City, County Offices Closed Monday for Memorial Day; Trash Pickup Delayed

Gainesville city offices and Alachua County government offices will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. City residential curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and yard waste will not occur on the holiday and will shift back one day for the remainder of the week. RTS bus service is also suspended for the holiday.

Sources: Alachua County · City of Gainesville

Construction underway on Gainesville’s Streatery pedestrian dining corridor

Work is progressing on the Streatery, a pedestrian-only outdoor eating area being built along Southwest First Avenue between 2nd Street and Main Street in Gainesville. Crews have removed the street’s original brick pavement and are actively grading the ground, with construction having begun in April. A fence currently closes off the corridor, though sidewalks keep neighboring businesses accessible.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville moves ahead on stormwater billing outside GRU after divided vote

The City of Gainesville will pursue stormwater billing through the tax rolls rather than through Gainesville Regional Utilities, after a split vote ended negotiations between the two entities. The impasse means the city will shift to an alternative billing mechanism to fund stormwater services going forward.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Sen. Scott demands investigation into UF presidential search, Landry severance

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott publicly criticized the University of Florida’s presidential search process as lacking transparency after the search advisory committee unanimously named former University of Alabama president Dr. Stuart Bell as its sole finalist. In a letter posted to social media, Scott also called for an investigation into the roughly $2 million severance package given to outgoing UF president Dr. Donald Landry.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun · WCJB TV20

Stephen Foster Elementary alumni make final visit as school prepares to close

Former students and staff gathered by invitation at Stephen Foster Elementary School in Gainesville for a last chance to revisit the campus before it shuts down at the end of the school year. The closure stems from a recent Alachua County Public Schools rezoning decision that will shutter the small elementary school. Attendees described the school as a tight-knit community, with one former music teacher noting she spent 28 years there and considered the staff and students a family.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF College of Pharmacy launches AI hub to consolidate research and clinical work

The University of Florida College of Pharmacy is establishing a new artificial intelligence hub designed to bring together the college’s various AI initiatives under one umbrella. The effort is led by faculty members Khoa Nguyen and Md. Mahmudul Hasan, whose work spans clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical policy, and information systems. The hub aims to advance UF’s standing as a national leader in pharmacy-focused AI through research, clinical partnerships, and services.

Sources: UF News

UF reaches tentative deal with graduate assistants union amid new state law threat

The University of Florida has reached a tentative agreement with its graduate assistants union, according to a report from The Gainesville Sun. The deal comes as newly enacted state legislation poses a potential threat to the future of graduate employee collective bargaining at Florida universities.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

UF study finds AI text detectors unreliable for academic use

A new study from University of Florida researchers concludes that commercially available tools designed to identify AI-generated text in scientific literature are not effective. UF computer science professor Patrick Traynor and colleagues determined these detectors are poorly suited for use in academic or other high-stakes settings.

Sources: UF News

UF professor mentors Dominican teens to 18th-place finish at World Robotics Olympiad

UF engineering education professor Edwin Marte coached three high school students in the Dominican Republic remotely via Zoom, helping them develop a water-spraying, fire-detecting robot for international competition. The team finished 18th at the World Robotics Olympiad in Singapore, and the project inspired two additional student teams now aiming for the 2026 competition in Puerto Rico.

Sources: UF News

UF presidential search committee taps former Univ. of Alabama president as sole finalist

The University of Florida’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee has unanimously put forward Dr. Stuart R. Bell as its sole candidate to become the institution’s 14th president. Bell spent a decade leading the University of Alabama, where he was credited with improving national rankings, growing enrollment, and expanding campus facilities. The recommendation now goes to the UF Board of Trustees for consideration.

Sources: UF News

Georgia man jailed without bond after high-speed chase in stolen Atlanta vehicle

Nathaniel Gates, 27, was arrested Sunday in Alachua after leading authorities on a high-speed chase on I-75 northbound in a vehicle reported stolen out of Atlanta. The pursuit ended near the Alachua exit, and a pregnant woman who was in the car with Gates was taken for medical evaluation before also being taken into custody. Officers reportedly found a firearm and oxycodone in the vehicle, and Gates is being held in the Alachua County Jail without bond.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · The Independent Florida Alligator

Man struck and killed crossing Waldo Road in early-morning crash

A 50-year-old man was fatally struck by a sedan at the intersection of Northeast 57th Street and Waldo Road in Gainesville around 6 a.m. Wednesday. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a 34-year-old Gainesville woman was driving northeast on Waldo Road when she hit the man as he crossed the street. Investigators noted the roadway was unlit at the time and the pedestrian was not wearing high-visibility clothing.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville Regional Airport’s new CEO outlines growth plans, eyes routes after Spirit’s collapse

Paul Mehrlich has taken over as CEO of Gainesville Regional Airport and is continuing a long-range community development plan that includes terminal upgrades such as children’s play areas and sensory rooms. He sees the permanent closure of Spirit Airlines as an opening to attract new carriers and expand routes, though he acknowledged that data from travelers who currently drive to other Florida airports will be essential to making the case. Mehrlich also emphasized the airport’s advantages over larger Florida hubs, including easier parking, shorter security lines, and less traffic congestion.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Trenton softball captures third consecutive state championship

The Trenton Tigers won their third straight state softball title, jumping out to an 8-0 lead by scoring four runs in each of the first two innings. UF commit Addison Allaire was a key contributor throughout the run, striking out 16 batters in a semifinal win to help the Tigers reach the championship game.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · The Gainesville Sun

Cyr, Lawson power Florida past Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament

The Florida Gators advanced in the SEC Tournament by defeating Vanderbilt in the second round, with outfielder Blake Cyr and another player combining for seven hits, four runs, and four RBIs. Florida entered the tournament in Hoover, Alabama as the No. 5 seed following a sweep at the hands of LSU late in the regular season.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

UF Baseball Faces Weather Delay Against Alabama in SEC Tournament

Florida baseball’s SEC Tournament game against Alabama was affected by a weather-related start-time change. The Gators entered the tournament still in contention for a top-eight national seed, which would allow them to host an NCAA regional.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Micanopy gets 1800s makeover as backdrop for ‘A Land Remembered’ TV series

The historic town of Micanopy was transformed this week with red clay and period façades to portray a Georgia town from the 1800s for a TV adaptation of Patrick D. Smith’s Florida novel ‘A Land Remembered.‘ Director Todd Wiseman said the production aims to honor the classic story’s depiction of old Florida, with Micanopy and nearby Paynes Prairie serving as key filming locations.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · The Gainesville Sun

Extreme drought drains Alachua County groundwater to historic lows

Groundwater levels across Alachua County have dropped to the 10th percentile as a prolonged drought has left the area roughly 20 inches below normal rainfall. An extreme water shortage has been declared for the region, and private wells in and around the city of Alachua are among the hardest hit, with some going completely dry. A water pump professional with decades of experience described current conditions as the worst he has seen since 2001, with crews lowering pumps and responding to depleted wells at an elevated rate.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News · Alachua County

Wading bird nests in the Everglades fall to lowest level in 30 years amid severe drought

A prolonged drought gripping the Everglades has driven wading bird nesting numbers to their lowest point in three decades, according to a report from the Gainesville Sun. Dry conditions have also stressed alligator populations in the ecosystem. The crisis underscores the vulnerability of South Florida’s wetland wildlife to extended water shortages.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida wildfire season among worst on record as drought grips entire state

State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson warned that Florida’s wildfire season is shaping up to be one of the worst ever, with more than 2,100 fires having scorched over 130,000 acres statewide. Every part of Florida is experiencing some level of drought, pushing more than half of the state’s counties under burn bans. Officials say it would take more than a foot of rain to ease severe drought conditions in most areas, and even scattered showers would not be enough to resolve the underlying problem.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF researchers: lovebug swarms are harmless and short-lived

University of Florida entomologists say the lovebug swarms descending on Florida each spring and late summer pose no real threat — the insects do not bite, sting, or transmit disease, despite widespread belief otherwise. The swarms are tied to mating cycles and environmental triggers such as heat and vehicle exhaust, and they typically dissipate within a few weeks. Experts advise that chemical sprays are largely ineffective and recommend simple measures like promoting airflow and cleaning vehicles promptly after exposure.

Sources: UF News

Gainesville cyclists ride in silence to honor bicyclists killed on local roads

Dozens of cyclists gathered at Depot Park on Tuesday for the second annual Ride of Silence, a tribute to those killed while riding bicycles in Gainesville. Participants rode from Depot Park to Boulware Springs Park to raise awareness about bicycle safety, pausing at the Share the Road Memorial, which honors two cyclists killed by a distracted driver in 1996. UF Health Shands Trauma Center partnered with the event to distribute free helmets to children.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Post-gubernatorial security for DeSantis may carry significant cost for Florida taxpayers

A report from the Gainesville Sun raises questions about whether Florida taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for Gov. Ron DeSantis’s security detail after he leaves office. The potential ongoing expense follows a broader pattern of scrutiny over the cost of executive protection for former governors in Florida.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Data centers central to FPL parent company’s planned merger with Dominion Energy

NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light, is pursuing a merger with Dominion Energy, with data center demand playing a significant role in the deal’s rationale. The surge in electricity consumption driven by data centers is shaping how the combined utility would plan its generation and infrastructure investments.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun