New K-9 teams join Marion County Sheriff’s Office
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the addition of its newest K-9 handlers and K-9 partners to its force this week, with several of the dogs specializing in narcotics detection and one in explosives. On Wednesday, MCSO held a graduation ceremony for the group. The event culminated hundreds of...
Ocala mother sues 7-Eleven over child’s slip-and-fall
An Ocala mother has filed a lawsuit against 7-Eleven, claiming her daughter sustained “significant personal injuries” after slipping and falling inside one of the company’s local convenience stores. Vilmarie Maldonado filed the lawsuit on behalf of her daughter, who is identified solely as “E.M.,” against Seven...
Rick Scott uniquely qualified to look into The Villages Health debacle
You are uniquely qualified to ensure 55,000 of your constituents are not injured directly or indirectly by the liquidation of “The Village Health System, LLC” assets through Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings. The 55,000 referenced are clients of “The Villages Health System, LLC” Whomever replaces “The Villages Health...
Marion County ER visits, hospitalizations among highest in state
According to new data from the Florida Department of Health, Marion County has a higher rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations than more than 50 of the state’s 67 counties, with both statistics the highest they’ve been in the past 20 years. On Thursday, FDOH released data...
Captain D’s Opens First Ocala Location September 2
New Restaurant Brings Fresh Seafood, Southern Hospitality to College Road Corridor. August 29, 2025 // Franchising.com // Ocala, FL – Captain D’s, the nation’s leading fast casual seafood restaurant, is setting sail in Ocala with the opening of its first location in the market on Tuesday, September 2. The new...
Baltimore man sentenced for assaulting correctional officers at federal Florida facility
OCALA, Florida - A 25-year-old Baltimore man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for assaulting correctional officers, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office. The sentence for Davonta McCrorey will run consecutively to an eight-year term he is already serving for another...
Driver stopped with license suspended this week for delinquent child support
A Summerfield man was arrested for driving with a license that had been suspended on Monday for delinquent child support. A deputy observed 50-year-old Daniel James Cole in a camouflage Dodge Ram pickup truck in Lady Lake around 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office....
Ocala man claims $47,000 prize from lottery ticket sold at local Publix
An Ocala man has claimed over $47,000 in winnings from a lottery ticket that he purchased at a local Publix. Dennis Eugene Lawson claimed the $47,027.15 prize from the Florida Lottery’s Fantasy 5 game this week. Lawson purchased his winning ticket at the Publix located at 303 SE 17th...
Florida Woman Cashes In On $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
A single ticket from a local convenience store turns into a life-changing lump-sum payment. The Florida Lottery announced that an Ocala woman has claimed a $1 million prize from the $1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR Scratch-Off game. Jennifer Hatchett, 47, chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum...
6 Central Florida restaurants shut down over health concerns, records show
ORLANDO, Fla. – Last week, six more Central Florida restaurants were forced to close temporarily after a visit from a health inspector, according to the Florida DBPR. Health inspection records reveal that these restaurants suffered issues with cockroaches, food storage, rodent droppings, and other types of...
