GRU Authority deadlocked on stormwater billing approach

A divided vote among members of the GRU Authority has left unresolved how stormwater charges will be billed to customers, stalling a proposed agreement. The split decision means the utility and the city have not reached consensus on the billing method, and the matter remains open.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

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

University of Florida researchers have developed a novel form of CRISPR technology that uses DNA, rather than the conventional RNA, to guide its editing enzymes to their targets. Because DNA is naturally more stable and easier to manufacture, the approach could lead to safer, more precise, and less expensive diagnostic tools and medical treatments. The UF team worked in collaboration with researchers at UT Austin, and published a structural analysis of the system in a preprint earlier this year.

Sources: UF News

Mental health stigma remains a barrier for Hispanic students and immigrants

Hispanic students and immigrants in Gainesville continue to face cultural stigma that discourages them from seeking mental health support, according to reporting by the Independent Florida Alligator. The persistence of this stigma presents ongoing challenges for university and community health outreach efforts targeting the Hispanic population.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Gainesville homicide count surpasses all of last year with five deaths so far in 2026

Mayor Harvey Ward spoke out about violent crime in Gainesville following two homicides last weekend — a teenage shooting victim on Northwest 6th Street and a stabbing victim on Northwest Third Street. The deaths push the city’s homicide total to at least five for the year, already exceeding the full-year count for 2025. Ward acknowledged the ongoing concern while noting that gun violence has been trending downward, with recent incidents spanning multiple types of violent crime.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gators sweep LSU behind Yost’s three-homer game to close regular season

Florida baseball completed a sweep of LSU in its regular-season finale, with junior outfielder Hayden Yost hitting three home runs and driving in five runs in Sunday’s clinching game. Pitcher Liam Peterson had already secured the series with a dominant seven-inning complete game on Saturday. The back-to-back victories capped a strong finish to the Gators’ regular season.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

UF women’s track and field wins first SEC triple crown since 1996–97

The Florida Gators women’s track and field program claimed its eighth all-time SEC outdoor championship, earning what the program calls a triple crown — indoor, outdoor, and cross country conference titles in the same academic year — for the first time in nearly three decades. Three individual event titles helped power the team to 107 points in the outdoor meet.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Newberry Watermelon Festival marks 81st year with crowds and agricultural pride

The Newberry Watermelon Festival returned for its 81st edition, drawing large crowds to what organizers call the longest-running watermelon festival in the United States. The event featured parades, a pageant, seed-spitting contests, and other traditions, with organizers emphasizing the ongoing importance of agriculture to the local economy and identity.

Sources: WCJB TV20

DeSantis signs law allowing armed guardians at Florida universities

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new safety law that permits armed guardians at universities across the state, a measure passed in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Florida State University. The legislation extends to college campuses a guardian program that previously applied primarily to K-12 schools. The law represents a significant shift in how Florida addresses campus security at the higher-education level.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida judge examines legality of DeSantis-drawn congressional map

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

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Body of 19-year-old Florida soldier missing in Morocco has been recovered

The U.S. Army has confirmed that the remains of Spc. Mariyah Collington, a 19-year-old soldier from Tavares, Florida, were found in Morocco. The soldier had previously been reported missing.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun