Daily
Gainesville
Wednesday, October 29th, 2025
Good morning, Gainesville. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 29th of October.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Sapir Cohen and Sasha Troufanov told their story as former hostages by Hamas at the Phillips Center on Monday night — speaking at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Their remarks gave local listeners a firsthand look at their experience during captivity. WCJB
- ➤ Frankie 'Bubba' Hall from Alachua County received the 2025 Pat Cockrell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Farm Bureau at its annual meeting in Daytona Beach on Oct. 27 — he was honored for his 30 years as Director of Ag Policy and his ongoing work in agricultural consulting. Alachua Chronicle
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Alachua County Public Schools announced that 200 students earned perfect scores on state tests in the spring, with eleven students scoring perfectly on more than one exam at schools including Lincoln Middle, Kanapaha Middle, Oak View Middle, Archer Community, and Hidden Oak Elementary. Their results were released on October 28 and highlight strong academic performance across the district. Alachua Chronicle
- ➤ During Florida City Week, Gainesville city leaders hosted area fifth-graders on a field trip that included tours of City Hall, transit headquarters, the police department, and Fire Rescue Station 1. The students learned about local government services — seeing roles from police to transit — while meeting officials including Mayor Harvey Ward. City of Gainesville
- ➤ The Tee Foundation Assistance Network will host an endowed scholarship fundraiser brunch on November 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church—raising funds for the Tiawana Michele Wheeler Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund at Bethune Cookman University with ticket donations at $50 each. Alachua Chronicle
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Alachua County NAACP and the Visionaires hosted a town hall meeting on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming November referendum. WCJB
- ➤ Alachua County invites residents to a climate festival celebrating its completed Climate Action Plan — an event featuring panel discussions, exhibits, food trucks and a youth performance — that will run on Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Office in Newberry. Alachua Chronicle
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ A UF lab led by Dr. Courtney Miller is researching myosin inhibitors that may improve cancer treatments by targeting proteins that help tumors grow. The research found that the experimental drug improves radiation therapy effectiveness (tests have not yet been given to patients), which may lead to safer treatments in the future. WCJB
- ➤ Tampa General, UF Health Shands in Gainesville, and Jackson Memorial filed a challenge against Florida’s new organ-transplant rule, saying it lacks minimum safeguards to maintain quality of care+ a three-day hearing is set to start Dec. 17 to review the issues. The Gainesville Sun
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Eastside, with a 7–2 record and a recent district championship, will host Gainesville High, which sits at 2–7 and is on a six-game losing streak, for a Halloween Senior Night rivalry game scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Eastside has dominated the last three matchups—while Gainesville High had a 13-year winless streak against the Rams before 2022. WRUF
- ➤ Florida football icon Steve Spurrier said UF remains an attractive coaching destination if the right candidate with strong financial support is hired, stressing that discipline and motivation are key for success. He added that his son now plays an active role with UF's offense under interim coach Billy Gonzales+ helping quarterbacks as the team prepares for its game against Georgia on Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. GatorSports
- ➤ Florida basketball senior Xaivian Lee was named to the Jerry West Award Top 20 Preseason List on Oct. 28—he transferred from Princeton after averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season. His teammate Boogie Fland was also named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list, adding to strong early season momentum. GatorSports
-
Boo at the Zoo
3-7 p.m. — Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo — Trick-or-treating fun — Enjoy a safe Halloween celebration for the whole family at the zoo.
-
Flatwoods 5k Run
12:00 – 2:30 PM — 10625 NE Waldo Rd — Check website for registration fee — Experience the thrill of a local 5k amidst Gainesville's scenic trails.
-
Jammy Buffet
7-10 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — $ — Set sail on a musical adventure with Jammy Buffet's tribute to Jimmy Buffett's coastal storytelling.
-
Florida: A History in Pictures
7-8 p.m. — Matheson History Museum — Free entry — Discover the visual history of Florida through engaging highlights from a popular Facebook group.
-
Tom Petty Weekend
2-7 p.m. — Heartwood Soundstage — Free entry for students & kids 18 & under — Celebrate the musical legacy of Gainesville's own Tom Petty with a weekend of outdoor and indoor performances.
-
Aura Photography Family Days
12-8 p.m. — Florida Aura Research & Photography LLC — Pricing not specified — Explore vibrant aura photography with family in a colorful environment.
-
Tom Walker Half Marathon & 5k
8:00 – 11:30 AM — First Magnitude Brewing Company — Entry fees apply — Experience the scenic Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail at this popular running event.
-
Veterans in Business Fair
11 AM - 12 PM — Thomas Center — Free entry — Connect with procurement staff and fellow veteran-owned businesses while exploring available resources.
-
Florida Gators vs. Florida State Men's Basketball
7-8:30 p.m. — Stephen C. O'Connell Center — Tickets start at $29 — Cheer on the Gators as they face off against their rivals in a thrilling basketball matchup.
-
Texas A&M Aggies at Florida Gators Women's Volleyball
7-8:30 p.m. — Stephen C. O'Connell Center — Free aviator sunglasses for the first 200 students — Celebrate Military & First Responders Appreciation Night with thrilling volleyball action.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The goal is not to read more books. The goal is to gain more wisdom.
~ James Clear
About Daily Gainesville
Welcome to the Daily Gainesville, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Gainesville, Florida community. If you like the Daily Gainesville, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Gainesville.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Gainesville and across Florida. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Gainesville
A free Gainesville community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailygainesville.com/sitemap