Ocala

The Lorax, the Wicked Witch of the West and a plethora of life-sized inflatable animals filled downtown Ocala Saturday morning as part of a string of nationwide “No Kings 2.0” protests. More than 2,500 similar demonstrations were scheduled across the country.

More than 500 people gathered on Ocala's downtown square to protest the Trump administration at a No Kings rally on Saturday.

Marion County Public Schools administrators say they are worried that a $64.3 million budget gap will prompt some teachers to leave in search of better financial opportunities.

Big Lee’s popularity and the traffic it has brought to Ocala are just a glimpse of the area’s changing business demographics. From 2023 to 2024, Ocala’s population increased by 4%, making it the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan area, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Four elected offices will be on the ballot for Ocala’s special municipal elections on Tuesday, but only the offices of mayor and City Council District 3 are contested races. Incumbent Mayor Ben Marciano faces challenger Zackary Arbor Feliciano, and District 3 incumbent Jay A. Musleh faces challengers Mark W. Clark and TamBoura Jenkins.

21 dogs are up for adoption after a boarding dispute between DogWalker Ranch and the dogs’ previous owner, accused of never picking his dogs up from the center in Ocala, Florida.

Florida wildlife officials this week will hear a proposal to create an annual “limited-entry” black bear hunt, with a December hunting period the first in more than a decade.

Ocala residents and elected officials spoke in favor of a state bill Thursday that would create an online database of people convicted on animal abuse charges in Florida. The bill is named after a dog that a St. Petersburg man adopted then decapitated a few days later, and was inspired by a similar ordinance passed by Marion County commissioners.

The Marion County Board of Commissioners met with the Ocala City Council in a public workshop on Thursday to discuss implementing emergency medical services impact fees on new developments within the city.

Demonstrators attended a protest along East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala on Saturday to express their opposition to President Donald Trump and his administration.