El Caimán

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

New initiative would change Newberry public schools to charter schools

By Megan Howard | Feb. 20, 2024

 Newberry Education First initiative wants to convert Newberry public schools into charter schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.  The three Newberry schools, Newberry Elementary, Oak View Middle and Newberry High, would operate under unified leadership addressing pertinent issues relevant to Newberry. 

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SPORTS  |  SOFTBALL

Gators softball gets shutout by No. 6 Oklahoma State

By Bennett Solomon | Feb. 19, 2024

Despite a strong outing in the circle from Keagan Rothrock, the Gators softball team fell to Oklahoma State 3-0 Monday. 

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Freshman Conor Gesing earns bronze in men’s 1-meter on day one of SEC Championships

By Shaine Davison | Feb. 19, 2024

The No. 4/3 Florida Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive teams traveled to Auburn, Alabama to compete for a second consecutive SEC Championship. The men’s team entered this week with an undefeated in-and-out of conference record of 7-0 while the women’s team are 7-1, with an undefeated conference record of 5-0.  

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s tennis dominates UCF to get back in win column

By Chandler Hawkes | Feb. 19, 2024

The Florida Gators men's tennis team (4-4) handed the UCF Knights (7-1) their first loss of the season with a 6-1 victory in an emotional in-state rivalry match, Monday afternoon. After taking the doubles point, the Gators fed off the momentum and energy from the crowd to defeat the Knights for the 19th straight time since January 2001. 

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Sam Austin, Ryan Maseman lead UF track and field mid-distance group under pressure

By Emma DiNicola | Feb. 19, 2024

Sam Austin and Ryan Maseman led UF track and field mid-distance group under pressure. Both have stepped into leadership roles during their junior seasons.

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THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

Independent Black talent push creative boundaries in Gainesville’s art scene

By Benjamin Miller | Feb. 19, 2024

Gainesville’s local art scene is home to a diverse array of fashion designers, musicians, writers and artists. An important component of its culture is the Black creatives that have paved the way for many following in their tracks. 

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THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Gainesville musician finds success, one song a day

By Bonny Matejowsky | Feb. 19, 2024

The 33-year-old Gainesville musician has taken up an ambitious challenge: writing, producing and recording one song a day for an entire year. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Budget adjustments spur questions about Gainesville’s approach to gun violence prevention

By Henry DeAngelis | Feb. 19, 2024

“This is my path,” she said. “My purpose is to reach survivors, to get them resources and to bring about the awareness that this is a growing public health issue.” 

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SPANISH

La campaña de ´aceptar el guion´ aloja un panel de discusión sobre el multiculturalismo

By Laura Quintana | Feb. 19, 2024

El equipo Bateman de la UF CommuniGATORS de el colegio de Periodismo y Comunicaciones [College of Journalism and Communications] organizó un panel de discusión el 13 de feb. para su campaña 'aceptar el guión', en colaboración con la revista Culturs.

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS GOLF

The big sister program: How Florida women’s golf brings its team together

By Hannah Getman | Feb. 19, 2024

The Florida women’s golf team came into the 2023-2024 season with a unique split in the class of its players. The roster included a majority of upperclassmen and new players. Coach Emily Glaser, who is in her 12th year as head coach, wanted to find a way to unite her team by using her seniors' experience to its advantage. From this, the big sister program was formed. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Gainesville to begin $2.5 million-plus venue project for larger outdoor events

By Bailey Diem | Feb. 19, 2024

However, its frequent location changes in recent years have made the 55-year-old Gainesville resident question whether her city has the space for such events.

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Pickleball creates competition, community in Alachua County

By Kairi Lowery | Feb. 19, 2024

Pickleball, a sport very similar to tennis, has taken the world by storm. First originating from boredom and badminton equipment in 1965, pickleball has now emerged as the fastest-growing sport with a 40% increase in popularity in recent years.

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SPANISH

The ‘Embrace the Hyphen’ campaign hosts speaker panel on multiculturalism

By Laura Quintana | Feb. 19, 2024

The UF CommuniGATORS Bateman Team from the College of Journalism and Communications organized a speaker panel Feb. 13 for its campaign ‘Embrace the Hyphen,’ in collaboration with Culturs Magazine. 

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

The UF Divine Nine celebrates Black History Month

By Annie Wang | Feb. 19, 2024

The Divine Nine promote academic excellence for African American students on predominantly white campuses. It also provides them with a space to address pertinent issues within the Black community, said Ammir Thomas, vice president of Theta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS

UF Health receives $500,000 grant for East Gainesville mobile food pharmacy

By Zoey Thomas | Feb. 19, 2024

The UF Health chief culture officer, formerly the chief diversity officer, won a $500,000 grant from the Florida Blue Foundation to combat food and health insecurity in East Gainesville. 

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ENVIRONMENT  |  ENTERPRISE

Alachua County initiatives work to protect land from increasing development

By Kylie Williams | Feb. 19, 2024

In Alachua County, more than 30,000 acres have been protected under similar land agreements. In January, the trust facilitated an agreement with a 550-acre dairy farm in Gilchrist County. The farm has been owned for multiple generations by the Watson family, who will receive $1.54 million through the easement. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Floridians need to vote yes on 4

By Paulina Trujillo | Feb. 19, 2024

If you have seen the bright pink Planned Parenthood Generation Action table on campus, you have been asked to sign the abortion ballot initiative. Ballot initiatives get a bad reputation on college campuses, as some paid petitioners who are just doing it for the money and are not invested in the cause can be very pushy. However, it is important not to let this skew your narrative of this pivotal campaign. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Pop-up market celebrates local Black businesses, cultural heritage

By Emilia Cardenas-Perez | Feb. 18, 2024

Saturday’s Anthropologie Community Pop-up Market in Butler Town Center at 3217 SW 35th Blvd occurred from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with six vendors in attendance. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student arrested for allegedly pushing, threatening African American fraternity member

By Daniel Bednar | Feb. 18, 2024

A UF student was arrested Saturday at the Florida Invitational Step Show on suspicion of battery, possession of a concealed weapon and distribution of written threats to kill.

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SPORTS  |  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball comes up short against Kentucky

By Jack Meyer | Feb. 18, 2024

The Gators women’s basketball team dropped to 4-8 in conference play following an 81-77 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday afternoon.