Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Stephanie Dunnam, 40, and her son, Heston Dunnam, 4, pose at Leonardo’s Pizza By the Slice on University Avenue on Tuesday.

METRO

Kickstarter for “The ‘Lil’ Engineer That Could’” dream memory book

By Tanima Mehrotra | Aug. 6, 2014

Heston Dunnam is obsessed with trains.

Pedro Bravo sits with his counsel in the Alachua County Courthouse on Monday, the first day of his trial. Bravo is accused of first-degree murder, kidnapping, poisoning, mishandling human remains and giving false reports.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Pedro Bravo jury selected, trial begins Tuesday

By Alex Harris | Aug. 4, 2014

The long-awaited trial of Pedro Bravo begins today at 9 a.m.

METRO

Woman celebrates birthday by raising cancer research funds

By Aldo Araujo | Aug. 4, 2014

A Central Florida business owner is celebrating turning 40 by running 26.2 miles to benefit local cancer research.

METRO

Study: Fist bumps reduce spread of germs

By Claudia Stantzyk-Guzek | Aug. 4, 2014

A popular friendly greeting may not be as innocent as it seems.

METRO

Bikers bare (almost) all in nearly nude bike ride for awareness

By Gigi Pena | Aug. 4, 2014

Gainesville Police may not be worried about this type of crack hitting Gainesville’s streets. A local bicycle shop is hosting a nearly naked bike run to raise awareness of the visibility of cyclists and alternative transportation.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

High Springs man flees police, crashes into pole

By Kyle Follansbee | July 30, 2014

Gainesville Police arrested a High Springs man after fleeing a traffic stop, crashing into a light pole and running on foot Tuesday morning.

Drew Baker, a 20-year-old UF economics major, prepares to block a spike from 20-year-old aerospace engineer major Shanna Wyatt. The volleyball game was part of “Spike-it-with-Senate,” a charity volleyball tournament.

METRO | POLITICS

Student Senate updates statutes, removes positions

By Alex Harris | July 30, 2014

This Summer’s student senators took on the task of revising the Student Body statutes.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Two men stranded in cherry picker, had to be rescued by firefighters

By GRAHAM HACK | July 30, 2014

Cutting tree limbs is far from fun, and when you get stuck on a cherry picker while doing it on a hot July afternoon, it’s downright miserable.

Daniel Helfrich, a 19-year-old UF classics junior, stands beside his newly bartered red pepper in the parking lot of Chili’s on Archer Road before it went missing.

METRO

UF student’s stolen chili remains hot subject

By Kyle Follansbee | July 28, 2014

Even after bringing the heat, Daniel Helfrich’s man-sized pepper is still missing, but the Internet-famous UF student has high hopes and police are on the lookout.

METRO

City discusses mandating cyclists to register bikes

By Griffin Horvath | July 28, 2014

Future residents of Gainesville may have to leap over a few hurdles before hopping on a bicycle.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Beta Theta Pi to appear in court for busted toga party

By Kyle Follansbee | July 28, 2014

A weekend toga party may cost more than a cover charge for the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Bullet holes dot the wall at Campus Walk Apartments on Monday. Michael Dennison, 41, fired at apartment 50 on Wednesday after getting into an argument with friends.

METRO

Shooting at Campus Walk Apartments, no one was hurt

By Kyle Follansbee | July 28, 2014

On the night of the shooting, Larry McLamara had just returned from the store. He bought a four pack of Natural Ice beer and a pack of Clifford cigarettes.

Eleanor McKenna, a 23-year-old “cupcake elf” at Sarkara Sweets downtown, waits to help incoming customers on Monday.

METRO

Cupcake store battles summer slump

By Lindsey Cook-Saucier | July 28, 2014

Three girls sat huddled in the corner of Sarkara Sweets, playing the word game Scattergories in silence.

METRO

Second Florida judge OKs same-sex marriage

By Tanima Mehtotra | July 28, 2014

Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage has been declared unconstitutional for the second time this month.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Cyclist killed in accident on Southwest 20th Avenue

By Kyle Follansbee | July 24, 2014

A deadly accident involving a cyclist occurred just before 5 p.m. Thursday, when a car struck the rider as he was crossing Southwest 20th Avenue, GPD spokesman officer Ben Tobias wrote in an email.

METRO

Interest grows for upgraded Gator Net service

By Ariana Figueroa | July 23, 2014

Since Gator Net, a fiber-optic Internet service, offered an upgrade from 50 megabits per second to 100 Mbps, seven out of 37 of its Gainesville clients began negotiating an upgrade.

Chris Cano, a founder of Gainesville Compost, helps out at Porters Community Farm. He said Gainesville Compost helps supply the farm with fresh compost for its crops.

METRO

Homeless-friendly institutions’ food donations prove ranking wrong

By Griffin Horvath | July 23, 2014

For the homeless in Gainesville, finding food is a daily struggle.

METRO

UF student feels the burn after man-sized chili gets stolen

By Kyle Follansbee | July 23, 2014

If you’re wondering what the going rate for a man-sized chilli pepper is, Daniel Helfrich will tell you it costs four Powerade bottles and a smile.

Henry and Kim Hines went to Satchel’s Pizza for their first time Wednesday afternoon. The couple said they weren’t surprised at the restaurant’s high ranking on the list.

METRO

Gainesville-famous pizza joint ranked ‘Try before you die’

By Griffin Horvath | July 23, 2014

When Satchel’s Pizza placed sixth in Kristin Chirico’s BuzzFeed article, “18 Pizza Joints You Must Try Before You Die,” it wasn’t a surprise to Gainesville residents.

METRO

Florida voting districts ruled illegal

By Hannah Fell | July 23, 2014

The Florida Legislature recently ruled that two of Florida’s redrawn districts are illegal.