Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Val Leitner, 36, washes off homemade biscuit batter off her hands in a water bowl during the living history Reconstruction era event at Dudley Farm Historic State Park on Sept. 4, 2015. Leitner was participating as one of the living historians and cooked food for other volunteers on a wood stove.

METRO

Historians dress as Reconstruction Era people for event

By Danielle Veenstra | Sep. 7, 2015

David Riker swung a ball and chain threateningly at two couples.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Students arrested in residence hall

By Giuseppe Sabella | Sep. 7, 2015

University Police arrested two UF students Thursday night after they reportedly had drugs and paraphernalia in their dorm room.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student arrested with fake ID after resisting officer

By Giuseppe Sabella | Sep. 7, 2015

Authorities arrested a UF student Saturday afternoon after she reportedly used a false ID and resisted arrest.

METRO

UF Innovation Hub to expand, awarded $8 million grant

By Lauren Flannery | Sep. 3, 2015

UF’s Innovation Hub will double in size after receiving an $8 million federal grant.

Gainesville police officers and community members attended a training course “Fair and Impartial Policing: A Science-Based Approach” Sept. 3, 2015, at Gainesville Police Department’s Hall of Heroes. The class discussed actions police officers can take to exhibit fair and impartial policing.

METRO

Police attend training course for fair practices

By Paisley Papineau | Sep. 3, 2015

Local police officers and community members joined together Thursday to learn how to apply fair practices in the line of duty.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student arrested for DUI charge on campus

By Giuseppe Sabella | Sep. 3, 2015

University Police arrested a UF student early Thursday after he reportedly drove on campus under the influence of alcohol.

Mayor Ed Braddy and a group of students from the Caring and Sharing Learning School stand on the site of the newly renovated Depot Park. “There will be a playground the size of a football field for you all to enjoy. We do these things for you and the whole community,” Braddy said during his speech.

METRO

Gainesville park almost completed

By Caitlin Ostroff | Sep. 2, 2015

A new Gainesville park just got one step closer to completion.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Another man arrested in GPD undercover sting operation

By Giuseppe Sabella | Sep. 2, 2015

Alachua County Sheriff Deputies arrested another man in connection with Operation Panther on Tuesday afternoon.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

SF Senate addresses members’ involvement in GPD operation

By Hunter Williamson | Sep. 2, 2015

Santa Fe College Student Senate started on a somber note Wednesday as members discussed the arrest of a professor and student in a recent undercover Gainesville Police operation.

Callie, a 4-year-old cat, leaps from atop a crate at the Alachua County Humane Society.

METRO

Animal shelters say new semester sparks pet adoptions

By Brooke Baitinger | Sep. 2, 2015

Some students beginning a new semester at UF have a hard time saying goodbye to their parents, and others struggle with leaving their pets behind.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Man takes student’s purse for ransom

By Giuseppe Sabella | Sep. 2, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a Cabana Beach resident Tuesday afternoon after he reportedly held a cosmetology student’s bag for ransom.

METRO | POLITICS

Walls do not provide immigration permanent fix

Sep. 2, 2015

Illegal immigration has been a constant talking point of recent election cycles. But what was usually reserved as a single debate question late into the general election has become a front-and-center issue within the GOP primary. From the Great Wall of Trump to the more empathetic Bush, we are seeing the big-tent party hosting many opinions on this single issue.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Undercover Gainesville Police online child-sex investigation results in 21 arrests

By Giuseppe Sabella | Sep. 1, 2015

Gainesville Police announced Tuesday the arrest of 21 people – including university students and staff – for reportedly soliciting sex with a minor after the conclusion of a five-day undercover operation.

Lina Mejia (left), 21, and Nicholas Acosta, 22, both UF architecture juniors, eat chips and guacamole at Chipotle on West University Avenue on Sept. 1, 2015.

METRO

Fungus threatens avocados

By Emily Mavrakis | Sep. 1, 2015

Paulina Magaña eats avocados three times a week.

Books-A-Million recently closed its location at 2601 NW 13th St. In its place, 2nd and Charles will open in the middle of November.

METRO

Books-A-Million closes, consignment store to open in place

By Megan Shea | Sep. 1, 2015

As students rush to purchase books at the beginning of the semester, there is one less bookstore in Gainesville.

METRO | POLITICS

Reitz to include more spaces for black and Hispanic students

By Ebony Joseph | Sep. 1, 2015

The newly expanded Reitz Union includes a wing that will make UF the first university to have more than one space to serve black and Hispanic students.

METRO

Lollicup holds contest to support campus organizations

By Jordanne Laurito | Aug. 31, 2015

This semester, 14 UF organizations will be buying bubble tea in hopes of earning cash prizes.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Local man arrested for DUI, crashes car into tree

By Giuseppe Sabella | Aug. 31, 2015

Gainesville Police arrested a local man early Monday morning after he reportedly crashed his car on 13th Street.

METRO

Emiliano’s closed for renovations, plans to reopen Friday

By Krystalle Pinilla | Aug. 31, 2015

Just in time for happy hour, Emiliano’s Cafe will reopen with a brand new look.

Maria Parsons, a Gainesville resident, protests at the corner of Northwest 39th Avenue and Northwest 97th Boulevard on Aug. 30, 2015. Her gas mask and gloves symbolize the pollution she said the biomass plant causes.

METRO

Gainesville residents protest biomass plant

By Hunter Williamson | Aug. 30, 2015

On Saturday morning, former Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan arrived at the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel to receive an award for her work in public office.