Live updates for the Presidential race, U.S. Senate, Congress, Florida Legislature and Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia-area races

Results for Alachua County races in the general election

Just three months in, Katelyn Watts’ graduate student project rescued several victims of human trafficking and became part of a hospital system’s screening process.

Sex offenders also have specific rules about what they can and can't do around Halloween, depending on what county they live in. We've compiled a county-by-county breakdown of those rules and regulations.

According to the IRS, residents in nearly 40 counties throughout Florida will have until May 1, 2025, to finish filing their 2023 taxes.

Neighbors should prepare themselves, their families and their property as this storm is expected to bring 4-8 inches of rain to the Gainesville area.

Alachua County has waived restrictions on yard debris from Hurricane Helene in unincorporated areas.

Officials from Northeast Florida’s inland counties are preparing for what will become Hurricane Helene before it hits the Florida Panhandle on Thursday.

The city of High Springs, in Alachua County, is governed by a five-member commission, with each member serving a three-year term. This year, two of the seats are up for election. These races are non-partisan. In addition to the two commission seats, High Springs voters will make decisions on four proposed charter amendments. The commission voted to put the proposals on the ballot, following the work of a charter review committee earlier this year.

All Alachua County voters will see two local ballot questions in the 2024 general election: a proposed charter amendment and a school district referendum on property taxes. Additionally, voters in Gainesville, which makes up about half of the county's population, will make a choice on a proposed charter amendment.

An accumulation of rainfall triggered a Flood Watch as more rain could occur.

Santa Fe College’s Cardiovascular Sonography Program is hosting free heart health screenings for the community.

Sunday is the last day for voters around Northeast Florida to cast an early, in-person ballot ahead of the state’s primary election on Tuesday, for congressional, state and local races.

Monday marks the first day of school for most students across Northeast Florida.

Two seats on the Gainesville City Commission are up for election this year, in non-partisan races. The race for At-Large Seat A will on the ballot for all voters in Gainesville city limits. The other seat, District 1, will only be open to voters in that commission district.

Two candidates are seeking this office. The race will appear on the August ballot open to all voters in the district.

District 3 commissioner Anna Prizzia is seeking re-election this year. Prizzia will face Republican Jenn Garrett in the general election in November. No other candidates filed for this race, so no party primaries were needed for August.

District 1 commissioner Mary Alford is seeking re-election this year. Alford defeated one challenger in the Democratic primary in August, and will face the sole Republican candidate, Lizabeth Ann Doebler, in the general election in November.

Incumbent Alachua County supervisor of elections Kim Barton is seeking re-election this year. Barton, a Democrat, will face Republican Judith Jensen in the general election in November. As each party only had one candidate file for the race, there will not be a primary for this office.

Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey is seeking re-election this year. Gainey, a Republican, faced no opposition in his party’s primary. Chad Scott won a three-way Democratic primary in August. Additionally, a no party affiliation candidate, Pamela Marshall-Koons, will be on the ballot in November.

Several Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia school districts, government offices, and other agencies have announced closures for Monday ahead of Tropical Storm Debby which continues to strengthen while making its way to Florida’s Big Bend.

Alachua County officials have issued an evacuation order for residents who live in vulnerable homes ahead of Tropical Storm Debby.

As Tropical Depression 4 approaches the Gulf, Northeast Florida counties are increasing their efforts to prepare for the storm, which is expected to have the biggest impact in our area overnight Sunday into Monday morning.

Tropical storm watches are warnings were issued in many parts of Florida as Potential Tropical Cyclone 4 approaches the Gulf this weekend.

There is no incumbent on the ballot this year in District 22, which covers western Alachua County and extends west to the Gulf Coast, including Gilchrist and Levy counties. Republican Chuck Clemons couldn’t seek re-election due to term limits.

District 9 includes the southern half of Alachua County (everything south of State Roads 26 and 24) as well as all of Marion and Levy counties. Incumbent Republican state senator Keith Perry can’t run again due to term limits. With only one Republican and one Democrat competing for this open seat, this race only appears on the November ballot.

Voters around northeast Florida will be able to cast an early, in-person ballot as soon as Monday for the state’s August 20 primary, which includes congressional, state, and local races.

Two years into Florida’s new form of standardized student testing, two northeast Florida school districts once again have the leading scores in the state, marking student progress at the end of the year.

Mother Nature will Take Care of Some Yards, Others will Need the Sprinklers

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued two executive orders Tuesday that said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office.

A woman in Alachua County is dead and a 3-month-old infant was hospitalized after striking a large tree off I-75, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

A 22-year-old man is dead after striking a tree in Alachua County, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Two people are dead after a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle from Alachua County rolled over and struck a cement pole, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

If you want to vote by mail in Florida, there’s a new form you must fill out to get a ballot.

While only Republicans are eligible to vote in Tuesday’s presidential preference primary in Florida, three Jacksonville-area municipalities have additional local races on the ballot Tuesday.

Ahead of Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary on March 19, early voting starts this week across northeast Florida, giving voters an opportunity to cast their ballot in-person, before election day.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved new regulations to support trophy bass conservation during its February meeting.

88-year-old Gainesville woman dies following a crash involving a sedan and pickup truck on U.S. 441 and CR 237.

A 15-year-old was severely injured in Gainsville Wednesday after deputies said a 41-year-old man ordered the teen to strip naked and started beating him with a belt, according to a report from WCJB.

Several school districts throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia announced temporary closures in an abundance of caution for the impending threat of severe weather that was forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rains on Tuesday.

Former world champion tag team "The Nasty Boys" will be meeting fans at the Waldo Flea Market Saturday December 9th

The National Transportation Safety Board released its report on a plane crash two weeks ago that killed the pilot of a small plane. It indicates several factors in the Alachua County crash.

A search is on for a plane that is believed to have crashed Tuesday in Alachua County after reports of residents hearing a loud boom, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

A 23-year-old driver was killed Sunday night when his pickup truck crossed into the oncoming lanes on Waldo Road and hit another pickup, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Elections were held for 11 local offices across northeast Florida and southeast Georgia.

One woman is dead, and a man is seriously injured after a crash in Alachua County Saturday morning, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Sex offenders also have specific rules about what they can and can't do around Halloween, depending on what county they live in. We've compiled a county-by-county breakdown of those rules and regulations.

While the first primaries and caucuses in the 2024 presidential nominating cycle are still several months away, some northeast Florida and southeast Georgia voters will be heading to the polls for Election Day on Nov. 7.

A man was arrested Thursday afternoon after he posted a video to Instagram sharing plans to shoot up a middle school, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Damage reports in Alachua County in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia

A 59-year-old man from Gainesville died Wednesday in a crash on State Road 20 and Southeast 60th Terrace, in Gainesville.

Hurricane Idalia has strengthened into “an extremely dangerous major hurricane” as it targets the Gulf Coast on Wednesday and is expected to sweep across North Central and Northeast Florida.

The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) said it has arrested a man accused of inappropriately touching multiple children who attended an overnight camp at a Gainesville church two years ago.

Two Northeast Florida school districts had the highest scores in end-of-year math and English language arts test, according to recently released statewide data.

Two firefighters were taken to hospital after heavy door fell on them while they were fighting a fire at Southern Fuelwood in Newberry.

The crash happened around the 391-mile marker.

A 42-year-old Valdosta man was arrested and charged with drinking under the influence after a Saturday morning Alachua County crash that caused a semi to overturn and block multiple lanes on Interstate 75, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Officers on foot patrol hear gunshots

A loaded gun was found Wednesday in the backpack of a first-grade student at a Gainesville elementary school, but the student and their mother had no idea it was there, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

INSERT-grade from INSERT County now heads to Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

The First Coast Spelling Bee is coming up, giving 14 local students the chance at the local title and a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Two abducted children who had been missing from Missouri for almost a year were found in a central Florida grocery store with their non-custodial mother, who was taken into police custody.

Using name, image and likeness compensation to recruit college athletes is still very much against NCAA rules. The recent de-commitment from Florida by blue chip quarterback Jaden Rashada shows that NIL is definitely a factor in decisions. Booster-funded collectives are taking on a big role in compensating athletes. Schools can only hope they are acting within the rules and in their best interest. Inserting a third-party in the recruiting process between coaches and recruits has only complicated things. Experts say the collectives should focus on athletes who are already on campus.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the death of an inmate who was found unresponsive hours after being told he was fit to stand trial, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday the arrest of four men connected to an online operation intended to find people attempting to target children for sex online.

The Gainesville Police Department on Wednesday announced an arrest in a November hit-and-run, which resulted in the death of a bicyclist along South Main Street.

Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse resigned from the U.S. Senate on Monday as he prepares to take over as University of Florida president on Feb. 6.

A 17-year-old Ocala girl died and three others were hurt Saturday night in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in Alachua County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A 13-year-old boy last seen Thursday in Gainesville is still missing Saturday and police are asking for the public's help to find him.

Florida head coach Billy Napier on Thursday spoke about the arrest of backup quarterback Jalen Kitna on child pornography charges.

Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson on Monday announced his decision to enter the 2023 NFL draft.

Florida has formally dismissed quarterback Jalen Kitna from the team following his arrest on five child pornography charges.

Florida Gators backup quarterback Jalen Kitna bonded out of jail Thursday evening after he was arrested Wednesday on two charges of distribution of child exploitation material and three charges of possession of child pornography.

Florida Gators quarterback Jalen Kitna was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges, according to the Gainesville Police Department.

The Gainesville Police Department said it’s looking for a Volvo SUV that on Monday was in a hit and run crash that involved a bicyclist.

Alachua County deputies say he may be travelling to Tampa.

A man was struck and killed late Friday night while crossing a road in downtown Gainesville, the Gainesville Police Department said.

Alachua County opened multiple shelters for those who needed to evacuate because of Tropical Storm Nicole.

The Florida Highway Patrol says two vehicles were driving through a green light on 63rd Avenue in Gainesville, when a woman stepped into the roadway.

The University of Florida Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted unanimously to select U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse as the school’s 13th president.

The University of Florida’s Faculty Senate on Thursday passed a resolution saying members have no confidence in a presidential search process that led to U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse being the sole finalist to lead the university.

In an effort to crack down on future protests, current UF President Kent Fuchs on Monday issued a statement saying the university will resume enforcement of a regulation on the books for at least two decades, prohibiting protests inside campus buildings.

Sex offenders also have specific rules about what they can and can't do around Halloween, depending on what county they live in. We've compiled a county-by-county breakdown of those rules and regulations.

One of the Gainesville police officers who was rushed to the hospital after being exposed to a dangerous drug after responding to a disturbance is speaking out about his experience.

As students and faculty celebrate homecoming this week, there’s controversy around a University of Florida committee’s pick for the school’s next president.

Three candidates are seeking election to the District 3 seat of the five-member High Springs City Commission. Commissioners serve a three-year term.

In addition to the Alachua County ballot questions on the November ballot, Gainesville residents will also be asked to vote yes or no on the following city charter amendment:

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska is the sole finalist to become the president of the University of Florida, the school said Thursday.

A home labeled as a place that offers services for homelessness is now at the center of a criminal investigation involving human sex trafficking.

The Gainesville Police Department said Wednesday they’ve arrested two men who have each been charged with a count of human trafficking.

Alachua County voters will be asked in November to vote up or down a one-cent sales tax to fund “Wild Spaces and Public Places.” If approved by a majority of voters, the tax would replace a similar half-cent taxes tax used to fund road repairs, park renovations, affordable housing and additional fire stations for the county.

Alachua County voters are being asked to amend the county charter relating to how Alachua County commissioners are elected -- changing from at-large districts, where all five commissioners are elected by all county voters, to what are called single-member districts -- where each citizen only votes for the one commissioner representing the district in which they live.

Here’s what we know about waste and recycling collection in Northeast Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian.

Here is a list of shelters opening in Northeast Florida counties due to Hurricane Ian.

Sandbags will be available in Alachua as Hurricane Ian heads toward Florida.

Here are the Northeast Florida counties that have announced plans to distribute sandbags as Hurrican Ian tracks toward Florida.

Alachua County officials issued a news release Saturday warning residents that while the path of Tropical Storm Ian remains uncertain, now is the time to prepare.

The University of Florida was ranked one of the top five public universities in the nation for the second year in a row, according to the annual rankings released Monday by U.S. News & World Report.

A father and a mother were arrested Wednesday after their 3-year-old son fatally shot himself last month, the Gainesville Police Department said.