Local

4 hours ago

Gainesville Community Activist Works Toward Telling the Haile Homestead’s Whole Story

A Gainesville community activist is doing his part to make certain the whole history of the area is being told.

Sign outside Ocala Police Department on a sunny day, promoting ocalaPD.gov.

1 day ago

Ocala Police Department Investigates Homicide

The Ocala Police Department is investigating a homicide, after receiving a report of gunshots and finding a deceased individual at the scene of the incident.

A giant cat dressed in a Santa suit, holding an orange cat, with white calls and Christmas decorations in the background.

2 days ago

Ocala Cat Rescue Sheltering Hands Unites Felines with Their Forever Families

Nonprofit Sheltering Hands has facilitated thousands of cat adoptions, as well as a broad spectrum of feline welfare programs, in Marion County.

A man in a white and orange jumpsuit standing against a gray wall.

4 days ago

Ocala Man Charged with Three Felonies Including Aggravated Battery on a Pregnant Woman

An Ocala Man has been charged with three felonies including domestic battery by strangulation and aggravated battery on a victim knowing they were pregnant.

Florida Highway Patrol cruiser with red and blue lights on

4 days ago

Ocala Resident Dies in Early Morning Vehicle Accident

An Ocala motorist died Dec. 22, 2025, as the result of a vehicle collision, that involved three pickup trucks.

A large banner reading “Ocala Downtown Market" hangs under the roof of a covered pavilion. The structure features yellow steel beams and an open concrete floor, with string lights hanging from the ceiling. Red railings line the entrance, and trees and grass are visible in the background.

5 days ago

Oddities Market Returns to Ocala Before the Holidays

The oddities market hits the Ocala Downtown Market for a final time before the new year.

Front view of the in-progress Paddock Market at Paddock Mall in Ocala, featuring a modern dark brown exterior, large entrance doors, two white artificial trees, and two silver rearing horse sculptures on either side of the entrance.

1 week ago

New-School Retail Space Paddock Market Begins Limited Operations at Paddock Mall in Ocala

Paddock Market has quietly opened with limited operations inside Ocala’s Paddock Mall, offering early access to a handful of vendors while many others prepare to open as the long-planned marketplace continues to take shape.

1 week ago

Bell Woman Dies in Single-Vehicle Accident in Levy County

A 49-year-old Bell woman died after her Jeep turned over multiple times and she was ejected from the vehicle.

In foreground, a paved parking lot, green grass, with sidewalks in front of a building, with windows, columns and door, with the background of a brick-colored wall, a facade featuring letter, numbers and insignia.

1 week ago

Marion Commissioners Get Update on Belleview Health Department Project

The Belleview Health Department may be getting a facelift in the near future, increasing its size to keep up with the region's growth and offer additional services.

A ghostly figure in the background of a dark lit forest setting.

1 week ago

Debunked Ocala: Examining Ocala’s Dark Man Legend

Long shared through local folklore, the Dark Man of the Ocala National Forest remains an enduring legend--despite the absence of any verified proof.

In the foreground is a light pole with autumn-colored leave and a sideways sign reading, "Ocala. Find your place." In the background are trees, buildings and multiple poles with similar leaves and signs reading rules. There are also tables with umbrellas and walking paths for public use.

1 week ago

Ocala City Council Approves Historic Landmark Where a Young Tom Petty Met Elvis Presley

The Ocala City Council approved an ordinance designating a historical marker celebrating two rock legends.

Closeup of Ocala Downtown Gazebo with white support beams and fencing surrounding it and leading down to the square. White triangles surround the top of the gazebo with a blue-gray dome sitting atop it and a City of Ocala circular logo placed center in the front facing triangle.

1 week ago

Ocala’s Office of Homelessness Prevention Makes a Difference in Improving Lives

The city is working toward solutions to prevent homelessness, and making homelessness a brief, rare and non-reoccurring experience for all residents of Marion County.

A beige background, with blue to the left and right, with flag on either side of the center beige background. A multi-colored insignia with writing an images in the center, in front of the beige background, with a gray wall underneath the insignia at the bottom of the background.

1 week ago

Marion County Commission Approves Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame

A Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame honoring veterans not only for their military service, but for their involvement in the community, was approved at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 16, 2025.

Front view of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners building in Ocala, Florida

1 week ago

Marion County Approves Special Use Permit for “Simunition” Training Facility in Citra

A facility in Citra would provide customers with an opportunity to simulate self-defense scenarios, if someone were to break into their home. The Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved the special use permit for the simunition training facility Dec. 15, 2025.

Glass door to the left, bring wall with a numbers on a placard above large placard with letters and numbers.

2 weeks ago

Marion County Approves Permit for Ocklawaha Business to Sell Beer and Wine

The Marion County Commission granted a special use permit with conditions to a business in Ocklawaha.

A man takes a pine wreath out of a box that's in an SUV.

2 weeks ago

Wreaths Across America Honors the Fallen at Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park

Wreaths Across America made a stop in Ocala to remember those veterans who've made the ultimate sacrifice, those currently serving and their families, by placing wreaths by tablets representing each branch of the service at the Ocala/Marion County Veterans Memorial Park.

White lettering on a blue background, with the image of a horse's head and a heart, with white lettering underneath.

2 weeks ago

Annual Tourism Report Celebrates Ocala Region’s Rising Status as a Global Destination

Ocala and Marion County are expanding their global footprint through tourism as they are now a preferred destination for travelers.

A garland with decorative red, gold and green Christmas bulbs is strung along a fence surrounding a white gazebo. In the foreground is a graphic that reads, "Santa Greeting | Holiday Festival | Christmas Parade. WEEKEND TOP PICKS. Events Coming this Weekend." Christmas lights hang from the top of the graphic with Santa on the right and a small marching band on the left.

2 weeks ago

352 WEEKEND TOP PICKS: Santa Greetings and Holiday Celebrations

Free and low-cost events to fill the weekend with holiday festivities and exciting celebrations of the season.

Color postcard-style image of Glen Springs showing the bright blue spring pool, surrounding greenery, and walkways leading toward the water.

2 weeks ago

Defunct Ocala: How Glen Springs Slipped From Gainesville Icon to Hidden Ruin

Once one of Gainesville's most popular swimming spots, Glen Springs has spent more than 50 years closed to the public as time, algae and property disputes have slowly obscured its past.

in the background on the left a man wearing a ball cap, a woman and man standing against the wall, with a neon sign over their head, and a plastic plant and an American flag to their right. With a man reading from a document holding a microphone in the foreground.

2 weeks ago

Ocala Airport Master Plan Presentation Provides a Look into the Future

The area's growth means change for Ocala International Airport's needs and demands, and a Master Plan presentation gave citizens a long-term vision for the airport.

News

4 days ago in Sports, Trending

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles win their second NFC East title in a row by beating the Commanders 29-18

As the percussive horns of Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" filled the air, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni — wearing a black T-shirt bearing the words, "Been there, won that" — made the rounds in the locker room, offering hand clasps and back slaps to his players after they accomplished something that hadn't happened in two decades: win a second consecutive NFC East title.

4 days ago in Entertainment

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwide

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Pop culture in 2025: A ring for Taylor, an ill-timed KissCam … and whatever ‘6-7’ means

From the inexplicable to the familiar, here's our annual, highly selective journey down pop culture memory lane.

4 days ago in National

Hundreds mourn Brown University sophomore Ella Cook, killed in campus shooting

A Brown University sophomore who was killed in an attack at the Rhode Island university was remembered Monday as "smart, confident, curious, kind, principled, brave," at a funeral in her home state of Alabama.

7 days ago in Sports

Los Angeles Angels settles lawsuit with family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs over fatal overdose

The Los Angeles Angels reached a confidential settlement Friday in a lawsuit over the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

7 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Judge nixes conviction of one of two men found guilty of killing Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay

A judge Friday voided the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run-D.M.C. star Jam Master Jay, ruling that there wasn't enough evidence that the man had a motive to kill the hip-hop luminary.

7 days ago in National

Justice Department begins releasing long-awaited files tied to Epstein sex trafficking investigation

The Justice Department on Friday began releasing its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and wealthy financier known for his connections to some of the world's most influential people, including Donald Trump, who as president had tried to keep the files sealed.