Community News
Friday, June 12, 2026 · Alachua County
Pasco County Acquires 4G Ranch in Largest Land Purchase
Pasco County and Florida's Department of Agriculture acquired 4G Ranch, a 1,893-acre property north of Land O' Lakes, creating a wildlife corridor and marking the county's largest land purchase to date.
Vehicle Fire Confirmed with Three Units Dispatched on Southbound Exit 25 in Pinellas Park
Emergency dispatch confirmed three units, including fire, police, and FHP, responded to a vehicle fire on Southbound Exit 25 in Pinellas Park.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Pasco County Acquires 1,893-Acre 4G Ranch for Conservation
Pasco County and the state jointly purchased 4G Ranch, a 1,893-acre property north of Land O' Lakes, creating a wildlife corridor connecting three conservation areas.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Palm Beach County Elections Office Wins National Award for Security Dashboard
Palm Beach County's Elections Office won a national award for its Election Night Transmission Monitoring Dashboard, which tracks results from all 377 voting locations in real time.
Friday, June 12, 2026
UF Professor Carves Wooden Comfort Symbols for Shands Cancer Patients
A UF professor carved over 200 wooden comfort symbols for cancer patients at Shands Hospital while recovering from long COVID. Students packaged the handcrafted carvings with encouragement messages for delivery to patients undergoing treatment.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Nancy Moody Donates $10,000 for K-9 Ballistic Vests
Nancy Moody donated $10,000 to the Levy County Sheriff's Office to purchase ballistic vests for K-9 units in memory of her husband Bob Moody.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Jesse Sandusky Named 6th Chief of Alachua Police Department
Jesse Sandusky becomes the 6th chief of the Alachua Police Department, promoted from within after 23 years with the agency.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Alachua K-9 Ramsey Certified in Narcotics Detection
Alachua Police K-9 Ramsey completed narcotics detection certification May 28, adding drug detection to his patrol skills.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Alachua Police to Ticket Unbuckled Drivers Through May 31
Alachua police will ticket unbuckled drivers and passengers through May 31 as part of a national seat belt enforcement campaign.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Santa Fe High Student Arrested After Bomb Threat at School Gate
A 14-year-old Santa Fe High student was arrested Monday after telling a guidance counselor she had a bomb in her backpack. School officials found no device or contraband.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Morriston Man Charged With 14 Counts of Child Sexual Abuse Material Possession
A Morriston man faces 14 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material following his arrest June 9. Peter William Jacobs, 36, was booked into the Levy County Detention Center with bond set at $350,000.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Morriston Man Charged With 14 Counts of Child Sexual Abuse Material Possession
A Morriston man was arrested June 9 on 14 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material following a monthslong investigation by the Levy County Sheriff's Office.
Friday, June 12, 2026
UF's Broward Dining Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification
The University of Florida's Broward Dining facility earns LEED Gold certification after a 15-month renovation, becoming the second UF building to achieve the distinction.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Registered Sexual Predator Now Living in Hawthorne
A registered sexual predator is now living in Hawthorne. Residents can search the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's online registry for details.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Alachua County Canvassing Board to Oversee 2026 Primary Election
Alachua County's Canvassing Board will verify vote counts and certify results for the 2026 Primary Election, following procedures outlined in Florida law to ensure election integrity.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Sexual Predator Registration Issued for Newberry Resident
Alachua County authorities registered sexual predator Wayne Jamar Solomon, 43, who resides in Newberry following a conviction involving a minor.
Friday, June 12, 2026
New Year’s Eve Dinner at Toro Toro Miami
Toro Toro Miami will offer a four-course prix fixe menu with live entertainment for New Year’s Eve 2024, featuring dishes like Wagyu Short Rib and Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Alachua County Elections Office Launches Online Account System
The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office now offers online account management for residents to track election notifications and save forms. The office is at 515 North Main Street in Gainesville.
Friday, June 12, 2026
DeSantis Rejects Florida Gas Tax Pause Amid $4/Gallon Spike
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shot down calls to suspend the state's 25-cent gas tax, warning drivers won't feel relief at pumps hitting $4 a gallon. Despite pleas from Democrats and Palm Beach County leaders, he cited past failures and oil market volatility. As global tensions rise, Florida motorists brace for pain at the pump.
Friday, June 12, 2026
DeSantis Signs 9 Key Florida Laws on Safety, Schools and Traffic
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed nine new laws Thursday in Tallahassee, tackling unlicensed drivers, church security and body camera privacy amid rising public safety concerns. Most take effect July 1, joining nearly 60 others passed this year. From stricter traffic penalties to expanded school guardians, the measures aim to bolster security across the Sunshine State.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Florida's Lab-Grown Meat Ban Survives Federal Court Challenge
Nearly two years after Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning cultivated meat sales in Florida, a federal appeals court upheld the controversial law as constitutional. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge from California-based Upside Foods, cementing Florida's status as the first state to prohibit lab-grown meat—a move critics say protects the traditional livestock industry rather than consumers.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Florida Launches Mandatory Hurricane Drills Across All 67 Counties
With hurricane season looming just weeks away, Florida's Division of Emergency Management has rolled out mandatory public safety drills statewide to sharpen readiness. The initiative targets all 67 counties, urging residents to stock seven days of supplies and master evacuation protocols. Officials warn that recent storms underscore the need for swift action amid rising threats.
Friday, June 12, 2026
DeSantis Greenlights UFC, Colleges in Florida's New License Plates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill unleashing eight new specialty license plates, from UFC fighters to South Florida high schools and military academies. Drivers can start pre-ordering Oct. 1, but only if 3,000 vouchers sell in two years. With over 2.3 million special tags already on roads, these could boost scholarships, mental health and more.
Friday, June 12, 2026