Umatilla
LATEST NEWS
Florida election officials warn of false rumor about ballot markings days before the state’s primary
NEW YORK – An unfounded claim that election workers will invalidate ballots by writing on them is prompting election clerks in Florida to correct the record ahead of next week’s state primary. Clerks in Collier and Escambia counties, home to Naples and Pensacola, are reassuring voters that the...
'MAGA' campaign mailer faces backlash with claims it misleads
A campaign mailer that some say incorrectly implies that the listed candidates all have the endorsements of former President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Brevard Republican Executive Committee has local Republican officials and some candidates steaming mad. "It's fraudulent and it's deceptive and it's very sleazy, in my opinion," Brevard Republican Executive Committee Chair Rick Lacey said. ...
Couple in The Villages terrified when intruder found in their home
A husband and wife in The Villages were terrified when they were awakened in the wee hours and the husband found an intruder in their home. The couple had been asleep in their home in the Village of Pine Ridge at about 4 a.m. Monday when they were awakened by the sound of the garage door opening, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. The husband got of a bed to investigate the situation.
Following Debby, parts of the city of Wildwood see severe flooding for first time
WILDWOOD, Fla. — Some residents in the city of Wildwood in Sumter County say they are dealing with flooding issues that have never been a problem in the past. Some residents in the city of Wildwood say they saw severe flooding for the first time following Debby. They say...
Teen driver charged in fatal hit- and-run Palm Bay crash after father tried to take blame
A 17-year-old Palm Bay driver was arrested Thursday after police said he struck and killed a 23-year-old pedestrian earlier this week while traveling up to 90 mph and then drove away from the crash site. The teen’s father, 37-year-old Narrian Sabdull, returned to the site of the 8:35 p.m. Aug. 9 crash,...
Unwelcome fishermen remain sore subject at pond in The Villages
Officials and residents of The Villages are frustrated at the lack of options for dealing with unwelcome fishermen at a pond in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown. Community Development District 10 supervisors are seeking solutions for residents who are unhappy about unwelcome fishermen visiting the pond behind their home. Residents of...
Bad golf cart parking at Colony Plaza
Handicapped drivers need that designated overflow area in the parking lots for their vehicles, including loading and unloading wheelchairs. There’s a reason it’s marked off. Please be considerate. Share your Bad Parking photos at news@villages-news.com.
💯Good news and local 'big dad energy'
🎉Happy Friday, everyone! Big congratulations to Addition Financial Credit Union’s Renovate to Educate contest winner, Morgan Hebner, who teaches fifth graders at Sorrento Elementary School. In her entry essay, Hebner wrote, “Brown is not the color that inspires great learners to become engineers, artists, and astronauts” and wanted to replace the bland palette she had...
K-9 helps sniff out drugs after vehicle pulled over for seatbelt violation
An Altoona man was arrested for drug possession after a K-9 was called to the scene of a traffic stop and discovered meth and marijuana. A deputy conducted a traffic stop on a green 1997 Ford SUV because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt while operating the motor vehicle around 8:18 p.m. Monday, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The Rich Hippie in Downtown Leesburg Announces Closing
The Rich Hippie, a boutique located at 1012 west Main Street in downtown Leesburg, has announced its upcoming closure. After opening its doors in 2022, the store curated a selection of unique and stylish items. While the exact closing date has not yet been determined, the store is quickly liquidating, until all inventory is sold out.
Shoplifting suspect apprehended after fleeing on bicycle from Walmart in Leesburg
A Leesburg man was arrested on a bicycle after he fled Walmart once he was spotted stealing batteries and mouthwash. Officers responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Boulevard, regarding an individual who took batteries and deodorant without paying around 7:05 p.m. Saturday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The business told dispatch that they would like to prosecute and trespass the individual, later identified as 43-year-old Andrew Shona Meredith, due to him stealing from the store before.
🎂Happy Bday to a living Leesburg legend
🎂Happy Throwback Thursday! Happy Birthday to Halle Berry ("hallelujah!"), who's a stunning 58 this week. According to Holiday Insights, Aug. 15 is the birthday of Napoleon Bonaparte, Julia Child and living celebs Debra Messing, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lawrence. Madonna turns 66 on Friday, and her ex/super-actor Sean Penn turns 64 on Saturday. ...
DeSantis pushes state university system to look into former UF president Ben Sasse’s expenses
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is pushing his state’s university system to look into former University of Florida (UF) President Ben Sasse’s expenses in the wake of reporting from a student newspaper on the subject. “We take the stewardship of state funds very seriously and have already been in discussions with leadership at the university […]
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.