Around Florida

Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Jeremy Denney, who tragically lost his life after a motorcycle in southwest Ocala this morning. Read more: 51-year-old father dies in tragic motorcycle accident in southwest Ocala

A teen was arrested Thursday afternoon by Leesburg police after allegedly attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart. Read more: Leesburg teen jailed after allegedly attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise

Kashmin’s Kitchen and Caribbean Foods is serving up classic, traditional west Indian cuisine out of a new Belleview location. Read more: Kashmin’s Kitchen serving Caribbean cuisine in new Belleview location

Ocala Electric Utility will raffle off bill credits as prizes during a customer appreciation event next week. The event is free and open to the public and will feature a variety of prizes, entertainment, family-friendly activities, educational items, and individually portioned grab-and-go meals provided by Mojo Grill and Catering Company.

Supervisor of Elections Alan Hays is alerting Lake County voters to unofficial mailings from parties not affiliated with the Lake County Supervisor of Elections office.  Read more: Supervisor of Elections warns voters of unofficial voter registration mailings

A Silver Springs man was arrested after allegedly stealing a power adaptor and pushing a 76-year-old food cart vendor who he claimed was stealing power from a local Dollar General. Read more: Silver Springs man arrested after stealing power adaptor, pushing 76-year-old food cart vendor outside Dollar General

The 8% increase to water and wastewater rates approved by Ocala City Council members in January will go into effect next Friday. The rate will increase each October over the next four years, representing a total increase of 47% through 2025.  Read more: New water, wastewater rates go into effect

Silver Springs State Park will commemorate an acreage milestone anniversary with the opening of its new, handicap accessible glass bottom boat. Read more: Silver Springs State Park celebrating new accessible glass bottom boat during acreage anniversary

Dollar General, Little Caesar's, and Pizza Hut are among the many national chains that have closed up shop on some of their Ocala locations in recent years. Read more: National chains closing locations in east Ocala

A 37-year-old Belleview man was arrested after allegedly detaining a woman for multiple days against her will and beating her when she attempted to leave.  Read more: Belleview man arrested after detaining, beating woman for multiple days

The District Board of Trustees of Lake-Sumter State College has approved a building plan for Phase 1 of Pinecrest Lakes Middle/High School to be built on the South Lake Campus in Clermont. Read more: LSSC approves plans for Pinecrest Lakes Middle/High School on South Lake Campus

Marion County Fire Rescue is asking the public to support nonprofits trying to raise funds to procure pet oxygen masks. Read more: Marion County Fire Rescue asking for public donations to acquire pet oxygen masks

A Leesburg man was arrested with a machete and hypodermic needles in his vehicle after he was pulled over Wednesday night by a Lake County sheriff’s deputy. Read more: Leesburg man arrested with machete and hypodermic needles

An Anthony woman was arrested after she allegedly destroyed items in a kitchen and threatened a victim with a hammer after she had been drinking.  Read more: Anthony woman arrested after drunkenly destroying items, threatening victim with hammer

The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency rule on Wednesday that grants parents the ability to decide whether asymptomatic children will quarantine or attend classes after exposure to an individual that tests positive for COVID-19. Read more: Florida Department of Health issues emergency rule giving parents choice to quarantine

The fall plant sale hosted by the UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners will return to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion next week. Read more: Fall plant sale returning to UF/IFAS Extension

The Ocala Police Department is asking the public to help identify a man who is accused of inappropriately touching customers at Walmart. Read more: OPD looking for man accused of inappropriately touching customers at Ocala Walmart

Breakfast Station will celebrate the grand opening of a new southwest Ocala location next week. Read more: Breakfast Station opening new southwest Ocala location

The Ocala Police Department is asking the public for any information as to the whereabouts of missing 16-year-old Zayda Hope. Read more: OPD looking for missing Ocala teenager

A Fort McCoy cyclist was killed after he was ejected from a motorized bicycle that he was riding along E Highway 316. Read more: Fort McCoy cyclist ejected from motorized bicycle, killed on E Hwy 316

The U.S. Forest Service of Florida is hosting a cleanup day at the Ocala National Forest this Saturday in recognition of National Public Lands Day. Read more: Ocala National Forest cleanup this Saturday

Two 19-year-old Fort McCoy men were arrested after they were allegedly caught with weapons stolen from F-150 pickup trucks parked in Ocala driveways.  Read more: Fort McCoy men arrested with weapons stolen from F-150s parked in Ocala

After a tightly contested race in Ocala City Council Districts 3 and 4, no candidate received a majority of the vote and the city is poised to host a run-off election in just under eight weeks.. Incumbent Jay Musleh will face off against Ty Schlichter in District 3, while Kristen Dreyer

A Leesburg woman was arrested after she confronted the father of her child over pornographic images she found on his phone. Read more: Fight over pornography leads to Leesburg woman’s arrest

The First Friday Art Walk series will return to downtown Ocala on Friday, October 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Read more: First Friday Art Walk returns to downtown Ocala on October 1

A man was arrested with a gun in the parking lot of the Citizens First Bank branch in Leesburg. Read more: Man with gun arrested at Citizens First Bank in Leesburg

Nearly $500,000 was donated by over 2,000 individuals during this year's 24-hour Give4Marion event. The top overall recipient was Interfaith Emergency Services, which received $40,992 from 69 individual donors. Among the 75 organizations that received donations, a dozen and a half eclipsed the $10,000 mark. Read more: Nearly $500,000 raised by

The World Equestrian Center will host its first ever Oktoberfest over the next two weekends. The free event will feature German-themed food, live music, beer, and games. Read more: Oktoberfest this weekend at World Equestrian Center

Pet Supermarket has moved its popular east Ocala location a few blocks down East Silver Springs Boulevard to the Ocala Center plaza. Read more: Pet Supermarket moves from popular east Ocala location

Marion County and Ocala government departments continue to put out the call for new employees, including Marion County Fire Rescue and Ocala Water Resources. Read more: Marion County, Ocala government departments still hiring