Daily
Gainesville
Tuesday, December 9th, 2025
Good morning, Gainesville. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 9th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Local seniors gathered at Cleather Sr. Hathcock Community Center for a Friendsgiving potluck that featured homemade dishes + strong community spirit; organizers plan a Christmas potluck next month to keep the tradition alive. Alachua County Today
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Chick-fil-A opened its new location in Alachua on Thursday, Nov. 20, drawing steady lines of customers after a private ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The restaurant now operates Monday through Saturday (closed on Sundays) to offer a local fast-food option. Alachua County Today
- ➤ Floyd ‘Sonny’ Tillman, founder of Sonny’s BBQ, died peacefully in his sleep Monday night in Gainesville + his family confirmed his passing. He started the chain on Waldo Road in 1968 and built it into a popular franchise that supported Florida Gators. WCJB
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Holiday festivities continue across Gainesville and Alachua County through Dec. 30 with free screenings, guided tours, and seasonal performances. Highlights include today’s Holiday Unity Concert at the Phillips Center and community events offering live entertainment + creative displays for families. The Gainesville Sun
- ➤ Recent studies and UF student interviews show that social media memes are affecting how local students view alcohol and drug use. Researchers note that posts on platforms like TikTok (which often turn risky behavior into humor) make these actions seem normal despite their dangers. WUFT
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily paused a lower-court order to reinstate a UF law student (expelled for controversial online posts) after UF reissued a trespass warning and filed an emergency motion, with his attorney expecting a decision by Dec. 12 ahead of finals. The Gainesville Sun
- ➤ Alachua County schools will start winter break Monday, Dec. 22, with students returning Monday, Jan. 5+ state employees get paid leave for Christmas Day and the following day. The Gainesville Sun
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Gainesville residents, led by Sam Schatz — the Urban Forestry Program Coordinator — planted 68 trees during a Saturday event at Tom Petty Park and will plant more in mid-January using funds from the Tree Mitigation Fund. WUFT
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ UF student Matthew Milton Bravo (20, history major) diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma will finish chemotherapy on Dec. 26 and looks forward to rejoining family holiday traditions at Night of Lights. His Gainesville community supported him as his fraternity raised $10,000 for Blood Cancer United through a buzzcuts event. WUFT
- ➤ An investigative series finds that Gainesville teens face a growing crisis of drug addiction as early exposure, family challenges, and prevention gaps fuel covert substance use. Parents, therapists, and educators stress that early conversations (about substance risks and mental health) can help steer youth away from drugs. WUFT
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Florida football coach Jon Sumrall did not retain receivers coach Billy Gonzales after his 1-4 interim stint ended on Oct. 19 (the 54-year-old helped keep UF’s 18-player recruiting class intact through the transition), according to the report. GatorSports
- ➤ TV20’s Florida Basketball Panel debated why patience is key for the new-look Gator men’s basketball team on Monday, Dec. 8. Panel members said the discussion clarified how the team's fresh approach could boost local support. WCJB
- ➤ Florida basketball coach Todd Golden discussed the Gators’ preparation for their upcoming game against UConn at Madison Square Garden + he said the contest is set to be a marquee matchup this season. The Gainesville Sun
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Candlelight Christmas Carols on Strings
6:30-8:30 p.m. — Hippodrome Theatre — Tickets required — Experience the magic of Christmas through beautiful string renditions of your favorite holiday carols in a candlelit setting.
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Gainesville's Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl
4:30-9:00 p.m. — Silver Q Billiards & Sports Bar — Tickets required — Dress in your ugliest holiday sweater for a night of festive fun with games, contests, and prizes.
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Florida Gators vs. St. Francis (PA) Red Flash
7 PM — Stephen C. O'Connell Center — Ticket prices vary — Catch an exciting NCAA basketball matchup featuring the Gators and the Red Flash.
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Dance Alive National Ballet - The Nutcracker
7:30-9 p.m. — Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of The Nutcracker with live music by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.
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Jingle Bell Jog 5k and Holiday Social
1-5 p.m. — Haile Plantation — Free entry — Celebrate the season with a family-friendly 5k jog followed by festive food and games.
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Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Florida Gators Women's Basketball
2:45 p.m. — Stephen C. O'Connell Center — Tickets available — Cheer on the Gators as they face off against Tulsa in women's basketball action.
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Dartmouth Big Green vs. Florida Gators Basketball
6-7:30 p.m. — Stephen C. O'Connell Center — Admission varies — Watch the Gators take on Dartmouth in an exciting basketball showdown, followed by postgame layups!
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Family New Year’s Eve Bash
4-8 p.m. — Dave & Buster's Gainesville — Tickets required — Celebrate 2026 early with food, games, and family-friendly countdown fun.
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
Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you.
~ Unknown
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