El Caimán

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

‘I wouldn’t wish it on no other parent:’ thousands of teens tried as adults under Florida Statute

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 22, 2024

From fiscal years 2018 to 2022, 3,996 minors like Mikhail Lawson have been transferred to the adult judicial system. During the same period in the 8th Judicial Circuit, 132 minors have been taken to criminal court, with approximately 63% being Black, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS

UF dining hall workers seek unionization

By Grace McClung | July 22, 2024

Unaddressed grievances concerning sudden summer layoffs, inadequate pay and an unprofessional work environment spurred employees of Chartwells Higher Education, UF’s campus food provider, to officially announce their unionization effort July 10. 

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SPANISH

‘Unir a nuestro país’: Biden retira su candidatura y endorsa a Harris como la candidata presidencial

By Valentina Sandoval , Morgan Vanderlaan and Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | July 22, 2024

Biden se retiró de la carrera presidencial el 21 de julio después de críticas de parte de aliados del partido sobre su turbulenta segunda campaña presidencial. Aunque Biden terminará el resto de su término presidencial, él endorsó a a la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris como la candidata demócrata.

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SPANISH

La abrupta salida de Sasse deja grandes planes inconclusos y el futuro de la UF incierto

By Avery Parker , Morgan Vanderlaan , Garrett Shanley and Isabela Reinoso | July 22, 2024

En una extensa y sentida carta publicada en X el 18 de julio a las 8:22 p.m., Sasse, ex senador republicano de Nebraska, atribuyó su abrupta salida al reciente diagnóstico de epilepsia de su esposa y a los problemas de memoria que acaba de desarrollar. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Matheson Museum hosts ‘Voice and Votes: Democracy in America’ Smithsonian exhibit

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 22, 2024

In a partnership with the Matheson Museum, Alachua County Supervisor of Elections and League of Women Voters of Alachua County, the Smithsonian has made its way to Gainesville.

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METRO

One Community Family Resource Center holds launch event for new building

By Sara-James Ranta | July 22, 2024

The resource center was formed after surveys conducted within the community presented needs across five different social disparities — social economics, social assistance, transportation, housing and education. 

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Gainesville’s Florida Man Reptiles opens doors

By Noor Sukkar | July 22, 2024

In the swampy outskirts of Gainesville, the iconic alligator may steal the show among the reptilian ecosystem. But on Southwest Archer Road, Florida Man Reptiles showcases its very own population of nearly 100 reptiles and amphibians. On July 1, its doors opened to the public to shop from a selection of snakes, bearded dragons, turtles, frogs and more. 

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THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Rain won’t stop the rage: punk metal show moved to How Bazaar after rain-out

By Sabrina Castro | July 22, 2024

After landing in Gainesville three years ago, 24-year-old Christian “Cloud” Casey quickly discovered two things: the collaborative community of musicians in Gainesville and the opportunity to grow the city’s goth metal music scene. 

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS TRACK

End of an era: Gator Great Christian Taylor shines at Holloway Pro Classic

By Hailey Hurst | July 22, 2024

Gator Great Christian Taylor wrapped a bow on his memorable career as a Florida Gator and US Olympian athlete at the Holloway Pro Classic. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Preventing the well of well-run organizing from running dry

By Cassie Urbenz | July 22, 2024

Hinting upon this idea last time as I spoke of how intersectionality can help us in the fight against burnout, bringing new members into the fold of leadership is more important than ever. As I, and a plethora of other organizers scramble to help build new leadership, I can’t help but think of the path I took to my current place and how to acclimate others to the difficult job of navigating activism in Florida.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

J.D. Vance: The Forgotten Man

By Abraham Hilu | July 22, 2024

In 1886, William Graham Sumner, a renaissance man of the social sciences, formerly taught at Yale, produced a work named, “The Forgotten Man.” This piece gave insight into how the American government was moving toward aiding large corporations and concurrently leaving the middle class behind. 

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SPORTS  |  OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

New men’s tennis coaching staff looks to restore Gators’ dominance

By Chandler Hawkes | July 22, 2024

After an inconsistent season, the Florida's men's tennis team has revamped it's coaching staff hoping to restore its winning ways for the upcoming campaign. 

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Sasse’s abrupt exit leaves big plans unfinished, UF’s future uncertain

By Avery Parker , Morgan Vanderlaan and Garrett Shanley | July 22, 2024

Danaya Wright had plans and papers to write. After chairing the UF Faculty Senate during Ben Sasse’s tumultuous first year at the university’s helm, she was behind on her duties as a law professor. The sun was low as she drove home from campus, moments before she received the call that changed everything: “Sasse is resigning.”

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Sasse's resignation: How politicians, education officials are reacting

By Alligator Staff report | July 20, 2024

Following UF President Ben Sasse's abrupt resignation from the university's top post, several top state politicians took to Twitter to offer their condolences to Sasse and honor his leadership's legacy.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

North Carolina peeping tom arrested after ‘peeking’ at a minor in a Gainesville women’s restroom

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | July 20, 2024

Gainesville police arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of voyeurism involving a minor after sneaking into a women’s restroom to meet a woman for sex.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville community discusses affordable housing options

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 20, 2024

The commission voted 4-3 in favor of smaller mandatory minimum lot sizes through its first reading, with Mayor Harvey Ward, Commissioner Casey Willits, Commissioner Reina Saco and Commissioner Bryan Eastman in the affirmative. If passed through a second reading, single family homes could be built on 1/12 of an acre with aims to increase housing density. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

‘No lesser of two evils’: Socialist presidential candidate campaigns in Gainesville

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 18, 2024

Over 70 community members packed into the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center Wednesday upon the arrival of Claudia de la Cruz, the Party of Socialism and Liberation’s 2024 presidential nominee. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

RTS Advisory Board discusses UF funding cuts, green energy federal grant

By Sara-James Ranta | July 18, 2024

The Gainesville Regional Transit System Advisory Board held a meeting Wednesday to discuss UF’s proposed funding cuts, a new federal grant for green energy and persistent app outages.  

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

Kent Fuchs expected to serve as interim UF president after Sasse resignation

By Garrett Shanley | July 18, 2024

Sasse, who has led the university since February 2023, announced his resignation in a UF news release Thursday night. He leaves office effective July 31.

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Teacher union members speak out against low wages

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 17, 2024

Alachua County Education Association representatives addressed the Alachua County School Board Tuesday concerning a lack of negotiations on faculty contracts.