Good morning, Gainesville.

Black Lake Preserve, a 287-acre park south of Lake Santa Fe in Melrose, opened Friday morning when Commission chair Cornell cut a vine at its entrance; the park offers a paved trail with 1- and 2-mile loops and is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with reduced hours October through March.

Alachua County Commission chair Ken Cornell cut a green vine to mark the opening of the 287-acre Black Lake Preserve in Melrose Friday morning, adding a 500-foot paved path and hiking trails for residents.

The park (hosting threatened plants) is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mayor Harvey Ward welcomed residents to Fall in Gainesville today—highlighting local initiatives including downtown safety improvements, community partnerships and the introduction of UF’s new president Stuart Bell.

A Boeing C-32 (a U.S. Air Force jet that resembles Air Force One and transports top leaders) landed at Gainesville Regional Airport on Aug.

22. Officials have not confirmed who was aboard, though social media speculated that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have been on board.

Florida snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating Florida State 3-1 at Donald R.

Dizney Stadium on Sunday—forward Kyra Taylor scored early and senior goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel made key saves; the Gators will host Jacksonville University at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Florida's football defense is set for a strong 2026 season as coach Sumrall highlights returning leaders and emerging stars on the defensive line and in the secondary ahead of the Sept.

5 opener against FAU + teams aim to prove their strength on home turf at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

On Friday, Newberry’s Raiders beat Santa Fe’s Panthers 30-16 in a revived season-opener tradition dating back to the 1970s.

Over 800 local fans attended the game, marking the Raiders’ first win over the Panthers since 2019.

On Aug. 23, Florida legends Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerffel joined Tim Tebow at the Florida Legends Card Show in Gainesville to raise funds for Isaiah 117 House (which supports foster children).

The event also sparked discussion about jersey number traditions among Florida football stars.

Florida football gears up in Gainesville as head coach Jon Sumrall + offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner lead a new-look offense set for its season opener on Sept.

5. Redshirt sophomore Aaron Philo is favored in a quarterback fight with redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. amid strong returning stars.