Alachua County commissioners advance $144M six-year road repair plan

Alachua County commissioners are pushing ahead with a six-year, $144 million transportation plan in response to resident complaints about deteriorating road conditions across the county. Residents described hazards including potholes, uneven pavement, and standing water that force drivers to veer into opposing lanes. At a recent commission meeting, Public Works Director Ramon Gavarette outlined funding and project timelines, with commissioners exploring whether some repairs could be completed ahead of schedule.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF and South Florida State College awarded $4.65M federal grant for workforce training

The University of Florida and South Florida State College have received a $4.65 million federal grant to fund the Florida FLIGHT program, a five-year initiative aimed at expanding career and technical education in rural Florida. South Florida State College will receive approximately $3.29 million while UF gets more than $1.35 million, with funding directed toward new technology-focused programs, industry certifications, and micro-credentials. The partnership is also designed to ease the transfer pathway from South Florida State College to UF.

Sources: WCJB TV20

UF Health expands hospital network from Gainesville to St. Augustine

UF Health now operates a hospital network stretching from Gainesville to St. Augustine, according to a report by the Independent Florida Alligator. Healthcare experts are divided on what the expansion means for patients, with some research linking hospital consolidation to higher prices while others argue a newly built facility represents a different situation.

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Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator

UF researcher’s new tool reveals first known link between rare plant and parasite

A UF assistant professor of biology, Liming Cai, developed a genetic-analysis tool called HGTScanner that detects horizontal gene transfer — the exchange of genetic material between unrelated species — in plants. Using the tool on existing DNA samples, Cai and postdoctoral researcher Rachel Cohen identified the first recorded interaction between Amborella, the oldest surviving branch of flowering plants native to New Caledonia, and a parasitic plant called Hachettea. The finding, published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution, also revealed that the gene transfer ran from the parasite to the host, the reverse of the typical direction, and the team now plans fieldwork in New Caledonia to confirm the ecological relationship.

Sources: UF News

Former UF Health doctor died by asphyxiation at Alachua County Jail, report finds

A report has determined that a former UF Health physician who died while held at the Alachua County Jail was killed by asphyxiation. The findings shed light on the circumstances surrounding the in-custody death of the ex-doctor.

Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Buchholz gets new stadium while some question school board’s vote

Buchholz High School is celebrating the approval of a new football stadium, following an Alachua County School Board vote on the project. The decision drew mixed reactions, with some parties less supportive of the board’s action.

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Sources: The Gainesville Sun

Cedar Key oyster restoration project shows growth after three months

An oyster restoration effort at Corrigan’s Reef near Cedar Key is already producing visible results, with young oysters attaching to limestone dropped across a 2.6-acre section of the reef since July. The Oyster Rocks Project, funded by a $2 million federal RESTORE Act grant awarded to the Cedar Key Oystermen’s Association, used 63 boats to rebuild the reef’s substrate so oysters can once again take hold.

Sources: WCJB TV20