Juliana DeFilippo

Avenue Editor

Juliana is a second-year journalism student and the Spring 2026 Enterprise environment reporter. This is her fourth semester on The Alligator, and she previously served as an Avenue reporter and the Fall 2025 Avenue editor. In her free time, she loves reading, updating her Letterboxd account and doing crosswords.

A sign for Quikrete Cement sits at 4000 NW County Rd 235, in Newberry, Fla., Friday, April 17, 2026.

Bayden Armstrong

El Caimán

Residentes de Newberry denuncian ruido constante, polvo provenientes de una planta de cemento cercana

By Juliana DeFilippo , Angelique Rodriguez and Lily Hartzema | May 18

Cuando Jeff White se mudó a Newberry hace 16 años, él y su esposa planeaban quedarse allí por el resto de sus vidas. Solían bromear diciendo que el sonido proveniente de la cercana planta de cemento era la playa produciendo "una suave brisa,” a pesar de vivir a dos horas del océano más cercano.

Bayden Armstrong

Metro

Newberry residents report constant noise, dust from nearby cement plant

By Juliana DeFilippo and Lily Hartzema | May 12

When Jeff White moved to Newberry 16 years ago, he and his wife planned to stay for the rest of their lives. They used to joke that the noise from the nearby cement plant was the beach making ”a little breezy noise,” despite living two hours from the nearest ocean.

Florida residents find it increasingly difficult to get home insurance as anthropogenic climate change increases the frequency and intensity of human-made disasters in the Sunshine State.

Henry A. Moore

Enterprise

Gainesville could see population boom as climate change progresses

By Juliana DeFilippo | Mar. 28

As more South Florida residents are priced out of the area and climate threats loom, Central and North Florida are changing to accommodate emerging migration patterns.

Daniela Peñafiel

Enterprise

Florida panthers made a comeback in the ‘90s — where do they stand now?

By Juliana DeFilippo | Mar. 26

Cars are now the leading danger to panthers, accounting for 466 deaths since 1978, according to data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The Archer Recycling & Solid Waste Collection Center site is part of a new compost program in Alachua County, Fla. Captured Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

Aishani Lahiri

Enterprise

How one Gainesville compost company is rebuilding without city funds

By Juliana DeFilippo | Feb. 22

Since Beaten Path’s city contract ended, a new compost company has entered the area — partnered with Alachua County, rather than the city of Gainesville. O-Town Compost, based in Orlando, launched its rural collection center program Jan. 3.

Graham Woods at the University of Florida, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.

Caroline Walsh

News

UF committee delays decision on project that could remove nearly 1,000 trees

By Juliana DeFilippo | Feb. 8

The project would remove an estimated 947 trees, including 67 designated as heritage trees. The designation applies to trees of notable size, shape or importance.

UF students walk in between the fine arts buildings in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.

Ryan Friedenberg

News

UF windows have caused hundreds of bird deaths. A campus group seeks a solution.

By Juliana DeFilippo | Feb. 3

The Bird Window Collision Project advocates for bird-friendly building techniques, especially when it comes to windows like that of the HPNP building, which is just one of many potentially harmful areas on campus.

The lesser nighthawk was spotted in Alachua County for the first time since 1999, bringing crowds to its temporary location in Sweetwater Wetlands Park.

Daniela Peñafiel

Metro

This rare bird hasn’t been seen in Alachua County since 1999 — until now

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 22

After he caught word of the lesser nighthawk sighting in Alachua County, Tim Hardin went to see it for himself. It took him three days to finally catch a glimpse of the speckled bird, with its small pointed beak and sharp eyes, against the backdrop of Sweetwater Wetlands Park Dec. 19.

The Hippodrome Cinema hosts "The Librarians," a documentary about the Krause List banning 850 books, on Jan. 11, 2026.

Jordan Klucharich

The Avenue

The Hippodrome hosts book ban documentary screening with The Lynx bookstore

By Juliana DeFilippo | Jan. 13

The Hippodrome’s screening of the 2025 documentary “The Librarians” on Sunday, held in collaboration with The Lynx bookstore, brought a crowded theater. The local bookstore joined organizations like the Freedom to Read Project in promoting the film during its Jan. 10-18 run at the Hippodrome.

The Avenue

Avenue roundtable: Our favorite movies of the year

By Summer Johnston , Juliana DeFilippo , Isabel Kraby , Aaliyah Evertz and Christopher Rodriguez | Dec. 9

As the semester winds down, the Avenue desk wanted to reflect on some of our favorite films from throughout the year.