Thursday, April 30, 2026
The Junior League of Gainesville is hosting its 11th annual Amazing Give, a 12-hour community fundraising event running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 30. The campaign aims to raise $1.2 million for 120 nonprofit organizations serving Gainesville and North Central Florida. Residents can donate through TheAmazingGive.org.
Sources: WCJB TV20
UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, a program launched in 1990 that unites professional artists with medical staff and patients, is hosting a forum Thursday called Arts in Medicine for Creating Healthy Communities. The event is designed to link Florida-based artists with knowledge and resources from the field while spotlighting innovative arts-in-health efforts across the state. A particular emphasis will be placed on arts prescribing and its expanding role in community wellness.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Emergency responders are scheduled to participate in a team-based escape room competition at Santa Fe College on May 18-19. The fast-paced challenge, organized by Huddy’s EscapeFast, is designed to test teamwork skills among emergency personnel.
Sources: Mainstreet Daily News
WUFT’s recurring Snap Chats series features a conversation with a photographer who captured fireflies illuminating a backyard in north central Florida. The segment offers an inside look at the photographer’s process and the story behind the images.
Sources: WUFT News
The Marion County Sexual Assault Center will join forces with CASA Marion beginning June 30, bringing domestic violence and sexual assault support services together under one roof. CASA Marion was established two years ago after the county’s previous domestic violence shelter shut down. The expansion was announced alongside a Denim Day fundraising event aimed at supporting existing services and the programs the combined organization plans to offer.
Sources: WCJB TV20
May’s full moon, known as the Flower Moon, is approaching and will soon be visible in the night sky. The Gainesville Sun is pointing readers to when and how to catch a look at the celestial event.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
The Gainesville Sun is pointing readers toward Memorial Day 2026 shopping opportunities, outlining which sales and deals are worth prioritizing. The article appears to serve as a consumer guide ahead of the holiday weekend.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
A recent Powerball drawing produced 91 winning tickets spread across 20 states. Florida was among the states with winners, though the specific prize amounts and tier breakdowns were not available from the headline alone.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
The Gainesville Sun has published a checklist of six actions residents should take now to prepare for hurricane season. The article aims to help readers get ready ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Fortnite experienced server downtime connected to a new Star Wars-themed content drop, including new islands and quests, set to go live the following day. The temporary disruption was part of the rollout process for the update.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Two ticket holders won the Powerball jackpot in a recent drawing, while an additional 89 players became millionaires in the same game. No further details about the winners or jackpot amount are available from the source.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Dudley Farm is hosting a spring heritage plant sale this Saturday. The event will showcase plants sourced from the gardens on the historic Dudley homestead.
Sources: Mainstreet Daily News
Jim and Sharon Skiles of Melrose have fostered 24 puppies through Dogs Inc., a Florida nonprofit that trains guide and service dogs. The couple also leads a Gainesville-area puppy raising club, supporting other volunteers as they teach dogs the skills needed for service work. Foster raisers can commit to periods ranging from three to six months up to a full year.
Sources: WCJB TV20
The Nehemiah Project has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the United Way of North Central Florida. The funds will support a new initiative called Recovery Bucks.
Sources: Mainstreet Daily News
The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $143 million for the Wednesday, April 29 drawing. Winning numbers were available for players to check their tickets.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
A program called Bee Buddies at Oak Hammock, a Gainesville retirement community, is drawing attention for its beekeeping or bee-related activities. The Independent Florida Alligator highlighted the initiative, suggesting it offers residents an engaging and purposeful hobby.
Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator
A University of Florida campus organization is providing blood pressure screenings and other health services to homeless people in the Gainesville area. The initiative represents a student-led effort to extend basic medical care to an underserved local population.
Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator
Alachua County is observing Sexual Assault Awareness Month through a series of community events. The county’s recognition effort aims to raise public awareness around the issue of sexual assault.
Sources: Alachua County
Alachua County is marking National Volunteer Week by highlighting its Foster Grandparent Program, which connects older adult volunteers with children in need of mentorship and support. The county’s recognition draws attention to the program as part of its broader community support services.
Sources: Alachua County
The University of Florida Historic St. Augustine, working with local partners, will stage its fifth annual St. Augustine History Festival across more than 40 historic venues from May 6 to 10. The five-day event includes tours, lectures, workshops, and family activities spanning every period of the city’s history from its 1565 founding through the present day. This year’s programming also highlights historic houses of worship, gardens, and cemeteries, and coincides with both National Historic Preservation Month and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Sources: UF News
The University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions provides free group fitness programs for Gainesville community members with neurological conditions or age-related health challenges. The programs, which include offerings for older adults and people living with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke, are led by Doctor of Physical Therapy students and faculty. Participants receive tailored support designed to help them exercise safely beyond what standard commercial gyms provide.
Sources: UF News
The Gainesville Iguana has published its April 2026 issue, available to read online. Readers who prefer a physical copy can find the newspaper at various distribution locations listed on the publication’s website.
Sources: The Gainesville Iguana
The Gainesville Iguana has published its March 2026 issue, available both online and in print. Readers can access the digital version through the publication’s website or find a hard copy at listed distribution locations around the area.
Sources: The Gainesville Iguana
Alachua County’s Cuscowilla Summer Day Camp is close to reaching its registration limit, according to a county announcement. Families interested in enrolling children should act quickly to secure a spot before the program fills completely.
Sources: Alachua County