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Vol. 1 · No. 22 · Friday, May 22, 2026

The Gainesville Ledger

Education

Sen. Scott challenges UF’s opaque presidential search as Bell named sole finalist

The University of Florida’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee unanimously selected Dr. Stuart Bell, former University of Alabama president of ten years, as the sole finalist to become UF’s 14th president. U.S. Senator Rick Scott publicly challenged the process, posting a letter arguing it lacked transparency and calling for an investigation into the roughly $2 million severance paid to outgoing president Dr. Donald Landry.

Read the point / counterpoint →

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · UF News · Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20 · WUFT News

Arts & Culture

Micanopy transformed into 1800s Georgia backdrop for ‘A Land Remembered’ TV series

The small Alachua County town of Micanopy underwent an extensive makeover — its downtown streets covered in red clay and fitted with period façades — to serve as a stand-in for 1800s Georgia during filming of a television adaptation of Patrick D. Smith’s novel ‘A Land Remembered.‘ Director Todd Wiseman said the production aims to resurrect a vision of old Florida that has largely vanished. The four-part miniseries, which also uses Paynes Prairie as a filming location, is still seeking a streaming buyer and has no confirmed air date.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News · The Gainesville Sun

Public Safety

Gainesville man charged with first-degree murder in May 10 stabbing death

Henri Hart, 43, was arrested Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder and evidence tampering in connection with the fatal stabbing of Ricky Morrow, 53, on May 10. Gainesville police identified Hart after an anonymous Crimestoppers tip identified a suspect known by the nickname ‘Hitman’ as living at Oak Park Apartments on Northeast 8th Avenue. Witness accounts and surveillance footage corroborated the tip and led detectives to Hart.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · The Independent Florida Alligator · The Gainesville Sun

City

Gainesville commissioners raise car-booting fine to $80

Gainesville city commissioners voted to increase the penalty for immobilizing vehicles from $65 to $80, while the fine for trespass towing remains at $160. Commissioners also debated whether convicted sexual offenders or predators should be permitted to operate trespass towing services, a question they may revisit at a future meeting.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

In Brief

Education

Stephen Foster Elementary alumni gather for a final farewell before school closes

Former students and staff returned to Stephen Foster Elementary School in Gainesville for an invitation-only event to share memories before the school shuts its doors at the end of the academic year. The closure follows a recent Alachua County Public Schools rezoning decision that eliminated two elementary schools. Alumni and former teachers described the school as a close-knit community, with many expressing that its loss would be felt by the broader neighborhood.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF study finds AI detection tools unreliable for academic use

A new study from University of Florida computer science professor Patrick Traynor and colleagues concludes that commercially available tools designed to identify AI-generated text in scholarly publications are poorly suited for use in academic or high-stakes settings. The research comes as concerns grow over the spread of AI-generated content in scientific literature. Traynor, who serves as interim chair of UF’s Department of Computer & Information Science & Engineering, led the examination of these detection tools’ effectiveness.

Sources: UF News

UF professor mentors Dominican teens whose firefighting robot placed 18th globally

Engineering education professor Edwin Marte of the University of Florida coached three Dominican high school students remotely over six months, helping them rebuild their fire-detecting, water-spraying robot for the World Robotics Olympiad. The team finished 18th in the international competition held in Singapore. The project’s success inspired the formation of two additional student teams now aiming for the 2026 World Robotics Olympiad in Puerto Rico.

Sources: UF News

In Brief

Public Safety

Alachua County transfer station closed after overnight fire

A fire broke out Tuesday night at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station on Northeast 63rd Avenue, prompting Alachua County officials to temporarily shut down the facility and its adjacent Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Multiple fire crews from Alachua County and Gainesville fire rescue responded and worked through the night to bring the blaze under control. Residents needing to dispose of garbage, recycling, scrap metal, tires, yard waste, or hazardous materials are directed to use the county’s five rural collection centers when they open Friday.

Sources: Alachua County · Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

GPD adds detective, expands strategy to combat domestic violence in Gainesville

Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya told the City Commission this week that domestic violence remains a persistent community safety concern, with the department responding to more than 2,300 domestic disturbance calls in 2025 and nearly 560 incidents already recorded through late April of this year. As part of an expanded response, GPD is assigning an additional Criminal Investigations Bureau detective to domestic and dating violence cases and continuing to deploy the Lethality Assessment Program to connect high-risk victims with advocacy and support services. Mayor Harvey Ward backed the initiative, emphasizing a collaborative approach that prioritizes prevention and outreach alongside enforcement.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · City of Gainesville

Robbery suspect found hiding in sinkhole after K9 search near High Springs

Alachua County deputies arrested a 25-year-old High Springs man Tuesday evening after an extensive search following a reported robbery and physical altercation. The suspect, Keveon Johnson, allegedly choked the victim, took his phone and car keys, then fled into nearby woods. K9 teams and an aviation unit tracked Johnson to a large sinkhole, where he was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Alachua County Jail.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Convicted felon arrested in Gainesville after fleeing traffic stop and crashing near playground

Alachua County deputies arrested 20-year-old Mikale Fuye on Wednesday after connecting him through security footage to a home burglary in which roughly $6,000 in cash, gold jewelry, and a firearm were stolen. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, Fuye fled, rear-ended an SUV, and drove into a ditch near a children’s playground on Southwest 61st Street before being apprehended on foot. Fuye, who had a prior conviction related to firearm possession and reckless discharge, faces charges including possession of a firearm and fleeing law enforcement.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Man held without bond after high-speed chase in Atlanta-stolen vehicle on I-75

Nathaniel Gates, 27, was arrested Sunday following a high-speed pursuit on I-75 northbound that ended near the Alachua exit, authorities said. The vehicle he was driving had been reported stolen out of Atlanta, Georgia. A pregnant woman who was a passenger in the car was taken for medical evaluation before she too was taken into custody.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Pedestrian struck and killed by sedan on Waldo Road early Wednesday

A 50-year-old man from St. Augustine died after being 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 roadway. Troopers noted the intersection was unlit at the time and the pedestrian was not wearing high-visibility clothing.

Sources: WCJB TV20

In Brief

Business

In Brief

Sports

UF softball faces transfer-laden Texas Tech squad in NCAA Super Regional

Florida’s softball program is set to meet Texas Tech in an NCAA Super Regional, with the Red Raiders having built their roster heavily through the transfer portal and NIL. Among those returning to Gainesville is former Gator Mia Williams, who transferred to Texas Tech and will face her old team. Texas Tech has risen to national prominence over the past two seasons on the strength of its portal-assembled lineup.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · The Independent Florida Alligator

In Brief

Environment

Florida Python Challenge registration opens; event runs July 10–19

Registration is now open for the annual Florida Python Challenge, a statewide competition running July 10–19 that aims to reduce the population of invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades. The top prize for removing the most pythons is $10,000, and last year’s event resulted in nearly 300 pythons taken from the region. Burmese pythons, which can reach 10 to 16 feet in length, have no natural predators in Florida and pose a significant threat to native wildlife.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News

NOAA forecasts below-normal Atlantic hurricane season as El Niño strengthens

Federal meteorologists are predicting a quieter-than-average Atlantic hurricane season, citing a developing and potentially strong El Niño expected to suppress tropical storm formation. NOAA puts the odds of a below-normal season at 55%, with 8 to 14 named storms forecast — fewer than the 14 that constitute an average season — and 1 to 3 of those potentially reaching major hurricane strength. Officials cautioned that reduced activity does not mean the threat disappears entirely.

Sources: WUFT News · WCJB TV20

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

A severe drought gripping the Everglades has driven wading bird nesting activity to its lowest point in three decades, according to reporting from The Gainesville Sun. The dry conditions have also stressed alligator populations in the region. The crisis underscores the vulnerability of South Florida’s wetland ecosystems to prolonged water shortages.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

UF researchers: Lovebug swarms are harmless and short-lived despite their nuisance

University of Florida entomologists say the annual lovebug invasion — a familiar sight along Florida highways and parking lots each spring and late summer — poses no real threat, as the insects do not bite, sting, or carry disease. The swarms are tied to mating cycles and triggered by environmental cues such as heat and vehicle exhaust, and they typically dissipate within a few weeks. Experts advise that sprays are largely ineffective and recommend focusing on quick cleanup and simple avoidance instead.

Sources: UF News

Community

Gainesville kicks off sixth annual Journey to Juneteenth celebration

The City of Gainesville launched its monthlong Journey to Juneteenth series with a flag-raising ceremony marking May 20, 1865 — the date enslaved Africans in Tallahassee first learned of their freedom. The celebration, themed around freedom, strength, and unity, runs through June 19 and includes a free Florida Emancipation Celebration at the Cotton Club Museum, a Juneteenth Film Festival at the Hippodrome Cinema, and other community events.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · City of Gainesville

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

Dozens of cyclists gathered at Depot Park for the second annual Ride of Silence, pedaling to Boulware Springs Park to raise awareness about bicycle safety and remember those killed while riding. The event highlights the Share the Road Memorial, which commemorates two Gainesville riders struck and killed by a distracted driver in 1996, with remnants of their bicycles on permanent display. UF Health Shands Trauma Center partnered with organizers to distribute free helmets to children attending the event.

Sources: WCJB TV20

In Brief

State & National

Florida institutions silent after NAACP calls for college football boycott

The NAACP’s push for a college football boycott has been met with silence from Florida schools and institutions, according to reporting by The Gainesville Sun. Details of the boycott’s specific demands and which organizations were contacted are not available from the headline alone, but the story centers on the lack of public response from Florida stakeholders.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

In Brief

From the Magazine

SHOW PREVIEW

Pop-Punk Stacks the Bill at Signal Friday Night

Lifted Riffs, AITA, The 91’s and SWANYX at Signal. Doors 8 p.m., show 8:30, 21 and up.

By Craft Lemon

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This date in Gator history

2025

Gators beat Georgia 5-2 in Super Regional Game 3 to clinch WCWS berth

On May 25, 2025, the Florida Gators softball team defeated SEC rival Georgia 5–2 in a winner-take-all Game 3 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, clinching a spot in the 2025 Women’s College World Series. Graduate transfer Rylee Holtorf delivered a go-ahead two-run homer to seal the victory, capping a dramatic three-game series. It marked Florida’s 13th all-time WCWS appearance and their second consecutive trip to Oklahoma City.

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