El Caimán

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Three men arrested on suspicion of targeting minorities in robberies, home invasions

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 15

Jeremiah Gibson, a 21-year-old Jasper resident, was arrested alongside 23-year-old Lake City resident Calvin Souter and 24-year-old Live Oak resident Demoundre Evans for committing crimes across Alachua and Suwannee Counties, including multiple burglaries, two attempted home invasions and a home invasion, according to the arrest report.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF Solar Gators gear up to defend championship title at Formula Sun Grand Prix

By Grace McClung | July 15

Sunrider, UF’s solar race car, is hoping to mark its final lap around the track with a second Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) national championship title. The car, built by engineering design team Solar Gators, basked in the spotlight Wednesday evening at a send-off event before it heads to the FSGP and American Solar Challenge this week.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Future of Gainesville RTS system still uncertain following $24.6 million federal grant

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 15

Following community controversy over RTS funding cuts, the system’s most recent monetary contributions did not come from the university but instead came in the form of a $24.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration as a part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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METRO  |  BUSINESS

State funding cuts could bring the Hippodrome’s 51 years in Gainesville to an end

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 15

Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed all state arts and culture grants without warning July 12. Over $1 million was requested from Alachua County organizations alone, and though some applications were initially approved, all funds were later denied. The Hippodrome is one of 600 Florida organizations reeling from the cuts to funding they historically relied on.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS STUDENT LIFE

UF hosts 8th annual Livestock Judging Camp

By Kamala Rossi | July 15

From July 10 to July 13, kids aged 8 to 18 passed through the doors of the UF/IFAS beef teaching unit for UF’s Livestock Judging Camp.

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NEWS  |  CAMPUS

Cherished community cat ‘Precious’ safely returned home

By Carlos Alemany | July 15

A once bereaved community can now rest assured their beloved brown-and-white striped emotional support provider is in good health following her nine-day disappearance from the public eye. Precious, an elderly community cat who resided in UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions since 2009, was officially returned and reunited with her primary caregiver July 11. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Special Olympics bowling competition draws nearly 150 local athletes

By Sara-James Ranta | July 15

Nearly 150 Special Olympics athletes from Alachua and Bradford Counties gathered at Alley Gatorz to participate in the Area 3 Central Bowling Competition. During the free event, 17 coaches and 45 volunteers aided the athletes. 

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THE AVENUE  |  MOVIES AND TV

A Cannes-do attitude: Why you don’t need a music degree to make music

By Noor Sukkar | July 15

It’s 2003. John Fulford’s bachelor’s degree in finance stares back at the phone that never got a call back for a second interview at the bank. He instead tunes his guitar, scrabbles some more lyrics and burns another CD. It’s 2006. His master's degree in international business is itching to make it out of Gainesville. Instead of waiting on that phone to ring, he rings TV producers in Los Angeles pitching his abundant cache of music.  It’s 2024. Comedy-drama film “Anora” wins the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival — the Palme d’Or. His music is in the soundtrack, and his career is at its peak.

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SPORTS  |  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida women’s basketball heads back to hardwood with revamped 2024-25 squad

By Jack Meyer | July 15

Following a bittersweet 2023-24 campaign, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team is ready to put itself back on the map and make some noise this season. 

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SPORTS  |  GYMNASTICS

Jenny Rowland’s emphasis on personal growth, fun inspires success in Florida gymnasts

By Max Bernstein | July 15

Entering her 10th season as the Florida head gymnastics coach, Jenny Rowland found success through a coaching style focused on competitive spirit and personal growth.

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THE AVENUE  |  LIFESTYLE

Latino community celebrates first ceviche and beer festival

By Jose Carmona | July 15

Members of the Gainesville Latino community gathered July 13 to promote small businesses and Hispanic musical talent at the “Ceviche and Beer Festival.”

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SPANISH

Comunidad latina celebra el primer festival del ceviche y la cerveza

By Jose Carmona | July 15

La comunidad latina se unió este sábado 13 de julio en Gainesville para promover pequeños negocios y talento musical hispano en el Festival del Ceviche y la Cerveza. 

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THE AVENUE  |  FOOD

Gainesville hunts for golden babies at The Top’s 24th anniversary event

By Ben Nielsen | July 15

The Top filled with balloons July 13 as a crowd of people waited outside to be let in for the 24th anniversary of the restaurant’s opening.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

‘Dark Brandon’ delusions: Biden’s narcissism places his feelings over country

By Rey Arcenas | July 15

“Dark Brandon is coming back,” President Biden told one voter earlier this month. Dark Brandon, to review, is the internet meme that satirizes the president’s low energy persona by depicting him as a laser-eyed figure cloaked in darkness obliterating malarkey. Its inversion of reality is the punchline. Biden, too, has increasingly inverted reality as he desperately clings to his party’s nomination after a devastating debate performance. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Mom crossed the border, so I crossed out my dreams

By Vivienne Serret | July 15

As a first-generation Latina, iIt’s been up to me to be the glue that puts back the pieces of shattered dreams that once belonged to the 19-year-old version of my mother — a burden placed on me the second I was born. 

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SPORTS  |  BASEBALL

Jac Caglianone selected No. 6 overall to the Kansas City Royals in MLB Draft

By Max Tucker | July 14

Florida baseball phenom Jac Caglianone’s dream turned into a reality Sunday night when the Kansas City Royals selected the former two-way star with the No. 6 pick in the MLB Draft.

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METRO  |  BREAKING NEWS

Potential shots fired at Pennsylvania Trump rally

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 13

Former President Donald Trump’s Saturday rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, ended minutes into his speech with potential shots fired and an injury to his ear. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville registered sex offender arrested on suspicion of sending sexually explicit material to a minor

By Lee Ann Anderson | July 10

The Gainesville Police Department arrested a 22-year-old registered sex offender Tuesday on suspicion of sending sexually explicit material to a minor in violation of her probation.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City of Gainesville awarded $24.6 million federal grant toward energy efficient RTS

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 10

The City of Gainesville Department of Transportation was awarded a $24.6 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration through the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to achieve zero emissions by 2025. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission reconsiders hosting World Masters

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 10

In its meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission discussed the budget for the World Masters Track and Field Championship, which the county won a bid to host in 2025.