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Vol. 1 · No. 101 · Thursday, August 13, 2026
Public Safety
A 46-year-old Melrose man died Wednesday morning after losing control of his motorcycle at the intersection of Southeast 8th Avenue and 35th Street in Bradford County, according to Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 7 a.m. when the rider left the roadway at the Melrose-area intersection.
Sources: WCJB TV20 · Mainstreet Daily News
Arts & Culture
Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress Chrissy Metz, a 2001 Buchholz High School graduate, is making her Broadway debut in the musical & Juliet, playing the role of Angelique. Terrence Williams Jr., who graduated from Eastside High School in 2015, is also debuting on Broadway in Titanique, the Musical, taking on several roles including the main supporting character. Both alumni credit their Alachua County schooling as part of their path to professional performance careers.
Sources: Mainstreet Daily News · WCJB TV20
Environment
Tropical Storm Cristobal developed Wednesday over the North Atlantic but forecasters expect it to dissipate before the week is out. Separately, a disturbance designated Invest 94L is being tracked for potential impacts on Florida, with forecast models showing a range of possible tracks.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun · WUFT News
City
The Alachua City Commission is weighing whether extending planning board members’ terms constitutes a violation of the city charter, according to local reporting. The commission’s discussion comes alongside a separate announcement that utility rates are rising for the first time in 16 years.
Sources: Mainstreet Daily News
The Alachua County Commission passed a resolution at its August 11 meeting expressing concern about federal immigration enforcement practices and calling for transparency in law enforcement identification. The measure affirms compliance with state law and does not direct county staff or law enforcement to take any action that would violate statutory requirements. The same meeting newsletter also highlighted 42 completed road projects under the county’s $250 million transportation program and the upcoming ribbon-cutting for Black Lake Preserve, a 287-acre nature area near Melrose.
Sources: Alachua County
With Ed Book stepping down after one term as Gainesville City Commission District 2 representative, voters will choose among a housing inspector, a journalist, and a former Marine to fill the seat. Housing affordability and city infrastructure have emerged as central themes in the race, with candidates Nelida Jean-Baptiste Pellot and Nathan Crabbe both emphasizing the need for more workforce housing options.
Sources: WCJB TV20
In Brief
Alachua County Public Schools has rolled out a small wearable badge called the Raptor badge that lets trained staff trigger alerts to school administrators and the district security office by pressing a button three times. The device is intended to speed response to campus emergencies ranging from medical incidents to intruder situations, and adds to existing security infrastructure already in place across the district.
Sources: WCJB TV20
In Brief
In Brief
In Brief
In Brief
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