Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Carolyn Witman, an anesthesia resident at UF, eats and drinks coffee with Ryan Butler and his dog, Penny, outside of the downtown Starbucks, located at 201 SE First St., on Monday. After the Starbucks CEO pledged to hire 10,000 refugees, #BoycottStarbucks started trending on Twitter. “I’m anti-boycott and pro-Starbucks,” Witman said.

METRO

Students react to Starbucks’ plan to hire 10,000 refugees

By Catherine Dickson | Jan. 30, 2017

Starbucks is doing what it can to help refugees when they come to the U.S.

At the third annual candidate forum on Monday, Alachua County City Commission candidates Sheryl Eddie, Helen Warren and Harvey Ward address Gainesville citizens about transportation in Gainesville.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Local group endorses City Commission candidates

By Meryl Kornfield | Jan. 30, 2017

Six board members from Gainesville Citizens for Active Transportation voted to endorse Helen Warren and Harvey Ward on Monday after six candidates for City Commission pledged to help make city streets safer.

Thomas Moseley, a 20-year-old UF telecommunication junior, shouts at 34-year-old Michael Dewitz (right) on Turlington Plaza on Thursday morning. Dewitz was later attacked after leaving campus.

METRO

Fundraiser created for men who attacked swastika-wearer

By Meryl Kornfield | Jan. 30, 2017

More than $2,000 has been raised to pay for the legal fees of two Gainesville residents who police say attacked and robbed Michael Dewitz, the man who sparked a four-hour protest at UF over his use of a swastika.

METRO

Community members boycott Uber app after protests

By Molly Vossler | Jan. 30, 2017

When transportation app Uber began offering cheap rides during a taxi strike against President Donald Trump’s recent immigration ban, UF student Yousef Alghawi deleted the app from his phone.

METRO

Free money-management classes offered

By Maddie Harlow | Jan. 30, 2017

In a city full of students, bad spending habits can easily spread.

METRO

YMCA to remain open, yet still faces financial hardship

By Molly Vossler | Jan. 30, 2017

After months of uncertainty, the North Central Florida YMCA announced Monday its doors will remain open.

Behnaz, a 42-year-old UF science management masters student who wanted her last name to remain anonymous, stands with a group of more than 120 people on Turlington Plaza to protest President Donald Trump's muslim ban. "This is not together, this is segregation,” she said.

METRO | POLITICS

‘This ban affects us all’: Protesters march against order

Jan. 29, 2017

Kimia Ghaffari held her hand to her throat Sunday, taking in the protest the Irani immigrant spent two days planning.

METRO

101 Cantina draws final crowd before closing

By Meryl Kornfield | Jan. 29, 2017

As thick crowds of college students exhausted the last call for alcohol and slowly scattered from Midtown’s bar scene early Saturday morning, 101 Cantina closed its doors for good.

Jane McNulty, 59, and her dog, Katy, 13, protest against the Sabal Trail pipeline on the corner of West University Avenue and Northwest 34th Street on Saturday. About 20 protesters cheered when passing cars honked.

METRO

Protesters fight pipeline set to run under Alachua County

By Meryl Kornfield | Jan. 29, 2017

In 40-degree weather, about 20 protesters in Gainesville huddled together under overcast skies to protest a pipeline set to run through Alachua County.

About 25 customers dine at Burrito Bros. Taco Co., located at 1402 W. University Ave., on Sunday night. The restaurant has been serving the Gainesville community since 1976.

METRO

Burrito Bros. to close down Saturday, owner confirms

By Catherine Dickson | Jan. 29, 2017

After 40 years spent feeding burritos to Gainesville’s hungry students and residents, Burrito Bros. Taco Co. will serve its last meal Saturday.

Members of the Lubavitch Chabad Jewish Center dance in celebration. The center welcomed its fifth Torah Sunday.

METRO

New Torah celebrated at Jewish center Sunday

By Molly Vossler | Jan. 29, 2017

About 100 students and community members joined a musical procession Sunday to celebrate the completion of a hand-written Torah.

From left: 37-year-old Get Barber accompanies his girlfriend, 29-year-old Laurel Huntoon, to the Fourth Annual Roe v. Wade Anniversary Show, where the bands The Howleez, Bite Marks, The Ones to Blame, Endless Pools and Guts! performed. "I love the bands," Huntoon said.

METRO | POLITICS

City celebrates abortion rights

By Molly Vossler | Jan. 29, 2017

In a theatrical performance, 14 men and a nun discussed what should happen to a woman’s body on Saturday.

METRO

For 101 Cantina, eight-year run ends tonight

By Meryl Kornfield | Jan. 27, 2017

Once the thick crowds of college students exhaust last calls for alcohol and slowly scatter from Midtown’s bar scene early Saturday morning, 101 Cantina will close its doors for good.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

GPD: Two men arrested after one burns swastika-wearer's jacket

By Meryl Kornfield | Jan. 27, 2017

The men who assaulted swastika-wearer Michael Dewitz on Thursday kicked and punched him before one of them burned Dewitz’s swastika-emblazoned jacket in a grill, police said.