UF sends off 7,000 spring graduates with address from NVIDIA co-founder

The University of Florida held its Spring 2026 University-Wide Commencement at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, conferring degrees on approximately 7,000 graduates. Chris Malachowsky, a UF alumnus and co-founder of NVIDIA whose name graces a campus building, delivered the keynote address to the Class of 2026 and their families.

Sources: UF News · Mainstreet Daily News

Alachua County School Board weighs rezoning plans tied to Alachua Elementary closure

The Alachua County School Board is reviewing rezoning scenarios connected to the planned closure of Alachua Elementary School. The board is considering how attendance boundaries would be redrawn as part of changes also involving Irby and Mebane schools.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Gainesville police seek shooter after man killed in Phoenix neighborhood

A man was fatally shot Friday night in Gainesville’s Phoenix neighborhood after officers responded to reports of gunfire at a residence around 10 p.m. Someone transported the wounded man to a nearby hospital, where he later died. Police are appealing to the public for any information that could help identify the shooter.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

Pastor’s son fails to appear for arraignment on lewd battery charges in Alachua County

Christian David Vargas, 22, did not show up Monday for his scheduled arraignment in Alachua County’s Eighth Judicial Circuit Court. He faces a second-degree felony charge of lewd or lascivious battery involving a victim between the ages of 12 and 16.

Sources: WUFT News

Teen arrested after firing gun at victims following Archer Road argument

Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 17-year-old Saturday night after he allegedly opened fire on a group of people near Southwest Archer Road and 129th Street. The confrontation began at a nearby Chevron station, escalated when the suspects followed the victims into a residential area, and ended with the teenager discharging a weapon from a vehicle — though no one was struck. He faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of another person, while charges against a second occupant of the vehicle remain pending.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Alachua County school zone speed cameras log 2,400 violations in opening week

Newly activated speed cameras in Alachua County school zones recorded 2,400 violations in their first week since the School Zone Speed Enforcement Program launched. Drivers caught by the cameras were averaging 37 mph through school zones, and officials say offenders could face hundreds of dollars in fines. The program is currently in a warning-only phase, with actual citations set to begin on May 24.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF men’s and women’s tennis programs both exit NCAA Tournament in second round

Both Florida tennis programs saw their seasons end in the NCAA Tournament’s second round. The women’s team, ranked 17th nationally, fell to 12th-seeded Michigan in a closely contested match, while the men’s squad lost after surrendering four consecutive singles victories to their opponents following an early lead.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida softball ends regular season with run-rule loss to Georgia

The Florida Gators softball team closed out its regular season with a run-rule defeat at the hands of Georgia, dropping the series to the Bulldogs. Georgia broke the game open by scoring eight combined runs across the fourth and fifth innings. The loss capped the Gators’ regular season schedule ahead of postseason play.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida lacrosse falls to Colorado in Big 12 Tournament championship

The Florida Gators women’s lacrosse team was upset by Colorado in the Big 12 Tournament championship game. The loss marked the program’s first conference tournament defeat since 2013, snapping a lengthy streak of tournament dominance.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

ACL tears rising among young female athletes, experts say

ACL injuries are occurring at increasing rates among young female athletes, a trend highlighted in part by high-profile cases like that of athlete Chloe Kitts. Researchers and medical professionals point to a combination of anatomical, hormonal, and biomechanical factors that make female athletes more susceptible to this type of knee injury.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Alachua County drought persists despite recent rain, wildfire risk and pollinator stress remain

Emergency management and forestry officials warn that recent rainfall did little to address Alachua County’s nearly 20-inch rainfall deficit, leaving wildfire danger elevated and burn bans in place across the region. The Florida Forest Service expects the dry pattern to continue through at least July, with the ground drying out quickly after each shower. The drought is also threatening pollinators such as bees by reducing the flowering plants and water sources they depend on, prompting local groups to hold native-plant workshops encouraging residents to support habitat recovery.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Alachua County extends burn ban through May 8

County officials have prolonged the existing burn ban for another week, keeping it in effect through Friday, May 8. Alachua County is one of every county in North Central Florida currently under a burn ban. The extension comes as the Cow Creek fire in Goethe State Forest, which spread to roughly 2,400 acres, remains only partially contained.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Alachua County

UF research finds flood surges reversing flow in Florida’s freshwater springs

New research from UF/IFAS shows that heavy rainfall is forcing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural outward flow and degrading water clarity. A study of 62 springs across the Suwannee and Santa Fe river systems found widespread loss of aquatic vegetation, particularly in springs repeatedly hit by flood-driven intrusions. Researchers say these backflow events compound existing problems such as low oxygen levels and algae blooms.

Sources: UF News

Gun Range wildfire near Lake City approaches full containment at 85%

A 130-acre wildfire burning in the Osceola Forest just outside Lake City is now 85% contained, with recent rainfall helping slow the blaze. The U.S. Forest Service crew that has been on the scene for roughly two weeks is beginning to scale down as containment efforts near completion.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Cow Creek wildfire in Levy County surpasses 2,000 acres after a week of burning

A wildfire burning in Levy County known as the Cow Creek fire has grown beyond 2,000 acres, with firefighters still working to contain it more than a week after it started. The blaze is part of a broader pattern of wildfires burning across Florida. No additional details on containment status or evacuation orders were available from current reporting.

Sources: WUFT News

Florida’s worst drought in a decade is devastating freshwater fishing

Florida is enduring its most severe drought in more than ten years, with over half the state under extreme drought conditions. Falling lake levels and reduced water access have created deeply challenging conditions for anglers across the region.

Sources: WUFT News

Farmers Feeding Florida program made permanent as food costs rise in North Central Florida

A state initiative connecting Florida farmers with food banks has been made permanent, offering continued relief to North Central Florida residents struggling with rising grocery prices. The program, which began in 2010, was expanded into a statewide effort in July 2025, and its permanent status arrives at a moment of heightened need as the cost of goods continues to climb.

Sources: WUFT News

Protesters rally at Bo Diddley Plaza demanding child welfare reform after Paisley Brown’s death

Demonstrators gathered in downtown Gainesville Saturday to honor three-year-old Paisley Brown, who died in March in what authorities describe as a case of abuse and neglect. The man charged in connection with her death, her mother’s boyfriend, faces first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and capital sexual battery charges, while her mother faces two counts of felony child neglect. Organizers directed criticism at the Florida Department of Children and Families, raising concerns about the agency’s practice of outsourcing cases to third-party contractors.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Florida executes man convicted of killing 13-year-old in 1976

The state of Florida carried out the execution of James Hitchcock on April 30, 2026, for the 1976 murder of his 13-year-old stepniece in Winter Garden. A separate case covered by the Gainesville Sun involved Andrew Lukehart, also facing execution for killing a baby. Opponents of the execution gathered outside Florida State Prison in Raiford during the proceedings.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida’s new congressional map faces legal challenge amid redistricting scrutiny

A lawsuit has been filed contesting Florida’s newly drawn congressional map, according to reporting from the Gainesville Sun. The legal challenge comes as analysts are examining how the redistricting affects five key districts across the state, with significant implications for representation in multiple areas.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Report examines what deported Florida immigrants face upon return to home countries

A WUFT investigation explores the experiences of immigrants who are suddenly removed from Florida and sent back to their countries of origin. The report looks at the personal and economic upheaval faced by those deported, tracing what happens to individuals and families after removal.

Sources: WUFT News

Florida proposal would ban undocumented students from state college admission

A proposed Florida Department of Education rule would prohibit students without lawful immigration status from enrolling in any of the state’s 28 colleges. Education officials are scheduled to take up the proposal at a May 14 meeting held at Miami Dade College.

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Sources: WUFT News

DeSantis Signs Florida Redistricting Map, Boosting Republican House Seats

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a new Florida congressional map that is expected to improve Republican electoral prospects heading into midterm elections. The signing represents a significant move in shaping the state’s political landscape ahead of upcoming federal races.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Official: Agent ‘definitely’ shot by suspect in DC press dinner shooting

A federal official stated that a law enforcement agent was shot by the suspect involved in a shooting connected to a Washington, D.C. press dinner. The remarks, attributed to Pirro, indicate the agent’s shooting was not in dispute. No further details about the suspect’s identity or condition were available from the source.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Measles cases climb in Florida as push to loosen vaccine rules continues

Preventable illness cases in Florida are on the rise even as Republican lawmakers and Gov. DeSantis have pushed to roll back vaccine mandates, according to reporting from the Gainesville Sun. The trend reflects a broader pattern of vaccine resistance taking hold in the state at a time when public health officials warn that declining immunization rates leave communities vulnerable.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Spirit Airlines cancels all flights; passengers advised on refunds and rebooking

Spirit Airlines has canceled its entire flight operation, leaving travelers scrambling for options. Passengers are being directed to seek refunds, rebook on other carriers, or take advantage of rescue fares offered by competing airlines.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun