Metro - The Independent Florida Alligator

Opus Coffee will open a new location in the Gainesville Innovation District, the first location the coffee shop will have outside of a hospital.

METRO

Opus Coffee to open new shop in Gainesville’s Innovation District

By Alex DeLuca | Sep. 12, 2019

Gainesville residents will no longer need to take a trip to the doctor to grab some Opus Coffee.

A photo from surveillance footage outside of Satchel's Pizza showing hanging plants being abducted.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Who is the pizza plant bandit? Biker caught stealing plants from Satchel’s Pizza

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 12, 2019

They don’t know who he is. They don’t know why he does it.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Blood left at a church crime scene led to arrest of Gainesville man months later, deputies say

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 11, 2019

Drops of blood left behind during a break-in at the Greater New Hope Baptist Church in June led to the arrest of a man on felony charges on Monday.

Alia DeLong, a UF doctoral student and member of the National Women’s Liberation, works on a sign that reads “Protect Women, Blue Lights Now” at the NWL sign-making event on the evening of Sept. 10. “The reason the National Women’s Liberation is passionate about this is because we know that the culture associated with fraternities also happens to be associated with sexual assault,” DeLong said. “Knowing that women lack that resource is why we’re concerned.”

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Students and activists make posters ahead of blue light protest on Fraternity Row

By Jordyn Kalman | Sep. 11, 2019

The squeak of the markers against the paper signaled progress was being made Tuesday night.

One of the designs students can vote on for the UPD patrol cars.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

University Police cars are getting a makeover, students can pick design

By Nora O'Neill | Sep. 11, 2019

The University Police patrol cars are about to get a new look.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, and acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless speak with reporters after a meeting about vaping with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

METRO | POLITICS

No more mango? Trump administration to propose ban of e-cigarette flavors

By Lina Ruiz | Sep. 11, 2019

E-cigarette users may no longer vape the taste of strawberry, mint or honey.

METRO

BREAKING: Multiple people stabbed in Tallahassee, authorities say

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 11, 2019

Officials say one person is in serious condition following reports of a stabbing Wednesday morning at Dyke Industries in Tallahassee.

James McKnight, a 62-year-old Gainesville resident, speaks to county commissioners during public comment at a meeting on Tuesday evening. McKnight and his neighbors spoke about the lack of road maintenance at NE 27th Avenue in Northeast Gainesville.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

County commission repeals plastic ban ordinance

By Lina Ruiz | Sep. 10, 2019

Attempts to eliminate plastic in the community were overturned on Tuesday.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF student reported she was raped in Jennings Hall, UPD says

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 10, 2019

A UF student told UF Campus Security Authority she was sexually battered less than a month ago in Jennings Hall.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville woman didn’t want to go to jail. So she stole a patrol car, authorities say.

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 10, 2019

She started a car chase Monday evening

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

UF resident assistant charged with battery released as 'high-achieving' student leader

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 8, 2019

A UF resident assistant recently arrested when a student told police he tried to sexually batter her was released from jail after a judge agreed he is a “high-achieving” student leader.

METRO

Let’s get physical. New Orange Theory location to open under The Standard

By Jordyn Kalman | Sep. 8, 2019

Students can get a jump-start on their New Years’ resolutions at a new gym location this January.

A community service volunteer picks up litter along SW 20th Avenue Aug. 19.

METRO

More than 630,000 pounds of trash collected in Alachua County

By Lina Ruiz | Sep. 8, 2019

A local nonprofit carried its weight in trash-collecting from 2018 to 2019.

A pile of microplastic collected by The Florida Microplastic Awareness Project. Plastics like these are among the top ocean pollutants, according to Savanna Barry, a Cedar Key volunteer coordinator with the project.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

UF raises awareness during Microplastic Awareness Month

By Hannah Phillips | Sep. 8, 2019

The Florida Microplastic Awareness Project will host events educating the UF community about the potential dangers of microplastic during the fifth annual Microplastic Awareness Month.

This GOES-16 satellite image taken Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at 17:00 UTC and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Dorian, right, churning over the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Dorian struck the northern Bahamas on Sunday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, its 185 mph winds ripping off roofs and tearing down power lines as hundreds hunkered in schools, churches and other shelters. (NOAA via AP)

METRO | POLITICS

Dorian and other storms are a warning sign of climate change

By Jason Zappulla | Sep. 8, 2019

Last week, Hurricane Dorian rolled into the Caribbean as a monster hurricane. Although Florida was mostly spared from the storm’s destruction, the island nation of the Bahamas was not. The country’s prime minister called Dorian’s impact“generational devastation.” Looking at the damage, you can see why: 60 percent of the homes on the Bahamian island of Abaco were destroyed; entire neighborhoods were flattened; 70,000 people were left homeless; and the current death toll of 43 is expected to rise drastically. It’s fair to say the hurricane devastated the Bahamas. The worst part is that Hurricane Dorian is not an anomaly.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

‘We’ve had enough.’: Students organize protest on Fraternity Drive

By Ana Escalante | Sep. 6, 2019

The distant dots of blue lights from emergency phones are supposed to help UF students feel safer when walking on campus alone at night. But on Fraternity Row, there are none.

The Keys, a new seafood restaurant and entertainment venue, held its grand opening at Celebration Pointe on Wednesday evening. Originally scheduled to open on Sept. 2, the date was pushed back due to Hurricane Dorian.

METRO

New restaurant and dueling piano bar The Keys opened at Celebration Pointe

By Jordyn Kalman | Sep. 6, 2019

Fans of Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar, which closed back in May, will now be able to enjoy live music once again.

Amanda Smith, a 31-year-old Dignity Village resident, stands in front of her camp located on the outskirts of the 10-acre property. Smith has lived there for four months. She wants to stay in Gainesville once it closes on Jan. 1, though she does not know where she will go.

METRO

Dignity Village to close by Jan. 1, transition homeless elsewhere

By Lina Ruiz | Sep. 5, 2019

METRO | POLITICS

A tan suit never hurt anyone

By Zora Viel | Sep. 5, 2019

On August 28, 2014, President Barack Obama shocked the world. While he talked about the state of Ukraine and the war against Isis, Twitter was going insane over his tan suit. People couldn’t stop complaining about such a minor thing. Presidents traditionally wear darker colors when dressing professionally, but on that day, President Obama decided to go with something lighter. Back then, it seemed like the public judged anything the president did. It was like he lived under a scrutinizing microscope. Now, it seems we no longer keep the president on our radar.

METRO | CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Gainesville man arrested following four armed robberies in six days, police say

By Dana Cassidy | Sep. 5, 2019

He told a Dollar General cashier on Aug. 24 “I got this big a-- gun, you need to put all the money in the bag,” according to an arrest report. It was a BB gun.