Union concessions approved; county cost figures due in October HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission on Sept. 21 adopted a final property tax rate of 7.24 mills and a $20.85 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year (FY27) that keeps the High Springs Police Department (HSPD) fully funded, at least until commissioners receive…
GAINESVILLE – Decisions about how Florida sheriff’s offices prepare for policy reviews, facility inspections and accreditation will include an Alachua County voice during the coming year. Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott has been selected as vice chair of the Florida Sheriffs Association Accreditation Advisory Committee for 2026-27, the Sheriff’s Office announced. The appointment places Scott…
ALACHUA – The Alachua City Commission voted unanimously Sept. 14 to pursue a 12-month moratorium on data center applications, even though city officials say no data center project has been proposed in Alachua. Vice Mayor Jennifer Ringersen made the motion, and Commissioner Shirley Green Brown seconded it. The motion directs staff to draft an ordinance…
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Below are the updated City of Gainesville traffic impacts scheduled for Sept. 21-27, 2026. New Notices SW Fourth Ave.: Southwest Fourth Avenue, between Southwest Sixth Street and Southwest Fifth Street, will be closed Monday, Sept. 21-Wednesday, Sept. 23. Continuing Notices Impacts from The Streatery construction: Please note that businesses remain open during construction. Please visit…
NEWBERRY – Free naloxone is now available in Newberry following the installation of a distribution box designed to give residents ready access to the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. City officials and emergency responders marked the launch of the program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 15. The initiative is a partnership involving the Newberry…
Police cuts ordered, county talks authorized after 2-3 vote HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission voted 4-1 on Sept. 10 to raise the city’s tentative property tax rate to 7.24 mills for the 2026-27 fiscal year, then spent nearly three hours debating whether to dissolve either the police department or the fire department…
NEWBERRY – Newberry city commissioners set the property tax rate at 5.880 mills and approved a tentative $47.9 million budget Sept. 14 during a meeting that also included action on utility rates, six voluntary annexations, a McDonald’s development plan and a six-lot subdivision. The commission adopted a resolution setting the city’s millage rate for fiscal…
ALACHUA – A family insurance business with longstanding ties to Alachua marked a new chapter Sept. 9 as the Greg Bradley Agency – Allstate Insurance celebrated its downtown location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Alachua Chamber of Commerce joined representatives of the City of Alachua, community members and the agency’s staff for the ceremony at…
ALACHUA – Two brothers were arrested after a domestic dispute in which police say one brother pushed their 67-year-old grandmother to the ground and the other stabbed his brother with a knife. The incident also prompted nearby Mebane Middle School to briefly enter a secure status as a precaution, according to the Alachua Police Department….
WALDO — A sweet potato developed in Waldo more than 130 years ago is providing inspiration for a modern-day celebration of the small city’s agricultural past. The second annual Waldo Sweet Potato Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waldo City Square, bringing together food, vendors, family activities…
