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Vol. 1 · No. 71 · Saturday, July 11, 2026

The Gainesville Ledger

State & National

Cyclosporiasis cases rising in Florida; experts urge care with fresh produce

Florida is experiencing an uptick in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness spread through contaminated food that can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Health experts are advising residents on steps to reduce their risk, including proper washing of fresh fruits and vegetables. Multiple local outlets are covering the outbreak, with guidance on prevention and food safety.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator · The Gainesville Sun

Public Safety

Gainesville man pleads guilty to producing child pornography, faces up to 30 years

Robert Lee Johnson, 39, entered guilty pleas in federal court to two counts of producing child pornography stemming from a 2020 incident involving a 14-year-old victim. Investigators found sexually explicit recordings on Johnson’s phone after executing a search warrant, and prosecutors noted he had threatened to post the footage online. Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, and Johnson will be required to register as a sex offender.

Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News

City

GRU rates unchanged but summer heat is driving customer bills higher

With temperatures reaching the upper 90s across north-central Florida, Gainesville Regional Utilities customers are seeing significantly higher electric bills driven by increased air conditioning use. GRU CEO Edward Belarski confirmed the utility has not raised its rates, attributing the higher bills entirely to greater energy consumption as cooling systems work harder in the extreme heat. One customer reported a monthly bill approaching $700, with the bulk of that cost attributed to HVAC usage.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Storms knock out power to 3,000 GRU customers; most service restored by evening

Thunderstorms swept through the Gainesville area Friday afternoon, bringing hail and cutting power to roughly 3,000 Gainesville Regional Utilities customers, with outages concentrated in the eastern part of the service area. By 9:30 p.m., GRU had restored service to most affected customers, leaving about 230 still without power. Clay Electric reported approximately 245 outages in Alachua County, while Duke Energy had fewer than 100, mainly in northern Marion County.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Education

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Public Safety

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Business

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Sports

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Arts & Culture

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Environment

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Community

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State & National

Two Republicans vie for Florida House District 10 in August primary

Chase Brannan, a real estate business owner from Baker County and son of term-limited incumbent Chuck Brannan, and Marshall Rawson, a Bradford County farmer and business owner, are competing in the August Republican primary for Florida House District 10. The district covers northern Alachua County along with Baker, Bradford, Columbia, and Union counties. Both candidates have addressed property tax reform, which is also set to appear on the November ballot.

Sources: WCJB TV20

In Brief

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