El Caimán

---

METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City officials hold press conference ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia

By Ella Thompson | Aug. 28, 2023

City officials held a press conference at 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss city operations and provide safety tips about flooding and power outages as Tropical Storm Idalia approaches the west coast of Florida. Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward was joined by City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, city manager Cynthia Curry, city attorney Dan Nee, Gainesville Regional Utilities general manager Tony Cunningham and a handful of the city’s emergency response team. 

---

METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

ACPS expands afterschool meals program to Metcalfe Elementary School

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 28, 2023

Metcalfe Elementary School will become the 37th site to offer free meals to students on campus after school beginning Sept. 5. The After School Meal Program, or supper program, feeds students during after-school activities.

---

NEWS  |  CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

Live Updates: All you need to know about Hurricane Idalia

By Alligator Staff report | Aug. 28, 2023

UPDATE: Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning, spared much of Gainesville and Alachua County. With the departure of the hurricane, a gradual return to normalcy is underway. Many institutions, including UF and local schools, have reopened their doors after temporary closures due to the storm's threat. 

---

SPORTS  |  FOOTBALL

Tropical Storm Idalia causes Gators to alter travel schedules

By Luke Adragna | Aug. 28, 2023

Florida coaches and administrators met with travel officials Monday afternoon and came to the decision to move travel plans to Tuesday, a day ahead of their original departure date, according to FloridaGators.com writer Scott Carter.

---

NEWS  |  CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF, SFC cancel class ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia

By Bailey Diem | Aug. 28, 2023

UF announced its campus will be closed at noon Tuesday and will remain closed Wednesday due to potential Hurricane Idalia in a UF alert. SFC canceled classes for Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. Monday.

---

METRO  |  K-12 EDUCATION

Alachua County Public Schools closed ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia

By Alissa Gary | Aug. 28, 2023

Alachua County Public Schools will close Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for Tropical Storm Idalia, according to an ACPS press release.

---

NEWS  |  CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF van near Pugh Hall catches fire

By Jordan Ramos | Aug. 28, 2023

The UF Police Department received a report of smoke coming out of a white university-owned Ford van around 1:40 p.m. , UPD Sergeant Andrew McIntosh said. 

---

NEWS  |  CAMPUS BREAKING NEWS

UF van near Pugh Hall catches fire

By Jordan Ramos | Aug. 28, 2023

The UF Police Department received a report of smoke coming out of a white university-owned Ford van around 1:40 p.m. , UPD Sergeant Andrew McIntosh said. 

---

SPORTS  |  FOOTBALL

Florida position preview: defensive line and linebackers

By Luke Adragna and Topher Adams | Aug. 28, 2023

The Florida Gators have produced plenty of talent on the defensive end in recent year’s NFL drafts. A defensive player has been selected in the first four rounds of the draft every year since 2011. 

---

THE AVENUE  |  ART AND THEATER

From UF to Broadway: A look into the lives of theatre-student success stories

By Jared Teitel | Aug. 28, 2023

Bachelor’s and master’s students alike, UF has produced prosperous performers credited for projects such as “Be More Chill,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “West Side Story,” “Hamilton” and “Hadestown.” 

---

THE AVENUE  |  MUSIC

Pop punk bands perform for Gainesville crowds ahead of Fest 21

By Bea Lunardini | Aug. 28, 2023

The Fest preview concert Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. was The Real You’s first time on a stage where all five members could spread out, and Pfeiffer took advantage of the newfound room. 

---

SPANISH

UF research initiative partners with two other universities to reach Hispanic citizens

By Nicole Beltran | Aug. 28, 2023

UF assistant professor Hance Ellington's survey plans to address the issues most important to Florida’s Hispanic residents. It is also the first comprehensive needs assessment survey in Florida to focus exclusively on Hispanic communities.

---

METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County seeks to expand drug rehabilitation efforts

By Ella Thompson | Aug. 28, 2023

In Alachua County, emergency services responded to 1,451 overdose calls in 2022. The previous year there were 1,405 overdose calls with 62 fatal overdoses. In an effort to combat overdoses, Alachua County and the city of Gainesville have implemented multiple services to assist people with addictions seeking help and recovering addicts like the now 51-year-old farmer who requested anonymity.

---

SPANISH

Iniciativa de investigación de la UF se junta con otras dos universidades para colaborar con los ciudadanos hispanos

By Nicole Beltran | Aug. 28, 2023

Para profesor asistente de la UF, Hance Ellington, comprender qué cuestiones ambientales (como la silvicultura, el cambio climático y la biodiversidad) son más apremiantes para un estado con una gran población hispana es una cuestión que requiere más representación.

---

SPORTS  |  FOOTBALL

Swamp Kings inspires current players, leaves viewers wanting more

By Lacey Rogers | Aug. 28, 2023

Former Gators Tim Tebow, Dan Mullen and Meyer told the story of the behind-the-scenes events that occurred during this era for the Gators. What’s left unsaid draws the most criticism from students, but the documentary served as a source of inspiration for the 2023 football team.

---

NEWS

UF students create app to connect Student Government with student body

By Vivienne Serret | Aug. 28, 2023

Akshat Pant, a 20-year-old UF computer science junior, and Nishant Nagururu, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore, had a vision to design an application streamlining students’ connection with SG. The app is called Candor — meaning open, honest and sincere. Pant and Nagururu picked the name after realizing they wanted to make an app providing those qualities to the student body. 

---

METRO  |  ALACHUA COUNTY

Students across Gainesville struggle with food insecurity

By Jinelle Vazquez | Aug. 28, 2023

The food insecurity rate in Alachua County has remained higher than the overall rate in Florida since 2014. A 2021 report from the city based on USDA data identified 11 food deserts — low-income areas where a substantial number of residents have low access to a supermarket or large grocery store — in Gainesville. 

---

METRO  |  CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Taking a look at the data: UF’s sexual assault cases over the past five years

By Jordan Ramos | Aug. 28, 2023

At UF and surrounding campus areas, rape and sexual assault has fluctuated throughout the years. There have been 67 reported cases of rape and sexual assault on UF campus and six for the surrounding campus areas in the past five years, according to data from the UF Crime Map.  

---

SPORTS  |  SOCCER

Gators soccer off to a historic start to 2023 season

By Austin Stirling | Aug. 28, 2023

Following a scoreless draw against the Miami Hurricanes, the Gators currently sit at 3-0-1 and have outshot their opponents in all four of their early matches. UF opened the 2023 season with four shutouts for the first time in program history.

---

METRO  |  BUSINESS

UF Midtown favorites The Rowdy Reptile and Fat Daddy’s to be replaced by Lil Rudy’s

By Alexandra Burns | Aug. 28, 2023

After 12 years of business, The Rowdy Reptile and Fat Daddy’s — located at Midtown on the corner of University Avenue and Northwest 17th Street — announced Aug. 25 they will be closing their doors and reopening under new ownership.