Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

The small desk on the Plaza of the Americas was stacked with canned vegetables, boxes of crackers and drinks that will go toward feeding graduate assistants and their families.

METRO

Transgender lives remembered

By Nicole Wiesenthal | Nov. 20, 2014

About 40 people gathered Thursday night to memorialize the lives of 226 transgender individuals lost to hate crimes in the past year, including a 4-year-old.

19-year-old FSU statistics freshman Olivia Heartsell, (left), leans on her teammate Amber Milner, a 22-year-old psychology junior, during the Gathering of Unity at the university’s Integration Statue on Thursday evening.

METRO

FLORIDA STRONG IN FACE OF TRAGEDY

By Chabeli Herrera | Nov. 20, 2014

TALLAHASSEE — Tatiana Aponte said Strozier Library was a safe place.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

‘No smoking’ signs now apply to e-cigarettes, commission rules

By Liz Clancy | Nov. 20, 2014

Three men puffed smoke from their glossy vape pens outside Gainesville’s city hall in defeat.

METRO

Don’t worry: Cold front won’t last long, experts say

By Melissa Mihm | Nov. 19, 2014

Despite hard freezes and a frost lasting early this morning, Gainesville is expected to warm up by the weekend.

METRO

Alachua County announces support for same-sex marriage

By Patrick Pinak | Nov. 19, 2014

Alachua County became the first county in North Florida to publicly support marriage equality this week.

METRO

Bomb threat evacuates GHS

By Melissa Mihm | Nov. 19, 2014

For about three hours, Gainesville High School students stood in the cold and waited while officers and four canines swept campus for explosives.

METRO

Student organization rallies against police militarization

By Bryan Faux | Nov. 19, 2014

Students for a Democratic Society members held a banner on Turlington Plaza calling for UF to demilitarize Wednesday.

METRO

City Commission to vote on e-cigarettes

By Isabella Alsina | Nov. 18, 2014

Kevin Skipper smoked 30 cigarettes a day for 15 years. And then he quit.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police: man lights up blunt, charged with child abuse

By Melissa Mihm | Nov. 18, 2014

Four days after Daniel Lavaughn Jerkins was arrested for aggravated domestic assault, he was arrested again after police said he picked up his 5-year-old son from school and later smoked a marijuana blunt in front of him Tuesday evening.

METRO

Snapchat debuts ‘Snapcash,’ users wary of security

By Patrick Pinak | Nov. 18, 2014

Snapchat users can now put their money where their face is — by sending “Snapcash” to friends.

METRO

Food drive for grad students to be held

By Ashleigh Hicks | Nov. 18, 2014

This Thanksgiving, about 40 percent of UF’s 4,000 graduate assistants will earn salaries below the federal poverty line. Many will struggle to feed their families.

METRO

UF student senators joined by city commissioners at meeting

By Ariana Figueroa | Nov. 18, 2014

The UF Student Senate was joined by Gainesville city commissioners Tuesday to discuss transportation, Gainesville life and student safety.

METRO

Play starring three UF students starts this weekend at The Wooly

By Christina Hunt | Nov. 17, 2014

The customer is not always right in Thomas Puketza’s play, “Work is Cheap,” starring three UF theater students.

METRO

Cold front to chill Gainesville this week

By Melissa Mihm | Nov. 17, 2014

Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing tonight, and officers are warning drivers about staying safe in the cold, stormy conditions.