1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF’s Casey Prather looks to pass the ball during the Gators’ 74-56 win against South Carolina in the season’s SEC opener on Wednesday night. Prather is questionable for Florida’s road game against Arkansas on Saturday due to swelling in his right knee.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Lethargic play hurting UF

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 9, 2014

South Carolina is no Kansas.

Five-star cornerback Jalen Tabor commits to Arizona on ESPN at the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2 in St. Petersburg. Tabor flipped his commitment to Florida on Thursday.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators swing top commit

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 9, 2014

Thursday was a busy day for UF’s 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes.

Bridget Sloan performs on vault during Florida’s win against Kentucky on Feb. 22, 2013. Florida opens the season against UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators return to site of 2013 championship to open season

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 9, 2014

Florida ended the 2013 season in Los Angeles ranked No. 1 in the country after finishing .200 points better than Oklahoma in the NCAA Super Six.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Weight Watchers meetings now on UF's campus

By Debora Lima | Jan. 9, 2014

Students looking to drop pounds can attend Weight Watchers meetings at UF for the first time.

Eddie Lovett leaps over a hurdle during an NCAA East Preliminary Round in Greensboro, N.C., on May 24, 2013. Lovett has been leading the Gators in the build up to this season.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators look to seniors for leadership in final season

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 9, 2014

When the UF track and field team travels to Birmingham, Ala., for its season-opening indoor meet this afternoon, one thing will be stressed above all: consistency.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Alachua man arrested after huffing cleaning duster spray

By Jenna Lyons | Jan. 9, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested an Alachua man whom officers said passed out behind the wheel of a car after huffing cans of cleaning duster spray.

A new restaurant will replace Kay Bros. BBQ at 1620 W. University Ave. The Coop is set to open on Saturday and will feature a Southern-inspired menu.

METRO | BUSINESS

The Coop to open Saturday in former Kay Bros. location

By Briana Erickson | Jan. 9, 2014

Kay Bros. BBQ may have closed at the beginning of December, but starting Saturday, Gainesville residents can visit a new restaurant in the same location.

Coach Will Muschamp (right) shakes hands with Vanderbilt coach James Franklin. If Franklin accepts the Penn State opening, Thomas Holley's choice in schools may sway in favor of Florida.

SPORTS | RECRUITING

Potential coaching change gives Florida shot at four-star lineman

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 9, 2014

Florida has a legitimate shot at landing 2014 four-star defensive tackle Thomas Holley in the near future.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF health center warns about peak of flu season

By Beatrice Dupuy | Jan. 9, 2014

With flu season in progress, the UF Student Health Care Center is urging students to take precautions.

NEWS | FEATURES

Families battling mold in Gainesville apartment complex

By Shayna Posses | Jan. 9, 2014

Erica Brown’s 6-year-old son doesn’t understand why his family can’t go home.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gainesville activists fight for monkeys’ rights

By Shayna Posses | Jan. 9, 2014

When it comes to the treatment of UF laboratory animals, a local organization isn’t monkeying around.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF ranked fifth in online undergraduate degrees

By Angela Skane | Jan. 9, 2014

From 2013 to 2014, UF’s online degree program rocketed up 29 places in the U.S. News and World rankings.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission to vote on county fire rescue grant

By Sarah Lapp | Jan. 9, 2014

The Alachua County Commission will vote Tuesday to accept or deny a $2 million grant awarded to Alachua County Fire Rescue.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Because I got Gainesville: Don’t write off Afroman

Jan. 9, 2014

Gather some Colt 45s and maybe a few Zig-Zags: Afroman is coming to the High Dive on Wednesday. Afroman, or Joseph Foreman, Grammy-nominated slacker rapper star behind the hits “Because I Got High” and dirty rap anthem “Crazy Rap” — known to many as “Colt 45 and Two Zig-Zags” — is leaving his beloved Palmdale to bring Gainesville the music that has enchanted generations since he rose to fame and fortune in the early 2000s.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Hairy situation: Don’t be bullied by trends

Jan. 9, 2014

During my first semester of college, while killing time between classes, I found myself listening in on a classmate and his friends as they loudly engaged in a “Would you rather?” about girls.

METRO | POLITICS

Darts & Laurels 1/10/14

Jan. 9, 2014

Predictably, this first week of classes was a blur of syllabi, underheated RTS buses and overpriced textbooks. But you made it!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study saying Americans may be drinking too much alcohol and then lying to their doctors about how much they drink. A UF expert said this can be dangerous.

METRO

CDC study: Patients lie to doctors about alcohol consumption

By Christian Cooper | Jan. 9, 2014

Julia Rae Varnes wasn’t surprised when she saw a recent study about adults and their drinking habits.

Trinity Christian Academy outside linebacker Jeffrey Holland, a 2015 recruit, narrows down his choices to six schools Thursday morning.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Florida rebuilding secondary with top-5 cornerback recruit

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 9, 2014

We’re just less than a month away from National Signing Day, and for recruiting that means it’s the busiest time of year. Florida received some big news Thursday from both 2014 and 2015 recruits.

Scottie Wilbekin is helped off the court after rolling his right ankle during Florida’s 74-58 win against South Carolina on Wednesday in the O’Connell Center. This was the second right ankle injury Wilbekin has suffered this season.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Gators lose point guard in win against Gamecocks

By LANDON WATNICK< | Jan. 8, 2014

No. 10 Florida handled Southeastern Conference bottom-dweller South Carolina 74-58 on Wednesday night in the O’Connell Center, but a right ankle sprain to senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin put a damper on the Gators’ program record-tying 24th straight home victory.

Tyrek Cole announced over Twitter when he would verbally commit to a school.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Tyrek Cole will announce his oral commitment Thursday

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Jan. 8, 2014

UF defensive back target Tyrek Cole will announce his oral commitment Thursday night at 8.

El Caimán