Daily
Gainesville
Wednesday, October 8th, 2025
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Good morning, Gainesville. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 8th of October.
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ UF trustee James W. “Bill” Heavener was accused in a federal court case of defrauding the government by inflating job placement numbers at Full Sail — and the Los Angeles Film School — to secure tens of millions in federal funds over the past decade. The Independent Florida Alligator
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Local music advocates under MusicGNV plan a Walk of Fame to honor Gainesville music legends by installing six stars annually starting in 2026—this project aims to raise $30,000 over two years to boost downtown tourism and celebrate local talent. A fundraiser at How Bazar will help kick off the initiative with support from key community figures like Bill Bryson. The Gainesville Sun
DRINK NEWS
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EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas spoke at the October 7 School Board meeting and invited Vice Chair Tina Certain to the November State Board meeting—he said the board had shown a pattern of bullying and not following rules. He warned that the state will keep watching the board to protect parents and students. Alachua Chronicle
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Alachua Conservation Trust acquired an easement to protect a 416 acre tract along Olustee Creek near the confluence with the Santa Fe River in Columbia and Union counties. Funds from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection granted through the Suwannee River Water Management District helped secure the easement, which will let the farm shift to less intensive farming—preserving local wildlife and expanding the region’s conservation network. Mainstreet Daily News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Gainesville city leaders want to extend the GCRA program to keep investing in downtown and East Gainesville while county officials say economic uncertainty makes it too early to decide—both sides agree to meet again before 2029. WCJB
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ At the University of Florida lab, researchers use CRISPR to edit donor organs before transplant to remove viruses and lower infection risk—a process that makes the organs safer for patients. CasNx founders said this new technique uses pumps to reduce virus loads and could cut post-transplant infections. WCJB
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Florida's women earned a first-place finish in the 5K at the Florida Intercollegiate Invitational in Jacksonville and rose to No. 1 in the USTFCCCA South region and No. 3 nationally after their win at Missouri's Gans Creek Classic — four runners finished in the top-10 including freshman Desma Chepkoech. The men's cross country team scored 54 points at the Invitational with Jonathan Leon winning the 8K before the team later finished 23rd at Missouri. WRUF
- ➤ Florida Gators freshman receivers Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson showed strong play in their debut game with nine catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns against Texas. They will face No. 5 Texas A&M on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. on ESPN — a key test for their growing role in the offense. GatorSports
- ➤ After losing key players to the 2025 MLB Draft and the transfer portal, Gators baseball starts fall ball with 19 new players—including transfer Ethan Surowiec and outfielder Jaden Bastian—to rebuild its lineup. The season begins with open practices and games scheduled against Jacksonville University on Oct. 31 and Georgia Southern on Nov. 9. WRUF
- ➤ The FHSAA released its third statewide high school football ranking on Tuesday afternoon, showing that Buchholz stays at the top and Santa Fe fell after a home loss to Newberry—local teams like Columbia and Bradford also earned high spots with further rankings expected before the playoff bracket is set on November 7. The Gainesville Sun
- ➤ Texas quarterback Arch Manning has had an up-and-down season and now gets ready to face the Gators in the Swamp—he has completed 61% of his passes with nine touchdowns and three interceptions so far. His uncles Peyton and Eli Manning, who played against Florida with mixed results, add extra pressure on him to live up to the family legacy. The Independent Florida Alligator
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The Bridge City Sinners "Break the Chain" Tour
6-8:30 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — All Ages — Experience an eclectic fusion of dark folk, Americana, and punk from the Bridge City Sinners and special guests.
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40th Annual Fall Arts Festival
10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Shoppes at Thornebrook — Free entry — Experience a weekend of creativity and community spirit at Gainesville's beloved arts festival.
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Vanderbilt Commodores at Florida Gators Women's Volleyball
1-2:30 p.m. — Stephen C. O'Connell Center — Free entry for youth — Enjoy an SEC volleyball showdown featuring giveaways for kids.
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The Runarounds Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Tickets start at $245 — Enjoy an unforgettable performance by The Runarounds in Gainesville.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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