Good morning, Gainesville.

On May 21, 2025, Gainesville man Lagarius Joseph Johnson was found guilty by a federal jury of possessing a machine gun to aid a drug trafficking crime—sentencing for the charges is set for August 12 at 10:00 a.m. in Gainesville while he faces separate attempted first-degree murder charges.

Buchholz High School’s athletic director and baseball coach Ron Brooks resigned Wednesday after 14 seasons to take a job outside education — the school is now seeking a new head coach to continue the program’s success.

Santa Fe College Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of agreement—which lets campus police work with ICE supervision—despite protests from students and faculty who warned that the deal could harm trust on campus.

Dozens of community members spoke during public comment as protestors gathered outside the meeting.

During a meeting on May 15, the Gainesville City Commission voted to hold a special election on the first Tuesday in November 2025 so voters can decide if GRU should return to city control—Commissioner Bryan Eastman said the motion is needed to restore stability to the utility.

City Attorney Dan Nee will draft charter amendments despite concerns over legal challenges.

Alachua Habitat for Humanity received a $250,000 grant through Radiant Credit Union and FHLBank Atlanta to build 10 affordable single-family homes in east Gainesville and Alachua.

Future homeowners must complete 250 hours of sweat equity, participate in financial education, and secure an affordable mortgage — measures that lower the cost of homeownership.

Florida baseball faced Ole Miss in an SEC Tournament game on May 21—each team hoping to strengthen its bid for an NCAA Tournament regional.

Sophomore pitcher Liam Peterson started on the mound as the contest, broadcast on SEC Network, unfolded with tight competition.

The Florida Gators beat South Carolina 11-3 on Tuesday in the SEC Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Complex—13 hits and three home runs helped the team win.

The victory moved them into Wednesday night’s second round against Ole Miss at 9 p.m. ET and set up a potential quarterfinal against Arkansas if they win.

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.

S.G. Goodman Live

7-11 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets available — Experience S.G. Goodman's roots-inflected rock with haunting vocals and personal storytelling.

Boys High School Summer Basketball Showcase

Monday & Wednesday evenings — Alachua County Sports & Event Center — $375 per Team — Compete in Gainesville's top high school basketball league this summer.

Xie Qi and Human-level Treatment

1-5 p.m. — Academy for Five Element Acupuncture — $100 — Enhance your understanding of xie qi and explore human-level treatment in this interactive course for acupuncturists.

Do Business with the City

9-11 a.m. — Thomas Center — Free entry — Connect with City of Gainesville purchasing pros and discover resources for local business growth.

Gainesville Toddler Multi-Sport Program

9-10:50 a.m. — Veterans Memorial Park — $85 — Enjoy a fun and active multisport program for toddlers over four weeks.

Father's Day Celebration at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

9 a.m. – 7 p.m. — Kanapaha Botanical Gardens — Free for fathers — Celebrate Dad with nature's beauty and enjoy a day out together.