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Vol. 1 · No. 23 · Saturday, May 23, 2026

The Gainesville Ledger

Sports

No. 11 Texas Tech eliminates No. 6 Florida softball in Gainesville Super Regional

Texas Tech upset Florida in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional, ending the Gators’ bid for what would have been their 14th Women’s College World Series appearance. The loss came in a high-scoring affair at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, where Texas Tech — a program that has rapidly built its roster through the transfer portal and NIL — proved a formidable opponent on what was essentially home turf for several of its players, including former Gator Mia Williams.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · The Independent Florida Alligator

Education

UF defends presidential search as Scott, Trump administration weigh in on Bell pick

The University of Florida pushed back against criticism from U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who questioned the transparency of the process that named Dr. Stuart Bell — former University of Alabama president — as the sole finalist for the UF presidency, with the university asserting it fully complied with Florida law and Board of Governors regulations. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon also entered the debate, publicly stating on social media that UF deserves a president committed to continuing anti-DEI reforms, a remark that drew attention to Bell’s tenure at Alabama, where the university had pursued student diversity efforts. Bell is scheduled to visit campus on June 3 to meet with students, faculty, and staff ahead of his Board of Trustees interview on June 10.

Read both sides →

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

City

Gainesville commission bans roam towing, raises booting fine to $80

The Gainesville City Commission voted 5-2 to prohibit roam towing within city limits, acting on a review of its towing and immobilization ordinance that began last month. Commissioners also approved raising the fine for booting vehicles from $65 to $80, while the trespass towing fine stands at $160. The mayor cited a high volume of resident complaints as the driving force behind the commission’s decision.

Read both sides →

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

Public Safety

GPD designates domestic violence a public safety priority amid rising homicide trend

Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya told the City Commission that domestic violence represents a growing concern, noting GPD handled 2,347 domestic disturbance calls and recorded 1,649 domestic or dating violence incidents in 2025, with 810 disturbance calls already logged through late April of this year. As part of an expanded strategy, Moya announced the addition of a Criminal Investigations Bureau detective dedicated to domestic and dating violence cases, alongside continued use of the Lethality Assessment Program to connect high-risk victims with advocacy and support services. Mayor Harvey Ward endorsed the approach, emphasizing community-wide collaboration to reach victims before violence escalates.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · City of Gainesville · Mainstreet Daily News

City

In Brief

Education

In Brief

Public Safety

Alachua County deputies increase waterway patrols as drought closes Newnans Lake

Alachua County sheriff’s deputies are stepping up patrols on open lakes this Memorial Day weekend after drought conditions forced Newnans Lake to close to boating, a closure expected to push heavier traffic onto other area waterways. Deputies are reminding boaters to reduce speed, wear life jackets, and avoid operating boats while impaired, and will be checking that all vessels carry Coast Guard-approved safety equipment. AAA projects more than 39 million Americans will drive over the holiday weekend, with north-central Florida roads and waterways already seeing increased congestion.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Ginnie Springs tightens alcohol rules for Memorial Day weekend

Ginnie Springs has updated its alcohol and open-container policies, now restricting drinking to designated campsites only — changes made roughly two years after two fatal shootings at the popular High Springs attraction. Management posted the revised rules prominently on their website last month. Gilchrist County Sheriff’s deputies, while not part of on-site security at the springs, are deploying extra patrols across the county for the holiday weekend.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Robbery suspect found hiding in sinkhole after 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 allegedly choked the victim, took his phone and car keys, and fled into nearby woods before K9 teams and an aviation unit tracked him down. Deputies located him inside a large sinkhole around 7:30 p.m. and took him into custody without further incident.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Alachua County traffic stop nets stolen Orlando gun, arrest of teen on probation

Alachua County sheriff’s deputies pulled over 18-year-old Gladimyr Lebrun on Southwest 20th Avenue in Gainesville for traffic violations and discovered a loaded firearm that had been stolen in Orlando. Lebrun, who is currently serving juvenile probation for a prior gun charge, also admitted to marijuana use during the stop. He is being held without bond on charges of grand theft and unlawful carry of a firearm.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Convicted felon arrested after Gainesville burglary, car crash, and foot chase

Alachua County deputies arrested 20-year-old Mikale Fuye on Wednesday after connecting him to a residential burglary in which approximately $6,000 in cash, gold jewelry, and a firearm were stolen. Deputies identified Fuye through security footage showing a vehicle registered in his name near the scene, where they found a pried-open garage door and broken windows. When deputies stopped his vehicle, Fuye attempted to flee, rear-ending an SUV and driving into a ditch before being apprehended on foot and charged with firearm possession and fleeing.

Sources: WCJB TV20

In Brief

Business

Oaks Mall placed in receivership as it navigates financial struggles

A court placed The Oaks Mall in Gainesville into receivership in 2025, handing management responsibilities to Spinoso Real Estate Group DLS LLC. The move reflects the financial difficulties the shopping center has been facing, with the new management group tasked with stabilizing operations. Visitors have been reflecting on memories of the mall amid uncertainty about its future direction.

Sources: WUFT News

In Brief

Sports

In Brief

Arts & Culture

In Brief

Environment

NOAA forecasts below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season due to El Niño

Federal forecasters at NOAA are predicting a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season in 2026, assigning a 55% probability of reduced activity. The agency expects 8 to 14 named storms, with 3 to 6 reaching hurricane strength and 1 to 3 becoming major hurricanes — all figures below a typical season’s averages. A strengthening El Niño is credited with the expected suppression, as it tends to increase wind shear across the Atlantic basin, though forecasters caution that dangerous storms remain possible.

Sources: WUFT News · Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

Rip currents, thunderstorms threaten Florida beach plans this Memorial Day Weekend

Beachgoers heading to Florida’s east coast or Panhandle this Memorial Day Weekend face dangerous rip currents and high surf, with officials advising people to stay out of the ocean. Thunderstorms are expected Saturday and Sunday, with additional rain showers on Monday, all driven by energy impulses moving through a high-pressure system that is keeping major fronts north of the state. The weekend will also bring intense heat, humidity, and elevated UV levels.

Sources: WUFT News

Florida Python Challenge opens registration, runs July 10–19 with $10,000 top prize

Florida wildlife officials have opened registration for the annual Python Challenge, a statewide effort to reduce the invasive Burmese python population in the Everglades running from July 10 through July 19. The top prize of $10,000 goes to whoever removes the most pythons during the competition. Last year, participants pulled nearly 300 of the snakes from the Everglades; the species has no natural predators in Florida, reproduces rapidly, and can grow up to 16 feet long.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News

In Brief

Community

Half a Century Cold

By Craft Lemon

More than two dozen unsolved homicides. Eleven missing people. A former mayoral candidate in a Tennessee jail. What Gainesville hasn’t closed, and what the files reveal about who gets searched for. The Gainesville Police Department keeps a list. It runs from 1974 to 2018, give or take. Some entries are paragraphs long. Some are six words and a placeholder photograph because the file is too thin

Spirit Never Flew to Gainesville. Its Collapse Still Will.

By Craft Lemon

The first major U.S. airline failure in 25 years skipped GNV entirely. The math at the airport, and on every Gainesville traveler’s drive to Orlando, is changing anyway. Spirit Airlines never operated a single flight out of Gainesville Regional Airport. The yellow planes did not park here, the orange-uniformed crews never staffed a counter here, the carry-on bag fee never came due here. So when t

In Brief

State & National

Gainesville-area gas prices hit 4-year high ahead of Memorial Day weekend

Fuel costs in the Gainesville area have climbed to $4.56 per gallon, reaching their highest point in four years as the Memorial Day holiday kicks off the summer travel season. Florida’s summer driving season could be the most expensive on record, according to reporting from the Gainesville Sun. Motorists are facing steeper costs at the pump just as demand typically surges with holiday travel.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · 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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