Phong Huynh - The Independent Florida Alligator

Alex Brown

NEWS | FEATURES

FOLLOWING UP: Checking in on anti-racism initiatives in Gainesville

By Alexander Lugo , Jake Reyes , Makiya Seminera , Antonia LaRocca and Phong Huynh | Aug. 2, 2021

A year ago, the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement reverberated around the world. Petitions, social media campaigns and demonstrations called for attention to racial equality within local law enforcement and university campuses. Now, The Alligator is checking in on how much progress has been made in Gainesville.

Dolce Douvert, a Gainesville resident looks at photographs in the Harn Museum of Art on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The photos are part of a new exhibition called Shadow to Substance, which tells African American stories chronologically through historical imagery and modern imagery taken by today’s Black photographers.

Houston Harwood

METRO

Harn Museum’s new exhibit features historical photographs of Black life

By Phong Huynh | July 28, 2021

The new exhibition, “Shadow to Substance,” showcases Black living throughout history from the work of Black photographers. The museum acquired the 58 photographs from its permanent collection, the UF Smathers Library archives and purchased 16 from various photographers. The exhibit can be viewed from July 27 to Feb. 27.

Workers lift up the first solar panel installed on the rooftops of Oak Hammock at the University of Florida on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

Phong Huynh

METRO

Retirement community installs first solar panels in shift toward sustainability

By Phong Huynh | July 21, 2021

Oak Hammock Retirement Community will become the first continuing care retirement community in Florida to shift toward sustainable energy. Its first solar panel was installed in front of residents and project managers Tuesday morning.

The Alachua County Library District downtown headquarters, located at 401 E University Ave in Gainesville on Monday, July 12, 2021. The Alachua County Library District is hosting its eighth annual summer art show in August; due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event is virtual.

Houston Harwood

METRO

Alachua County library will host its eighth annual summer art show virtually

By Phong Huynh | July 14, 2021

Art submissions are open for an opportunity to be displayed in the Alachua County Library District’s annual summer art show

METRO

Alachua County libraries host in-person, outdoor reading programs for children

By Phong Huynh | July 12, 2021

Story Time on the Green, a library program in Alachua County for families to bring their children, will continue until early October.

Nancy Parkinson, 80, a Gainesville resident, stands in front of artwork at the "Between Heaven and Earth" exhibit at the Historic Thomas Center on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

Mingmei Li

METRO

The Thomas Center opens its doors to a new folk art exhibition

By Phong Huynh | July 12, 2021

Local Gainesville artist Alyne Harris’ folk art will be featured at the Thomas Center until early 2022

A deserted Toyota RAV-4 on Northwest Fourth Boulevard in Gainesville on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. The Gainesville Police Department stated this vehicle and one other got stuck after drivers attempted to cross the flooded street.

Houston Harwood

METRO

Tropical storm Elsa brings torrent of damages and hazards for county residents

By Phong Huynh | July 9, 2021

Gainesville residents experienced heavy downpour and damages in their communities in the aftermath of tropical storm Elsa.

Alex Brown

METRO

Tropical Storm Elsa signals start of hurricane season for North Central Florida

By Phong Huynh | July 6, 2021

The approach of tropical storm Elsa signals the need for Gainesville residents and students to prepare for future storms in the midst of hurricane season

George Cannon, a supervisor of the Gainesville downtown area, raises the Juneteenth flag on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

Mingmei Li

METRO

The City of Gainesville celebrates Juneteenth through a month-long series of events

By Sam Schaffer and Phong Huynh | June 19, 2021

Gainesville’s Journey to Juneteenth has constituted a month-long series of online and in-person events.

Tiffany Bach, the manager of the CITRUS Study, arranges files after collecting blood samples on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

Mingmei Li

METRO

Gainesville blood donation centers continue to face shortages

By Phong Huynh | June 14, 2021

Blood donation centers nationwide are still experiencing shortages caused by the pandemic. The center is in critical need of type O-, the universally accepted blood type, and O+, which can be accepted by everyone with a positive blood type.