Shoppers will scour retailers' sites for online holiday deals while stores will open their doors earlier for Black Friday promotions this week.

Though the nationwide foreclosure rate is falling, Florida is still leading the nation. One in every 312 Florida homes filed for foreclosure last month, which is twice the U.S. average.

Florida labor officials say the state’s unemployment dropped to its lowest mark in nearly four years in October with 8.5 percent of the workforce still hunting for jobs. Although the figure is an improvement from September’s 8.7 percent unemployment in Florida, it remains higher than the 7.9 percent national average. …

An unknown person has been calling Gainesville residents, demanding money for the released of relatives allegedly being held hostage.

Sweetwater Branch Academy Elementary School faces possible closure from the state due to two consecutive years of F ratings and poor test scores.

Partnership would result in Bayfront Medical Center joining a for-profit hospital chain.

Attendance at the 14th annual Breakfast on the Plaza and Homeless Services Fair at Bo Diddley Plaza Thursday was higher than ever. The event, sponsored by the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, featured services for homeless and their pets, including a hot breakfast, health screenings and live music. …

Getting a job just got trickier. The Workforce Connection of Citrus, Levy and Marion Counties is now warning jobseekers to stay alert for scams using the names of legitimate businesses and organizations. Workforce Connection CEO Rusty Skinner said the regional board decided to issue the warning after receiving tips from …

The North Central Florida YMCA at 5201 NW 34th St. in Gainesville will be closed Monday through Friday for renovations. The childcare program, which takes care of about 150 children, will remain open throughout the project’s duration.

Hurricane Rafael, which passed through the Atlantic Ocean this week, posed a higher risk of rip currents to Florida's Atlantic coast. The Florida Division of Emergency Management is reminding all Florida residents and visitors to be cautious when visiting the beach.