Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man arrested after accused of kicking ACSO dog, again

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Jan. 22, 2019

It took three deputies to arrest him

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

‘Let’s do this, fat boy’: Man accused of fighting building staff

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Jan. 22, 2019

A man accused of breaking into a building was arrested Sunday after allegedly swinging a backpack at two employees and calling one “fat boy.”

About 40 people marched from the Civic Meeting Center, at 433 S. Main St., to the County Commission Hearing at the Alachua County Administration Building, at 12 SE First St., to discuss the county’s contract for prison labor.

METRO

Alachua County Commission raises age to buy tobacco, ends prisoner labor

By Karina Elwood | Jan. 22, 2019

The Alachua County Commission voted Tuesday night to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products and voted to end using prisoners for county labor.

Guillermo Gonzalez Sr., 52, gives a thumbs up in front of his food truck, El Punto, at Newberry’s First Food Truck Festival Jan. 6. Courtesy to The Alligator

METRO

A taste of Puerto Rico comes to Gainesville in a truck

By Kaelyn Cassidy | Jan. 22, 2019

A welcoming atmosphere, a family business and the tastes of San Juan can all be found in one of Gainesville’s newest food trucks, El Punto.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

FHP: High Springs fire chief accused of drunk driving

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Jan. 22, 2019

He told officers he had a beer and two mixed drinks

With the help of friends and family, Cub Scout Pack 127 takes part in the cleanup of Ardisia Crenata in woodlands around the city of Gainesville. Ana Escalante / Alligator Contributor

METRO

City of Gainesville hosts rally to remove local invasive species

By Ana Escalante | Jan. 22, 2019

About 600 people helped out

METRO

Meet the Santa Fe student running for mayor

By Karina Elwood | Jan. 21, 2019

Marlon Bruce is the fourth candidate running.

This Tuesday, April 10, 2018 file photo shows vaping devices, including a Juul, center, that were confiscated from students at a high school in Marshfield, Mass. On Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, San Francisco-based Juul Labs Inc. announced it had stopped filling orders for its mango, fruit, creme and cucumber pods but not menthol and mint. It will sell all flavors through its website and limit sales to those 21 and older. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

METRO

Youth vaping increases in Alachua County

By Precious Polycarpe | Jan. 21, 2019

Youth vaping has increased about 60 percent in two years.

Mayor Lauren Poe, Gainesville city commissioners and city staff listen to the public’s comments Jan. 18, 2019, during the Gainesville City Commission meeting at City Hall. The meeting was over four hours long, and the panel of legislators passed legislation that banned the use of plastic bags in Gainesville.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

The plastic ban: Gainesville will be 100 percent waste free by 2040

By Karina Elwood | Jan. 17, 2019

Citations will cost $250.

Two-week-old Jordan Decker lies on his mother, Sandra Decker, at a La Leche League of Gainesville meeting in April. In Florida, the lowest statewide average for a standard hospital delivery is $9,008.

METRO

Mental health care center for moms opens in Alachua

By Taylor Girtman | Jan. 17, 2019

The center has the first program of its kind in the southeast.

Jimmy Toney, the 45-year-old pastor of The Pentecostals of Gainesville, leads a vigil for the victims of the I-75 accident last Thursday. People filled the church Sunday evening to support the families of the victims and pray for their recovery. “They’ve been stuck in hospitals with doom and gloom and death,” Toney said. “I just think it meant the world.” // Chris Day, The Alligator

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Lawsuit filed, donations collected following I-75 crash

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Jan. 17, 2019

More than $5,000 in donations was collected.

Mark Daniel, a complete paraplegic, uses the Quix prototype on the cobblestone streets of Zurich, Switzerland. Daniel is the official tester for the exoskeletons developed by Myolyn and the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. Courtesy to The Alligator.

METRO

UF alumni start-up company becomes finalist in Toyota’s Mobility Unlimited Challenge

By Mikayla Carroll | Jan. 17, 2019

Finalists receive a $50,000 grant for their projects.

Deborah Bowie, 48, was chosen to be the interim Gainesville city manager. Courtesy to The Alligator.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission picks Deborah Bowie as interim manager

By Kelly Hayes | Jan. 17, 2019

A permanent city manager will be decided next commission meeting.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

County Commission discusses Gainesville redevelopment agency

By Josephine Fuller | Jan. 15, 2019

A decision has been postponed until Feb. 11.

METRO | POLITICS

Trump gave Clemson the short end of the stick

By Mark Stine | Jan. 15, 2019

Imagine you’re a Clemson Tiger, fresh off your National-Championship win over Alabama, pulling up to the White House.

Gainesville City Commissioner David Arreola speaking about public transportation and energy conservation during the Clean Energy Campaign kickoff event Monday night. Made Spector / Contributing Writer

METRO

‘This is not a debate’: 2019 Clean Energy Campaign kicks off

By Madi Spector | Jan. 15, 2019

About 30 people attended the event.

The bridge over 13th Street, nicknamed the DNA bridge, is empty early Thursday morning.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

County Commission to discuss Gainesville redevelopment agency

By Karina Elwood | Jan. 14, 2019

The agency received $4.2 million from the county.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

3 Live Oak young children die after getting trapped in chest freezer

By The Associated Press | Jan. 14, 2019

LIVE OAK, Fla. (AP) — Authorities in Florida say three young children playing outside climbed into an unplugged chest freezer and died when they couldn’t get out.

Gainesville City Manager Anthony Lyons speaks during the 2018 State of the City Address on Wednesday at the Gainesville Police Department.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Interim city manager to be decided Thursday

By Taylor Girtman | Jan. 13, 2019

Three candidates applied for the position.

Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall, far left, and an unidentified man stand next to Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Charles Greenlee, from left, in Florida. The three men along with a fourth were charged with rape in 1949. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and a Cabinet granted posthumous pardons Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, to Shepherd, Irvin, Charles Greenlee and Ernest Thomas, the four were charged with rape in 1949. Courtesy of Associated Press

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The Groveland Four pardoned after 70 years, their deaths

By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez | Jan. 13, 2019

The four men were accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in 1949.