Gainesville
FILE - Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden practices before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, on Oct. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. Haden has a formal NFL retirement date. The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback told The Associated Press he is planning to sign a one-day contract with Cleveland on Oct. 30 2022, so he can retire as a member of the team that drafted him in the first round in 2007. The Browns will honor the 33-year-old Haden a day later during their home game against Cincinnati on Monday Night Football. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
Haden enters Florida's Hall of Fame, plans NFL retirement

By Mark Long Oct. 08, 2022 12:46 PM EDT

Florida forward Emanuely de Oliveira (11) tries for the ball against South Carolina forward Laeticia Amihere (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
South Carolina Gamecocks at Florida Gators 1/30/2022

Feb. 09, 2022 05:24 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2017, file photo, University of Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, left, smiles as he talks to Florida's new NCAA college football coach Dan Mullen after Mullen arrived at the airport in Gainesville, Fla. Florida’s athletic department had a $54.5 million shortfall during the 2020-21 fiscal year because of the coronavirus pandemic, significant financial losses the Gators were able to weather with a supplement from the Southeastern Conference and a sizeable reserve. (AP Photo/Mark Long, File)
Florida recovering from $54.5M shortfall amid pandemic

By Mark Long Jun. 11, 2021 02:09 PM EDT

FILE - Florida head coach Dan Mullen walks on the field before the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Virginia in Miami Gardens, Fla., in this Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, file photo. Florida football coach Dan Mullen received a three-year contract extension worth an additional $1.5 million annually following a disappointing season that closed with a three-game losing streak and included several public relations missteps and NCAA sanctions. The Gators released Mullen's contract Tuesday, June 1, 2021, in response to a public records request. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Florida gives Mullen 3-year extension, $1.5M raise annually

By Mark Long Jun. 01, 2021 12:24 PM EDT

University of Florida opens vaccine site at football stadium

Apr. 05, 2021 07:44 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Starting Monday, any adult in Florida is eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine. In addition, the state...

Florida man charged with COVID relief fraud

Mar. 25, 2021 04:24 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man tried to obtain about $1.5 million in coronavirus relief funds by filing false loan applications and by stealing the...

Editorial Roundup: Texas

By The Associated Press Mar. 15, 2021 02:00 PM EDT
Houston Chronicle. March 10, 2021. Editorial: ERCOT, PUC can’t just shrug off $16 billion in overcharges during the Texas blackout ...

Todd wins Gatornationals to end streak, spoil Force's return

By Mark Long Mar. 14, 2021 04:46 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — J.R. Todd’s victory at the season-opening Gatornationals ended the NHRA’s longest winning streak by one juggernaut and spoiled the...

FILE - In this May 22, 2016, file photo, funny Car driver Matt Hagan lifts his trophy into the air after winning the NHRA Kansas Nationals in Topeka, Kan. Don Schumacher Racing has won the last 14 events in the NHRA's Funny Car division. It's a record for the racing series (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, File)
Schumacher's streak could be tougher to extend than build

By Mark Long Mar. 13, 2021 10:23 PM EST

This photo provided by Meleah Lyden/Fresh Take Florida shows University of Florida student London "Don" Balcita at Opus Coffee on Thursday, March 11, 2021 in Gainesville, Fla. When the coronavirus pandemic hit Florida a year ago, colleges and universities shut down in the middle of the semester. Students were left to navigate their coursework online. Some, like London “Don" Balcita, say they were lost for a while. (Meleah Lyden/Fresh Take Florida via AP)
Florida students reflect on anniversary of pandemic shutdown

By Meleah Lyden And Alyssa Feliciano Of Fresh Take Florida News Service Mar. 12, 2021 06:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Saturday May 21, 2016 file photo, Funny Car driver John Force looks to get back on track for the last day of qualifying at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park. NHRA legend John Force is back with the drag racing series after a yearlong hiatus prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The 16-time champion will make his much-anticipated return in the season-opening Gatornationals that begin Friday, March 12, 2021. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, File)
Force 'needed to get back in the car' after yearlong hiatus

By Mark Long Mar. 11, 2021 05:05 PM EST

FILE - Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan meets with umpires before the team's NCAA college baseball game against Florida A&M in Gainesville, Fla., in this Wednesday, March 4, 2020, file photo. Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan might have the easiest or toughest job in college baseball this season. “Sully” has what’s widely considered the deepest and most talented team in the country. He can pencil in last year’s lineup and feel pretty good about his chances since Florida won 16 of 17 games before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered the 2020 season. He also has some daunting decisions ahead in terms of who to play and who to sit as the Gators try to pick up where they left off and remain the team to beat.(AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)
No. 1 Florida carries ultra-high expectations into opener

By Mark Long Feb. 18, 2021 11:49 AM EST

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 file photo, Florida head coach Dan Mullen speaks with players before the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Florida and Alabama in Atlanta. Florida coach Dan Mullen finally acknowledged making some “regrettable” comments last year. None of those were more head-scratching than Mullen wanting to pack Florida Field during a pandemic. But he offered no apologies about staying quiet after ESPN reported he has interest in moving to the NFL. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Mullen focuses on Florida amid college football concerns

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2021 05:50 PM EST

Florida's Keyontae Johnson is shown on the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19. 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida standout Keyontae Johnson has one of the best seats in the O’Connell Center. He’s just a few feet from the court, close enough to hear calls, see screens coming and know where the ball needs to go next. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Family: Keyontae Johnson's collapse unrelated to COVID-19

By Mark Long Feb. 03, 2021 03:52 PM EST

Florida's Keyontae Johnson is shown on the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19. 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida standout Keyontae Johnson has one of the best seats in the O’Connell Center. He’s just a few feet from the court, close enough to hear calls, see screens coming and know where the ball needs to go next. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey)
Gators' Johnson settles in as 'Coach Key' after collapsing

By Mark Long Jan. 22, 2021 04:24 PM EST

Editorial Roundup: Florida

By The Associated Press Jan. 13, 2021 12:30 PM EST
Recent editorials from Florida newspapers: ___ Jan. 11 The Sun Sentinel on the state's...

Florida coach Dan Mullen talks with quarterback Kyle Trask after Trask threw a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by Oklahoma's Woodi Washington during the first half of the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Questions rise about Dan Mullen's coaching future at Florida

By Mark Long Jan. 05, 2021 01:46 PM EST

Registered nurse Betty Hallman, left, gives registered nurse Norma Elizondo a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at University Hospital in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. (Michael Holahan/The Augusta Chronicle via AP)
COVID-19 hospitalizations rise rapidly in Georgia

By Jeff Amy Dec. 28, 2020 05:51 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2019, file photo, Florida forward Keyontae Johnson (11) looks on during during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Marshall in Gainesville, Fla. Johnson, the Southeastern Conference's preseason player of the year, collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday, Dec. 1`2, 2020. He was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation. The Gators had no immediate update on his condition. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey, File)
Florida's Johnson rejoins team, works as coach amid recovery

By Mark Long Dec. 28, 2020 12:37 PM EST

A resident wearing a mask to protect from the coronavirus waits at a bus stop near rainbow decorations on the streets of Beijing on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. Beijing has urged residents not to leave the city during the Lunar New Year holiday in February, implementing new restrictions and mass testings after several coronavirus infections last week. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
The Latest: S Korea reports biggest daily death toll so far

By The Associated Press Dec. 28, 2020 03:30 AM EST