1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF assistant cross country coach Chris Solinsky is a new addition to the team. “Leading into this year, it’s a bit more of a rebuilding year, just with the transitioning of coaches and different coaching philosophies,” Solinsky said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF cross country team runs in first meet

By Alana Gomez | Sep. 7, 2017

With Category 4 Hurricane Irma threatening to reign over Florida, the Gators men’s and women’s cross country season began earlier than planned this year. After saying goodbye to standouts such as Taylor Tubbs on the women’s team and Carlos Miranda on the men’s team, younger players have proven they can rise to the occasion after Thursday’s performance at the North Florida Invitational in Jacksonville, previously scheduled for Saturday morning.

UF head coach JC Deacon holds a scorecard during the 2017 Gator Invitational. Deacon and the Gators head to Scottsdale, Arizona, for the National Championship.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf heads to Georgia for season’s first tournament

By Tyler Nettuno | Sep. 7, 2017

Although Hurricane Irma looms over the state of Florida, it’s business as usual for the Gators men’s golf team, which begins its season on Friday.

UF coach Jim McElwain watches on during Florida's 33-17 loss against Michigan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators miss out on opportunity for tune-up game vs. Northern Colorado

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 7, 2017

After losing their season opener to Michigan in Texas, the Gators were looking for a confidence booster. Florida’s matchup with Northern Colorado was supposed to be the team’s get-back-on-track game before its conference schedule begins Sept. 16. But with Hurricane Irma approaching, No. 22 Florida’s chance at a tune-up game is gone.

Alachua County residents work to fill sandbags to prepare for Hurricane Irma. Irma is currently ranked as a Category 5 hurricane and projections see it heading toward Florida.

NEWS | SFC

Gainesville, UF hunker down for Hurricane Irma

Sep. 7, 2017

Hurricane Irma, a major storm with wind speeds of 175 miles per hour, shifted further west Thursday night, making the potential effects on Gainesville more severe.

OPINION | COLUMNS

One email can bring lots of hope to procrastinators everywhere

Sep. 7, 2017

At this point, everyone has heard the saying chivalry is dead. Honestly, I don’t know whether that’s true, but I have some better news. Regardless of what the boys are up to today, I can affirm that humanity, at least, is still very intact.

OPINION | DARTS LAURELS

Darts & Laurels

Sep. 7, 2017

You slowly make your way into the Marston Science Library Starbucks, sleep-deprived and in desperate need of your favorite holiday beverage: the pumpkin spice latte. Yes, dear readers, it’s back.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Hurricane memes: Let’s laugh before Irma hits

Sep. 7, 2017

I wanted to write about something political. I really did. I wanted to write about how I was told by two professors that class might be canceled either due to weather conditions or the violent threats of white supremacists. I wanted to write about the repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

OPINION | COLUMNS

It's time to realize that AI domination may be imminent

Sep. 7, 2017

Man created computers, but could computers be what ultimately brings mankind’s demise? With the advent of artificial intelligence in the last couple decades, computers have not only developed a mind of their own, but have become better at many of the things humans try to do. It is the classic tale of the apprentice rising up and turning on his master, and I fear we are quickly approaching the iconic moment in every film that has this sequence: the fleeting moment of stillness when the master realizes his fate and that his end will come from the exact thing he created.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Provost gives UF professor award for termite research

By Christina Morales | Sep. 7, 2017

Nan-Yao Su was recognized for his subterranean termite research with a UF Foundation Term Professorship.

METRO

Beekeepers to raise funds for UF Bee Lab at First Magnitude

By Juan Lozano | Sep. 7, 2017

Beekeepers will toast with beer to the construction of a new bee lab on campus.

METRO

Gainesville homeless shelter changes housing policy

By Jessica Giles | Sep. 7, 2017

Bill English’s day starts every morning at 4:30 a.m.

METRO

School opens exhibit by Gainesville artist

By Nicolette Perdomo | Sep. 7, 2017

In a suitcase large enough for him to fit inside comfortably, Frank Curtis wants to fill it with his personality.

Gainesville resident Amber Young-Parker, 44, holds her new foster cat, Carmilla, at the Alachua County Humane Society. Young-Parker is fostering the cat for two weeks to help the shelter before Hurricane Irma.

METRO

Humane Society waives adoption fees for hurricane

By Savannah Austin | Sep. 7, 2017

Amber Young-Parker walked into Alachua County Humane Society’s shelter Thursday and asked for a cat — any cat.

Derrick Kerr, a 20-year-old UF mechanical engineering junior, stands outside of the Reitz Union to collect donations for Harvey victims. He is volunteering with Help For Houston.

METRO

Gainesville shows support for Harvey victims

By Ashley Leong | Sep. 7, 2017

Amonté Martin was sitting next to his 2-year-old son watching the news about Houston’s flooding when he was moved to act.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators home opener called off because of hurricane

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 7, 2017

Florida’s first home football game was canceled Thursday because of Hurricane Irma.

NEWS | CAMPUS

Richard Spencer tentatively sets new date to speak at UF

By David Hoffman | Sep. 7, 2017

Avowed white nationalist leader Richard Spencer may speak at UF on Oct. 19.

NEWS

What's closed or canceled due to Hurricane Irma

Sep. 7, 2017

Latest News Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys on Sunday morning around 9 a.m. as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds up to 130 mph, according to CNN. Irma made a second landfall in Marco Island with winds of 120 mph as a Category 3 around 3:30 p.m. Gainesville is now in a Hurricane Warning. UF classes have now been canceled on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. UF will open a second shelter at Southwest Recreation Center, which will open Sunday at 10 a.m. It has a capacity of 2,000 and a no re-entry policy. The shelter at Steinbrenner Band Hall is full, at maximum capacity of 200. Football: The Florida vs. Northern Colorado game, which was set for noon Saturday, is now canceled. It will not be rescheduled. Schools: UF classes have been canceled Friday through Wednesday. UF’s dining services will continue regular hours until Saturday evening. Certain halls will be open Sunday and Monday, with details to be announced. Santa Fe College classes have been canceled Friday through Monday. Alachua County Public Schools have canceled classes Friday through Monday. Oak Hall School will be closed Friday through Monday. Saint Leo’s Gainesville Education Center is closed through Sunday. Shelters: On campus shelters: FULL: The Steinbrenner Band Hall will be available as a shelter starting 10 a.m. on Sunday. Students need a Gator One ID and guests need to be accompanied by someone with a Gator One. Southwest Recreation Center is another on-campus shelter. It is not pet friendly and people should bring their own bedding. Below is a list of Alachua County shelters that open Friday. Alachua Elementary School; 13800 Northwest 152nd Place; Opens Friday at 3 p.m. Buchholz High School; 5510 NW 27th Ave.; Opens Friday at 4 p.m. Chiles Elementary School; 2525 School House Road; Opens Friday at 3 p.m. Kanapaha Middle School; 5005 SW 75th St.; Opens Friday at 5 p.m. Meadowbrook Elementary School; 11525 NW 39th Ave.; Opens Friday at 3 p.m. Rawlings Elementary School; 3500 NE 15th St.; Opens Friday at 4 p.m. Santa Fe High School; 16213 US-441; Opens Friday at 4 p.m. Shell Elementary School; 21633 65th Ave.; Opens Friday at 3 p.m. Williams Elementary School; 1245 SE Seventh Ave.; Opens Friday at 3 p.m. Alachua County Senior Center (special needs); 5701 NW 34th Blvd.; Opens Friday at 10 a.m. Easton Newberry Sports Complex (pet-friendly); 24880 NW 16th Ave.; Opens Friday at 10 a.m. Waldo Community School (pet-friendly); 14450 NE 148th Ave.; Opens Friday at 5 p.m. Local: The GNV airport will be closed Sunday and Monday, and is expected to reopen on Tuesday. Medical: UF Health Shands Hospital will remain open 24/7. The small and large animal hospitals at UF will remain open for emergency service. All SIMED locations will be closed Monday. Food: On campus, open from Friday to Saturday: Beaty Pod will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fresh Food Company and Gator Corner Dining Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Graham POD/Chomp It will be open 24 hours for the two days Moe's Southwest Grill will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rawlings POD/Subway will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Reitz Union Food Court is closed. All buildings will close when winds become too strong. Chipotle is waiting for corporate to decide if it will close but a manager said it is likely they will close. Leonardo’s Pizza by the Slice and Bistro 1245 plan on staying open as long as the restaurants have electricity and their employees aren’t in danger. Mi Apa was unsure if it would close. Salty Dog Saloon will be remain open unless there is an evacuation for Gainesville. The bar has generators and is ready for a power outage. All Publix stores will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday and will remain closed through the duration of the storm. Jimmy John's: TBD. Lollicup is closed on Sunday and Monday. Gasoline: The GasBuddy Gasoline Availability Tracker. Entertainment and Events: The Hippodrome State Theatre will be closed Sunday and Monday. Those performances are canceled, and those who have tickets may call the Hippodrome box office to exchange them. The soccer match between UF and FSU on Friday has been canceled. The soccer match between UF and USF that was originally scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. has been canceled. Steve Spurrier’s UF Bookstore book signing and meet-and greet at 5 p.m. Saturday has been canceled and may be rescheduled.

UF running back Mark Thompson runs for a touchdown only for it to be called back due to a penalty during Florida's 33-17 loss to Michigan on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Column: Don’t make football a priority in times of crisis

By Ethan Bauer | Sep. 6, 2017

Florida running back Mark Thompson wants to talk about football and the Florida Gators. That’s understandable. He’s a football player for the Florida Gators, so usually, that’s what he’s asked about. On Tuesday, that changed.

UF head coach Mike White smiles during a press conference following Florida's 65-39 win against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament on March 18, 2017, in Orlando.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators basketball looking to fill lost pieces from 2016-17 season

By Skyler Lebron | Sep. 6, 2017

The Florida men’s basketball team will have to adjust, and fast.

Junior defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson said that West Virginia transfer is sleeping on his couch. “That’s my boy. Me and him grew up probably like 20 minutes from each other,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Corner Chauncey Gardner expected to play in Week 2; TE Goolsby, WR Robinson out

By Matt Brannon | Sep. 6, 2017

When cornerback Chauncey Gardner walked off the field with crutches and a walking boot after Florida’s season opener against Michigan on Saturday, it looked like the Gators’ already young secondary was about to lose one of its more experienced defensive backs.

El Caimán