1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | BUSINESS

Gainesville mother helps others create family memories

Feb. 11, 2022

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.

Cristie Anderson, 38, a nursing student at Santa Fe College, passes by the Alan J. Robertson Administration building on Friday, June 18, 2021.

COVID 19

COVID-19 cases at Santa Fe College continue to decline

By Lily Kino | Feb. 11, 2022

Santa Fe reported 99 COVID-19 cases from students and employees from Jan. 31 to Monday. Five employees and 94 students tested positive for the virus.

Elena Pollio's handmade bowtie pasta at one of her cooking classes. (Courtesy of Elena Pollio)

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Traveling pasta instructor brings a taste of Italy to Gainesville homes

By Jared Teitel | Feb. 10, 2022

The second-generation Italian-American grew up in the kitchen cooking pasta with her mother for holidays and family gatherings. Through Pasta by Pollio, she has the chance to pass along her family knowledge of Italian cooking for a living.

Florida's Myreon Jones dunks during a Dec. 6 game against Texas Southern. The Penn State transfer led the game with 23 points shooting 9-11 from the field

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida outlasts Georgia to earn fourth straight win

By Jackson Castellano | Feb. 9, 2022

Florida held strong against UGA despite the ‘Dawgs comeback effort in the closing minutes.

UF golfer Maisie Filler on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators open season with tournament win

By Lillian Randolph | Feb. 9, 2022

The Florida women’s golf team participated in their first tournament of the season and brought home the trophy after a tight round 3 competition with Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.

Roddy Ricch performs at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Student Government Productions coordinated the performance to kick off Black History Month.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Thousands attend Black History Month concert featuring Roddy Ricch and Joy Oladokun

By Maia Botek | Feb. 9, 2022

Tickets were originally offered exclusively to UF students and went on sale Jan. 25. Roughly 3,000 people were expected to attend, and all 700 pit tickets sold out on the first day of sales, said Student Government Productions Chairman Jake Siegel. The show’s capacity was 6,500, according to the performers’ contract.

Spring 2022 Student Government polling locations.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG announces polling locations for Spring elections

By Maia Botek | Feb. 9, 2022

The SG Elections Commission announced polling locations Tuesday. Eight locations on UF campus will be open for student voting from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 22 and 23.

COVID 19 | UF

Alachua County vaccination rate hits 70%

By Lucille Lannigan | Feb. 9, 2022

Adult hospitalizations fell from 314 to 276 on Monday, according to the county dashboard. There were 50 adults in the Intensive Care Unit Monday compared to 96 on Jan. 31. There are 15 patients on ventilators as of Monday. About 90% of patients on ventilators are unvaccinated, according to the county’s Facebook page.

The Florida lacrosse team huddles against Vanderbilt on April 16. The team's season last year ended with a loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

New look Gators ready to start 2022 campaign

By Topher Adams | Feb. 8, 2022

Senior Sarah Reznick and the new-look Gators are ready for a big 2022 season.

Edith Surreal and Erica Leigh embrace each other in the ring during “Love is a Battlefield II: Electric Boogaloo” Saturday at Knockin’ Boots Saloon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS

FEST Wrestling continues to shatter gender barrier

By Jesse Richardson | Feb. 8, 2022

Now, The FEST, a local Gainesville wrestling promotion, has evolved uniquely by breaking the gender barrier in professional wrestling.

UF pitcher Nick Pogue strides to the plate in a March 10, 2020 game against Florida State. He pitched five innings in Florida's Friday win over 3-seed Arkansas.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Pogue, Nesbitt near end of journey from Tommy John Surgery

By Carson Cashion | Feb. 7, 2022

Tyler Nesbitt and Nick Pogue eye returns to the mound for Florida.

Florida's Marlee Zein looks up for a serve during a match against Texas A&M on Feb. 28. The Gators women's tennis team were destroyed by Auburn, 6-1 Sunday afternoon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men's, women's tennis complete season sweep of Florida State

By Joshua Morgan | Feb. 7, 2022

Once again, Florida was triumphant in asserting their dominance as a program over FSU. Both the men’s and the women’s teams faced little resistance on their way to 4-1 victories.

Gabrielle Adekunle (left), Change Party's presidential nominee, and Alexandra Quintana lead protestors down Fraternity Row on Friday, Feb. 4. The rally was held by Change Party to advocate for more emergency blue lights along Fraternity Row.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Communist Party and Change Party announce Party Platforms

By Maia Botek and Gregorio Ruiz-Perez | Feb. 7, 2022

Students can vote for 50 senators and the Executive Cabinet in SG’s Spring election on Feb. 22 and 23. Five parties are registered: The Gator Party, Change Party, Communist Party, Keg Party and Waffle House Party. Polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on election days, per SG election codes. Students who are unable to vote in-person can request absentee ballots through an online form before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, said Supervisor of Elections Alexandra Stedman.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Sister Cindy doesn’t deserve your attention — ironic or not

By Sara Lindsay | Feb. 7, 2022

Common themes for Cindy’s speeches include slut shaming, homophobic comments and racist remarks. She became famous by sharing her problematic beliefs on TikTok, and her hateful speeches have grown into a full-blown national tour.

OPINIONS

State legislators should act now to change Florida’s climate future

Feb. 7, 2022

Here in Gainesville, we trust the science, and it tells us climate change is real. Roughly 92% of Floridians agree — they know climate change is real, too. That’s because we’re paying higher electric bills from record heat waves and skyrocketing insurance from stronger hurricanes and increased flooding.

METRO | POLITICS

‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills will silence discussion of sexual orientation, gender identity in classrooms

By Carissa Allen | Feb. 7, 2022

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.”

OPINIONS

City Commission silences students

Feb. 7, 2022

UF students make Gainesville the vibrant, progressive city it is. They support local small businesses, ride city-managed public transportation and work in our community.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Two new candidates join the race for Gainesville mayor

By Melanie Pena | Feb. 7, 2022

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.

Screenshot of event from Student Government Instagram page

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Student Government Productions paid Roddy Ricch $350,000 for his concert, which is now open to the public

By Maia Botek | Feb. 7, 2022

For the first time since 2020, Student Government Productions opened up its concerts to the general public.

Londyn Merricks, 9, whispers in her cousin Imani Huggins', 7, ear at a Valentine's Day pop-up shop at Cypress & Grove Brewing Company on Saturday, Feb. 5. The pair was helping their mothers sell accessories.

METRO | BUSINESS

Black, female small business owners celebrate Valentine’s Day with pop-up shop

By Thandie Brown | Feb. 7, 2022

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.

El Caimán