High Springs weighs cutting fire services amid 12.5% budget shortfall

High Springs city leaders met jointly with Alachua County commissioners to discuss potential reductions to the city’s fire department as part of an effort to trim 12.5% from the municipal budget. Residents spoke at the meeting in defense of keeping the local fire station open, though no decision was reached. The commission is expected to take up the matter again at its May 28 meeting.

Sources: WCJB TV20

GRU Authority deadlocks on stormwater billing approach, leaving issue unresolved

A divided vote by the GRU Authority has left a stormwater billing agreement with the City of Gainesville in limbo. The split decision means the board could not advance a resolution on how stormwater charges would be handled, stalling the broader agreement between the utility and the city.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

UF engineers develop world’s first DNA-guided CRISPR system for RNA editing

A University of Florida engineering team, working with researchers at UT Austin, has created a new form of CRISPR technology that uses DNA rather than RNA as a guide molecule — a first of its kind. Because DNA is naturally more stable and easier to produce than RNA, the approach could make disease diagnostics and treatments safer, more precise, and less expensive. The team first reported the work in a 2024 preprint and released the structure of the system in a separate preprint in March 2026.

Sources: UF News

UF researchers help define ‘ecotech,‘ a new field drawing on ecosystem principles

A team of international researchers that includes scientists from the University of Florida has formally proposed a new discipline called ecotech, which applies principles drawn from natural ecosystems to the design of technologies. Published in Science Advances, the work suggests ecotech could guide innovations ranging from marine-compatible wind farms to more sustainable agricultural systems. The researchers argue that Florida is well-positioned to become a hub for the emerging field.

Sources: UF News

Gainesville woman killed, five others injured in crash near Boulware Springs

A 35-year-old Gainesville woman died and five other people sustained serious injuries Wednesday evening when two vehicles collided on SE 15th Street near Boulware Springs Park. The crash occurred on May 13, according to reports from two local outlets. No further details about the circumstances of the collision have been made available.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · The Gainesville Sun

Las Vegas man charged in connection with cat drowning case

A Las Vegas man has been charged in relation to a cat drowning case, according to a report from The Gainesville Sun. The case appears connected to Reba’s Law, Florida legislation addressing animal cruelty. Further details about the circumstances of the incident are not available from the headline alone.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Gainesville produce company owner pleads guilty in federal food-program fraud

William Brittenham, president of the now-dissolved Rainbow Produce of Gainesville, has entered a guilty plea to conspiring to commit an offense against the United States. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated a scheme to defraud a government fresh food program by making false claims about where produce was grown and deliberately overcharging the government for snack packs supplied to military and school kitchens. Brittenham is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville homicide count already surpasses all of last year after two weekend killings

Mayor Harvey Ward addressed public safety concerns after two separate homicides last weekend — a shooting on Northwest 6th Street and a stabbing on Northwest Third Street — pushed the city’s 2026 homicide total to at least five, already exceeding the full-year count for 2025. Ward acknowledged that violent crime remains a daily focus for city leadership, while also noting that gun violence has been declining and that many recent violent incidents occurred inside residences. Both cases remain unsolved.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Florida baseball sweeps LSU behind grand slam, dominant pitching

The Florida Gators took the series against LSU, with infielder Ethan Surowiec’s grand slam powering a six-run first inning in the opener. Pitcher Liam Peterson then delivered a dominant seven-inning complete-game performance to clinch the series for Florida.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

UF softball set to host 2026 Gainesville Regional in NCAA Tournament

The University of Florida softball team will host the 2026 Gainesville Regional as part of the NCAA Tournament, with the Gators facing three potential opponents in the bracket. The article previews the field of teams Florida could encounter during the regional round played in Gainesville.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Jacksonville wastewater pipeline to North Florida delayed but not dead

A plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville to North Central Florida has been delayed — potentially indefinitely — after a state senator announced a pause on the Water First North Florida project via social media. However, a separate report indicates the proposal has not been fully abandoned despite the legislator’s announcement. The project would have brought reclaimed water to the region as a water-supply alternative.

Sources: WUFT News

Keystone Heights neighbors upset after Airbnb rented out for advertised sex party

A home on Pointview Road in Keystone Heights was rented through Airbnb last Saturday for a party that was publicly advertised as a sex party, drawing complaints from nearby residents. The property owner said the nature of the event came as a surprise to him, and while an RSVP list showed more than 400 expected attendees, neighbors reported fewer than 100 people showed up. A resident brought concerns about parking and traffic to the Keystone Heights City Council on Monday.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Body of 19-year-old Florida soldier found in Morocco

The U.S. Army has recovered the remains of Specialist Mariyah Collington-Taveres, a 19-year-old Florida soldier who had been reported missing, according to reporting by the Gainesville Sun. The soldier’s body was discovered in Morocco. No further details about the circumstances were available from the headlines alone.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida law expands armed guardian program to universities after FSU shooting

Governor DeSantis has signed legislation extending Florida’s armed guardian program to university campuses, a measure prompted by a deadly shooting at Florida State University. The new law allows trained, armed personnel to serve as campus guardians at Florida’s public universities, a role previously limited to K-12 schools.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida judge examines legality of DeSantis-drawn congressional district map

A Florida judge is weighing whether the congressional district map championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis is legally valid. The case puts the map’s constitutionality under judicial scrutiny, with the outcome potentially affecting how Florida’s congressional seats are drawn.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

DeSantis publicly attacks House Speaker Perez over blocked legislative priorities

Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly criticized Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, accusing him of obstructing the governor’s policy agenda. The dispute marks an open rift between two prominent Florida Republicans over the direction of the current legislative session.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun