UF, Santa Fe decline BOCC request for mask mandate
Sep 10, 2021
Update (3:45 p.m.): Both UF President Kent Fuchs and Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie responded to BOCC Chair Ken Cornell on Friday saying they have no […]
Covid-19
UF, Santa Fe decline BOCC request for mask mandate
Update (3:45 p.m.): Both UF President Kent Fuchs and Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie responded to BOCC Chair Ken Cornell on Friday saying they have no […]
Biden announces vaccine mandate for millions
Sep 9, 2021
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a six-point plan to combat the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, but one point drew most of the attention: a sweeping vaccine […]
Union County scrambles to find opponent—again
Sep 7, 2021
For the second time in three weeks the Union County football team was forced to look for a new opponent on short notice—but for two different […]
Q&A on COVID mental health challenges
Sep 6, 2021
The latest coronavirus variant fueled a surge in cases and anxiety as Americans wonder if this pandemic will ever end. The daily news is filled with […]
SBAC files court challenge to FDOH emergency rule
Sep 4, 2021
The School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) has teamed up with school boards from Broward and Orange counties to overturn a Florida Department of Health (FDOH) […]
COVID hospitalizations declining in Gainesville
Sep 2, 2021
A dip that first started last week has turned into steady downhill momentum. Local hospitals report growing optimism that the worst of the COVID-19 delta variant […]
High Springs monoclonal site has busy first week
Sep 2, 2021
Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke in Fort Myers on Wednesday morning about the impact of the 21 monoclonal antibody sites around the state, reporting that more than […]
State to garnish more salaries after court order
Sep 1, 2021
This week the Alachua and Broward County school boards became the first in the state to have wages garnished for implementing mask mandates, but they likely […]
County grapples with misleading Facebook comments
Sep 1, 2021
Misleading comments that propel conspiracy theories and false information about pandemic issues are causing concern for those who manage the Alachua County Facebook page. At the […]
BOCC extends mask mandate as COVID surge wanes
Aug 31, 2021
Health department administrator Paul Myers would not commit to announcing a peak for COVID-19 cases, but on Tuesday he told the Alachua County Board of County […]
Here’s where you can get paid for a COVID shot
Aug 31, 2021
Last week the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners approved incentives for those who obtain a COVID-19 vaccine. Namely, Alachua County residents receive $25 per shot. […]
Education Department targets mask mandate bans
Aug 30, 2021
All children have a right to a free public education, but some students with chronic illness cannot attend school during the COVID-19 pandemic unless their classmates […]
Fourth school week starts with 1,667 in quarantine
Aug 30, 2021
More than 1,600 Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) students and staff are in quarantine as week four of the 2021-22 school year begins. As of 5 […]
City employees rally against vaccine mandate
Aug 27, 2021
State Sen. Keith Perry joined attorney Jeff Childers and dozens of city employees at a Friday press conference in Bo Diddley Plaza to push back against […]
Judge blocks DeSantis ban on mask mandates
Aug 27, 2021
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis overstepped his authority when he sought to block school districts from implementing student mask mandates, according to a Friday court ruling. Judge […]
Judge poised to issue ruling in school mask case
Aug 26, 2021
Lawyers challenging and defending Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on school mask mandates rested their cases on Thursday, ahead of an expected ruling Friday morning. Judge […]
COVID patient numbers dip at area hospitals
Aug 26, 2021
After a month of steady increases in COVID-positive patients flooding Gainesville hospitals, numbers released Thursday show a gradual decline appears to be underway. North Florida Regional […]
BOCC extends, modifies emergency order
Aug 24, 2021
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously extended its mask mandate for seven days with some modifications at its Tuesday meeting. The board modified […]
FDA’s Pfizer approval kindles local optimism
Aug 23, 2021
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, boosting local hospital officials’ hopes for an uptick in vaccination rates. […]
High Springs to get monoclonal antibody site
Aug 23, 2021
Alachua County will have a devoted monoclonal antibody treatment site beginning Tuesday, according to a Monday announcement from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The new location in […]
ACPS sticks to mask policy as state deadline passes
Aug 22, 2021
A 48-hour compliance deadline from the state passed Sunday with Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) maintaining its mandatory mask requirement for students. “Due to the highly […]
Simon rebuffs state order to alter mask policy
Aug 20, 2021
Update (4:05 p.m., Aug. 20): ACPS Superintendent Carlee Simon released a statement Friday afternoon saying the district has “no plans to change our current masking requirement.” […]
Biden mandates nursing home vaccines as booster debate continues
Aug 19, 2021
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will require nursing home staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Facilities that do […]
Unanimous BOCC mandates face masks for 7 days
Aug 18, 2021
Update (8:34 p.m. Thursday): The countywide face mask mandate went into effect at 5 p.m. Thursday. The full order with details and guidelines is available online. […]