1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

“To be her friend was to feel true joy.”: In Honor of Sabrina Marie Obando

By Allessandra Inzinna | Jan. 10, 2022

Obando, a 22-year-old Miami native, graduated cum laude in Fall 2021 with a degree in art history. On Jan. 4, Obando was hit by a pickup truck while she was crossing the sidewalk around 12:30 p.m. on the intersection of Northwest 8th Ave. and Northwest 10th St. Following the crash, she was transported to UF Health Shands Hospital where she died from her injuries.

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

UF Student Government prepares for the Spring semester

By Maia Botek | Jan. 10, 2022

After a Fall semester that saw graduate seat vacancies and an unusually low number of bills on the Senate floor, SG officers are preparing for the Spring semester.

Kiki Smith (left) and Lavender Briggs (right), pictured during a game against Mizzou game Jan. 28. Smith scored a game-high 28 points for the Gators Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators survive double-overtime thriller for first SEC win of the Finley era

By Caleb Wiegandt | Jan. 10, 2022

Standout performances from Kiki Smith and Zippy Broughton helped Florida erase a 19-point deficit and claim their first SEC victory of the season at Texas A&M.

Florida left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco pitches against Jacksonville on March 14, 2021.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gator baseball preview: Pitchers

By Carson Cashion | Jan. 10, 2022

The pitching staff for the Gators this season will include plenty of youth, but sophomore Hunter Barco will look to produce a nationally recognized season.

Mike White’s teams have struggled with defense and consistent shooting through an 0-2 start in conference play

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

A closer look at Florida men’s basketball’s turbulent season

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 10, 2022

Florida‘s struggles with offensive efficiency and turnovers now threaten a promising start to the season.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Alachua County has seen an increase in positive COVID-19 cases among jail inmates

By Troy Myers | Jan. 9, 2022

As of Friday, more than 100 inmates at the Alachua County Jail are positive for COVID-19, said Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Captain Kaley Behl.

Florida's Anthony Duruji holds the ball during a Dec. 6 game against Texas Southern. The senior tallied 14 points in the second half Saturday against Auburn.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Auburn onslaught too much for Florida

By Jackson Castellano | Jan. 9, 2022

Florida fell to Auburn 85-73 as the Gators could not keep up with the 11-man Tiger rotation used to its maximum potential, which featuring 35 points from the AU bench.

Florida gymnast Alyssa Baumann during the Gators' meet against the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, January 15, 2021 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Hannah White

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators “start fresh,” begin 2022 slate with a historic quad meet win

By Caleb Wiegandt | Jan. 8, 2022

Gators gymnastics cruised to a quad-meet victory against Northern Illinois, Rutgers and Texas Woman’s College, setting a program record for points in a season-opener

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Recent UF graduate dies after being hit by a truck at a crosswalk

By Erina Anwar | Jan. 7, 2022

Sabrina Obando, a 22-year-old UF graduate from Miami, was killed after being hit by a pickup truck on Tuesday at a crosswalk in the intersection of Northwest 8th Avenue and Northwest 10th Street.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission votes to provide city workers with COVID-19 at-home test kits

By Melanie Pena | Jan. 7, 2022

At their first meeting of 2022 Thursday, city commissioners, with City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker absent, voted to keep Gainesville workers safe from rising COVID-19 cases in the county.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Hawthorne woman killed by tractor-trailer on highway

By Troy Myers | Jan. 7, 2022

A 49-year-old Hawthorne woman was hit by a tractor-trailer as she was standing by a mailbox on U.S. Route 301 near Northeast 78th Place, according to a Florida Highway Patrol press release released Wednesday.

Florida forward Faith Dut sizes up a Missouri defender on Feb. 11, 2021. Dut scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds in just 22 minutes Thursday as the Gators fell by 18 against Ole Miss.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida remains winless in SEC play with a 74-56 loss to Ole Miss

By Brenda Bogle | Jan. 6, 2022

The Gators committed 25 turnovers and allowed 42 points in the interior, failing to capitalize on a poor shooting night from Ole Miss and dropping their second-straight SEC game 74-56 at the O’Connell Center Thursday night.

Photo by Makiya Seminera | The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO

Alachua County Animal Shelter quarantines dogs, three infected with canine virus

By Namari Lock | Jan. 6, 2022

Alachua County Animal Shelter isn’t capable of housing and treating dogs with canine distemper virus (CDV). It is incurable and often fatal — those that survive usually have permanent, irreparable nervous system damage.

Florida's Colin Castleton goes up for a shot during a Nov. 14 game against Florida State. The center scored a game-high 19 points Wednesday against Alabama.

SPORTS | BASKETBALL

Florida debuts New Year with loss to Crimson Tide

By Jesse Richardson | Jan. 5, 2022

Florida walked off the courts with their head low after the clocks hit zero and the score read as an 83-70 triumph for the Crimson Tide.

UF President Kent Fuchs addresses the Board of Trustees in 2020. He announced he would step down from his role at the beginning of the Spring semester.

NEWS | CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF President Fuchs announces resignation

By Elena Barrera | Jan. 5, 2022

Under Fuchs eight-year term as UF president, the university became a top five public university in the nation and was embroiled in an academic freedom scandal.

Photo by Melanie Pena | The Independent Florida Alligator

COVID 19 | UF

UF classes to remain in-person with no mask or vaccination requirement despite rising COVID-19 cases

By Lucille Lannigan | Jan. 5, 2022

The decision for classes to remain in-person was made in consultation with UF Health experts and following guidance from the Florida Board of Governors. UF Health Screen, Test & Protect discontinued its COVID-19 data dashboard Dec. 31.

Zoe Strahan, a sophomore at the University of Florida, gets her long-awaited gelati from B’z Gelati food truck at the Bonnamu Music Festival on March 12, 2021. Strahan said that if the gelati truck made more than $300 that evening, then the proceeds will go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

METRO

B’z Gelati: Where the buzz began

By Elena Barrera | Jan. 5, 2022

The family-owned company first started working at UF’s football and baseball games. For the last six months, the food truck parked itself in the Oaks Mall parking lot Wednesdays through Fridays, and at Depot Park every other weekend. But B’z Gelati’s typical source of revenue is made through working at events or catering.

THE AVENUE

Shortened winter break may cause mental burnout for UF students

Jan. 5, 2022

The reduced break is part of the natural calendar shift for the university, UF spokesperson Steve Orlando wrote in an email. To create a UF calendar, the university developed 13 years worth of calendars ahead of time to ensure that official UF dates can be adjusted accordingly for each term.

SPORTS

Here’s what happened in Gator sports over winter break

By Declan Walsh and Jesse Richardson | Jan. 5, 2022

As Florida’s winter-sports teams near the start of conference play, these are the biggest storylines from over the winter break.

METRO

Gainesville events coordinator retires after more than a decade

Jan. 5, 2022

Over the course of his 14-year career, Ballard strengthened multiple Gainesville programs and community events. He directed theater performances for young audiences and created signature events such as the performing arts festival Jest Fest.

El Caimán