Ella Thompson

Editor in Chief

Ella Thompson is the Spring 2025 Editor-in-Chief and a fourth-year journalism major. She also worked as the Fall 2024 Digital Managing Editor and the Spring 2024 metro editor. In her free time, she can be found reading, planning a trip or journaling.

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward shows some of the damage done to city hall in a press conference on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Ella Thompson

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward addresses city hall vandalism in press conference

By Ella Thompson | Mar. 27, 2024

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward addressed the recent vandalism at Gainesville City Hall and the Old Library Building, where Gainesville’s equity and inclusion office is located. Ward’s office window was broken Tuesday night by two projectiles, spraying glass across Ward’s office and leaving two large holes in the window.

Manna Robertson

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

All four members of GRU Authority Board to resign

By Ella Thompson | Mar. 18, 2024

The resignations will take in 60 days and were submitted to act as a settlement for the lawsuits, according to the Gainesville Sun.

Manna Robertson

METRO

All four members of GRU Authority Board to resign

By Ella Thompson | Mar. 15, 2024

All four current members of the GRU Authority Board submitted resignation letters over a lawsuit filed by Gainesville Residents United, a nonprofit organization aiming to bring awareness to the board’s takeover.

BSU supporters leave Alachua County Jail after a demonstration to free David Horne. Originally published in The Independent Florida Alligator on Tuesday, April 20, 1971.

Alligator Archives

METRO

Longtime Gainesville residents, community leaders reflect on city protest history

By Ella Thompson | Dec. 4, 2023

The city has a long history of protests. Beginning in the late 1960s, UF students took to the streets when they felt their voices weren’t being heard. Six decades later, students and Gainesville community members still gather in masses to ignite change.

Yarin Levin answers the crowds questions after sharing his story about the Nova Festival at the Chabad UF Jewish Student & Community Center on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.

Gabriella Aulisio

METRO

Nova Festival survivor shares story with Gainesville Jewish community

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 29, 2023

Yarin Levin, a 24-year-old former Israeli Defense Force officer, was standing outside the entrance of the Nova Festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 when Hamas started dropping missiles around 6:20 a.m. He had stayed up all night chatting and drinking with other festival goers, thanking his friends for inviting him and wasn’t alarmed by the missiles as a former combat soldier.

Shannon Ahern

METRO

COVID-19 led to ongoing speech delays, attention struggles in elementary schools

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 20, 2023

Laura Holmes has witnessed firsthand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, both as a Gainesville mother of three and as a pediatric occupational therapist at Fundamental Therapy Solutions.

Around 60 protestors gather on the corner of University Avenue and 13th Street in support of Palestine on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023.

Evelyn Miguel

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Gainesville community organizes third pro-Palestine protest in a month

By Ella Thompson | Nov. 17, 2023

Despite consistent rain, community members gathered on the corner of University Avenue and Northwest 13th Street to protest for Palestine on Thursday evening. Over 100 community members attended the event organized by the Gainesville Solidarity Network, Students for Justice in Palestine, Party for Socialism and Liberation and Jewish Voice for Peace.

Prayer-goers wrap their arms around each other’s shoulders to start dancing in Turlington Plaza Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.

Alissa Gary

NEWS | CAMPUS

UF Jewish community gathers for prayer service Thursday

By Alissa Gary and Ella Thompson | Oct. 26, 2023

In light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, about 40 students and community members gathered in Turlington Plaza to pray for the Israeli Defense Force and to celebrate their Jewish heritage around noon Thursday.

Dana Burke

NEWS | CAMPUS

Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Theta Chi face alleged hazing penalties

By Ella Thompson | Oct. 9, 2023

Two on-campus fraternities are being investigated by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution following Fall 2023 rush hazing allegations.

Protestors gather at the Florida State Prison in Bradford County in support of abolishing capital punishment on Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 2023.

Ashley C. Hicks

METRO | ALACHUA COUNTY

Man executed for 1996 murder Tuesday at Florida State Prison

By Ella Thompson | Oct. 4, 2023

Michael Duane Zack III woke up Tuesday morning at 5:30 a.m. and met with his first wife, Ann-Kristin. He declined a last meal, met with his spiritual advisor and died by lethal injection by 6:14 p.m. that same day.