1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Jake Mitchell the vocalist of Little Jake and the Soul Searchers on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Gainesville’s Black community, soul music and how it made history

By Autumn Johnstone | Feb. 24

Growing up in Tampa, Mitchell won talent shows left and right, but in 1957, he recorded his first record on the same original tape as rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry. It was shortly after in 1961 when he led his then-band the Fabulous Blenders to be the first Black performers at UF’s Gator Growl in front of 60,000 people.

Teachers and community raise the alarm as ACPS opens school doors for ICE- policy shift sparks privacy and safety concerns.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County School Board releases ICE memo, sparking community concern

By Sara-James Ranta | Feb. 24

Alachua County Public Schools issued a memo Feb. 10 outlining strict protocols for U.S. ICE officers, granting them “broad authority” to interview and remove students in schools without a warrant.

UF halts non-academic Living Learning Communities, affecting underrepresented student spaces.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF pauses non-academic Living Learning Communities in campus housing

By Pristine Thai | Feb. 24

UF indefinitely paused all activities in six non-academic Living Learning Communities Feb. 17, just days after the Trump administration’s Office for Civil Rights banned the consideration of race in any decisions made by academic institutions nationwide.

A rotting orange hangs from a branch at the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Research Grove on Feb. 23, 2025.

ENTERPRISE | BUSINESS

Your favorite foods are more expensive than ever

By Natalie Kaufman | Feb. 24

Supply chain issues have recently disrupted the global food system. Traditional breakfast fare like eggs, orange juice, coffee — and even the sweet morsels in chocolate chip pancakes — were not spared.

Florida infielder Colby Shelton (10) celebrates with infielder Cade Kurland (4) and infielder/outfielder Bobby Boser (6) after a home run as the Florida Gators face the Dayton Flyers on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Luke Heyman and Colby Shelton hope to spark Florida title run after bypassing professional offers

By Hugh Green | Feb. 24

Luke Heyman and Colby Shelton decided to come back to Florida for their junior years, hoping to bring a title back to Gainesville.

UF Women's Tennis player Talia Neilson-Gatenby returns the ball during the Florida Invitational on Jan. 11, 2025. (Credit: Kade Sowers)

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Rachel Gailis and Alicia Dudeney’s strong performances not enough in Florida women’s tennis loss to No. 4 Auburn

By Jeffrey Serber | Feb. 23

With the Gators down 2-0, junior Rachel Gailis came back to secure a major upset over Auburn junior and national No. 2 DJ Bennett. Senior Alicia Dudeney followed suit by winning her singles match, providing a positive light to Florida’s tough defeat.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Lady Vols’ second-half comeback shatters Florida’s hopes of first ranked win

By Amanda Roman | Feb. 23

Tennessee squandered Florida’s nine-point halftime lead, scoring 37 points in the third quarter to secure a comeback victory 86-78 at the O’Dome.

Florida Gators infielder Cade Kurland (4) sprints to first base in a baseball game against the Air Force Academy in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 15, 2025.

NEWS

Cade Kurland provides a jolt off the bench as Florida completes the sweep of Dayton

By Hugh Green | Feb. 23

After starting the first six games of the season for Florida, junior second baseman Cade Kurland came off the bench on Sunday and did not disappoint. He blasted two two-run homers over the left-field wall in three at-bats. The second of which ended the game in walk-off fashion as the Gators mercy-ruled Dayton for the third day in a row.

Freshman Conor Gesing dives in the Gators meet against Florida State, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida men’s and women’s swim & dive win silver at SEC Championship

By Isabella Sanin | Feb. 23

After a thrilling six-day journey to reclaim gold, Florida finished runner-up to conference newcomer Texas at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championship.

Florida Gators outfielder Kendra Falby (27) throws the ball in a softball game against Providence in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF snatches two wins in the canyon in the Sun Devil Classic

By Jackson Colding | Feb. 22

Saturday proved to be another day where a native Arizonian had a big performance in her home state. After practicing at her high school on Thursday, Jocelyn Erickson showed up in a big way at the plate.

Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) screams at the Oklahoma bench after a dunk in a basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

No. 2 Gators survive road scare behind career day from Rueben Chinyelu

By Max Tucker | Feb. 22

After being on upset watch heading into halftime, the No. 2 Florida Gators men’s basketball team used a ferocious second-half effort to notch its sixth straight win, beating the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge on Saturday.

Florida Gators outfielder Hayden Yost (16) hits the ball in a baseball game against the Air Force Academy in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 15, 2025.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Brendan Lawson goes deep for the first time as Florida grounds the Flyers

By Hugh Green | Feb. 22

Brendan Lawson blasted his first career homer — a grand slam — as Florida secured a series victory over Dayton.

Jeremy Jin hits a backhand shot in the Gators men's tennis team's match against the Citadel on Friday, January 19, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis stuns first conference opponent, sweeps Auburn 7-0

By Curan Ahern | Feb. 22

The closer the day crept to noon, the more the anticipation seemed to build. The talent was undeniable, and the stakes seemed the highest they’ve been this season as two of the SEC’s most prestigious tennis programs looked to notch its first conference win.

Junior Sloane Blakely performs on the uneven bars in the Gators gymnastics' Hype Night on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Sloane Blakely, Anya Pilgrim injured in No. 5 Florida gymnastics loss against No. 1 Oklahoma

By Liana Handler | Feb. 22

The No. 5 Florida Gators gymnastics team was defeated by No. 1 Oklahoma 198.075 - 196.625 Friday evening in Norman, Oklahoma.

Florida Gators pitcher Liam Peterson (12) celebrates after shutting down a batter to close an inning in a baseball game against the Air Force Academy in Gainesville, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida tallies season-high 13 runs, dismantles Dayton in weekend series opener

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 21

The Florida Gators notched their fourth double-digit run tally in just five games this season en route to a dominant series-opening win over Dayton on Friday night.

Florida Gators infielder Rylee Holtorf (4) hits the ball in a softball game against the Jacksonville Dolphins in Gainesville, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball sweeps day one of the Sun Devil Classic

By Jackson Colding | Feb. 21

Florida softball bounced back from a blowout loss to Duke on Sunday with back-to-back big wins to open the Sun Devil Classic.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested for sharing child pornography on social media

By Kaysheri Haffner | Feb. 21

A Gainesville man was arrested on Thursday for sharing child pornography and charged with two felonies.

CASA de Maryland, an immigration advocacy and assistance organization, holds a rally in Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in reaction to the announcement regarding Temporary Protective Status for people from El Salvador. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Venezuelan students face an uncertain future amid TPS changes

By Amanda Roman | Feb. 21

For Venezuelan students at the University of Florida, the uncertainty surrounding Temporary Protected Status is a heavy burden, bringing deep emotional challenges as they grapple with what lies ahead.

Florida Gators pitcher Keagan Rothrock (7) throws a pitch in a softball game against Boston College in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The value of competitive play: Invitationals and Florida softball

By Noah White | Feb. 21

Florida softball is No. 3 in the nation. That’s definitive. But that ranking won’t be put to the test for an abnormally long time.

Ameer Jackson reads a poem from his book 'From a Moth to a Butterfly' during the Celebration of Black, Love, Art and Poetry event at Santa Fe college on Feb. 16, 2025.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Black love showcased through art

By Morgan Vanderlaan | Feb. 21

The Santa Fe College Downtown Campus came alive with themes of Black love and community on Feb. 15 at the fifth annual “Celebration of Black Love, Art and Poetry.”

El Caimán