Government and politics

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved a special-use permit for a poultry harvesting facility in Marion County. The facility has been slaughtering 200 chickens a week without a permit.

A candlelight vigil was held Friday for victims of the recent string of campus shootings in the country. A controversial bill in the Senate will determine if guns can legally be carried onto campuses.

Former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson spoke at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday about the federal budget, tax code, Social Security and health care. Simpson discussed the nation’s fiscal situation and how it affects local businesses with Gainesville regional leaders.

The Alachua County Commission approved the distribution of funds for the CAPP and Choices programs for 2016 fiscal year, putting the future for some local nonprofit agencies in question.

An already stressful process is about to get more complicated now that the City of Gainesville Billing and Collections Office, formerly located at the Thomas Center, moved to City Hall. Now the hundreds of students looking for neighborhood parking decals every year will have to worry about getting a parking ticket while they wait in an hours-long line for the decal that allows them to park.

Students Taking Action Against Racism held a panel at the Bob Graham Center to discuss the issue of mass incarceration. Panelists lamented the lack of true due process in American society.

Joel Ainsworth plays piano at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Wednesday morning. He said Pope Francis is welcoming more people to the Catholic Church. Elena Castello, a sophomore at UF, has wanted to see the pope since she was a young girl. She has been to Italy, but said she wishes she …

After months of debate, 'Old Joe' will be moved from downtown Gainesville after the results of a 3-2 vote by the Alachua County Board of Commissioners. The statue has been in its current place since 1904.

About 86,000 of the 140,000 registered voters in Gainesville voted in the last presidential election. In response to the low voter turnout rates, the city of Gainesville has partnered with the Florida Chamber of Commerce to offer a voter registration drive.

Gainesville District 1 City Commissioner Charles Goston, Mayor Ed Braddy and other officials met recently to brainstorm ways to bring supermarkets and restaurants to East Gainesville. That area of town has only two full-service grocery stores, while West Gainesville has 24. Because of the dearth of supermarkets, East Gainesville has been labeled a "food desert," by the USDA.