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VOLUME 113 ISSUE 43
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2019 Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Church remembers I-75 victims
Parking garage construction closes down north part of commuter lot FOUR UF STUDENT AND FACULTY DECAL TYPES WILL HAVE RELOCATED PARKING. By Tien Le Alligator Staff Writer
Chris Day / Alligator Staff
Jimmy Toney, the 45-year-old pastor of the Pentecostals of Gainesville, leads a vigil for the victims of the I-75 crash Thursday that killed seven people. People filled the church Sunday evening to support the families of the victims and pray for their recovery. “They’ve been stuck in hospitals with doom and gloom and death,” Toney said. “I just think it meant the world.”
THE PENTECOSTALS OF GAINESVILLE WILL PAY FOR THE BURIAL PLOTS OF THE CRASH VICTIMS. By Katherine Wallace-Fernandez, Josephine Fuller and Taylor Girtman Alligator Staff Writers
Pastor Jimmy Toney hasn’t left the injured victims of a crash on Interstate 75 alone. “It was sad, but at the same time hum-
bling and an honor to be able to serve somebody when they’re at their weakest and lowest point,” said Toney, of the Pentecostals of Gainesville, about the victims of the crash. On Sunday night, about 400 people came to the church’s vigil to honor the seven people, including five children from Louisiana who were on their way to Walt Disney World, who died in a fiery crash on I-75 Thursday. Families of the victims sat in the front row. Sounds of sniffling and crying could be heard throughout the service as people prayed. During the service, Toney announced that the church will pay for the burial plots of the five children who died. He also thanked
the first responders, doctors and nurses who worked with the injured. He also bought Chance Bernard, 9, who was among the eight injured, a plane ticket home so he wouldn’t have to travel back in a vehicle. When Pastor Eric Descant from Avoyelles House of Mercy Church in Marksville, Louisiana, spoke at the vigil, he expressed how he hasn’t been able to get over the thought of his granddaughter, who died in the crash, and the other young victims were in “nonchalant black bags somewhere.” “I cried so much this morning,” he said. “My tears felt like lava flowing out of a vol-
SEE I-75, PAGE 4
Gainesville prepares to implement Amendment 4 Felons will be able to register to vote on Jan. 8. By Karina Elwood Alligator Staff Writer
In a landmark vote last election, Florida voters approved to give most felons their right to vote back. In November, 64.6 percent
voted for Amendment 4, according to Florida Election Watch. It will be put into effect Tuesday, restoring the rights of felons who completed their sentencing, excluding those convicted of murder or felony sexual offenses, said TJ Pyche, the director of
Reflecting on UF’s conferenceopening loss
The Gators men’s basketball team had their weaknesses exposed on Saturday, pg. 17
outreach for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office. About 1.4 million felons will have their rights restored, Pyche said. The elections office estimates that about 10,000 people in the county will be affected by the new law.
On March 19, those who register by Feb. 19, the registration deadline, will be able to vote for mayor and District Four city commissioner in the city regular election. On Feb. 4 at 6 p.m., a workshop for new voters will be held at the elections office, at 515 N.
Another Dunkin’ Donuts?
See what restaurants are coming to Gainesville and which are closing, pg. 9
One step toward plastic-less
The Gainesville City Commission may cut out plastic, pg. 9
SEE FELONS, PAGE 4
Katie Johnson drives to the commuter lot before taking the bus the rest of her way to class. The 19-year-old UF political science sophomore has a green decal, one of the decal types that will have to find a new parking spot this semester. The northern half of the commuter lot on Gale Lemerand Drive was closed for construction Sunday. Temporary parking for those with student green, orange, blue or staff commuter decals will be provided. “Not sure why they didn’t build up instead of out to begin with,” Johnson said. “It’s hard enough to time your arrival with a bus, let alone not being able to find a spot.” The area will become Garage 14, a $3 million project that will add 2,000 new parking spaces by February 2020, according to the Transportation and Parking Services website. However, construction will close about 700 of the 1,100 spaces in the meantime. Blue decal alternative parking is found at Fifield Field, Archer Field and the southern portion of the commuter lot. Staff commuter and green decal parking is found at Fifield Field and the southern portion of the commuter lot. Orange decal parking is found at Norman Field, Flavet Field, Fifield Field, and the southern portion of the commuter lot. There will be more than 1,000 spaces in four new lots to offset the temporary loss of the commuter lot, said Scott Fox, director of Transportation and Parking Services, in an email. “We’re very sensitive to the needs of our customers. ... We know that we need to provide them with alternative parking,” Fox said. @tientle11 tle@alligator.org
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