Tuesday, October 13, 2026 · The Gainesville Ledger

Vol. 1 · No. 117 · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Sports

Sumrall focuses on mentality, defense ahead of No. 7 Texas matchup

UF head football coach Jon Sumrall addressed the Gators’ mindset and defensive struggles as the team prepares to face seventh-ranked Texas following back-to-back losses. Sumrall indicated he plans to take a more hands-on role in fixing the team’s defensive issues. He also pushed back on criticism directed at receiver Vernell Brown III, addressing questions about the player’s status.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator · The Gainesville Sun

City

Fort White council moves to force mayor to share town financial account access

The Fort White Town Council voted Monday to draft a resolution requiring Mayor George Thomas to grant Town Clerk Glenn Hunter access to the municipality’s QuickBooks account, which Thomas currently controls exclusively. Without that access, Hunter says the town cannot finish its most recent audit and risks losing its insurance coverage. Thomas was absent from the meeting and, according to video records, has not attended a council session since late July.

Read both sides →

Sources: WCJB TV20

City

Gainesville waste collection shifts to five-day schedule with new annual fee structure

Gainesville residents will see changes to how they are billed for waste collection services under a new contract that moves payment from monthly bills to annual fees. The switch accompanies a revised five-day collection schedule affecting households across the city.

Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

State & National

Florida executes James Robertson in 17th execution of the year

James Robertson, 63, was executed by lethal injection Tuesday at Florida State Prison near Starke, becoming the state’s 17th person executed this year. Robertson was convicted of strangling his cellmate, Frank Hart, at Charlotte Correctional Institution in 2008, and had been on death row since 2012 after waiving his appeals. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Robertson’s death warrant in early October.

Sources: WCJB TV20

Education

In Brief

Public Safety

Scammers impersonating deputies target north central Florida residents with fake warrants

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers are calling people across north central Florida, threatening them with fake arrest warrants to extort money. One Levy County woman paid more than $4,000 after callers told her she had missed a federal jury summons and directed her to pay through a kiosk at a Gainesville convenience store. A sheriff’s office lieutenant noted that scammers have even used his own name to lend credibility to the scheme, with reports coming in from across the region.

Sources: WCJB TV20

In Brief

Gainesville man charged with indecent exposure in Westmoreland neighborhood — The Independent Florida Alligator

Sports

In Brief

UF soccer’s Lena Bailey earns SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor — The Independent Florida Alligator
Week 9 Gainesville-area high school football schedule and rankings released — The Gainesville Sun
Florida basketball picked to win SEC title; Haugh named preseason Player of the Year — The Gainesville Sun

Arts & Culture

In Brief

Evergreen Cemetery opens grounds to artists for ‘Art of Death’ event — The Independent Florida Alligator

Environment

In Brief

Scientist documents decline of Poe Springs as flow rates slow — WUFT News

Community

In Brief

Florida Museum takes pollinator programming outdoors during renovations — WUFT News
Gainesville economic justice group marks five years with first block party — WUFT News

State & National

In Brief

Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly holds town hall at FAMU in Tallahassee — WCJB TV20