Lauren Ogburn has been perfecting her autograph since she was 15. She’ll be able to put it to use soon though — because she’s going to Hollywood. Ogburn, 19, from Lake City, auditioned for season 13 of “American Idol” on July 26, 2013, in Atlanta, Ga., and got the go-ahead nod …

Nine counties in North Central Florida have announced school closures on Thursday.

Students in Florida public schools will take the FCAT this spring despite earlier plans to phase out that test in favor of one that measures the new Common Core curriculum, which some districts have already implemented.

A singing group of wenches plans to release its album in time for the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.

A Citrus County couple sheltered an unusual pet for a week after finding it dodging traffic in Brooker, Fla.

One local eatery is expanding its clientele by moving cupcake delivery online to retail sites like Etsy and Amazon.com.

Recent cold weather has posed challenges for homeless residents faced with the colder temperatures. In response, the Ocala Fire Rescue and the Salvation Army have organized a clothing drive that ends Thursday.

Alachua County's Wage Theft Protection Ordinance, which was passed in April with a 3 to 2 vote, went into effect Jan. 1. Unpaid and underpaid employees who have sought to resolve issues with their employers can file an official complaint.

As temperatures continue to fall, preparations are being made by North Florida counties from homeless shelters expanding accommodations to the closing of schools in Columbia County on Tuesday.

Massad Ayoob, or Uncle Mas, as his pupils call him, is an NRA lifetime member, firearms instructor, part-time police officer, and self-defense expert. He started the second day of a 40-hour lesson on self-defense with a speech that waxed philosophical.