Patrick Walsh, the brother-in-law of indicted former Florida State Rep. Joe Harding, was sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison Tuesday for defrauding the federal government of $7.8 million in COVID-19 aid in 2020.
Read More »Gainesville partners with nonprofit to boost bee populations
The city of Gainesville announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with a nonprofit to participate in a nationwide initiative to protect local bee populations. Let's find out what all the buzz is about.
Read More »Newberry in talks with Archer and High Springs about new $40M regional wastewater treatment facility
The City of Newberry is negotiating with the cities of Archer and High Springs about joining onto its planned regional wastewater treatment facility. The new facility is part of an effort by Newberry to overhaul its wastewater infrastructure to accommodate new development and meet new environmental regulations the state legislature …
Read More »Alachua County will spend $2.5M in federal aid on a publicly-owned meat processing facility
The Alachua County Commission unanimously voted at a special meeting Tuesday to spend $2.5 million for a new United States Department of Agriculture-certified meat processing facility in Newberry. The $2.5 million is part of the $52.25 million in federal funds allocated to Alachua County through the American Rescue Plan Act, …
Read More »Alachua County Commission selects new chair, approves $340,000 in federal aid for landlord utility rental assistance initiative
The Alachua County Commission elected a new chair and vice chair at its special meeting Tuesday before voting to use millions in federal aid on several initiatives, including a pilot program meant to help local landlords make their properties more energy efficient.
Read More »Alachua County Commission votes to spend $1.25 million in federal aid to upgrade Santa Fe Hills Water System
The Alachua County Commission unanimously voted Tuesday to spend $1.25 million in federal funds on the improvement of the deteriorating water infrastructure for the unincorporated neighborhood of Santa Fe Hills on the outskirts of the City of Alachua. The $1.25 million is part of the $52.25 million in federal funds …
Read More »Chef at popular Midtown Tijuana Flats near UF campus arrested on child pornography charges
A chef at the Tijuana Flats in Midtown just north of the University of Florida campus was arrested Friday afternoon on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. Devon Gregory Jackson, 32, was arrested by Gainesville police officers following an investigation that began with a tip over half a year …
Read More »Gainesville man who disappeared during trial sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a minor
Nineteen-year-old Ian Gabriel Montero-Lopez, who disappeared while on trial for sexually assaulting a minor last Christmas Eve, was sentenced to life in prison in absentia on Thursday. Montero-Lopez, who was 18 at the time, met the underage victim on Snapchat the week before the assault. He pressured the victim into meeting him at her residence, where he gave the victim narcotics and sexually assaulted her. He was later arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office after being identified in a photo lineup by the victim. He disappeared during the jury selection phase of his trial. He was found guilty in absentia of one count of sexual battery on a child 12-17 years of age and on one count of sexual battery with use of physical force. Law enforcement does not currently know his whereabouts. A warrant is out for his arrest.
Read More »Gainesville man with history of indecent exposure arrested for possessing child pornography, soliciting child sexual abuse material
Sixty-three-year-old Thomas Duval Andrews was arrested by the Gainesville Police Department Tuesday evening for possessing child pornography. The investigation into Andrews began last November when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip from the adult video chatting app Flingster, which said one of its users was soliciting child sexual abuse material online. The tip was referred to Gainesville police. The user’s IP address was tracked to Andrews’ residence, where police seized several electronic items after serving a warrant in October.
Read More »Kat Cammack’s reelection push culminates in illuminated celebration
Rep. Kat Cammack’s re-election watch party was certainly that: a party.
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