Alachua residents pack city meeting to oppose rumored data center on U.S. 441

Dozens of Alachua residents spent hours speaking out at a city meeting against a potential large-scale data center along U.S. 441, even though the proposal was not on the official agenda. The controversy was sparked by an online real estate listing for a 104-acre former Energizer battery plant near San Felasco Tech City, whose web address referenced a high-megawatt data center development though the listing’s title appears to have since changed. Residents raised concerns about environmental risks and the effect such a facility could have on nearby property values.

Read both sides →

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville commissioners to weigh roam towing ban or nighttime-only restriction

Gainesville city commissioners are scheduled Thursday to choose between two approaches to roam towing: restricting the practice to nighttime hours at large residential complexes or banning it outright. Also this week, the city will kick off the 2026 Journey to Juneteenth with a flag raising at City Hall on Wednesday, marking Florida Emancipation Day.

Sources: WCJB TV20

GRU awarded $43 million federal grant to strengthen electric grid

Gainesville Regional Utilities has been awarded a $43 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at improving the reliability and resilience of the local electric grid. The funding represents a significant investment in Gainesville’s public utility infrastructure.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida public schools face closures, enrollment drops and teacher shortages

Florida’s public school system is confronting a deepening crisis marked by school closures, falling enrollment, staffing shortages, and funding pressures, according to reporting from the Gainesville Sun. The situation has heightened anxiety among educators, families, and administrators across the state, with Gainesville-area schools part of the broader statewide picture.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Newberry and Alachua County School District clash over Oak View expansion timeline

The City of Newberry and the Alachua County School District are at odds over plans and timing for expanding Oak View, according to reporting by the Gainesville Sun. The dispute centers on differing expectations between local officials and the school district regarding how and when the expansion should move forward.

Read both sides →

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Questions mount over GPD’s use of facial recognition technology

The Gainesville Police Department’s use of facial recognition technology is drawing scrutiny over transparency, accuracy, and potential racial bias in how the algorithmic tool is deployed. The Independent Florida Alligator examined the department’s disclosure practices surrounding the technology, raising concerns about how the public is informed when facial recognition is used in investigations.

Read both sides →

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Trenton sex offender arrested for child molestation months after prison release

Gilchrist County deputies arrested Travis Wade Mathis, 36, of Trenton, on charges of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12, months after his release from prison on similar charges. The investigation began after a 911 caller reported a possible sexual battery, and Mathis — a registered sex offender — was taken into custody two days later on an arrest warrant.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF men’s track posts best SEC Outdoor finish since 2019, led by Masikane’s long jump gold

The Florida men’s track and field team earned a third-place finish at the SEC Outdoor Championships, accumulating 78 points in what marked the program’s strongest showing at the meet in seven years. The performance was anchored by a gold medal from Masikane in the long jump.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

No. 6 Florida softball sweeps Gainesville Regional behind Shumaker record

Sixth-ranked Florida softball swept through the 2026 Gainesville Regional, outscoring opponents 25-2 across the tournament. A record-breaking performance from Shumaker was the standout of the run, propelling the Gators to a clean sweep of regional play.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

UF softball, baseball, and women’s track each win big in the same weekend

The University of Florida had a standout weekend across three sports: the softball team captured its regional in three games, the baseball squad swept LSU in a three-game series, and the women’s track and field team claimed the SEC outdoor championship to complete a triple crown alongside its indoor and cross country titles.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News

Keagan Rothrock leads Florida softball deep into NCAA postseason again

Florida Gators pitcher Keagan Rothrock is once again a central force in the team’s NCAA postseason run, according to reporting from the Gainesville Sun. The ace has been instrumental in the team’s success as they advance through regional and super regional competition.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Alachua County braces for influx of climate migrants fleeing Florida’s coasts

Researchers and business experts project that rising sea levels could push more than 23,000 people from Florida’s coastal communities into Alachua County over the next 75 years. The county is now working to prepare for the economic and infrastructure pressures that a significant population influx of this kind would bring.

Sources: WUFT News

Homeless count in North Central Florida drops to 613, down from 887 last year

The 2026 annual Point-in-Time count recorded 613 people experiencing homelessness across seven North Central Florida counties — Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam, and Union — a significant drop from 887 counted in 2025. Of those surveyed, 414 were staying in shelters and 199 were living on the street. The region has seen a substantial overall decline since 2023, when the count reached 1,006 people.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Christina Grimmie shooting remembered nearly a decade later

A new report revisits the 2016 shooting death of singer Christina Grimmie at an Orlando, Florida concert venue, approaching the tenth anniversary of the event. Grimmie, a rising pop artist known for her television appearances, was killed by a gunman after a performance. The anniversary is prompting renewed reflection on the tragedy and its place in Florida’s history of mass violence.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Social Security trust fund on track for benefit cuts around 2032–2033

The Social Security trust fund is approaching insolvency, with projections suggesting the program could be forced to reduce monthly benefit payments to recipients around 2032 or 2033. Without congressional action to shore up the fund, retirees and other beneficiaries could see automatic cuts to their checks once reserves are depleted.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida property tax reform proposals could strain local government finances

State lawmakers are advancing property tax reform plans that could significantly reduce revenue for Florida’s local governments. The proposals raise concerns about how cities and counties would fund public services if a major source of local funding is restructured or reduced.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Supporters rally at Camp Blanding to fight closure of Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy

Backers of the Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy gathered at Camp Blanding in Starke on Sunday, calling on state officials to reverse plans to shut the program down. The Florida National Guard announced in April that it intends to close the academy during its 50th class, ending a 25-year program that has served nearly 7,000 at-risk teens since opening in 2001. Organizers warned the closure would harm current and future cadets while eliminating dozens of faculty and staff positions.

Read both sides →

Sources: WCJB TV20