1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF chief diversity officer releases podcast to promote inclusivity

By Taylor Roth | Jan. 27, 2019

The podcast will be published every Tuesday

Sophomore McCartney Kessler defeated UC Santa Barbara's Elizaveta Volodko in straight sets (6-1, 7-5) during the Gators' ITA Kickoff Weekend Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators singles play secures first win of season

By Victor Prieto | Jan. 26, 2019

The Gators women’s tennis team began the ITA Kickoff Weekend Saturday afternoon against UC Santa Barbara at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Florida missed eight shots in the final seven minutes of its 69-71 loss to South Carolina, including a missed jumper and layup from freshman guard Keyontae Johnson.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida fails to take advantage of late opportunities, falls to TCU

By Tyler Nettuno | Jan. 26, 2019

Losing a game is one thing. Losing in the exact same way, over and over again, has to be torturous for Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Family of missing man offering $1,000 to help find him

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Jan. 26, 2019

Thomas Brown has been missing for about two months

Senior Alicia Boren scored a 9.950 on the uneven bars and a 9.925 on her floor routine in the No. 3 Gator's win over Kentucky on Friday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators defeat Kentucky with record-setting bars routine

By River Wells | Jan. 25, 2019

The high scores came rapid fire when the Gators’ gymnastics team hit the bars: 9.950. 9.900. 9.950. 9.975.

Impact Party's executive ticket consists of Michael Murphy, 21, for Student Body president (center); Sarah Abraham, 20, for Student Body vice president (left); and Santiago Gutierrez, 20, for Student Body treasurer (right).

NEWS | CAMPUS STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Impact Party announces executive ticket

By Hannah Beatty | Jan. 25, 2019

Michael Murphy woke up, drank a cup of coffee, called his parents and announced his bid to be Student Body president.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, Jan 25, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

NEWS | NATIONAL

Trump, Congress leaders reach deal to end shutdown

By Andrew Taylor | Jan. 25, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yielding to mounting pressure and growing disruption, President Donald Trump and congressional leaders on Friday reached a short-term deal to reopen the government for three weeks while negotiations continue over the president's demands for money to build his long-promised wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Florida sophomore Taylor Ault notched two second-place finishes in both the 500 free (4:48.38) and the 1,650 free (16:29.57) in her last meet.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators look to remain undefeated in the SEC

By Bryan Matamoros Sports Writer | Jan. 24, 2019

Florida’s swimming and diving teams travel to Alabama this Saturday to face Auburn at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center, looking to remain undefeated in conference play.

UF track and field coach Mike Holloway. The Gators had 10 athletes bring home hardware from the SEC Outdoor Championships.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators track teams look to continue success in Arkansas

By Kyle Wood | Jan. 24, 2019

Florida’s track and field teams will travel to Arkansas this weekend for the first of two times this season to face off against some of the top teams in the nation.

Senior McClain Kessler fell in the second round of singles play at the ITA All-American Championships as well as in the second round of doubles play with partner Sam Riffice.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men’s and women’s teams host ITA Kickoff Weekend

By Victor Prieto | Jan. 24, 2019

Both the Gators women’s and men’s tennis teams are back in action for the opening weekend of the spring season at home in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. The men’s team will open its 2019 campaign against William & Mary at 11 a.m., while the women’s team will take on UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Freshman guard Noahe Locke is the Gators' second-leading scorer this season, averaging 11.4 points per game. He scored a career-high 27 points against Texas A&M on Tuesday Night.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida appears to be back on track. But now it enters crucial juncture

By Tyler Nettuno | Jan. 24, 2019

A second-half barrage saved the Gators from a devastating home loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday night. No UF player had scored 20 points in a game this season heading into the matchup with the Aggies, but KeVaughn Allen and Noah Locke scored 31 and 27, respectively.

Howard Bishop Middle School Principal Mike Gamble stands in front of a stain in the school’s media center. Layers of paint coat the area around the stain, and several computers have been moved to avoid the area.

METRO | K-12 EDUCATION

Two cents on the half-cent tax: Paying for the future of public schools

By Kelly Hayes | Jan. 24, 2019

Joey Spiers remembers the chaos of her students ducking under desks, fearful a squirrel in the ceiling would slip through the tiles.

Above are the projected exterior designs for the IBC (left) and La Casita.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Asian UF students discuss building institute

By Hannah Beatty | Jan. 24, 2019

A building may cost $8 million

UF gymnast Rachel Gowey scored a meet-high 9.925 on the beam against LSU.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF set to face off against Kentucky in third SEC meet of the season

By River Wells | Jan. 24, 2019

The Florida gymnastics team faced two Tigers to start the season and felled them both. It’ll be facing off against yet another feline opponent in its return to the O’Connell Center.

Guard KeVaughn Allen became the first Gator this season to score at least 20 points when he dropped 31 against Texas A&M on Tuesday. "It's two games in a row where he's just been aggressive, confident," coach Mike White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators relying on Allen, Locke to keep intensity at TCU

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 24, 2019

It took 17 games for a Florida men’s basketball player to eclipse 20 points in a contest.

Laura Wykoff, 44, was named Alachua County Teacher of the Year. She teaches math to students at Fort Clarke Middle School in Gainesville.

METRO

Math teacher named Alachua County’s teacher of the year

By Taylor Girtman | Jan. 24, 2019

Laura Wykoff has taught for more than a decade

UF guard Funda Nakkasoglu scored 14 points in Florida’s 90-42 loss to Mississippi State on Thursday night. She was the only Gator to score in the first quarter.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida embarrassed by Mississippi State at O’Dome

By Sam Campisano | Jan. 24, 2019

If you told Florida women’s basketball coach Cam Newbauer that the Gators out-rebounded No. 7 Mississippi State and held its leading scorer, Teaira McCowan, to just two points, he probably wouldn’t have expected his team to get blown out.