Gainesville & Alachua County TPO relaunches website, seeks advisory committee applicants

The Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization has unveiled a redesigned website. The organization is also accepting applications from residents interested in serving on its citizen advisory committee.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · Alachua County

Alachua County greenlights sewer line connecting Archer to Newberry

County commissioners approved construction of a 5.5-mile sewer line running along State Road 45 from Archer to Newberry, ending longstanding complaints about inadequate wastewater service in Archer. The line will tie into a new wastewater treatment facility currently under construction in Newberry. The vote was part of a broader commission meeting that also advanced at least one other major project in western Alachua County.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

County commissioners unanimously approve zoning change for UF golf course

The Alachua County Commission voted unanimously to approve a comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning that clears a major hurdle for a University of Florida championship golf course in southwest Alachua County, west of Haile Plantation near Parker Road. The project would include a championship course, team facilities, a clubhouse, overnight cottages, IFAS research areas, and more than 100 acres of permanently protected conservation land. Additional steps remain before construction can begin, and UF opted to work through the county’s review process rather than using its own master planning authority.

Sources: WUFT News · WCJB TV20

Bill permanently placing GRU under state-appointed board heads to DeSantis for signature

Legislation that explicitly transfers control of Gainesville Regional Utilities from local government to a governor-appointed board has been formally delivered to Gov. Ron DeSantis, making his signature the only remaining step for it to become law. House Bill 1451 passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature in March; it was originally introduced by Miami-Dade Republican Rep. Demi Busatta and concerned utility services in unincorporated areas before a late-February amendment added language that would settle a prolonged legal dispute over GRU governance.

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Sources: WCJB TV20

Alachua Commission delays Farmlands vote again amid questions over undocumented workshop

The Alachua city commission has once again deferred a vote on the Farmlands matter, with residents pressing officials about a May 21 workshop that apparently went undocumented. Commission Chair Welch was noted to have enforced order during the meeting as public frustration mounted over the repeated delays.

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Sources: Mainstreet Daily News

UF College Republicans take First Amendment fight to federal trial

A two-day bench trial before U.S. District Judge Mark Walker began Monday over the University of Florida’s decision to disband its College Republicans chapter. The group’s attorneys argue that interim President Dr. Donald Landry and other university leaders violated the First Amendment by deactivating the organization after a student was accused of performing a Nazi salute. Judge Walker had previously denied both sides’ motions for summary judgment, sending the dispute to trial.

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Sources: WCJB TV20

Gainesville man sentenced to five years for sex crimes against children

A Gainesville man received a five-year prison sentence Monday after being convicted on nearly a dozen charges related to sex crimes against children. Brendan Dinkins, 28, was arrested last July after an underage girl reported that he repeatedly solicited nude photos from her via text and sent her inappropriate images of himself over several months.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Thomas Haugh returns to Florida basketball with national title ambitions

UF forward Thomas Haugh has decided to return to the Gators rather than pursue the NBA Draft, according to reports from both the Alligator and the Gainesville Sun. Haugh had considered leaving after Florida’s loss to Iowa, but ultimately chose to come back to Gainesville. His return is expected to significantly bolster Florida’s roster and championship prospects heading into next season.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun · The Independent Florida Alligator

Resource fair Friday to assist Alachua-area families facing housing instability

The TaskForce for Ending Homelessness is hosting a free resource fair on Friday, June 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at United Way of North Central Florida, 6031 NW 1st Place in Gainesville. More than a dozen service providers will offer housing support, youth program information, mental health resources, and food assistance to students and families experiencing housing instability in Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, and Gilchrist counties.

Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20

GHA and UF Saving Smiles offer free dental care to housing residents through Friday

The Gainesville Housing Authority and the University of Florida’s Saving Smiles program have teamed up to provide no-cost dental services for residents 18 and under through June 12. Volunteers from UF’s College of Dentistry are bringing portable equipment directly to GHA properties to remove barriers around cost and transportation. Services include cleanings, exams, fluoride treatments, sealants, and hygiene instruction, available daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Eastwood Meadows on SE 43rd Street.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News

Florida Youth Challenge Academy closes after 25 years with final graduation ceremony

The Florida National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy, an alternative program serving at-risk teenagers aged 16 to 18, held its last graduation at Camp Blanding in Starke, marking the end of the program after a quarter century. The ceremony honored Class 50, the final residential cohort of high school dropouts trained and mentored through the program. Officials announced earlier this year that growing demands on the National Guard prompted leadership to shut down the program and redirect its resources.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Florida TaxWatch flags UF projects, rural county venues in $829M ‘budget turkeys’ report

Florida TaxWatch released its annual list of state budget items it says lacked proper vetting before Governor DeSantis signs the budget into law, identifying 621 items totaling more than $829 million statewide. In North Central Florida, the report singles out nearly $2 million in proposed renovations at the University of Florida’s Hamilton School, along with funding for the Gilchrist County Rodeo Arena and the Union County Farmers Market. The watchdog group argues that spending decisions of this kind should involve greater transparency and public input before being included in the budget.

Sources: WCJB TV20