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Ocala Gazette
Pastor and former NAACP president runs for Congress
A local pastor-turned-politician is the sole Democrat vying for the District 6 seat of the U.S. House of Representatives—and he hopes to bring Ocala’s interests to Congress. Bishop James David Stockton, 52, serves as the pastor of the Greater New Hope Church and is a community leader of...
TIME names World Equestrian Center on list of best destinations
The World Equestrian Center was named on TIME magazine’s 2024 list of the world’s greatest places. The list highlights 100 destinations to visit and stay around the world, 50 of which are hotels and resorts. In the United States, WEC was one of only 13 hotels to make the list.
Another Q&A with District 1 candidates for Marion County School Board
The two candidates vying to represent District 1 on the Marion County School Board are both experienced at the role, and it’s up to the voters to decide in August which to choose. Allison Campbell is running for reelection for her current seat on the school board, while former...
Weirsdale shooting, potential stabbing incident leaves two injured, one in custody
One man is being treated for his injuries after being shot, and his alleged shooter claims to have been stabbed during an incident in a residential area of Weirsdale on July 22, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Brian Curtis, 36, has been charged with aggravated battery with...
COVID-19 devasted teacher morale − and it hasn’t recovered
Kansas faces the worst teacher shortfall in its history. The 4,000 teaching vacancies Florida faces as the new school year approaches “is more than the population of teachers in 19 of Florida’s smallest counties combined,” the state’s teachers union says. In Vermont, there are days when whole grades of students are sent home because there’s no teacher or sub available.
Sports in extreme heat: Warning signs of heat illness and how high school athletes can safely prepare for the start of team practices
High school sports teams start practices soon in what has been an extremely hot summer in much of the country. Now, before they hit the field, is the time for athletes to start slowly and safely building up strength and stamina. Studies have found that the greatest risk of heat...
How do 9 states get by with no income tax? A tax expert explains the trade-offs they choose
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. How can some states get by with no income tax? – Vonnie, age 12, Auburn, Alabama. Right before I was born in the...
Massive IT outage spotlights major vulnerabilities in the global information ecosystem
The global information technology outage on July 19, 2024, that paralyzed organizations ranging from airlines to hospitals and even the delivery of uniforms for the Olympic Games represents a growing concern for cybersecurity professionals, businesses and governments. The outage is emblematic of the way organizational networks, cloud computing services and...
Nonprofits in the news: Arts group reaches milestone
Community Stages, a nonprofit theatre arts organization based in Ocala, provides personal development for all ages through performing arts training, community events and family-centered performances. The group, which is in residence at the Chelsea Art Center at 3305 E. Silver Springs Blvd., is celebrating its first anniversary with some free...
Who’s counting; and why?
Scores of homeless and needy people who visit the Tuesday Morning Outreach (TMO) of First United Methodist Church in Ocala get a hot meal and access to a wide range of necessities. But the people who come there to eat, get new wearables or a phone and identification documents, also...
HELLO, OCALA! Meet Your Neighbors: The Top Shelf Band
The eight band members are all residents of Oak Run, a 55-plus retirement community in Ocala, and all have interesting and varied backgrounds. At a recent practice session, they came together as if they had played music together for many years, when, in reality, the band has been together a scant two years, with the newest member just joining the others at the rehearsal. He fit right in, however, and didn’t miss a beat.
MCPS finalist for statewide Teacher of the Year awarded $20,000 from governor
Marion County’s own finalist for the statewide Teacher of the Year competition was awarded $20,000 on Tuesday from Gov. Ron DeSantis, just days ahead of the gala where one Florida teacher will be chosen as the winner. Jennifer Brown, a mathematics teacher from Forest High School, is one of...
Join the Indian Bollywood Flash Dance
The Indian Bollywood Flash Dance will take place on October 5, 2024, at the Citizens’ Circle in Downtown Ocala. This dance performance is a part of the ‘Gentiva Ocala Metro India Fest’ which is being organized by Dr. Sheni Meghani of Strategic Community Alliance, Inc. The ‘Indian...
Marion County Public Library System Seeks Volunteers for Library Express Program
The Marion County Public Library System is looking for volunteers to read to children at their Head Start locations during the school year in a program called Library Express. Volunteers will receive training on how to conduct storytime sessions and have all the reading materials provided to them. Anyone who...
FHP seeks driver and vehicle in connection to man’s death
Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help in finding the driver and vehicle that left the crash site Monday night after striking a 71-year-old Ocklawaha man who was lying in the roadway, the Florida Highway Patrol reports. The victim, found deceased on the south shoulder of County Road 25...
Florida Population Estimated at 23M
State analysts have issued a new report that estimates Florida had slightly more than 23 million residents as of April 1 — the first time the state has hit that mark in its annual estimates. The report by the state Demographic Estimating Conference estimated the population at 23,002,597, up from 22,634,867 a year earlier. The report also includes projections for future years, topping 25 million people in 2031. It said that from April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2028, the state is projected to average 319,109 net new residents a year, or 874 a day. “These increases are analogous to adding a city slightly smaller than Orlando, but larger than St. Petersburg every year,” the report said.
Wyomina Park Elementary School opens early
Wyomina Park Elementary students, faculty and staff went back to school on Monday, July 22. Kevin Christian, director of public relations for Marion County Public Schools, said the opening, which occurred about two weeks before other district schools are set to open, is part of a Florida Department of Education pilot year-round schedule.
Florida Democrats Quickly Back Harris
TALLAHASSEE — Members of Florida’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention threw their support Monday to Vice President Kamala Harris, a day after President Joe Biden dropped his re-election campaign. As part of a rapidly moving effort to coalesce support behind the vice president, a group of Florida...
Summer slump felt as jobless rates rise in region
The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 4.5% in June, up 0.7 percentage point over the month and 0.5 percentage point greater than the region’s year ago rate of 4.0%. The labor force was 219,052, down 1,219 (-0.6%) over the year. There were 9,947 unemployed residents in the region, an increase of 1,602 compared to May and up 1,143 over the year.
Bird of the week 2024 | White-eyed vireo
The white-eyed vireo is a year-round resident of Marion County, but they’re more commonly heard than seen. Listen for a song that sounds something like the C3PO robot from Star Wars. Then look hard, because they favor thick wooded areas and blend in very well. They’re easy to identify by their white eyes and yellow ‘spectacles.’
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