Members acknowledged the financial strain on staff but said the increases were necessary to protect jobs and maintain fiscal reserves as the changes take effect in 2027.
A Change.org petition launched by Marion County resident Joel Hickman on July 24, 2026, calling for the postponement of a planned Board of County Commissioners workshop on data centers has gathered more than 5,150 verified signatures.
Details of the settlement were not disclosed beyond the resolution of the victim’s workers compensation case.
Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar is returning to the Spanish Vuelta after a seven-year absence to pursue a Grand Tours hat trick of titles.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says as many as 150,000 dogs are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States. In the rattlesnake hot spot of Arizona, emergency veterinarian Dr. Sarah Carotenuto says the Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson treats four to six dogs daily for rattlesnake bites, along with an occasional cat.
Florida’s 2026 Primary Election is Tuesday, Aug. 18, with early voting beginning Aug. 8 in Marion County. Here’s where to vote, what to bring and other important information before heading to the polls.
As the clock ticks down to Monday’s trade deadline, the biggest deal so far came courtesy of the Detroit Tigers, who sent left-handed ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” made box office history in its first weekend in theaters. The Sony-released superhero movie became the second-biggest North American opening ever with an astonishing $355 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was just a few million shy of “Avengers: Endgame,” which debuted to $357 million in 2019.
Ariana Grande has pulled out of an upcoming stage musical in London, producers said, and plans to withdraw from the public eye for a break from the intense scrutiny she faces.
The Nature Coast Volunteer Center and Senior Retired and Senior Volunteer Program are collecting new shoes and socks for kids in need.
