1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Kennedy Baker tore her Achilles tendon during her floor routine against Arkansas. Now, she said she wants to be her team's biggest cheerleader.

SPORTS | FEATURES

VITAL SIGNS: Baker using ASL to connect with cousin

By Alana Gomez | Apr. 5, 2018

Kennedy Baker awaited her cue on the edge of the mat as her gold eyeshadow and silver eyeliner masked the nerves that vibrated through her body. She swept her hair back and looked around at the sold-out crowd of 9,661 while the sparkles on her blue and orange uniform twinkled under the dim lights of the O’Connell Center.

METRO

Oaks Mall Plaza to be sold this month

By Rachel Porter | Apr. 5, 2018

The Oaks Mall Plaza will be sold on April 26, according to a notice of sale the U.S. Bank National Association submitted to the Alachua County Circuit Court.

METRO

Kilwins chocolate store to open in Gainesville

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 5, 2018

To Emily Fradet, Kilwins means Christmas.

Two-year-old Isobel Vincent picks up a box of diapers at the UF Transportation and Parking Services office Wednesday afternoon. Employees donated two boxes of diapers to her and her parents after her father, Michael Vincent, a 33-year-old UF PhD musicology candidate, tweeted at UF President Kent Fuchs about the “Food for Fines” program.

NEWS | CAMPUS UF ADMINISTRATION

President Fuchs helps family get diapers through "Food for Fines" program

By Amanda Rosa | Apr. 5, 2018

A package of fruit cups, two cans, a pack of soap and box of macaroni and cheese gathering dust in Valentina Eslava’s kitchen cabinet since Hurricane Irma got her out of paying a $250 parking citation fee.

About 200 UF students, faculty and local fans came to see Dava Sobel, the No. 1 New York Times best-selling author of “Galileo’s Daughter,” Thursday night at Ustler Hall. Sobel’s other novels include “The Glass Universe” and “Longitude.”

NEWS | CAMPUS

NYT best-selling author speaks about women in astronomy

By Tamarra Thal | Apr. 5, 2018

Dava Sobel remembers a conversation with a woman who thought the work the women did in the movie “Hidden Figures” was “cute.”

Noam Bilitzer, 25, a 2011 graduate of the Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School, won the title “Chopped Champion” and $10,000 on Food Network's “Chopped” episode that premiered Tuesday.

METRO

Eastside High School alumnus wins on Food Network show

By Sabrina Conza | Apr. 5, 2018

Noam Bilitzer’s mom was shocked when she turned on the TV and saw her son live his childhood dream.

METRO

Alter Ego Fitness donating equipment to YMCA

By Nicole Cruz | Apr. 5, 2018

Steve Szanca received a call in March from a man saying he had some equipment to donate to the North Central Florida YMCA.

Vera Mathews (left) holds Nate, and Yvette Mathews holds Bella as they pose for a photo at St. Francis Pet Care.

METRO

St. Francis Pet Care to build new clinic to meet demand

By Jessica Giles | Apr. 5, 2018

With 800 cats and dogs running around, St. Francis Pet Care is organized chaos.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels: April 5, 2018

Apr. 5, 2018

As you speed walk to your 12:50 p.m. class because you woke up late, you finally reach the corner of West University and 13th Street. You’re sweaty and 20 minutes late when the Hub comes into sight. Will being five minutes late to lecture actually make a difference? You did bring a reusable traveling mug, after all. You go to the Starbucks counter, give them your typical order — a grande French vanilla iced latte, double the syrup with caramel drizzle and an extra shot of espresso — and they stick on the label.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gainesville is not as welcoming as it claims to be

Apr. 5, 2018

Two years ago, Gainesville declared itself a welcoming city. However, a recent incident with the Gainesville Police has shown it may not be all that welcoming.

OPINION | COLUMNS

So you want to get more funding for the DRC and the CWC?

By Zachariah Chou | Apr. 5, 2018

I was quite disappointed to see the feature Friday article from last week detail the blight of insufficient funding for the Disability Resource Center on campus. The article made reference to the decision by the local fee committee not to increase funding for the DRC back in October, which brought back a lot of bad memories, as it was that very same meeting in which the committee turned down an opportunity to increase funding to the Counseling & Wellness Center.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why did digital downloading die?

Apr. 5, 2018

A recently released Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) report revealed physical music sales surpassed digital downloads in 2017 for the first time since 2011. The difference is only 2 percent, but it is still significant. It is an indicator of the two factors that killed digital downloading: the rise of vinyl and the dominance of streaming.