Alachua County officials split over proposal to address homeless youth housing

County Commissioner Ken Cornell has written to the Alachua County School Board requesting joint action on youth homelessness, including a review of vacant and underutilized school facilities for potential use in serving homeless students and families. While the letter stops short of explicitly calling for housing students in empty schools, some officials interpret it that way, creating a rift among local leaders. State data counts 920 unaccompanied homeless youth in the county, though Cornell and Children’s Trust of Alachua County leaders believe the true number is higher.

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Sources: WCJB TV20

Kevin Robert Orr named dean of UF College of the Arts starting July 1

The University of Florida has appointed Kevin Robert Orr as dean of its College of the Arts, with the role beginning July 1. Orr has led the UF School of Music since 2015, overseeing 450 music majors and a faculty and staff of 55, while helping raise nearly $65 million for the music building’s renovation and expansion. During his tenure he also launched new degree programs and hired 37 full-time faculty and staff members.

Sources: UF News · The Gainesville Sun

UF researchers develop AI role-play tool to teach legal literacy to future educators

A University of Florida professor has replaced a traditional essay assignment in his graduate school law course with an AI-driven simulation called PrincipalGPT, in which students act as school attorneys advising an AI-generated principal on legal and ethical dilemmas. The interactive format is designed to help students apply real statutes to practical scenarios through live dialogue rather than static writing. Researchers are now working to extend the model into professional development programs for K-12 administrators statewide.

Sources: UF News

UF engineers sending photonic chips to ISS to address AI’s energy crisis

A University of Florida research team is launching photonic semiconductor chips to the International Space Station to evaluate how they perform under extreme conditions. The work is aimed at finding energy-efficient alternatives to earth-based data centers, as the explosive growth of AI continues to place severe strain on power grids.

Sources: UF News

UF researchers test volcanic rock dust as a soil health booster for Florida farms

University of Florida scientists are conducting a four-year, USDA-funded study worth nearly $750,000 to evaluate whether spreading basaltic volcanic rock dust can improve soil health and crop productivity across Florida’s varied farmlands. The research targets the state’s nutrient-poor sandy soils as well as highly organic soils, with the goal of reducing dependence on conventional fertilizers. Findings could inform soil management practices in warm, humid agricultural regions throughout the South and in irrigated farming areas nationally.

Sources: UF News

UF researchers partner with veterinary oncologists to accelerate cancer drug discovery

A UF College of Veterinary Medicine surgical oncologist has joined forces with the robotic drug discovery team at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute to study melanoma and osteosarcoma — a bone cancer more common in dogs than in humans. The collaboration exploits deep biological similarities between dogs and people, comparing how cancer cell lines from each species respond to drugs in order to identify treatments that could benefit both. Researchers say the cross-species approach could speed the pipeline for new cancer therapies.

Sources: UF News

Woman killed, five seriously injured in two-vehicle crash near Boulware Springs Park

A 35-year-old woman died at the scene Wednesday night after her vehicle collided with a southbound sedan on Southeast 15th Street near the entrance to Boulware Springs Park. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. as the woman attempted to turn onto the roadway. The 18-year-old driver of the other vehicle and all four of his passengers were taken away with serious injuries.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville police identify two homicide victims from separate weekend incidents

Gainesville Police Department has identified two people killed in unrelated homicides on Sunday night. A 17-year-old was shot on Northwest Sixth Street and later died at the hospital, while a 53-year-old man was found with stab wounds on Northwest Third Street and also died at the hospital. Both investigations remain active.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Bomb threat triggers lockdown at Santa Fe High School in Alachua

An anonymous caller reported that a bomb had been placed at a specific location on Santa Fe High School’s campus Tuesday, prompting a multi-agency response. Students were moved to a secure location while the school was placed on lockdown, and no one was allowed onto the property during the investigation. Officers from the Alachua Police Department and a bomb-detection K-9 unit from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of the campus.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Woman, 68, dies after medical emergency at Alachua County Jail

A 68-year-old woman held at the Alachua County Jail died after she was discovered unresponsive, according to a report from The Gainesville Sun. No further details about the circumstances of her detention or the nature of her medical emergency are available from the source.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

UF coach Will Palmer credited with transforming Gator distance running program

Since joining the Florida track and field staff, Will Palmer has overseen a dramatic turnaround in the program’s distance running, with his athletes setting 15 of the program’s 16 distance records since 2023. The Alligator profiles how Palmer’s coaching approach has rebuilt a unit that previously struggled to compete at a high level.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida lacrosse ends 2026 season 15-4 with perfect Big 12 record but early tournament exit

The Florida Gators women’s lacrosse team finished the 2026 season with a 15-4 overall record and an undefeated 5-0 mark in Big 12 play, but saw their postseason run end earlier than expected. A season-review piece from the Independent Florida Alligator examines the highs and lows of the Gators’ campaign.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Water First North Florida reclaimed water project canceled at senator’s request

State Sen. Corey Simon has announced the cancellation of the Water First North Florida project in its current form, asking developers to return with a more comprehensive long-term plan for protecting and restoring the Floridan Aquifer. The proposal would have transferred more than 40 million gallons of reclaimed water daily from the Jacksonville area into the aquifer system serving north central Florida. Commissioners in Columbia and Union counties expressed relief at the decision, with local officials citing unresolved concerns about the project’s route and chemical treatment processes.

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Sources: WCJB TV20

Newberry residents say Quikrete cement plant blasts damage homes, disrupt daily life

Neighbors living near a Quikrete cement plant on County Road 235 in Newberry say they endure constant noise, dust, and frequent blasts that they claim are damaging their homes and disrupting everyday routines. The complaints highlight ongoing tensions between industrial operations and the residential communities surrounding them in Alachua County.

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Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Alachua County Extends Mandatory Burn Ban as Wildfire Risk Remains High

Alachua County has extended its mandatory countywide burn ban through May 15, 2026, citing persistent historic drought conditions and unchanged soil dryness levels that continue to pose a high wildfire risk. The county remains under a State of Emergency declaration tied to multiple active wildfires. Officials reviewed current wildland fire conditions in consultation with state authorities before approving the extension.

Sources: Alachua County

Medical supply shortage delays breast cancer biopsies for Gainesville patients

A federal recall of specialized biopsy supplies has created a shortage affecting breast cancer diagnostic procedures at Gainesville-area hospitals, with HCA Florida North Florida Hospital confirming the disruption. At least one local woman says a suspicious spot found during a routine mammogram left her unable to schedule a recommended stereotactic biopsy in Gainesville, resulting in months of waiting for answers about whether the area is cancerous.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Wildfires Scorching Nearly 29,000 Acres Across Florida Despite Recent Rain

Active wildfires are burning close to 29,000 acres across Florida, with blazes reported in the Miami-Dade, Broward, and Everglades areas, according to The Gainesville Sun. The fires are affecting road conditions and air quality in parts of the state even after recent rainfall provided some relief.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Brightline faces mounting financial pressure with future service in doubt

Brightline, the private intercity passenger rail service, is reportedly under serious financial strain and racing against time to stabilize its operations, according to reporting from the Gainesville Sun. The company’s long-term viability as a rail provider appears increasingly uncertain.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida lawmakers open special session to reconcile $1.4B budget gap

Florida legislators convened a special session Tuesday to finalize a state budget, with the Senate and House each advancing the same competing proposals they passed in February. The two chambers remain $1.4 billion apart, with Sen. Don Gaetz expressing optimism that a vote could come by May 29. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell cautioned that significant negotiations remain and argued the state should prioritize current financial obligations over building up reserves.

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Sources: WCJB TV20