GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Gainesville residents left a mark on HCA North Florida’s new hospital project this morning. Residents joined hospital leaders to sign the final beam of the hospital coming to Southwest 41st Boulevard. The hospital will include a surgical services department, 60 beds, and imaging services.

The 38,000-square-foot expanded facility includes a larger retail store, a drive-thru donation center, and an enhanced GoodCareers Center.

North Florida is under a winter storm warning, with cold rain and possible freezing rain in Central Florida. Snow is likely in the western Panhandle, creating hazardous travel conditions on I-10 and I-75.

On Tuesday, Alachua County commissioners consider the status of the Florence Landfill. Currently, the county has only extended the old permit but landfill owners say they are operating under a state permit. They settled a legal case with neighbors in mid 2024 agreeing to close the facility in eight years. A protest is expected.

Expectations are high and buzzing for the Gators softball team. SEC coaches shared that feeling as Florida is projected to finish high in the conference for the 2025 season.

Writing this forecast as a snow lover feels like I’m writing weather fanfic, but the reality may be ones for the records books.

Ookla® Speedtest® Declares IQ Fiber “Fastest, Most Reliable and Most Responsive Internet Speeds in Gainesville and Jacksonville”Jacksonville, Florida, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IQ Fiber, a Jacksonville,

The major winter storm moved east Wednesday, spreading heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the eastern Carolinas. The precipitation hitting parts of the Deep South came as a blast of arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.

With Arctic air coming down from the north, there will likely be frozen precipitation from Tuesday night into Wednesday in the Panhandle and North Florida. The Arctic air arrives Sunday night in Florida, with rain, freezing rain, sleet or snow arriving in the state by Tuesday night. Freezing rain is possible in the Ocala and Gainesville areas.

Saturday’s ASUN schedule includes the Jacksonville Dolphins (13-7, 7-2 ASUN) versus the North Florida Ospreys (10-11, 4-5 ASUN), at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN+.Buy tickets for Jacksonville vs. North

We looked around for the best high school sports performances and nominated the best athletes from the Gainesville-area for January 21st-28th.

The Jacksonville Dolphins (13-8, 7-2 ASUN) host the North Florida Ospreys (11-11, 4-5 ASUN) in a matchup of ASUN rivals at Swisher Gymnasium, tipping off at 6:00 PM ET on Saturday, February 1,