Meridian Healthcare acquires Lake Shore Hospital campus for mental health use

Meridian Healthcare has taken ownership of the Lake Shore Hospital campus in Gainesville, which has sat vacant since Community Health Systems ended its operations there in 2020. The Lake Shore Hospital Authority board has pledged $4 million to fund repairs and renovations that will convert the facility into a mental health services center.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Rumored data center proposal draws crowds to Alachua public meetings

Residents have been turning out in large numbers to public meetings in the City of Alachua amid rumors that a data center may be proposed for the area. The story is set in Alachua, a city within Alachua County, making it relevant to the Gainesville metro coverage area. No further details about the proposal, the developer, or the outcome of the meetings were available from the source.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

UF Extends Pause on Out-of-State and International Transfer Admissions

The University of Florida is continuing its hold on accepting transfer applications from out-of-state and international students. The pause, which had previously been put in place, remains in effect as of late May 2026. No timeline for lifting the restriction was reported.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Free-speech trial begins over white nationalist student’s expulsion from UF

A trial is set to begin in a lawsuit brought by a white nationalist student against the University of Florida, centered on whether the university violated free-speech protections when it expelled him. The case raises questions about the limits of campus discipline and First Amendment rights at a public university.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

State lawmaker challenges UF over social media post critical of DEI programs

A Florida state representative has raised questions about the University of Florida following a post on X that described DEI programs as discriminatory, incompatible with academic purpose, and contrary to the pursuit of truth. The incident puts UF at the center of an ongoing state-level debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public universities.

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Sources: WUFT News

Stand your ground hearing set in Ginnie Springs fatal shooting case

A Gilchrist County judge will decide whether a criminal case against Fisher Watts proceeds after he claimed self-defense under Florida’s stand your ground law in a 2024 Memorial Day weekend shooting at Ginnie Springs. Watts argues he was justified in shooting Koty Stewart, and if the judge agrees, the charges will be dismissed. His brother Dallas, also involved in the incident, was sentenced last year to five years in prison in connection with the same shooting.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Speeding citations begin Tuesday at Alachua County school zone cameras

A 30-day warning period for newly installed speed cameras in Alachua County school zones ends Tuesday, after which drivers caught going more than 11 mph over the limit will receive a $100 citation by mail. Cameras are currently operating near Chiles Elementary, Kanapaha Middle School, and Wiles Elementary, with officials indicating the program could eventually be expanded to additional locations.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Alachua County deputies probe killing of pet pig near Hawthorne

Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the death of a family’s pet pig named Gemma near Hawthorne after the animal disappeared and was later found dead. Deputies are interviewing witnesses and working to identify who is responsible, with potential charges including unlawful disposal of a dead animal and killing an animal. The owner reported the pig had been a beloved family pet for nearly a decade.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville man dies after being struck by multiple vehicles, FHP investigating

Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash in which a Gainesville man was struck by multiple vehicles. No further details about the location, circumstances, or identity of the victim are available from the source.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Ward’s Supermarket marks 75 years serving Gainesville

Ward’s Supermarket is celebrating its 75th anniversary, having first opened in 1951 as a fruit and vegetable stand started by owner Danielle Ward-Breeden’s great-grandfather. The family-run store has grown from an open-air stand into a full grocery, with its emphasis on locally sourced produce and attentive customer service credited for its longevity. Ward-Breeden says prices remain competitive with chain supermarkets, particularly on produce sourced directly from nearby farms.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville preteens carry on the city’s punk rock tradition

A group of young musicians still in their preteen years are performing punk rock in Gainesville, continuing the city’s long-standing connection to the genre. The Florida Alligator profiled the band, highlighting how youth are keeping the local punk scene active.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Historic Black farming settlement of Rutledge persists in Alachua County

Rutledge, an early Alachua County community founded by Black farmers, continues to exist as a place tied together by the memories of its dwindling and aging residents. The settlement represents a piece of local African American history that has largely faded but remains alive in the recollections of those who grew up there.

Sources: WUFT News

Florida’s wealth gap widening in what economists call a K-shaped economy

A growing divide between wealthy and lower-income Floridians is being described as a “K-shaped” economic pattern, in which those at the top continue to prosper while those at the bottom fall further behind. Two reports from the Gainesville Sun examine what is driving this split and why it poses a concern for the state’s financial future.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Florida reinstates HIV assistance funding after sudden cut, but patients fear it won’t last

Florida has restored funding for HIV patient assistance programs following an abrupt termination that alarmed patients and advocates across the state. Despite the reinstatement, those who rely on the aid remain uncertain about its stability, worried that the support could be withdrawn again without warning.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida lawmakers steer millions to pet projects through secretive ‘sprinkle lists’

Florida legislators have been directing large sums of public money toward individual projects through so-called sprinkle lists, a budget practice that critics say lacks transparency. The funding mechanism allows lawmakers to insert spending priorities outside the normal appropriations process, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun