StreetSmart: Gainesville

Co-hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, including an in-depth update on what happened to the 10 Hitchcock's Markets stores that closed last year.    Stories mentioned:   One year later: What’s the status of Hitchcock’s Markets’ 10 former stores ? Alachua County adopts rollback rate to fund 2026-27 budget. Krishna To Go brings Krishna Lu...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Nick Anschultz discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, diving deeper into the 2026-27 budget and goals for the Alachua County Public School district.   Stories mentioned:   School Board of Alachua County approves goals to raise achievement and narrow gaps . School Board of Alachua County adopts final $623M budget.  School Board of Alachua County set...

High Springs moved closer to the potential dissolution of its police or fire department. Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson the impact and other top headlines in Alachua County.    Stories mentioned:   Gainesville’s Beamer awarded congressional honor at retirement Gainesville now ready for final vote on $174 million budget ‘To save this city’: High Springs to negotiate fire and police servic...

Co-hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman preview the week's print edition of Mainstreet featuring a special front page and section remembering the 25th anniversary of 9/11.   Stories mentioned:   Gainesville’s The Streatery enters soft opening mode with new businesses opening. Gainesville wins $25 million Choice Neighborhoods grant from federal government. The Doula-ing Avengers: Birthing aides UN...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson report on Alachua County's push for housing-first homeless services.   Stories mentioned:   Alachua County reviews homeless outreach contract to ensure housing-first model Gainesville aims to drop historic district buffers Alachua approves Farmlands development and utility rate hikes   For more local news, visit MainstreetDailyNews.com . Forest Meadows Fune...

Co-hosts Seth Johnson and J.C. Derrick discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, unpacking the Aug. 18 primary elections on the local and state level.    Stories mentioned:   View all election coverage at Mainstreet's website .  Glanzer Realty sells historic Newberry office to local State Farm agent. School Board of Alachua County hires McPherson & Jacobson for superintenden...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, including where Alachua County stands on fixing roadways and how it will move forward. Make sure to listen for a special announcement from the reporters.    Stories mentioned:   ‘We’re still losing ground’: Alachua County road network to continue degrading High Springs to negotiate settlement with...

Host Seth Johnson sits down with Mainstreet's new photojournalist Walker Smith for an exclusive interview about Smith's background, first few weeks in Gainesville and what it takes to carry around the camera lenses as a full-time photographer.    Stories written and/or photographed by Walker Smith:   Gainesville back-to-school rally keeps dual role after 27 years. Gainesville residents protest tre...

A midnight zoning vote in Alachua, a qualifying quagmire in High Springs and a cure for schoolessness in Waldo—hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman these stories and other top headlines in Alachua County.   Stories mentioned:   Alachua splits on Farmland’s rezoning after 12-hour meeting. Outdated forms trigger second election qualifying round in High Springs. Gainesville Christian school expands...

Co-hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, including the city of Gainesville's breaking ground on a new fire station.   Stories mentioned:   Gainesville begins replacement of Station 3 , tackling infrastructure backlog. High Springs puts city manager on leave with impending termination. Just Between Friends Gainesville’s All Season Sale on...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, including a $50 million bankruptcy plan for Celebration Pointe.    Stories mentioned:   Alachua faces legal pushback on land use vote for Farmlands development. Alachua County sheriff warns against rising scams estimated to cost $8 million locally. Verified: Preserve opens on Little Lake Santa Fe....

Seth Johnson talks with NASA astronaut Winston Scott about his time in space, the new space race with China and the educational experiences at the Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex.  🧑🏽‍🚀 Links: Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex ( www.kennedyspacecenter.com/ ) NASA's Artemis Mission ( www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/ ) 🧑🏽‍🚀 For more local news, profiles and events, visit Mains...

A whistleblower investigation into Alachua County Animal Resources just wrapped up after more than 90 days. Co-hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman discuss the initial complaint and the 31-page report. Plus, learn about supporting Mainstreet Daily News and StreetSmart by becoming a member (mainstreetdailynews.com/become-a-member).   Stories mentioned:  Whistleblower investigation clears Alachua C...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, including a 12-story building slated for Gainesville's historic district.    Stories mentioned:   Higher density recommended for 12-story Gainesville building near historic district Florida Board of Governors confirms Stuart Bell as UF’s 14th president Here’s the 10 most expensive houses for sale...

Co-hosts Nick Anschultz and Seth Johnson discuss the dissention between the UF Board of Trustees and Florida Board of Governors, along with the upcoming presidential vote.    Stories mentioned:   UF Trustees vote Dr. Stuart Bell as interim president More density recommended for 12-story Gainesville apartments Arts Collective opens gallery in The Oaks Mall GRACE Marketplace appoints an interim CEO...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson consider the chances that the city of Gainesville sells Ironwood Golf Course and how it would happen. Nominate for Stars, Stripes & Shoutouts: ( https://tinyurl.com/mwe88tbd )   Stories mentioned:   Derrick: What does a news story look like with no photos? 8 Alachua County athletes head to Special Olympics for Team Florida City of Waldo hires a new city...

Co-hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County, including the return of Hoggetowne Medieval Faire to Gainesville Raceway.   Stories mentioned:   Eastman earns second term representing Gainesville’s District 4 UF trustees unanimously pick Dr. Stuart Bell president-elect UF Trustees approve 15% fee increase for new out-of-state students Festivals...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Nick Anschultz discuss top headlines in Alachua County and round up a recent School Board of Alachua County meeting and UF presidential forums. Stories mentioned:   Alachua County School Board tables vote on Citizens Field agreements with Gainesville UF presidential finalist Dr. Bell shares vision for university’s future How much revenue will Alachua County cities lose...

Co-hosts Nick Anschultz and Lillian Hamman discuss top headlines and a rural Alachua County round-up featuring city of Newberry, High Springs and a new Paper Bag Deli popping up with gourmet coffee in Waldo.   Stories mentioned:   High Springs to keep both fire and police , increase fire assessment Harvest Singularity breaks ground on $69 million greenhouses in Newberry  Gainesville’s Phil Mann ea...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County. Johnson parses out big items from the May 21 Gainesville City Commission meeting, including the elimination of roam towing and Gainesville Regional Utilities contract.   Stories mentioned:   Gainesville commission votes on major garbage billing, towing reforms Gainesville police to focus on domest...

Co-hosts Seth Johnson and Lillian Hamman review and preview joint meetings that Alachua County has with rural cities and Gainesville.    Stories mentioned:   Newberry projects $2.2M setback if property taxes eliminated Alachua County’s rural broadband deployment passes 80% mark   For more local news, visit MainstreetDailyNews.com .    Forest Meadows Funeral Home is the proud title sponsor of Stree...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Seth Johnson discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County.   Stories mentioned:   High Springs brainstorms rate increases , revenue streams to save fire and police Gainesville moves forward on charter amendment, stalls on 10-foot land strip   For more local news, visit MainstreetDailyNews.com . Forest Meadows Funeral Home is the proud title sponsor of Str...

Co-hosts Nick Anschultz and Seth Johnson discuss the University of Florida's plans to build a championship-level golf course plus the local school board decides on a plan for city of Alachua schools.   Stories mentioned:   Alachua County OK’s new land use for UF’s 36-hole championship golf course School Board of Alachua County considers restructuring options for Alachua schools J Smart drops R&amp...

Mainstreet Daily News sports director Mike Ridaught takes over StreetSmart to interview sports contributors Pat Dooley and Mike Dame. The duo discusses their new free Gator Bites newsletter covering all things UF sports, the importance of local news, and how the Gator football coaching staff is looking ahead of the 2026-27 season.  Dooley columns:   Derrick: Mainstreet puts Pat Dooley back in prin...

Co-hosts Lillian Hamman and Nick Anschultz discuss top headlines and feature stories in Alachua County.   Stories mentioned:   Community meeting focuses on future of ACPS’s schools in city of Alachua. Florida Forest Service reports State Road 26 wildfire 60 percent contained. High Springs police apprehend suspect on FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. The Great Sushi Race: 3 new local Asian resta...