The Ocala Gazette newspaper is at a crossroads. When we started four years ago, our goal was to keep our community connected but also deliver in-depth reporting that the other local news outlets didn’t have the guts to touch. We feel that is the type of information that keeps the power with the people so that they can hold the government accountable.

At the cusp of reporting significant research about Marion County’s 911 communications infrastructure over six months, I asked county officials if a reporter could schedule a test call from my home in the county but just outside the Ocala city limits to see which 911 communication center the cell phone call would ring to.

Most people count themselves lucky to avoid funerals, but the members of The Marion County Memorial Honor Guard aren’t “most people.” These brave men and women attend an average of five funerals a week and consider it an honor to pay tribute to veterans by providing full military honors as they are laid to rest.

After multiple bear sightings in Ocala, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and Ocala Police Department collaborated to safely trap and release the bears into the wild. The city of Ocala recognized those involved in the effort at the July 2 city council meeting. The city of Ocala recognized the...

Marion County is going to put its “Best Foot Forward” with a new program to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety through driver education. The Best Foot Forward program will allow for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to enforce the crosswalk at Southeast 28th Street, the crosswalk and school bus stop at Southeast 52nd Avenue, and the midblock at Santos Trail on Southeast 25th Avenue where bicyclists often cross.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ net worth increased by more than 50 percent last year as he embarked on a presidential run and boosted his bank account with book sales. DeSantis had a net worth of $1,773,157 as of Dec. 31, up from $1,174,331 a year earlier, according to a financial-disclosure report posted Friday on the Florida Commission on Ethics website. DeSantis’ finances have received a jolt from his 2023 book, “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival.” DeSantis received $625,500 in 2023 from HarperCollins Publishers LLC, which paid him $1.25 million in 2022. He also received $160,000 in 2023 from Premiere Collectibles Books, which offers signed copies of the book for $35 or in a “deluxe collector set” for $50. The book debuted as a best seller on The New York Times and Amazon lists when released in February 2023. State elected officials each year are required to file financial-disclosure forms by July 1 that list income, assets and liabilities. Generally, the forms show financial information from the end of the previous year. Before the book deal, DeSantis posted a net worth of $318,986 in 2021. In addition to income from the book, DeSantis’ new report shows increases in checking and savings accounts. At the end of 2023, DeSantis had $351,078 in USAA checking and savings accounts; nearly $1.26 million in a savings account with Interactive Brokers; $95,592 in a thrift savings plan, a type of retirement savings and investment plan; and $84,196 in the Florida Retirement System. A year earlier, he listed $1.046 million in USAA accounts, $91,719 in the thrift savings plan and $54,720 in the Florida Retirement System. As he and his family live in the governor’s mansion, DeSantis did not report real-estate holdings in 2023.

A Palm Beach County circuit judge on Monday ordered the release of grand jury testimony about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, nearly two decades after a probe into allegations the wealthy financier sexually abused young women at his Palm Beach mansion. Judge Luis Delgado ordered the testimony to be released the same day that a law aimed at making the records available went into effect. Through a deal approved by prosecutors in 2007, Epstein sidestepped federal charges and agreed to plead guilty to two state prostitution charges, including procuring a minor for sex. The Palm Beach Post’s parent company, CA Florida Holdings LLC, in 2019 filed a lawsuit against Palm Beach County officials seeking access to evidence, testimony and reports presented to the grand jury. Delgado twice ruled that he lacked the authority to release the records, prompting the Legislature this year to pass a law expanding an exception to a prohibition on the disclosure of testimony or evidence received by grand juries. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in February. The change to the law “significantly modified the definition of ‘furthering justice’ to expressly include furthering a public interest” when requested records are related to a grand jury, Delgado wrote in Monday’s order. “It cannot be understated that the amendment to the law very clearly allows what previously was not legally permissible,” he added. Delgado’s order said the request for the records meets the new “matter of public interest” standard. “The criminal prosecutions of the most infamous pedophile in American history began in Palm Beach County – with much controversy,” the judge wrote. “For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable has been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the public’s perception of the criminal justice system.” Epstein “is indeed notorious and infamous and is widely reported to have flaunted his wealth while cavorting with politicians, billionaires, and even British Royalty” the judge added. “It is understandable that given those reports the public has a great curiosity about what was widely reported by news agency (sic) as ‘special treatment’ regarding his prosecution. This matter is clearly the subject of public interest,” Delgado’s order said. The grand-jury testimony includes details of sexual activity between Epstein and child victims of sex trafficking. The testimony “concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape — all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal,” the judge wrote. Epstein died on Aug. 10, 2019, in a New York jail.

The park in the Ocala Park Estates neighborhood has been officially named the Ocala Park Estates Community Park after the name had been used as a placeholder until the community suggested options. The Parks & Recreation Department held a community naming competition for the park and accepted suggestions from the...

The Florida Department of Transportation has provided more details on the project to expand Interstate 75 through Marion and Sumter counties. By adding auxiliary lanes in each direction of I-75, FDOT said the projects will decrease travel delays from accidents in the short term and ease congestion and traffic from growth in the long term.

Former police Lt. Beckie Sirolli will face two opponents in the Republican primary election in August in an attempt to win the District 27 seat of the Florida House of Representatives. Sirolli describes herself as a Conservative Christian and grassroots Republican putting “America First.”. She is opposed by Richard...

After 50 years of practicing law and lobbying throughout the state of Florida, Richard L. Gentry has now set his sights on the Florida House of Representatives District 27 seat. He will take on Steve Shives and Becky Sirolli in the Aug. 20 Republican primary election. The winner of the...

Marion County Parks is hoping residents will share their best photos of their favorite local parks and amenities in a new photo contest. From July 1 through 31, residents are invited to submit a photo or video of their favorite local park or recreation facility each week via email to parks@marionfl.org.

Graduate Student Researcher in Electricity Markets and Policy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Affiliate, Electricity Markets & Policy Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Could solar and batteries power your home when the electricity grid goes out?. Will Gorman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Bentham Paulos, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Galen Barbose,...

Traffic engineers build roads that invite crashes because they rely on outdated research and faulty data. “Can you name the truck with four-wheel drive, smells like a steak, and seats 35?”. Back in 1998, “The Simpsons” joked about the Canyonero, an SUV so big that they were obviously kidding. At...

Ferns and flowers bribe helpful ant defenders with nectar, but ferns developed this ability much later – our study shows why. Look closely at a plant in your local park, your garden or even your kitchen, and you’re likely to see some damage. Whether a caterpillar has chewed away part of a leaf or a mealybug is sucking on sap, animals are constantly feeding on plants.

Construction is ready to begin at Marion Technical College for its state-of-the-art Aviation and Diesel Mechanic Program building, with an estimated completion in the fall 2025. For the first time, the Florida Legislature approved a special appropriation of $5.57 million for Marion County last July to construct a building to...

The first ever Kids Day was held June 29 at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park. Although hot temperatures and unsettled weather damped attendance, nine volunteers readied games and made notes to prepare for the next session. Volunteers also manned the 2,700-square-foot exhibit center located in a building adjacent to the park.

Marion County is seeking to enact protections against discrimination based on healthcare mandates such as COVID-19 vaccines and face masks. The ordinance will be known as the Marion County Health Freedom Bill of Rights. A public hearing will take place on July 16 to consider the ordinance. If passed, “Marion...

Ocala Police Department Chief Mike Balken has announced several promotions within the agency. Casey Eades has been promoted from lieutenant to captain. She has been serving OPD since 2007. Charles Hunt has been promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. He has been serving OPD since 2010. Mary Williams has been promoted...

After two independent law firms issued reports substantiating malfeasance by School Board Member Sarah James and local construction firm Ausley Construction related to a bid to build a new high school, the school board remains divided on whether to refer the matter to the governor. During the board’s June 25...