Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

The only Whole Foods Market in North Central Florida is set to open.

METRO

First Whole Foods Market in North Central Florida comes to Gainesville

By Angela DiMichele | May 8, 2018

The first Whole Foods Market in Gainesville is set to open Wednesday.

District 1 Commissioner-elect Gigi Simmons (right) celebrates with friends and supporters after winning the runoff election between her and incumbent Charles Goston.

METRO

Simmons defeats incumbent for District 1 seat

May 1, 2018

The room was filled with pink shirts as Gigi Simmons’ supporters watched the votes pour in.

A group of law enforcement officers drive under the U.S. flag hoisted by Alachua County Fire Rescue and Gainesville Fire Rescue fire engine ladders as part of the funeral procession on South Main Street in Bell, Florida for the two deputies who were shot in Trenton.

METRO

‘Never be forgotten’: Thousands honor killed deputies

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 24, 2018

With a New York Police Department patch clutched in one hand, 9-year-old Kaden Rogers waved with the other to first responders who drove by him.

In this Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, handguns are displayed at the Smith & Wesson booth at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville wants to regulate local gun laws. So it’s suing Gov. Rick Scott.

By Jessica Giles | Apr. 23, 2018

The City of Gainesville joined 10 other Florida cities in a lawsuit challenging portions of the state statute restricting local regulation of guns.

The Sears at The Oaks Mall is scheduled to close by mid-July.

METRO

Sears is closing at The Oaks Mall. The liquidation sale starts this week.

By Raymon Troncoso | Apr. 23, 2018

The store is scheduled to close by mid-July following a trend of declining profits for traditional department stores as customers migrate to online shopping.

Edward Ratliff, 32, Gainesville Police Department Police officer pets Ace, 26-month old German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, who is one of the newest additions to the K-9 special unit.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Meet Ace and Ranger: GPD K-9’s newest members

By Amanda Rosa | Apr. 23, 2018

When Gainesville Police Officer Josh Meurer’s partner arrived to the city from Germany in February, they didn’t bond right away. But after a month of training and playing fetch together, Meurer and Ranger are inseparable.

Forest High School students console one another after a school shooting at Forest High School Friday, April 20, 2018 in Ocala, Fla. One student shot another in the ankle at the high school and a suspect is in custody, authorities said Friday. The injured student was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

METRO

MCSO: Forest High School shooter tells deputies why he did it

By Amanda Rosa | Apr. 22, 2018

Forest High School students were supposed to walk out in calm protest.

These undated photos made available by the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office shows Sgt. Noel Ramirez, left, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey. Authorities say the two Florida sheriff's deputies were shot dead, Thursday, April 19, 2018, through the window of a Chinese restaurant in Gilchrist, Fla., by a man who then killed himself.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies to be buried Tuesday

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 22, 2018

Shortly after midnight Friday, red, blue and white flashing lights lit the 30-mile path from Trenton to Gainesville’s medical examiner’s office.

Rhett Barker, 24, lead 25 hikers down Hawthorne Trail for a six-mile hike. Saturday was the second hike organized by Barker and some friends to tell lawmakers to invest in conservation land.

METRO

About 30 people make trek for environmental awareness

By Tamarra Thal | Apr. 22, 2018

Twenty-five people armed with backpacks, cargo pants and hats took off on a six-mile hike on a 70-degree cloudy Saturday afternoon to persuade Florida legislators to preserve the state’s wildlife.

SWAT Officer Daniel Rengering, right, will report live from the Grammys for PopWrapped TV. Rengering said he will also be a host at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 27 and will be a guest speaker at the 91st Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial in August.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

One of GPD’s ‘hot cops’ will be at the Grammys, then Oscars

By Rachel Porter | Apr. 22, 2018

One viral Facebook post has led a Gainesville Police “hot cop” to be at the 61st Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles in early 2019 to interview celebrities on the red carpet.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy, group shot at by other group

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 22, 2018

Three days after two Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies were slain, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot at early Sunday morning, MCSO said.

Students at Eastside High School walkout of class in support of gun reform.

METRO

Eastside High School students participate in walkout

By Jessica Giles | Apr. 22, 2018

Hours after a single gunshot rang out at Forest High School about 40 miles away, about 200 students walked out of Eastside High School on Friday morning as part of a National School Walkout.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Man shot, killed in northeast Gainesville

By Robert Lewis | Apr. 22, 2018

Update 9:30 a.m. Monday: Gainesville Police identified the man killed and said his killer knew him.

A Marion County Sheriff's Deputy stands outside Forest High School as students exit the school after a school shooting occurred, Friday, April 20, 2018 in Ocala, Fla. One student shot another in the ankle at the high school and a suspect is in custody, authorities said Friday. The injured student was taken to a local hospital for treatment. (

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

One injured in Ocala school shooting

By Amanda Rosa and David Hoffman | Apr. 20, 2018

One person is injured and a suspect is in custody after a reported shooting at Forest High School in Marion County, authorities reported.

In this Feb. 19, 2015 file photo, Steve Tuttle, vice president of communications for Taser International, demonstrates one of the company's body cameras during a company-sponsored conference at the California Highway Patrol headquarters in Sacramento, Calif.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

City officials approve body cameras for 107 GPD officers

By Jessica Giles | Apr. 19, 2018

The City Commission approved a contract Thursday to equip more than 100 Gainesville Police Department officers with body-worn cameras.

METRO

Possible salmonella outbreak results in recall on Publix eggs

By Bailey Wingate | Apr. 19, 2018

The threat of salmonella has caused several supermarkets to pull eggs from their shelves, but Publix Super Markets in Gainesville didn’t have to pull any because they were already expired.

METRO

Alachua County struggling to find local families for foster children

By Camille Graham | Apr. 19, 2018

Alachua County may have to look to neighboring counties to house foster children.

Patrol vehicles from different agencies driving through Gainesville at 1 a.m. Friday along University Avenue to escort the deputies to the medical examiner's office on Southwest Third Avenue.

METRO

Two Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office deputies shot and killed

By Meryl Kornfield and Robert Lewis | Apr. 19, 2018

Update 1:10 a.m. Friday: A couple hundred patrol vehicles from different agencies drove from Trenton to Gainesville to escort the deputies to the medical examiner's office on Southwest Third Avenue. When authorities arrived at about 1 a.m. Friday, they closed off parts of West University Avenue.

Oscar Psychas, 20, is suing the state of Florida with seven other people under 21 to advocate for better environmental practices. He hiked 300 miles last February to raise awareness for conservation of Florida’s wild areas.

METRO

An Eastside High School alumnus is suing Florida to change its environmental practices

By Sabrina Conza | Apr. 18, 2018

A 2016 graduate of Eastside High School and seven others between the ages 10 and 20 are suing the state of Florida for promoting the use of fossil fuels that lead to climate change.

METRO

Alachua County wants buyer of Camp McConnell to use the land for community purposes

By Will Clewis | Apr. 18, 2018

Alachua County commissioners have taken a step forward in deciding the future of Camp McConnell: They’ve set rules for how the land can be used.