1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE

The Avenue Spring 2021 staff applications now open

By Morgan Goldwich | Dec. 17, 2020

The Avenue is hiring!

Samuel Overly, a UF Health clinical leader, is the first to get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital on Dec. 16, 2020. Suzy Wise administered the anticipated shot.

COVID 19 | ALACHUA COUNTY

UF Health begins administering COVID-19 vaccines in Gainesville

By Julia Coin | Dec. 16, 2020

UF Health Shands Hospital administered its first 12 vaccines from UF Health Jacksonville at a news conference early Wednesday morning. All UF Health workers are expected to be vaccinated within two months.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Black and minority youths are overrepresented in the Alachua County juvenile justice system

Dec. 16, 2020

Black youth arrested in Alachua County make up more than half the system. The demographic made up about 35% of juveniles arrested as first-time youth offenders statewide from 2019-20, but 61% of first-time youthful offenders arrested in Alachua County are Black.

METRO

Roller skating: America and Depot Park’s new favorite pastime?

By Rachel Slay | Dec. 15, 2020

Roller skating and rollerblading gained huge followings in 2020 as people were eager for safe ways to stay active and socialize.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF female TAs experience gender bias from students and faculty

By Kalia Richardson | Dec. 15, 2020

Gender stereotypes have led to bias from students and faculty.

METRO | BUSINESS

Alachua County sees reduction in food inspection violations

By Samantha Chery | Dec. 14, 2020

This year’s county inspection violation rate has decreased about 23%, according to data from the Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Division of Hotels and Restaurants, which oversees public food service establishments.

Gators forward Keyontae Johnson at Florida's game against LSU Feb. 26. Johnson is in "critical but stable" condition at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

No update on scheduled game Wednesday, collapsed player Johnson in coma, officials say

By Declan Walsh | Dec. 14, 2020

Representatives were unable to confirm UF men’s basketball’s Wednesday night matchup versus North Florida following Keyontae Johnson’s collapse on the court against Florida State.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville musicians navigate music profitability

By Heather Bushman | Dec. 14, 2020

Without concerts, musicians look to stay afloat

Carrie and Jesus Martinez painted a "Push for Peace" mural at Possum Creek Skatepark. Jesus Martinez said his clothes always end up caked in paint and sometimes become too stiff to wear again.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

The “Push for Peace” lives on in a Gainesville mural

By Katie Delk | Dec. 14, 2020

Gainesville artists Jesus and Carrie Martinez created a "Push for Peace" mural in Possum Creek Skatepark Dec. 5.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville meditation centers hold healing practices in new ways

By Katie Delk | Dec. 14, 2020

Gainesville’s meditation centers Karuna Cottage, ChayVeda Integrative Ayurvedic Healing Arts and Gainesville Retreat Center have seen a pique in interest in virtual sessions.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Rate and Review: ‘The Lo-Fis’ by Steve Lacy

By Manny Rea | Dec. 14, 2020

Alternative R&B artist Steve Lacy released his latest album, "The Lo-Fis," Dec. 4.

COVID 19

UF will provide COVID-19 vaccine to select medical staff this week

By Thomas Weber | Dec. 14, 2020

UF Health is one of the "Pfizer Five" hospitals in Florida to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. UF Health Jacksonville received about 20,000 vaccines Monday and delivered 4,000 to UF Health in Gainesville. UF will vaccinate its frontline medical staff in Gainesville starting Wednesday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Remembering UF Emeritus Professor Harold Stahmer

By Aurora Martínez | Dec. 14, 2020

Stahmer, a UF religion emeritus professor, died at 91 in Gainesville on Oct. 23 after a five year battle with Parkinson's disease. His actions and role in education left a memorable mark in his family and at UF.

Ardell Wright speaks to a caller as he records the conversation on the computer in the 98.9 Jamz Studio on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. Wright edited the audio and then played it on the air. (Lauren Witte/Alligator Staff)

NEWS | FEATURES

Ride with Ardell Wright, the radio voice of East Gainesville

By Edysmar Diaz-Cruz | Dec. 13, 2020

Before Wright, no one spoke to the communities of East Gainesville that grew up on Hip Hop and R&B. Now, he makes sure to give his childhood neighborhoods shout-outs during his show called The Afternoon Drive.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police are searching for suspect involved in sexual battery near campus

By Asta Hemenway | Dec. 13, 2020

GPD is searching for a suspect possibly involved in a Saturday night sexual battery near UF's campus. The suspect is described as a white male with short, dark hair standing between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2, according to Sunday's UF public safety email.

People eating at The Swamp Restaurant in 2019. Gainesville's iconic restaurant will return at a new location closer to downtown in 2022.

NEWS | CAMPUS

The Swamp restaurant to return to Gainesville in new location

By Kalia Richardson | Dec. 13, 2020

The restaurant, previously located at 1642 W. University Ave. in Midtown, will be moved to 1026 SW Second Ave. in the Gainesville Innovation District, two blocks from UF’s campus. Construction will begin in the summer of 2021 and is expected to take 12 to 14 months.

NEWS

Estudiantes peruanos de UF hablan sobre la inestabilidad de su país

By Arlette Garcia | Dec. 13, 2020

Tras la destitución del presidente Martín Vizcarra por el Congreso por cargos de corrupción, el país vio protestas masivas encendidas por el derrocamiento y perpetradas a través de la inestabilidad política en el país.