Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Donate Now
Logo of The Independent Florida Alligator
Newsletter
Apartments in Gainesville, FL
We inform. You decide.
Thursday, April 03, 2025

Enterprise | Politics

Sign displayed at Madison Street Baptist Church in Starke, Fla. during presidential primary elections on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Alachua County primary election season reflects low voter turnout, lack of faith among Republicans

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp and Diego Perdomo | Mar. 25, 2024

Alachua County Republican presidential preference primary voter turnout displays an overall decline since 2004, falling below the 2024 state average turnout of approximately 21.2%.  As state ballot counts are finalized, the 17 remaining presidential preference primaries will take place nationally spanning the end of March through the beginning of August. The chosen Democratic and Republican candidates will be finalized prior to the November general presidential election.

ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Alachua County residents prepare for presidential primaries, discuss low turnout rates

By Nicole Beltran | Mar. 18, 2024

This election season reminds Alachua County residents to inform themselves about new legislation and be mindful of deadlines. Turnout for primaries tends to be lower because citizens may not participate as often as the general elections due to a lack of knowledge on the candidacy, policies and importance of their vote. The process can also be overwhelming, eliciting fear rather than advocacy. 

ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Biden v. Trump: A local examination of the presidential ‘lesser of two evils’ debate

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Mar. 18, 2024

In light of the quickly approaching election season, UF students, professors and Gainesville residents have begun examining the impacts of political polarization and weighing the most likely presidential candidates to emerge from the primaries: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.  Florida’s primary election is slated for March 19, with 22 others remaining nationwide before the finalization of which Republican and Democrat candidates will advance to the November general election. 

ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Florida education reform initiatives limit African American studies, DEI funds

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Feb. 12, 2024

Various education reform bills have altered curriculum and cut funding to certain programs in public K-12 schools and universities since the beginning of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. The initiatives have targeted a wide variety of subject matter including diversity, equity and inclusion programs as well as all critical theory, a blanket term that encompasses the idea of critical race theory.  The passage of new legislation, both in support and opposition of past initiatives, faces the state legislature in 2024. 

ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Florida bill could lower the bar for defamation lawsuits against media organizations

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp | Feb. 5, 2024

House Bill 757 titled “Defamation, False Light, and Unauthorized Publication of Name or Likeness” seeks to lower the bar for public figures filing these lawsuits. Proposed by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, the initiative would widen the scope of actual malice, work to discredit anonymous sources, limit the use of artificial intelligence, establish 60-day veracity hearings and authorize venue expansion. 

ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Florida university faculty, students share mixed opinions on 2024 legislative session academic freedom bills

By Diego Perdomo | Jan. 22, 2024

As the legislative session ramps up, newly proposed bills that could alter the higher education landscape have faculty and students bracing themselves after last year’s education regulations.  Following the state’s 2023 move to defund public universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the Florida State Board of Education prohibited the usage of public funds for DEI programs in Florida’s 28 public state colleges, according to a Florida Department of Education news release Jan. 17.

Drag queen Elena La Fuega performs at University Club on Saturday Dec. 2, 2023.
ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

‘It’s a start’: Gainesville drag community celebrates temporary lift on Florida ban of children at shows

By Zoey Thomas | Dec. 4, 2023

On Nov. 16, the United States Supreme Court refused the state of Florida’s request to re-enact a law punishing businesses for allowing children into drag shows. Artists like Garrepy are taking the opportunity to celebrate the rare legal victory, which follows a flurry of Florida anti-LGBTQ laws passed over recent legislative terms.

Bread and Roses Women’s Health Center on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Petition to limit protests on Gainesville abortion clinic’s sidewalk reaches 700 signatures

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 13, 2023

Andrew Scholberg has been arrested 13 times. But that doesn’t deter the 71-year-old freelance writer and pro-life activist from continuing the work he’s been doing for almost 50 years — standing outside abortion clinics to pray and offer alternatives to women entering the building. A MoveOn petition created Nov. 2 asks the Gainesville City Commission to deter abortion critics like Scholberg from gathering outside Bread & Roses, one of Gainesville’s two abortion clinics. The petition, which gathered over 700 signatures in the week and a half since its creation, encourages signers to ask the commission for “No Loitering or Solicitation” signs along Northwest 10th Avenue.

A crowd of 150 pro-Palestinian protestors stand in the middle of the intersection chanting in unison for an end to the siege of Gaza Saturday, November 4, 2023.
ENTERPRISE  |  POLITICS

Pro-Palestinian groups march downtown to call for ceasefire

By Zoey Thomas | Nov. 5, 2023

Car horns blared at South First Avenue and South Main Street Saturday afternoon, when oncoming traffic found the road blocked by a crowd of 150 pro-Palestinian protestors standing in the middle of the intersection. Of the crowd, some carried roses, while others carried children on their shoulders — all chanting in unison for an end to the siege of Gaza.

Popular
Calendar
No events at this time.
Submit an event
Classifieds
Submit classified
Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2025 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.