1 - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPANISH

‘Republicans have had the upper hand’: Florida Latino voters are unresponsive to Democrats’ appeals

By Eluney Gonzalez | Apr. 15, 2024

Signaled by the election of Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, a slew of right-wing populists have assumed the presidency across Latin America. Argentina’s Javier Milei in 2023 and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele are the most recent entries into this trend, while Chile’s José Antonio Kast popularity only increases for the 2025 election. Across Latin America, it seems left-leaning parties have failed to capture the popular imagination in the way Milei, Bukele and Bolsonaro have.

Birdie Box pictured on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

THE AVENUE | FOOD

Gainesville mourns closure of gourmet chicken shop Birdie Box Sando

By Alexandra Burns | Apr. 15, 2024

The opportunity to eat a dripping hot chicken sandwich in a light pink double-decker bus has come to an end. After three years in Gainesville, Birdie Box Sando, located at 2216 SW 13th St., announced April 2 it is permanently closing its doors in Gainesville. The closure was effective immediately following the announcement.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan talks to his team during a mound visit in the Gators' loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, April 12, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Despite snapping six-game losing streak, Florida baseball’s season hanging by a thread

By Luke Adragna | Apr. 14, 2024

Despite snapping a six-game losing streak Sunday, Florida baseball's season may be hanging on by a thread.

Florida softball freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock pitches the ball in the Gators' loss to Oklahoma State on Monday, February 19, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Rothrock delivers, helps Gators take Game 3 over Missouri

By Max Bernstein | Apr. 14, 2024

The No. 9 Gators softball team was able to grab the final game of its series against Missouri 3-1.

UF golfer Maisie Filler on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida women’s golf fails to qualify for match play in SEC Championship

By Hannah Getman | Apr. 14, 2024

Entering the third round of stroke play six shots back from the top-eight, Florida women’s golf was prepared to make a run in the final 18 holes. After two up-and-down rounds in the days prior, the Gators were hoping to turn their play around and qualify for the match play quarterfinals.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 25 Gators men’s tennis sweeps No. 21 South Carolina in final regular season match

By Chandler Hawkes | Apr. 14, 2024

Sunday, the Gators men’s tennis team swept No. 21 South Carolina in its final regular season match.

Florida senior Claire Bryant soars to collegiate victory in the women's long jump in the Tom James Memorial Invitational on April 12, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators track and field set records at two meets

By Emma DiNicola | Apr. 13, 2024

The Gators continued their momentum into the second home meet of the 2024 Outdoor season.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O' Sullivan takes the ball from Brandon Neely in the team's loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, April 12, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Pierce Coppola makes his return, not enough for Gators baseball in loss to Gamecocks

By Luke Adragna | Apr. 13, 2024

The Gators baseball team lost its sixth straight game, Saturday to South Carolina. Florida suffered its first home series loss since 2022.

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz in the huddle with his Blue team during the Orange and Blue Game on Saturday, April 13. Photo by Ryan Friedenberg

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Lagway, Mertz and Tre Wilson III highlight Florida in 2024 Orange and Blue Game

By Max Tucker | Apr. 13, 2024

The Florida football team put its talents on display for the first time in 2024 during the annual Orange and Blue Game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Saturday.

Florida's Rachel Gailis serves the ball in the team's win over Ole Miss on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida ends regular season on high note, wins 10th straight

By Max Bernstein | Apr. 13, 2024

The No. 13 Gators women’s tennis team outlasted No. 18 South Carolina 4-2 on Saturday to close out its regular season.

Gators lacrosse freshman Gabbi Koury handles the ball in the team's win over Old Dominion University on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

No. 9 Florida lacrosse takes down No. 14 James Madison

By Lacey Rogers | Apr. 13, 2024

The Florida lacrosse team scored seven goals in the fourth quarter to advance past James Madison, Saturday.

Florida head coach Todd Golden watches his team in practice at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball gets first offseason transfer in Chattanooga’s Sam Alexis

By Bennett Solomon | Apr. 13, 2024

Florida men’s basketball earned its first transfer of the offseason in Chattanooga forward Sam Alexis.

Florida senior Lukas Greif hits the ball with his racket during the Gators' 6-1 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks Friday, March 24, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 25 Gators men’s tennis drops heartbreaker to Arkansas

By Chandler Hawkes | Apr. 13, 2024

The No. 25 Florida Gators men’s tennis team (11-10, 5-6 SEC) went on the road Friday to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (19-9, 5-6 SEC). After a grueling battle, the Razorbacks bested the Gators 4-3.

Florida baseball first baseman Jac Caglianone stares the pitcher down in the team's opening night loss to St. John's University on Friday, February 16, 2024.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators baseball loses to South Carolina, drops fifth consecutive game

By Luke Adragna | Apr. 12, 2024

Gators baseball fell to South Carolina Friday night, suffering its fifth consecutive loss for the first time since 2013.

Kendra Falby swings at a pitch in the Gators softball team's loss to the LSU Tigers on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball falls to Missouri, suffers second straight loss

By Hailey Hurst | Apr. 12, 2024

After falling short to South Florida in a midweek contest Wednesday, the Gators softball team headed on the road to compete in its fifth SEC series.

UF first-year interdisciplinary ecology PH.D. student, Natalia Uribe, 29, boards RTS bus No. 34 on Wednesday, September 2, 2020. Uribe said she thinks the buses are safe and that not many people are using them.

NEWS

Gainesville City Commission addresses proposed funding cuts to RTS; UF invites city ‘back to the table’

By Bailey Diem and Sydney Johnson | Apr. 12, 2024

No official decisions have been made regarding the proposed changes, and UF and the city are “still at the table,” according to a letter from UF sent Thursday.

Hundreds of Muslim community members gather for Eid al-Fitr morning prayers

THE AVENUE | LIFESTYLE

Hundreds of Florida Muslims gather in Gainesville to celebrate Eid al-Fitr

By Molly Seghi | Apr. 11, 2024

Hundreds of Muslim community members prayed and feasted at the Eid al-Fitr celebration at Skate Station Funworks.

The Florida softball team during a mound visit in its game against the LSU Tigers on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball falls to USF in first midweek loss of the season

By Hailey Hurst | Apr. 10, 2024

Wednesday, the Florida softball team suffered its first midweek loss of the season to South Florida.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission moves to put single-member districts back on ballot

By Bailey Diem | Apr. 10, 2024

At its meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission moved to draft a ballot measure about single-member districts in the county.

Florida baseball head coach Kevin O'Sullivan takes a mound visit in the team's 12-2 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday, March 30, 2024.

NEWS

Florida baseball embarrassed by Florida State 19-4

By Bennett Solomon | Apr. 9, 2024

The Florida baseball team was swept by Florida State in a three-game series for the first time since 2000 following a 19-4 loss, Tuesday.

El Caimán