1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida head coach Todd Golden coaches the Gators' men's basketball team during a practice the day before its Southeastern Conference tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators transfer portal report: UF signed Tyrese Samuel, in contact with guards

By Brandon Hernandez | Apr. 17, 2023

The two players — Iona sophomore transfer guard Walter Clayton Jr. and Marshall freshman transfer center Micah Handlogten — joined Yale graduate transfer forward EJ Jarvis as a part of UF’s recruiting class. However, the Gators still need three more players to complete a 15-man roster for the 2023-2024 season.

NEWS | FEATURES

Re-examining decades of climate change, environmental activism in Alachua County

By Claire Grunewald | Apr. 17, 2023

From petitions to protests, residents and students advocated and fought for decades. For “Where We Stand,” The Alligator looked through decades worth of its archives to chronicle some highlights of the county’s environmental activism.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville solar plans in Archer shed light on nuances of renewable energy

By Siena Duncan | Apr. 17, 2023

After over a year of contract negotiations, the Gainesville City Commission has decided to temporarily halt plans to build a solar plant, called the Sand Bluff Solar Project, until it receives approval from a state committee.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF students face environmental anxiety as threat of climate change looms

By Ella Thompson | Apr. 17, 2023

With forests on fire, hurricanes gaining strength and regularity and other natural disasters becoming more frequent, members of Generation Z wonder: What does our future look like? What will be lost? What’s possible for the future?

Guests describe the state park as an escape into the Old Florida wilderness, emoting a tugging feeling of nostalgia for an era that you haven’t lived in — but feel like you could belong to. The area was remote when Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings thrived there as a divorced writer. Only seven families lived in Cross Creek when she arrived.

The allure of isolation in the wilderness is an intriguing pull for many readers, idealizing the immersion experience.

THE AVENUE

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park continues to compel nature-lovers

By Loren Miranda | Apr. 17, 2023

Every morning before heading into the orange groves for his shift, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Park tour guide Rick Mulligan reads one of the titular author’s letters. He tries to pick a letter that was written on the date he’s going in, to get a sense of how she was feeling that day.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators face most stubborn opponent yet: rising temperatures

By Jackson Reyes | Apr. 17, 2023

Projections show the number of days over 95 degrees per year could reach 40 to 50 days as soon as the 2030s, according to The Climate Explorer, an interactive toolkit managed by NOAA. The heat serves as an advantage on the field for the Gators, but health risks could soon outweigh the draw of The Swamp.

Farmer John Nix feeds bread to one of his escaped cows before taking them back to the pasture Saturday, April 15, 2023.

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Feeding Florida in a changing climate

By Jack Lemnus | Apr. 17, 2023

Amy Van Scoik is driven by her passion for feeding people, but this mission grows harder each year as the climate becomes more unpredictable. It’s never clear what extreme weather to expect during the next season.

Thomas Phillips removes the paint from pieces of broken skateboards that will be repurposed to make woodbots in his studio Friday, March 31, 2023.

THE AVENUE | ART AND THEATER

Gainesville artists create with environmental consciousness

By Zarin Ismail | Apr. 17, 2023

Many creatives in Gainesville have taken sustainability into account by upcycling used items into art pieces, trading materials or promoting a connection to nature. As global temperatures continue to rise, some artists have begun centering their creative processes around preventing environmental ruin to slow climate change.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

UF University Athletic Association pushes for greener buildings

By Kyle Bumpers | Apr. 17, 2023

The Heavener became the first athletic facility in the U.S. to receive a platinum level certification in 2009. Now, the new complex — the James W. “Bill” Heavener Football Training Center — is only anticipating a LEED Gold certification, assistant athletic director of facilities Bill Smith said.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Where We Stand

Apr. 17, 2023

In a place like north central Florida, our connection to the environment is everything. It surrounds everyday life no matter who you are — a UF student here to get your degree and leave or a longtime Alachua County resident.

Gabriella Aulisio (center) poses with her flag football team, The Steelers, at the YMCA Sports Complex fields on Archer Road in 2008.

OPINION | COLUMNS

As the climate changes, so does Gainesville

By Gabriella Aulisio | Apr. 17, 2023

Places I grew up with — places that defined me and built me to be the nature-loving, outdoor going, multi-sport playing girl I am — are no longer there.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Students, faculty fear UF won’t meet 2025 carbon neutrality goal

By Allessandra Inzinna | Apr. 17, 2023

In June 2021, the UF Board of Trustees approved the $235 million Central Energy Plant Project to build a combined heat and power energy facility on campus. Set to begin construction this year, it will be the university’s largest energy provider, relieving UF of purchasing 750,000 pounds of steam from Duke Energy every year.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Before it’s too late

By Colleen Anderson | Apr. 17, 2023

Before my generation, young people weren’t given a platform to share their lived experiences. With the rise of digital media, however, this dated norm is being erased.

AP Environmental Science Teacher John Pettit sits in front of his illustration of climate change he made earlier in the day as an example for his students at Buchholz High School Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Gainesville environmental science teachers enlighten next generation

By Aubrey Bocalan | Apr. 17, 2023

The list of Florida state standards for science classes under environmental science include 39 items, 14 of which are specifically related to climate change, according to CPalms, a database of standards and resources created by Florida State University. Teachers are required to tailor lessons to topics like the costs of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases.

METRO

Financial savviness meets climate activism in We Are Neutral

By Aidan Bush | Apr. 17, 2023

Formerly called "Neutral Gator," We Are Neutral planted 200 trees to offset a Florida-South Carolina football game. Now, it stands in collaboration with over 85 businesses and organizations to promote green efforts across the nation.

Chris Harchick, the senior agricultural assistant at UF, stands in the middle of his tree-planting IFAS research that tests the growth of oak and sycamore trees, Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extensions work to mitigate climate change

By Sophia Bailly | Apr. 17, 2023

IFAS has dispersed its climate change research to center on greenhouse gas emissions, ocean acidification and sea-level rise. Extensions take a local approach to educating Florida residents about climate change, whether it’s regarding forestry, farming or waterways.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

UF recommits to climate action

By Alissa Gary | Apr. 17, 2023

The UF Office of Sustainability is in the final stages of developing its Climate Action Plan 2.0, a revival of CAP 1.0, the 2009 original, meant to curb the university’s greenhouse gas emissions.

OPINION | COLUMNS

A note from Gainesville’s mayor

By Harvey Ward | Apr. 17, 2023

When it comes to climate change here in Gainesville, it often seems like we’re whistling past the graveyard.

Bucholz High School Earth Club volunteered at a coastal cleanup in Cedar Key on International Coastal Cleanup day.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Gainesville youth join fight to preserve natural resources

By Claire Grunewald | Apr. 17, 2023

In the fight against climate change, young Alachua County residents are on the frontlines, focused on defending their future.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Are Gainesville’s 2040 waste diversion goals attainable?

By Jake Lynch | Apr. 17, 2023

With the startling amount of waste becoming more than just an eye sore, three cities in the state have made it a goal to reduce their amount of waste. Gainesville joins Key West and Orlando in the fight to reduce waste and resulting greenhouse gases.

El Caimán