Alachua County, FL

Devon Welch, 18, was moved to the Alachua County Jail yesterday after being charged with battery on another detainee at the Juvenile Detention Facility. The victim reported that on June 9, he was sitting in the break room at the facility when a fight broke out between three or four other juveniles in the room. Surveillance video reportedly showed the victim trying to back out of the room to stay out of the fight when Welch allegedly approached him and punched him twice in the face. The victim said he didn’t know why Welch hit him. The video reportedly showed that Welch then turned to join the other fight while the victim ran out of the room.

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Jorge Luiz Ramos-Hernandez, 19, was arrested yesterday after the van he was driving was pulled over on I-75 and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troopers discovered nine illegal aliens on the floor of the van. The trooper reported that he saw a minivan traveling southbound on...

The League of Women Voters of Alachua County and the University of Florida Bob Graham Center for Public Service, both non-partisan organizations, have coupled to produce a primary election virtual candidate forum. The virtual forum will take place today at 1:30 pm. Qualified candidates who have an opposing candidate have...

A new UBI program launched in Florida that will be giving formerly incarcerated individuals monthly payments for one year. The program is called Just Income GNV. Residents in Alachua County that have been in jail will benefit from the monthly payments with no strings attached. Just Income GNV UBI payments.

NEWBERRY, Fla. (WCJB) - A Newberry man is behind bars for having sex with someone “half” his age. On Friday officials with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to the calls of a suicidal person. Deputies found 32-year-old Cory Pariseau, who was accused of having sex with...

The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of the historic Roe v. Wade decision that has long constitutionally protected abortion rights for women sent shockwaves throughout the nation Friday. Though the controversial 6-3 decision was anticipated after a leaked draft surfaced in May, many are calling the decision an attack on human rights and bodily autonomy for...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson and the union representing his deputies did not come to an agreement on a new contract after another round of talks Thursday. The North Central Florida Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association is negotiating on behalf of the deputies. The sheriff’s...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - An Alachua County man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison at the Florida Department of Corrections. 41-year-old Arealeus Morris was arrested in May of 2020 after robbing a 66-year-old male near Pine Ridge Apartments. Morris was convicted of manslaughter, aggravated battery of a victim...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Budget Inn in Gainesville is getting a facelift geared towards affordable housing. Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $4 million to Alachua County by way of the Community Development Block Grant Program. The fund is administered by the Florida Department of Economics and benefits low-and-moderate income residents...

GAINESVILLE, FL – Jamel Leron Nichols, 36, was arrested early this morning after drugs were allegedly discovered in the car during a traffic stop on I-75. A bag of oregano was also reportedly found in the car, and another occupant of the car reportedly told an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy that Nichols had been selling the oregano at Grace Marketplace but telling purchasers it was marijuana.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Alachua County’s sleepaway summer camp closed almost as soon as it opened. Major concerns were identified one week after kicking off this year. “You know, we are continuing to look and investigate these issues,” said Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton. Camp Cuscowilla is...

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has three incumbents running for reelection that could reshape the board. Commissioners Marihelen Wheeler and Ken Cornell will both run against two opponents. Marihelen will appear on the primary election ballot in August against Charlie Jackson, the county’s former facilities manager, to qualify for the November general election.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The University of Florida is confirming the man accused of secretly filming students in the shower was arrested and brought back to Alachua County. Deontre Mason, 25, was arrested on June 6 in Marion, Ill. on numerous charges of video voyeurism filed by the University of Florida Police Department. He was extradited back to Alachua County and arrived on Tuesday.

TALLAHASSEE — A 99-year-old matriarch who began her agricultural career in cotton fields in Northwest Florida. A rancher who served in Vietnam and grew up in an Alachua County community terrorized in the past by lynchings. A family that got its start picking apples on a New York farm.

The North Florida Livestock Agents Group is hosting the 2022 Livestock & Forages Field Day on July 14, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Santa Fe River Ranch (29220 N.W. 122 Street, Alachua). The field day provides equipment and livestock demonstrations and presentations from UF/IFAS Specialists and...

PLAYLIST AT THE POINTE: Celebration Pointe offers Playlist at the Point, a music event with an eclectic mix of music from a variety of genres – country, rock, soul and more — on the fourth Friday of every month. This month, from 7 to 9 tonight, Prime Time will perform. Food from Celebration Pointe's restaurants will be available for dine-in or takeout. Kick off your weekend right with good music, good food and good times. Celebration Pointe is located off of Interstate 75 and Archer Road at Celebration Pointe Avenue. For more information, call 333-9333 or visit celebrationpointe.com.

Police booked the man who allegedly took videos of 18 women in bathroom stalls, showers and stairwells on UF’s campus last December at the Alachua County Jail Tuesday. Deontre Mason, a 25-year-old Illinois resident, recorded a woman showering in Murphree Hall in December 2021. Mason also allegedly filmed in Library West.

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – The County Commission will hold four meetings on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. At 9 a.m., there will be a swearing-in ceremony. At 10 a.m. the Commissioners will hear the County Manager’s 2022 Annual Report and the FY23 Budget Message. At 11:30 a.m., the County Commission will hold their Regular Meeting. At 5 p.m., the Commission will hold a Special Meeting to discuss Alachua County Animal Resources and Care. All of these meetings are held in the Jack Durrance Auditorium, on the second floor of the Alachua County Administration Building (12 S.E. 1st Street, Gainesville).

An Alachua County judge sentenced Arealeus K. Morris to 60 years as a prison release reoffender yesterday, June 22nd, for a murder from May 25th, 2020. State Attorney Chief of Investigations, Darry Lloyd, says Morris "violently attacked and robbed the victim, John Katon in the Pine Ridge Neighborhood in NW Gainesville."