3 Venezuelan restaurants you can’t miss in Gainesville
Venezuelan restaurants play an important role in Gainesville, bringing people together through traditional food. More spaces in the city are embracing accessible formats like food trucks and community-focused concepts in recent years. Here are three Venezuelan restaurants you definitely have to try if you haven’t...
A new Gainesville cafe kickflips onto Fifth Avenue
Walking through a little yellow door that read, “better, together,” people lined up at 8 a.m. Friday inside an eclectic shop decorated with painted skateboards and green checkered floors. The teams behind Lowbar coffee and Bushel & Peck bakery combined forces to open a brick-and-mortar cafe on Friday...
Record number of Marion County schools earn national magnet awards
A record-breaking eight public schools in Marion County garnered national attention this week after receiving awards from Magnet Schools of America, including one school that earned the highest possible honor. In its latest round, the organization recognized more local schools than ever before for their commitment to...
Marion County schools could be next to get weapons-detection system
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Marion County on Tuesday could become the next district in Central Florida to utilize a weapons-detection system on campuses. The school board is expected to sign off on purchasing OPENGATE weapon-detection systems. Students pass through the special screeners, which are designed to detect...
Ocala family and six dogs escape fire that destroys home
A family of four and their six dogs escaped injury Monday afternoon after a fire broke out at their home in northeast Ocala. Marion County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the 6600 block of NE 2nd Place in Ocala at 12:27 p.m. on Jan. 26 after a 911 caller reported that the front of a house was on fire.
Detailed site plans released for controversial Walmart coming to The Villages
Detailed construction plans have been submitted for a new Walmart Neighborhood Market in The Villages, shedding light on the scope of a project that has sparked outrage and anxiety among nearby residents. On Monday, site development plans for the new Walmart were reviewed by the Marion County Development Review...
12-acre Gainesville commercial plaza sold for $16 million
Verde Plaza in northwest Gainesville is now under new ownership following a $16.4 million sale announced last week. The 12-acre strip mall (1405 NW 23rd Ave.) is located at the corner of NW 13th Street and NW 23rd Avenue and contains Winn-Dixie, Planet Fitness, O2B Kids, Dollar Tree and seven other storefronts. In...
Bridge closed over I-75 as interstate shutdowns begin tonight
Lanes of Interstate 75 will close beginning Monday night for repairs to the County Road 320 overpass that was damaged by a dump truck last year, with concrete barriers and detour signs now in place to block traffic over the bridge. Video footage taken at the scene over the weekend...
New business on SR-200 to add more traffic in Marion County
MARION COUNTY, Fla. — One senior in Marion County is concerned about traffic getting worse because of new developments along State Road 200. Debra Watson said she’s concerned a proposed project could add more traffic in front of her senior living community, “On Top of the World.”
Cuban nationals charged with stealing over $1,300 in merchandise from Ulta Beauty in Gainesville;...
Angel Luis Nicot-Cardoza, 31, and Yorlan Nordelo-Martinez, 44, Cuban nationals who were living in Tampa, have been charged with grand theft in a September 2025 theft from Ulta Beauty in Gainesville; they have also been connected to five Ulta Beauty thefts in Florida and Georgia, totaling over $5,000. The post Cuban...
