The pilot who died alone in a small plane crash earlier this week near Gainesville – after pleading for help in bad weather from an air traffic controller over his radio and expressing his love for his parents – dreamed of becoming a commercial pilot, his family says. The pilot …
Read More »Could toll breaks continue? DeSantis administration says maybe
As Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares proposals for the 2024 legislative session, continuing to give financial breaks to frequent users of toll roads could be on the table. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez hinted at the issue Saturday as she spoke during the Republican Party of Florida’s “Freedom Summit” in Orlando. A …
Read More »School bus driver shortages persist in north central Florida. Here’s how some districts are responding
In his 11 years driving a school bus for Marion County, Glenn Cremeans said he’s never seen students behave so poorly as they do today — the primary reason he believes the district suffers from a bus driver shortage. “They say if you take all the miles that we drive …
Read More »Pedestrian safety focus of joint City Commission and UF Student Senate meeting
UF Student Government Senators asked for major changes to university-wide pedestrian safety at the joint annual Gainesville City Commission meeting. Five pedestrians have died in Gainesville so far this year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. At the meeting, commission members heard students’ demands for …
Read More »Man accused of crashing excavator into Walmart ordered to face mental health evaluation
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A judge has ordered a man accused of stealing an excavator and running it into several buildings to undergo a mental health evaluation before he can be released on bail. Jesse Charles Smith, 47, of Trenton, Florida, was arrested late Monday in Gainesville. Police accused him of …
Read More »FDOT pauses University Avenue construction for football season
Construction on University Avenue in Gainesville next to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has temporarily paused for football season. Florida Department of Traffic community outreach specialist Darly Goss said they are creating ways to keep pedestrians in the area more safe. “This will be the construction of two raised crosswalks, one …
Read More »Silver Airways to offer non-stop flights to FLL
For Gainesville locals, there are a few different options to get down to South Florida. You can fill up your gas tank and drive about five to six hours; you can buy a bus ticket, usually ranging between $40 to $60 one-way taking about six hours; or do what Gainesville …
Read More »Gainesville Regional Airport to build new 4-story garage
Gainesville Regional Airport has plans to build a new, 4-story parking garage this fall. According to CEO Allan Penksa, the garage will have approximately 420 spaces and will include a covered walkway to the terminal. It will also feature electric vehicle charging stations. Penksa said the airport deals with a …
Read More »County commissioners approve list of roads for construction
Construction may be coming to a road near you. The Alachua County Commission approved the list of roads and sites throughout the county that are part of the Transportation Capital Improvement Program at a meeting on Tuesday. This program was first introduced to the county commission in 2021 and has …
Read More »NAACP issues travel advisory for Florida: “open hostility” toward African Americans
The NAACP issued a travel advisory for Florida Saturday, citing recent legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The civil rights organization describes recent legislation as a “relentless and systemic attack on democracy and civil rights” against African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color. “We will not allow our rights …
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