Image of Hurricane Milton from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite on Oct. 8, 2024, showing a well-defined eye and dense cloud bands approaching the Florida peninsula.
Weather Updates
2 months ago
Belleview Staff Participate in Area Hurricane Preparedness Training at Marion County Emergency Operations Center

Readiness begins long before a storm appears in the forecast. The City of Belleview staff recently completed FEMA-led Hurricane Awareness training to boost emergency preparedness ahead of peak storm season. Officials stress the importance of early preparation and staying informed.

Man smiling and seated at a table during an FBMA event with other attendees in the background.
zzz App Top Stories
2 months ago
Game On! 2025 Building Products Expo brings top industry leaders to Disney’s Coronado Springs

From cutting-edge tech to keynote speakers and career networking, the Florida Builders and Materials Association’s annual expo promises three days of innovation, insight, and opportunity.

A deep room. with people to the left, in the background and against the wall to the right, in the middle a man dressed in a law enforcement uniform, a man to his right also in a law enforcement uniform to his right at a podium with a microphone. In the foreground, there is the front of a dais.
Local
2 months ago
Belleview police department promotes Miley to the rank of lieutenant

The Belleview Police Department has promoted Michael Miley to the rank of Lieutenant.

A door to the extreme left, a white placard with names and numbers, with a smaller white placard with numbers, affixed to a brick wall.
Local
2 months ago
Marion County Board of County Commissioners approves road improvement project

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved the East Lake-Woodmar Road Improvement Project. A public hearing was held regarding the project Aug. 6, 2025.

Aerial view of a scenic waterfront park featuring a curved boardwalk over a pond, sandy beach area, palm trees, walking paths, and several boats floating on a calm, sunlit river surrounded by residential homes and greenery.
Features
2 months ago
Debunked Ocala: The curious legacy of Hunter Springs’ “leech” rumor

Hunter Springs Park in Crystal River remains a beloved spot for swimming and kayaking, despite a lingering local myth about leeches that was never scientifically confirmed.

To the extreme left, a woman holding a fan and a placard, four people in safety vests holding placard with writing and images, with a sidewalk in the foreground and wall with metal fencing top, with a sign behind the people, retail space and trees in the background.
Community
2 months ago
Stopping on red, saving lives and making Marion County’s roadways safer

Government entities and agencies combined their collective effort to get the word out about stopping on red and preventing accidents.

MCPS Starts August 11th
Education
2 months ago
What parents need to know before school starts-August 11 in Marion County

Marion County students head back to school on Monday, August 11, and parents are gearing up for a smooth start. From orientation schedules and bell times to transportation info and afterschool care, here’s everything families need to know for the first day of school in Ocala.

The left side, a railroad track, of the to the right, derailed train cars, to the extreme right and in the background tree lines.
Local
2 months ago
Ocala rail system to trail system, a change may be in the offing in the city’s future

The Ocala City Council discussed the rail line, the recent derailments, and is it necessary for the city’s future?

4 Ocala residents receive recognition for their life saving efforts
Community
2 months ago
Four Ocala heroes honored for saving a life with CPR and AED during fitness center emergency

During a city council meeting in Ocala, four bystanders were recognized for their life-saving response to a cardiac arrest at a local fitness center. Their quick use of an AED and CPR exemplifies the importance of emergency readiness.

ChatGPT said: A yellow marquee sign in front of Sunrise Elementary School displays the message: "LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 5/29 ENJOY YOUR SUMMER." The sign is set against a backdrop of trees and a quiet road, indicating a peaceful school environment.
Education
2 months ago
Schools to start adhering to House Bill 1105 banning cell phone use in schools in late August 

Marion County and Alachua County public schools begin adjusting phone policies to adhere to House Bill 1105 banning phones in elementary and middle schools while limiting high school use.

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