Gov. Ron DeSantis signed three new criminal justice bills during the legislative session that modify pretrial detention, tighten penalties for those accused of child sexual abuse and lower the threshold to apply the death penalty.
Just over an hour’s drive north of Gainesville in rural Baker County lies one of Florida’s five ICE detention centers.
More than 40 years ago, private investment abandoned East Gainesville. But in 2023, after years of planning, dreaming and negotiating, we said “enough,” and we’re seeing the fruits of collaboration bloom to serve our “out East” neighbors.
On Jan. 20, the Playground Music and Arts Festival at Heartwood Soundstage will feature 12 independent bands from across Florida.
The law went into effect July 1. It establishes the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority, a board made up of five governor-appointed members to oversee GRU in place of its general manager. The board took over Oct.1.
Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, has ravaged the citrus industry in Florida over the past two decades. Since the disease was first detected in 2005, it has reduced citrus production by over 75% and cost the industry billions of dollars in lost revenue. Researchers have studied the disease for decades but have yet to find a lasting solution to citrus greening.
Defense attorney Eric Atria applied to fill this vacancy. Atria, known across Florida for being “sucker punched,” by his defendant in 2022, hit the ground running with his judicial campaign by seeking endorsements from county commissioners.
During America’s holiday season, known for its boom in spending and time shared with loved ones, it would be easy to assume restaurants flourished along with the retailers. But Gainesville’s business landscape tells a different tale.
Brothers Skip and Peyton Donald both transferred to UF’s dive team and are now competing side by side for Skip Donald’s final collegiate season.
The Gators, who ended their 2023 season with an 18-8 record, enter the Spring looking for their first NCAA Team Championship since 2017.
Although the Gators (10-4, 0-1 SEC) kept the score close throughout, the Kentucky Wildcats (11-2, 1-0 SEC) escaped with an 87-85 victory at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Saturday. Florida’s inefficiency from both the 3-point and free throw lines in the second half of Saturday’s matchup will be an issue that UF head coach Todd Golden’s squad will seek to improve on. The Gators’ conference schedule will include highly anticipated matchups all season long.
The 2024 Florida regular legislative session begins Jan. 9 with over 1,000 bills filed. The proposed legislation has sparked discussions on a wide range of issues including abortion access, firearm regulations, education reform, environmental protection, insurance rates and hurricane relief.
The Florida law bans “partnerships,” including recruitment programs, between state universities and any non-U.S. citizen living in a foreign country of concern — including China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Cuba, Syria and North Korea. It was passed in May and went into effect Dec. 1. The UF dean’s office and upper administration has interpreted the law to mean faculty cannot offer any assistantship or fellowship to students in these countries for the 2024-2025 academic year.
After months of bargaining, UF Graduate Assistants United saw the fruits of its labor after the university Board of Trustees approved Article 10 of GAU’s collective bargaining agreement. Article 10 states graduate assistants on nine-month appointments will be paid $19,200, while those on 12-month appointments will receive a minimum of $25,600.
A Gainesville judge reduced bond Wednesday for a former UF biological scientist accused of locking her two children in cages while going to work.
After a blowout loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks in their Southeastern Conference opener, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team fared much better in their second conference matchup of the season. Nevertheless, they have yet to secure their first SEC win of 2024.
The Florida Gators men’s basketball team (10-4, 0-1 SEC) fell to the Kentucky Wildcats (11-2, 1-0 SEC) 87-85 in their first game of Southeastern Conference play.
The Florida Gators men’s and women’s swimming teams started the new year with strong performances across multiple events in both the men's and women's races.
The Florida men’s and women’s diving team traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, to compete in the Tennessee Diving Invite from Jan. 3-5 for their first meet of 2024.
At its regular meeting Thursday, the Gainesville City Commission voted 6-0, with Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker absent, to appoint Interim City Clerk Kristen Bryant in a permanent capacity, filling the last of the city’s charter office vacancies.
Solutions by The State News
