Ocala FL

An Inverness woman was arrested for theft after attempting to steal $489 in extension cords and various copper items from Home Depot. Christine Helton, 49, went into Home Depot, located at 871 N U.S. Hwy. 27/441, around 3:20 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department.

An Ohio woman was arrested after a disturbance at a popular nightspot in The Villages. A passerby contacted law enforcement after he witnessed 57-year-old Lee Anne Crabtree of Walbridge, Ohio arguing with a man in the parking lot across from Cody’s Original Roadhouse at Lake Sumter Landing, according to an arrest...

OCALA, Fla. (WSVN) — Several members of the Marion County Fire Rescue team in Central Florida have been fired for accusations of brutally hazing a rookie firefighter. Some of those now former employees face criminal charges. In interviews, the four fire rescue members facing charges said that it all...

The state reports that 52 black bears were killed during a regulated bear hunt this year, a controversial harvest that state wildlife officials are calling a “success” rooted in science. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released the results this week following the hunt, which was...

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. Why it matters: The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) will finally begin its ambitious plan to create a stretch of highway that can wirelessly charge EVs as they travel. The project could help alleviate some of the biggest problems with electric vehicles: range...

A couple from The Villages showed up to claim their granddaughter at the scene of their daughter’s arrest on a drunk driving charge. Laura Lyn Cruz, 41, who lives in the Oakleaf Apartments in Lady Lake, was driving a red Mazda SUV on Christmas Eve when a 911 caller reported that the vehicle had struck a power pole on...

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Less than a week before Christmas, Marion County deputies managed to catch a wanted man who was speeding along the highway, according to the sheriff’s office. In a release on Tuesday, deputies said the incident happened on Dec. 20, which is when they learned...

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Marion County officials say a new animal shelter is slated to open in the spring will be ten times bigger than the current facility. The shelter, which is being built along West Highway 40 in Ocala, was supposed to open this month before the timeline was pushed back.

CROSS CITY, Fla. (WCJB) - Following the death of a 2-year-old child in April 2025, Dixie County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two people on manslaughter charges. Katheryn Mills, 44, and Darrin Carr, 39, were both charged on Monday with manslaughter. According to the arrest warrant, a 2-year-old boy was found...

The Morse family sold off Citizens First Bank for $829 million in 2025, making it the No. 5 story of the year. Earlier this year, Seacoast National Bank completed its acquisition of Citizens First Bank. Seacoast officials indicated that the future growth of The Villages, combined with Citizens First Bank’s...