Marion County Burn Ban Becomes Mandatory as of 5 p.m. Tuesday
MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners announced that the voluntary burn ban enacted on Feb. 6, 2026, will become mandatory as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10. “The action follows recent freezing temperatures, dry conditions, and sustained winds that have significantly...
Police: Ocala man caught trying to steal car outside smoke shop
A 30-year-old Ocala man is facing a felony theft charge after he allegedly tried to drive away in another man’s vehicle that had been left running outside a local smoke shop. On Wednesday, January 14, an Ocala Police Department officer responded to the Mayfar Smoke Shop (2400 SE 36th...
The latest on the four people found dead inside home off Baseline Road
The Ocala Christian Academy community is mourning the loss of ninth-grade student Michael Melendez and his family members. They were found deceased inside their home late Feb. 6 in a case of what authorities say could be carbon monoxide poisoning. Randy Osborne, the school administrator, said this was Michael's first...
Ocala Chinese restaurant fails inspection after live squirrel found in kitchen
A Chinese restaurant in southwest Ocala was temporarily closed after a health inspector cited the business for several code violations, including the presence of a live squirrel and rodent droppings. China King, which is located at 9590 SW State Road 200 #9 in the Oakridge Plaza, failed the health inspection...
The I-4 Eyesore Just Had Its Biggest Accomplishment Yet: Jeopardy!
Central Florida’s most infamous unfinished building made a surprise national appearance this week. During Jeopardy! on Monday, Feb. 9, a clue referenced the structure locals love to hate known as the I-4 Eyesore. Viewers around Orlando immediately recognized it, and according to those watching live, the clue was...
Water shortage declared in Marion, nearby counties as groundwater levels drop
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns River Water Management District has declared a phase one moderate water shortage for Marion County, urging residents and water users to voluntarily conserve water amid ongoing drought conditions. The declaration, which also includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, and Duval counties,...
Unlicensed driver with Honduran passport stopped near Quality Suites
An unlicensed driver from Honduras was arrested for driving without a license after being stopped near Quality Suites in Wildwood. A deputy pulled over 30-year-old Omar Antonio Valladares Gonzales near Quality Suites, located at 271 SR 44, Wildwood, around 7:20 p.m. Friday, according to an arrest report from the...
Driver ticketed and taken to hospital after crash on Morse Boulevard
A driver was ticketed and taken to the hospital after a crash on Morse Boulevard in The Villages. The woman was driving a Buick Encore at about 2 p.m. Monday when she was at San Juan Drive making a left turn to travel south on Morse Boulevard. She failed to yield to a Chevy Avalanche pickup which was northbound on...
CSX cleanup plan approved after massive Dunnellon fire
DUNNELLON, Fla. – State environmental officials approved CSX Rail’s cleanup plan Monday following a massive fire that burned thousands of chemically treated railroad ties in Dunnellon, as city officials moved to join legal action against the company. The Dunnellon City Council voted to join Marion County’s planned...
New 100-foot mural transforms Ocala business, marks first project for city grant program
A new work of public art has transformed the façade of a business along the NE 8th Avenue corridor, marking the successful completion of the first test pilot project for a new redevelopment mural grant program for east Ocala. Created by well-known local artist Justin Alsedek, the new mural...
