News
Ocala Police Department seeking $160, 610 for new virtual training simulator
2+ hour, 38+ min ago (358+ words) The Ocala City Council is scheduled to vote on a new, permanent, virtual reality training simulator for the Ocala Police Department headquarters to end a longstanding tradition of renting the machines. The vote to spend $160, 610 on the new Laser Shot…...
Petition to bring special needs playground to Ocala nears 1, 000 signatures
2+ day, 2+ hour ago (292+ words) A local parent's petition calling on Ocala leaders to build a safe, accessible playground designed for children with special needs has already collected nearly 1, 000 signatures. The petition, which was launched on Change. org by Ceidrie Rodriguez, calls on the Ocala…...
54 teachers, 7 asst. principals eliminated at Marion County schools in leadership shakeup
6+ day, 4+ hour ago (318+ words) Marion County Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer has announced principal changes at nine local schools for the upcoming school year that will impact approximately 7, 000 students, as the district eliminates seven assistant principal positions among 54 total staff terminations. The shuffle, which is…...
Site plans presented for new $63 million Ocala middle school
1+ week, 2+ hour ago (330+ words) Following an official groundbreaking earlier this year, a major site plan for the new 141, 000-square-foot middle school was recently presented to county officials. A major site plan for the new, $63 million campus, which is designated in county records as Middle…...
I think threats at Ocala high schools are numbing students to possible emergencies
3+ week, 16+ hour ago (220+ words) As a student at Westport High School, I find the school's safety standards crazy. About 2 to 3 weeks ago, we were in code red for a bomb threat as the President of the country was actively flying and driving though our…...
Construction reaches final stages at new South Marion High School ahead of August debut
4+ week, 20+ hour ago (303+ words) Construction has reached its final stages at the new South Marion High School as Marion County Public Schools prepares to open the doors of its first new high school campus in over two decades. Recent updates from the district reveal…...
Belleview High School senior earns $2, 500 National Merit Scholarship
4+ week, 1+ day ago (292+ words) A Belleview High School senior was just awarded a 2026 National Merit Scholarship of $2, 500 to help him as he studies astrophysics in college. Patrick Liam Lucaric, a resident of Ocklawaha, was selected from a competitive pool of more than 15, 000 finalists nationwide....
Third Ocala high school placed on lockdown this week following bomb threat
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (279+ words) West Port High School became the third Ocala-area high school to face a lockdown this week after an anonymous bomb threat triggered a heavy law enforcement response on Friday morning. The Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Office…...
Marion School Board sues Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok over student addiction to social media
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (533+ words) The Marion County School Board has joined a class action lawsuit against the owners of various social media applications including Meta (Facebook) and Alphabet (You Tube), accusing the companies of designing defective apps made to maximize screen time and encourage…...
Marion County high school graduation dates announced for Class of 2026
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (482+ words) Marion County Public Schools has officially released the commencement schedule for the Class of 2026, marking the upcoming graduation of nearly 3, 500 high school seniors across the district. Superintendent Dr. Danielle Brewer and members of the Marion County School Board will confer…...