“Next to comical”: Alachua defers Farmlands vote again as Welch enforces order
The Alachua City Commission deferred a vote on land use changes for the Farmlands development to June 22 after nearly six hours of debate and public comments. The proposed plan reduces residences from 686 to 203 units and adds a commercial core, possibly including a Walmart on the 200-acre site.
Dunnellon man arrested again in connection to the murder of his father
DUNNELLON, Fla. (WCJB) - A man has been arrested on Tuesday in connection to the murder of his father. Andres Bahamon, 25, has been charged with second degree murder of Andres Bahamon-Prada, 43. Bahamon was already in custody at Marion County Jail. He was originally arrested on May 19 for...
Scene Calendar: ‘Free Fridays,’ Pride Month kick-off, Florida art
THIS WEEK 'Free Fridays' concert series The region’s longest-running and largest free outdoor concert series returns to Bo Diddley Plaza, showcasing local and regional talent under the stars with a mix of classic rock, reggae, R&B, soul, ska, funk and blues. Free Fridays runs each week from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring a dif
This Hole-In-The-Wall Florida Restaurant Serves The Best Fried Chicken You’ll Ever Taste
Sometimes the best things in life are hiding in the most unexpected places, and Fryer’s Chicken in Melrose, Florida, is living proof that greatness doesn’t need a billboard. You know that feeling when you’re driving through a small Florida town and you pass a place that looks so...
Gainesville Felon Faces 15 Years After Federal Gun Indictment
Jail (Unsplash) A 43-year-old Gainesville man is facing up to 15 years in federal prison...
Cold Case Update: Evolving tech may help solve 2003 Gainesville murder
Gainesville police need help solving a decades-old cold case. Jay Thames Jr., 57, was found murdered in his home 23 years ago this week. Detectives say Thames often opened his home up to those who were considered homeless. He lived in a quad-style apartment building, and investigators said his home...
Marion County commuters face traffic changes as SW 66th Street bridge closes
Starting Monday, June 15, commuters in Marion County will notice changes in traffic patterns as the SW 66th Street bridge over I-75 is closed for reconstruction. This important project is part of the Moving I-75 Forward initiative and will likely take about a year to complete. The Florida Department of...
Ocala courts: Second-degree murder charge filed in infant’s death
A man already charged with child abuse in a case where the victim was an infant who lived in his home now has been charged with murder in connection with that child's death. Prosecutors announced the second-degree murder charge against James Francis Westervelt III on June 8. He is being held without bail at the Marion
Driver claims collision with cow on Marion County road caused severe injuries
A woman is suing a local farm and its owners after she says she collided with a cow that had wandered into a roadway in Marion County. The lawsuit was filed in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County by Emania Kelly against Coyote Crossing Holdings LLC, William Wayne Jones II, and Bill Jones.
Gainesville Man Accused of Strangling Fiancée During Dispute at Ocala Truck Stop
OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A Gainesville man faces felony and misdemeanor changes after Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies say he strangled and battered his fiancée during a dispute at a truck stop in Ocala. Elijah Xavias Jenkins, 25, was arrested Sunday, June 7, 2026, and charged with...
