conduct. Feldman's termination will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

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Gainesville may terminate both its city and GRU managers

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 13, 2021

The Gainesville City Commission will decide whether to terminate City Manager Lee Feldman at a meeting Thursday. Mayor Lauren Poe also asked Gainesville Regional Utilities General Manager Ed Bielarski to resign Friday.

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Racial disparities at the forefront of Gainesville City Commission’s 10-year comprehensive plan

By Jiselle Lee | Sep. 13, 2021

Currently in planning, Imagine GNV is a state-mandated plan meant to reinvent the city over the next 10 years. The plan aims to guide the city on how it spends public funds and determine guidelines for residential areas, schools, cultural centers and infrastructure.

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One woman raped, another kidnapped blocks away from UF’s campus

By Isabella Douglas | Sep. 10, 2021

UF Public Safety sent out an email to students Friday after the Gainesville Police Department was notified of an attempted rape, assault, robbery and kidnapping around 12:15 a.m. and a rape and robbery at 3:30 a.m.

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City of Gainesville attorney and clerk resign

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 9, 2021

City attorney Nicolle Shalley and city clerk Omichele Gainey submitted written letters of resignation Wednesday. Shalley’s last day will be Nov. 12, and Gainey’s will be Oct. 8. In an email to the City Commission, Shalley wrote she will become Levy County’s attorney, but Gainey did not explain why she was resigning.

Miranda Carver Martin packs a bag with groceries for the Free Grocery Store at the Civic Media Center on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. "I want to live in a world where people take care of each other," Martin said.

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What is mutual aid? Here’s how one Gainesville group takes part

By Troy Myers | Sep. 8, 2021

After closing in 2020, much of the CMC has been upkept by organizers who let volunteers run the mutual aid programs. Some of the CMC’s programs include the Free Grocery Store, Food Not Bombs and Gainesville Books to Prisoners, who use the courtyard for meetings and outdoor events.

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Alachua County Public Schools parents and students lose structured online learning option

By Bryce Brown | Sep. 7, 2021

After a year of Alachua County Public School students having the choice to learn from home, parents now have one less remote option.

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Terrah-rizing the turntables: Remembering Akeem “DJ Terrah” Thompson

By Faith Buckley | Sep. 7, 2021

Despite being fully vaccinated, Thompson, better known as DJ Terrah from 98.9 JAMZ, passed away Aug. 19 from COVID-19 at age 39.

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New school board member sworn in amid concerns about her appointment

By Jiselle Lee | Sep. 7, 2021

Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Mildred Russell was sworn into the District 2 seat on the Alachua County School Board Aug. 26, replacing former school board member Diyonne McGraw.

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Alachua County Public Schools files lawsuit against Florida Department of Health

By Omar Ateyah | Sep. 7, 2021

The lawsuit challenges a rule aimed to sharply limit schools’ abilities to enforce students wearing masks

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One dead after game night shooting on West University Avenue

By Isabella Douglas | Sep. 5, 2021

Gainesville Police Department responded to multiple shots fired Sept. 5 at 238 West University Avenue near downtown. After arriving to the scene, GPD began treating the victim who collapsed at Northwest First Ave almost immediately after the shooting, according to a department release.

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Gainesville City Commission special election to be held on Nov. 16

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 3, 2021

The election will take place Nov. 16. Early voting will be open from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 at the Supervisor of Elections’ office and Millhopper Branch Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

William Edwards, Elite Towing tow truck driver, puts the scooter involved in the crash on Northwest 16th Street on his trailer on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021.

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Gators football player in stable condition following scooter crash

By Isabella Douglas | Aug. 30, 2021

Yousef Mugharbil suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a scooter crash after not stopping when the truck turned right off of West University Avenue.

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In the spirit of safety, Gainesville’s Pride Community Center cancels its parade and festival for the second time

By Jiselle Lee | Aug. 30, 2021

Two years ago, Gainesville hosted its largest pride parade ever. But since the outbreak of COVID-19, the tradition had to take a pause.

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Gainesville Girl Scouts Troop petitions to change Alachua County Public Schools’ dress code

By Omar Ateyah | Aug. 30, 2021

The troop is working to reform the ACPS dress-code culture, which members deem unjust and discriminatory against girls

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Gainesville residents react to City Commissioner Gail Johnson’s resignation

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 30, 2021

Many East Gainesville residents relied on Johnson to advocate for positive change on the historically underserved east side of the city.