Metro

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METRO

Gainesville continues its celebration of Pride with events, museum exhibits and feelings of community

By Molly Seghi , Bea Lunardini and Jared Teitel | Oct. 23, 2023

Pride Month has been a celebration of the queer community since 1970, just one year after LGBTQ+ individuals fought against systemic injustices in the Stonewall Riots. Although the cause is commemorated nationwide in the month of June for over 50 years, Gainesville serves as one city celebrating Pride Month just a bit longer. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Rosewood man sentenced to a year in prison for hate-crime charges

By Sophia Bailly | Oct. 19, 2023

A Rosewood resident was sentenced to federal prison a year after an attack against six Black men.

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METRO

Gainesville Sister Cities: Supporting Israeli and Palestinian communities

By Kat Tran | Oct. 16, 2023

For the past 26 years, the city of Gainesville has fostered international connections with its local government by partnering with the cities of Kfar Saba, Israel and Qalqilya, Palestine through the Sister City Program of Gainesville, Inc. With the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the program is needed now more than ever, according to Gainesville officials. 

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Conservative parents weigh in on school library objections

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 16, 2023

Following Alachua County Public School’s first book removal under protocols for challenging school library books, conservative parents are skeptical about whether a formalized system achieves its goal of protecting their children from inappropriate content at a young age.

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METRO

Gainesville’s new Ronald McDonald House boasts space for 20 more families

By Zoey Thomas | Oct. 13, 2023

The plan for the new Ronald McDonald House began seven years ago, when Chief Executive Officer Sherry Houston decided she needed to do something to shorten RMH’s long waitlist. The house was fully booked 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and turned away 1,962 families in 2021 alone.

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METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Pedestrian beacons added to three crosswalks Alachua County Public Schools

Oct. 12, 2023

Alachua County installed flashing signs indicating to drivers when a pedestrian is crossing the road at three public school crosswalks.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested after poisoning neighbors cats with antifreeze

By Jordan Ramos | Oct. 10, 2023

Gainesville Police arrested a man after he allegedly poisoned two of his neighbors cats Oct. 2 after threatening to kill them the day before.

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METRO

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office limits free jail phone call plan

By Zoey Thomas | Oct. 9, 2023

When Emily Westerholm visited the Alachua County Jail Oct. 1, she said the air felt like Christmas Eve. Inmates were excitedly awaiting the implementation of the county’s ordinance — allowing free and unlimited jail phone calls meant to go into effect that day. The excitement, however, didn't last long.

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man mauled by K-9 sentenced to prison, future of K-9 unit unclear

By Valentina Sandoval | Oct. 9, 2023

The recent sentencing of a Gainesville man who lost an eye in a mauling by a Gainesville Police Department K-9 has sparked concern among the community about whether justice was served. 

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METRO

New state-appointed GRU board sets precedent in U.S. history

By Kat Tran | Oct. 9, 2023

In a crowded Gainesville City Hall on Sept. 4, a historical precedent was set as the new governor-appointed Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board met for the first time. At the meeting, board members established meeting times and location and sought a direction for the future of Gainesville's utilities. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Taxidermist’s artwork resonates with clients throughout the state

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 6, 2023

When he’s not busy driving fire trucks for the Alachua County Fire Rescue, 54-year-old Patton, who goes by “JJ” with his friends, runs Wildlife Transitions Taxidermy, a company that grew from his passion for taxidermy. 

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Man executed for 1996 murder Tuesday at Florida State Prison

By Ella Thompson | Oct. 4, 2023

Michael Duane Zack III woke up Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m. and met with his first wife, Ann-Kristin. He declined a last meal, met with his spiritual advisor and died by lethal injection by 6:14 p.m. that same day. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Reina Saco: From refugee to the Gainesville City Commission

By Kat Tran | Oct. 2, 2023

Bringing a fiery passion and fierce drive for justice within the Gainesville City Commission, Reina Saco, a 33-year-old city commissioner, carries many identities — notably, her first-generation Cuban background.

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County immigrants fear new SB 1718’s impact on health care

By Valentina Sandoval and Jinelle Vazquez | Oct. 2, 2023

Senate Bill 1718 took effect July 1 and is among the strictest immigration laws in the country. One of the controversial aspects of the law is the provision requiring any hospital that accepts Medicaid to ask about patients’ immigration status. Local advocacy organizations, health care workers and community members worry about the impacts the law could have on immigrant households across Alachua County.

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METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County to greet new sheriff Monday

By Alissa Gary | Oct. 2, 2023

Emery Gainey, a Republican veteran of sheriff’s duties across Florida, will ascend into the role of Alachua County Sheriff Monday following his appointment to the position by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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METRO

Multiple pitbulls found dead in Archer

By Ella Thompson | Oct. 2, 2023

Residents suspect dogfighting is what’s causing this surge in mysterious pitbull and mixed breed deaths around the city of Archer.

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METRO

Veteran makes $10,000 homeless clinic donation for suicide prevention month

By Zoey Thomas | Oct. 2, 2023

Nash Cooper doesn’t want his $10,000 donation to be about him. Instead, the 59-year old veteran hopes his contribution to Helping Hands Clinic raises awareness about suicide prevention, especially for youth and those who, like him, have experienced homelessness. Cooper made the donation to the volunteer-based clinic, which delivers health care to the poor and homeless in Gainesville, in honor of former volunteer Eric “Thomas” Anderson. 

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METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man charged with 12 counts of possession of child pornography

By Jordan Ramos | Sep. 29, 2023

Robert Godwin, 70, was arrested Thursday morning after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a “CyberTip” from Microsoft Wednesday, according to a Gainesville Police Department arrest affidavit. 

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METRO  |  BREAKING NEWS

Gainesville man mauled by K-9 changes plea, will serve prison time

By Emma Behrmann | Sep. 26, 2023

The Gainesville man who was mauled by a Gainesville Police Department K-9 in July 2022 while fleeing a traffic stop changed his not guilty plea Tuesday and was sentenced to a year in prison.

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METRO

Gainesville residents both welcome and criticize Airbnb growth

By Zoey Thomas | Sep. 25, 2023

Alachua County holds 606 short-term rental units. In The Magnolia Plantation owner Cindy Montalto’s words, “You can’t swing a dead cat in Gainesville without hitting an Airbnb.” Short-term rental (STR) units are residential spaces usually rented for under 30 days at a time and managed through online platforms like Airbnb. The industry is growing in Gainesville. AirDNA, a STR data analysis platform, ranked Gainesville among the top 15 best U.S. cities to invest in vacation rentals in 2021, 2022 and 2023.