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Vol. 1 · No. 26 · Tuesday, May 26, 2026

The Gainesville Ledger

Community

Gainesville, Alachua County mark Memorial Day at Evergreen Cemetery

City and county leaders gathered at Evergreen Cemetery in Gainesville, where more than 1,100 service members are buried and volunteers placed flags on veterans’ graves. The cemetery also unveiled a new monument honoring Gold Star families during the commemoration. Separately, Memorial Day ceremonies were held across North Central Florida, with reflection on veterans’ experiences in Vietnam and other conflicts.

Sources: WUFT News · Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

Business

Newberry breaks ground on $132M ag-tech greenhouse park with Harvest Singularity

Newberry city officials joined the company Harvest Singularity for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of a $132 million agriculture and technology research park. The project includes two industrial hydroponic greenhouses designed to operate in fully controlled environments, with each greenhouse expected to generate more than 50 full-time jobs. The facility is projected to produce over three tons of leafy greens per day and is intended to position Newberry as a hub for food and agriculture technology while bolstering Florida’s food supply.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Public Safety

Speed cameras at Alachua County school zones begin issuing $100 fines Tuesday

A 30-day warning period for newly installed speed cameras near three Alachua County schools — Chiles Elementary, Wiles Elementary, and Kanapaha Middle School — is coming to a close. Beginning Tuesday, motorists caught traveling more than 11 mph over the posted limit will receive a $100 citation by mail. County Sheriff’s officials recorded hundreds of violations on the first day of the warning period alone.

Sources: WCJB TV20

City

In Brief

Public Safety

Family still awaits answers two years after Ginnie Springs fatal shooting

Two years after Marco Mandujano, 26, was fatally shot at Ginnie Springs on Memorial Day weekend 2024, his family says they have received no meaningful updates on the investigation. The case stalled when one of the original detectives retired, and while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has assigned new investigators, the family reports they remain without information. The shooting was one of two deadly incidents at Ginnie Springs that same weekend.

Sources: WCJB TV20

In Brief

Arts & Culture

In Brief

Environment

Memorial Day rains push north central Florida wildfires to 85% containment

Weekend rainfall helped bring major wildfires that have been burning across north central Florida for several months under significant control, with the Florida Forest Service reporting all large fires are at least 85% contained. Mandatory burn bans remain in place across much of the region, though Columbia, Gilchrist, and Suwannee counties are exempt from the restrictions.

Sources: WCJB TV20

State & National

Florida lawmakers reach tentative budget deal during special session

State House and Senate negotiators shook hands Sunday night on a tentative budget agreement after failing to resolve differences during the regular 60-day session. The roughly $115 billion spending plan falls about $2 billion short of what Governor Ron DeSantis proposed late last year, and comes after a gap of about $1.4 billion separated the two chambers’ earlier proposals. Lawmakers also assembled supplemental funding lists alongside the main appropriations bill.

Sources: WCJB TV20

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