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Monday, May 18, 2026
The 2026 Point-in-Time count recorded 613 people experiencing homelessness across Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam, and Union counties, a significant decline from 887 last year and 1,006 in 2023. Of those counted, 414 were in shelters and 199 were living unsheltered on the street. The federally required survey is conducted each January to track homelessness trends nationwide.
Sources: WCJB TV20
More than 60 riders gathered at Gainesville Harley-Davidson on Sunday for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, a worldwide event promoting awareness of men’s mental health and prostate cancer research, with participation from more than 100,000 riders across 110 countries this year. Local organizers Faren Healey and Camden Briscoe, who returned to lead the ride after Camden lost a leg in a motorcycle accident earlier this year, said the support of their riding community through his recovery deepened their commitment to showing other men they need not face hardship alone.
Sources: WCJB TV20
The Newberry Watermelon Festival drew large crowds this year as organizers used the 81st annual edition of the event to spotlight the ongoing role of agriculture in the community. Billed as the longest-running watermelon festival in the United States, the celebration included a parade, pageant, seed-spitting contest, and watermelon eating alongside broader festivities.
Sources: WCJB TV20
In Brief
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