Daily
Gainesville
Thursday, May 8th, 2025
Good morning, Gainesville. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 8th of May.
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Drayon Drevell Duncan (21) was arrested on May 2 and charged with two counts of attempted homicide for a September 29, 2024 shooting at Lewis Place Apartments after officers found numerous spent casings and text messages linking him to the incident, and he remains in custody without bail pending further hearing. Alachua Chronicle
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Sixteen-year-old Nathan Wynn directs his second musical, Aladdin Jr., which will run at Grace at Fort Clarke Church later this month, building on his successful debut last summer. The Gainesville high school student balances his classes with theater and earns praise from actors and parents alike — noting his clear leadership and hands-on approach. WUFT
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ After a 60% funding cut last year, Alachua County’s McKinney-Vento program now has just three staff supporting over 900 homeless students across 42 schools — the district is partnering with local agencies and plans to add more staff next year to address the shortfall. WUFT
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Construction will begin next week on a $4.9 million project to resurface State Road 222 (NW 39th Avenue) from east of Northwest 40th Terrace to Northwest 24th Boulevard and improve its intersection with State Road 25; drivers will face lane closures and overnight flagging operations from 8:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until the project finishes in winter 2026. Alachua Chronicle
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ After her husband died from Stage 4 gastric cancer, Helen Moore vowed to use math models to improve cancer treatments—she now leads research at UF College of Medicine and mentors nine students in developing better drug plans. Her work connects math with medicine to speed up testing and help many people get better care. WUFT
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Florida softball began its SEC Tournament run yesterday at 5 p.m. in Athens, Georgia when the No. 6 seed faced the No. 11 Ole Miss after a historic win over top-ranked Oklahoma — the game aired on SEC Network and the winner will meet No. 3 Texas at 5 p.m. on Thursday. GatorSports
- ➤ Florida Gators softball center fielder Kendra Falby—praised by coach Tim Walton as the best she’s ever seen—made key home run-saving catches including one against Oklahoma and earned first team All-SEC honors last season. She maintains a ritual of eating alone at Carrabba’s on Southwest 34th Street before each home series to recharge and stay focused. GatorSports
- ➤ Florida women’s golf team tied with Virginia for third place at the NCAA Regional Tournament and will compete in the NCAA Championship Tournament for the first time since 2019. Championship play will resume May 16 through May 21 at Omni La Costa in Carlsbad — the second year the event is held at the site. The Independent Florida Alligator
- ➤ A detailed SEC report outlined contract terms for top softball coaches including Oklahoma’s Patty Gasso, Tennessee’s Karen Weekly, and Florida’s Tim Walton (with Gasso’s deal starting at a $300,000 base salary and rising outside income). Other coaches hold multi-year agreements with added bonus structures (like retention payments and scheduled increments) as teams gear up for the NCAA tournament. GatorSports
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Season Finale Pops — HornSquad
7:30-9:30 p.m. — Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall — Ticketed event — Experience a delightful evening filled with surprises and popular treats at the orchestra's annual celebration.
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Haile Farmers Market
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM — Plantation Hall in the Haile Village Center — Free entry — Experience a vibrant market featuring fresh local produce and artisanal goods every Saturday.
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Gainesville Cars and Coffee Gathering
8 AM – 5 PM — Ford's Garage Gainesville — Free entry — Gather with fellow car enthusiasts at this casual community event.
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Larry & Joe Concert
7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a captivating evening with a unique blend of Joropo and bluegrass music.
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Melody Trucks & Fitzkee Brothers Concert
7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets available — Experience a powerful blend of Southern rock and improvisational fire.
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Fifth Avenue Arts Festival
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Santa Fe College Charles L. Blount Center — Free entry — Celebrate local arts and culture at the 45th Annual Arts Festival featuring artists, performers, and vendors.
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Business League Workshop Series
2-4 p.m. — Good Life Station — Free entry — Enhance your marketing and networking skills at this informative workshop featuring Shelley Vickers.
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Kyran Daniel Live Performance
7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Check event page for details — Experience the remarkable musical talent that's been captivating audiences.
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Story Time at the Zoo
10:30-11:00 a.m. — Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo — Free entry — Enjoy a delightful story time in a natural setting, perfect for families and children.
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Southeast Outdoor Sectionals 2025
8 a.m. — 10404 SW Williston Rd — Registration required — Compete in 14 Field, 14 Hunter, and 14 Animal rounds in the quest for Outdoor National Series Champions.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
~ Edgar Degas
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