Ocala FL

How safe is your child while walking to and from their school or bus stop? According to Kevin Christian, the public relations director for Marion County Public Schools, there are 2,375 bus stops daily in the district. “About 23,000 of our 46,000 plus students ride the school bus on a daily basis,” he noted in […] ...

Health inspectors in Florida have recommended an administrative complaint against a Red Lobster restaurant in Marion County following a Jan. 8 inspection that discovered 10 violations, including four high-priority infractions.

A Marion County Jail inmate, who was taken into custody last year following an Ocala bank robbery, is facing an attempted murder charge after he confessed to stabbing his former cellmate for “snitching” and making homosexual advances. Randall Lee Williford, 38, was initially placed under arrest and booked...

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Two firefighters fired, but not criminally charged, following a violent hazing incident at a Marion County Fire Rescue station, are now filing grievances against the department, alleging wrongful termination. Fredrick Bowers and Victor Payette have filed grievances alleging their termination was...

Two back-to-back cold fronts are expected to sweep across Florida this week and weekend, bringing with it near-freezing morning temperatures to parts of Orlando and Central Florida. Near the Florida-Georgia state line, there is a small chance of some snow flurries to form. The first cold front arrives on Friday...

As they said they would, two former Marion County Fire Rescue employees who were ousted after a violent hazing incident at a fire station have filed grievances against the county. Pursuant to a public records request, county officials provided the Star-Banner with a copy of the grievances. Victor Payette and...

A Villager who got in trouble last year for having too much junk at his home is now in trouble for putting up an unauthorized storage shed on his property. The home of Harold Crume at 709 Megan Circle on the Historic Side of The Villages was the subject of a deed compliance hearing Monday at the District Office at...

A Mini Cooper driver fled a Publix in The Villages after hitting a pedestrian in the parking lot. A woman was walking in the parking lot of Publix at Southern Trace Plaza on Monday afternoon, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The woman said she was walking behind the Mini Cooper...

The Old Navy store at Market Street at Heath Brook Mall has temporarily closed for a remodel. No reopening date has been set, though signage, which was posted Jan. 10, says the doors will open again this winter. More business news: Ocala will see a major restaurant surge in 2026 The mall recently added Men's...

Ocala native Jackie Kay III tapped into his local upbringing in Marion County to embody the titular character in his upcoming sports comedy, Signing Tony Raymond, which opens in theaters this week. The movie will open in select theaters on Friday, Jan. 16. It tells the story of a college...