Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Alex Cardelle, 22-year-old political science and economics senior, eats lunch at Taco Bell. Taco Bell's new breakfast menu is not yet available in Florida.

METRO

Taco Bell not bringing its breakfast menu to Florida yet

By Matt Boles | Jan. 30, 2012

Floridians were left empty-handed last week when Taco Bell launched its breakfast menu in the West.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Polls open Tuesday until 7 p.m.

By Adrianna Paidas | Jan. 30, 2012

Today is not only election day for the Florida Republican Presidential Preference Primary, but it is also election day for two seats on the Gainesville City Commission.

METRO

Apple launches textbook app iBooks 2.0

By Kelsey Meany | Jan. 30, 2012

Apple Inc. introduced the launch of iBooks 2.0, an application available for iPhone and iPad only, on Jan. 19.

Richard Williams, Kati Ricci and Joshua Degen eat at Flashbacks Cafe, a new grab-'n'-go coffee shop, juice bar and bakery located at 211 W University Ave., on Monday.

METRO

Coffee shop, juice bar, bakery opens on West University Avenue

By Sarah Loftus | Jan. 30, 2012

Flashbacks Cafe, a grab-'n'-go coffee shop, juice bar and bakery located at 211 W University Ave., opens its doors for business Tuesday.

METRO

Florida cruise bookings not down despite shipwreck in Italy

By Brittany Borsanyi | Jan. 30, 2012

Spring Break is right around the corner, and cruises are being booked as quickly as ever despite the Costa Concordia shipwreck in Italy two weeks ago.

A tractor drives across a burned section of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park on Monday afternoon. The smoke from the prairie fire caused a series of crashes Sunday morning that killed at least 10 people.

METRO

Paynes Prairie brush fire continues to smoke, cause still unknown

By Meredith Rutland | Jan. 30, 2012

The cause of the fire that led to a 20-vehicle wreck, claiming at least 10 lives Sunday, is still being investigated as of Monday night.

The view of Interstate 75 from an Alachua County Sheriff's Office vehicle at the time of the crashes Sunday morning.

METRO

911 call gives chilling details of I-75 accident

Jan. 30, 2012

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office released a 911 call from the Interstate 75 accident Sunday morning. The series of crashes left 10 dead and 21 hospitalized.

METRO

U.S. 441, I-75 reopened following closures Monday morning

Jan. 30, 2012

All northbound and southbound lanes on Interstate 75 and U.S. 441 between Gainesville and northern Marion County were closed again Monday morning because of poor visibility.

The charred wreckage of a semitrailer and an SUV sit on Interstate 75 Sunday afternoon.  The wreck claimed at least ten lives.

METRO

Ten dead in series of multi-vehicle accidents on I-75

By Emily Morrow | Jan. 29, 2012

What started as a brush fire ended in one of the most deadly pile-ups in North Florida history, involving about 20 vehicles and sending 18 people to the hospital.

David Buth, 46, an Alachua County resident, dresses as Azog, a 446-year-old Orc from Moria, for the 26th annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire on Saturday afternoon.

METRO

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire draws its biggest first-day crowd

By Benjamin S. Brasch | Jan. 29, 2012

The 26th annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire started this weekend and will continue from Friday to Sunday.

METRO

About 4,000 vote early in city elections

By Jovahn Huertas | Jan. 29, 2012

For most voters, the 2012 Florida Republican Presidential Preference Primary and Gainesville city elections are on Tuesday.

Flares burn on U.S. 441 near Southwest 63rd Avenue as Alachua Country Sheriffs turn away southbound travelers shortly after midnight Sunday. Heavy smoke from a fire on Paynes Prairie combined with heavy fog caused multiple-car wrecks on both U.S. 441 and Interstate 75.

METRO

Paynes Prairie brush fire forces closure of U.S. 441 and I-75, roads diverted

Jan. 28, 2012

A brush fire in Paynes Prairie forced the closure of two major roads due to car accidents in Gainesville early Sunday morning.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Police talk safety with sorority women

Jan. 26, 2012

Local law enforcement officials met with sorority members Thursday night to talk about a recent string of crimes in the area.

METRO

Man charged with loitering, prowling

Jan. 26, 2012

A Gainesville man was arrested Wednesday night after police said he peeped through the window of a woman's apartment.

METRO

Organization surveys city's homeless

By Meredith Rutland | Jan. 26, 2012

About 50 people who went around the city Tuesday completing surveys for the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry Inc.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Candidates face off at debate

By Adrianna Paidas | Jan. 26, 2012

Tensions ran high Thursday afternoon as Gainesville City Commission candidates discussed their final thoughts on the city's biomass contract, fiscal condition and job creation at a debate at Santa Fe College.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE