Paynes Prairie Panels Could Feed GRU Grid
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UF diversity leader appointed to local cultural affairs board. Read the story on page 8. Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida We Inform. You Decide. VOLUME 107 ISSUE 153 WWW.ALLIGATOR.ORG THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013 Pedro Bravo hearing delayed until August JULIA GLUM is charged with kidnapping, homicide, ing with physical evidence, and poi- Paynes Prairie Alligator Staff Writer [email protected] lying to police, providing false reports, soning food and/or water with the mishandling human remains, tamper- intent to kill or injure a person. Carlos Aguilar was in Gainesville panels could this time last year, too. Aguilar took his son Christian to UF Preview. Both were excited for the future — Christian would start in feed GRU grid Summer B. Someone even snapped a picture of the grinning new Gator, � RESIDENTS EXPRESSED CONCERNS. wearing a nametag and clutching a Preview tote bag. HANNA MARCUS On Tuesday, Carlos Aguilar wore a Alligator Staff Writer white shirt bearing that picture as he sat in the Alachua County Courthouse The Alachua County Commission voted in a meeting in a case management hearing for Pe- Tuesday to approve a special exception that would allow dro Bravo, the 19-year-old accused of solar panels on a parcel of land in Paynes Prairie. killing his son. The plan for the land, named Prairie View Solar Park, is to construct a 1.5-megawatt ground-mounted solar “I want to make sure that panel system that would feed directly into the existing the message is clear — sent Gainesville Regional Utilities grid. to the judge that we want this The proposal sets aside about 9 acres located in the 2300 set for trial. And that we’re block of Southwest 63rd Avenue. However, the company ready. And that we know that constructing the panels, Sybac Solar, plans to use only he is guilty of the crime that about a 5-acre fenced area. he committed.” While the motion was recommended for approval at a Carlos Aguilar previous meeting, it faced opposition by commissioners father and the community. Residents previously expressed concerns including Michael Ruppert, the third lawyer noise and negative visual effects related to the project. Bravo has had since the case began In response to the concerns, the commission proposed about 10 months ago, told Judge Peter buffer zones at the north and east boundaries of the plot. Sieg he needed time to take the deposi- Susan Baird, a county commissioner, who cast the only tions of 110 witnesses. dissenting vote, said she appreciated the steps being taken Sieg decided the court would recon- to protect the land and ease complaints, but she said she vene Aug. 27 despite State Attorney wouldn’t vote in favor of the motion because other loca- Brian Kramer’s objection to a delay. tions are available for the project. Aguilar said he was pleased with “Aren’t there enough rooftops where we could fi nd a Kramer’s attempt to move things place for the panels?” she said. “It seems like we are leav- along. ing a large footprint on a beautiful piece of land when there “I want to make sure that the mes- are other places already established.” sage is clear — sent to the judge that Alex Catalano / Alligator Staff John S. Humphrey, a 48-year-old wildlife biologist and we want this set for trial,” Aguilar Nineteen-year-old Pedro Bravo, accused of kidnapping and killing resident of the area where the solar panels will be built, said. “And that we’re ready. And that UF student Christian Aguilar in September, arrives to his case SEE SOLAR, PAGE 4 we know that he is guilty of the crime management hearing Tuesday in the Alachua County Courthouse. that he committed.” Defense lawyer Michael Ruppert asked for more time to collect According to court records, Bravo depositions. The next case management hearing will be Aug. 27. CAMPUS UF Ph.D. economics program denied funding, forced to downsize PATRICK KELLY facto way it has — because without fund- and become smaller. Alligator Contributing Writer ing, you can’t have a Ph.D. program,” “In the future, they will be able to offer a business eco- Blair said. “When it came time to allocate nomics major and graduate courses as needed,” he said in Thinking of getting a Ph.D. in economics? Not so fast. funds for supporting the Ph.D. students, the email. “This strategy is consistent with the college’s UF’s Ph.D. program in economics is not accepting ap- we were told that no funds would be al- strategy of downsizing to better service the development plicants for the upcoming school year. located.” needs of students, faculty and staff.” Roger Blair, the department of economics chairman, said UF Warrington College of Business There are 27 students in the Ph.D. program, according to funds to accommodate new students will not be provided, Administration Dean John Kraft wrote in the department’s website. Having senior faculty members but Ph.D. students currently enrolled in the program are Kraft an email that the department was offered teach such small classes can get expensive, Blair said, but not being cut off. the opportunity to move to the College of Liberal Arts and losing the program will impact the entire business college. “The program hasn’t been canceled, but in a sort of de Sciences but opted to remain within the business college SEE PHD, PAGE 4 Today 93/70 Committee could evaluate newly made-over Sakai Stadium Club complex opens leasing FORECAST 2 CLASSIFIEDS 17 At least three new systems could be considered, pg 8. OPINIONS 6 CROSSWORD 20 Without Walmart on 13th Street, nearby shops suffer ahead of estimated August completion the AVENUE 11 SPORTS 21 Commercial units are on the market now, pg 5. City could work to help them, pg 9. 2, ALLIGATOR § THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013 News Today VOLUME 107 ISSUE 153 ISSN 0889-2423 WHAT’S HAPPENING? Not officially associated with the University of Florida FORECAST Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida Jacoby Brothers Band TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY Dance the night away with the NEWSROOM blues of the Jacoby Brothers 352-376-4458 (Voice), 352-376-4467 (Fax) Band on June 22 at 8 p.m. The Editor Matt Riva, [email protected] THUNDER THUNDER PARTLY PARTLY PARTLY event will be at Gallery 26 in Managing Editor / Print Julia Glum, [email protected] the Melrose Art and Culture STORMS STORMS CLOUDY CLOUDY CLOUDY Center, 301 State Road 26 in 93/70 92/73 91/69 91/70 91/72 Managing Editor / Online Kelcee Griffis, [email protected] Melrose. It costs $10 at the Opinions Editor Brandon Lee Gagne, door. For more information, and to discuss their experi- day’s newspaper, please sub- [email protected] mit before 5 p.m. and model please call 352-475-2924 and ences making art from these Sports Editor Adam Lichtenstein, images. Participants will your submission after above check out the band’s website [email protected] at www.jacobybrothersband. explore what the archetypes events. Improperly formatted webs.com. from different cultures open “What’s Happening” submis- Assistant Sports Editor Landon Watnick, up in their own psyches. sions may not appear in the [email protected] Art Fest Details of class and presen- paper. alligatorSports.org Editor Chuck Kingsbury, Waldo Farmers and Flea tation as well as information [email protected] about the instructor can be Market will hold Art Fest on BRIEFS Editorial Board Brandon Lee Gagne, Julia Glum, June 22 and 23. The event will found at www.gallery26mel- Group wants to knit cover for Pa. Kelcee Griffis, Matt Riva offer unique handmade arts rose.com. Call 352-475-2924 Warhol bridge and crafts including pottery, for more information. PITTSBURGH — Andy War- Photo Editors Alex Catalano, paintings, photography, jew- hol’s art doesn’t often conjure [email protected], elry and custom-made wire Summer Plunge 2013 warm and fuzzy images — but Ryan Jones, [email protected] Summer Plunge is a single- works. Local artists and arti- a proposed tribute to him just the Avenue Editor Melissa Kahan, [email protected] sans will gather together to ex- day service project in which might. Blogs Editor Kelsey Meany, [email protected] hibit their originals and offer volunteers will branch An arts group wants to cover the work for sale. There will out into various areas of a downtown Pittsburgh bridge Copy Desk Chief Jenna Box also be live music. For more Gainesville to participate named for Warhol with knitted Copy Editors Kelsey Grentzer, Charmaine Miller, info, call 352-468-2255 or visit in service projects. Service blankets. Elesa Paschke, Mary Velasquez www.waldoflea.com. projects will include work- Allegheny County Council ing with animals, art and must sign off on the plan. But if it DISPLAY ADVERTISING OAS talent show culture, youth development, goes forward, the Fiberarts Guild Come out to the OAS Summer elder care, environmental is- of Pittsburgh will use machine- 352-376-4482, 800-257-4341, 352-376-4556 (Fax) Talent Show on July 6. sues, homelessness, housing knitted blankets to cover the Advertising Director Shaun O’Connor, Participants will be judged on and much more. Students bridge’s towering superstructure [email protected] and community mem- originality, content, presenta- while individual blankets knitted Office Manager Stephanie Parker, tion, audience response and bers will be able to learn by more than 1,200 volunteers [email protected] overall talent. Applications are about service opportunities will be used to cover its walk- available on the Application in Gainesville, meet new ways.