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Jurors on Wednesday had four options: Find Luis Angel Ortega not guilty or guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter. Less than an hour into their deliberations, the six jurors had made up their minds: Ortega was guilty of first-degree murder in the 2018 shooting death of 18-year-old Brandon Hammett.  W. Charles Fletcher, the...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Yvette Sara Acosta, 45, was arrested yesterday afternoon after allegedly leaving her one-year-old child in the car for several hours while she drank in a bar. The child was reportedly strapped into a car seat, and the air conditioning was running while she was inside. The child was unharmed.

Nearly four years after 18-year-old Brandon Hammett was fatally shot near an Ocala elementary school, one of the four people charged in the killing has gone to trial. When the shooting occurred in October 2018, Luis Angel Ortega, believed to be the alleged triggerman, was 16. Now 19, Ortega is...

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Ocala police are searching for three women they say stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the Sunglass Hut. These women went into the store on Southwest College Road on July 27th. Police say they stole more than $18,000 worth of goods. Officers are asking...

Florida's new No. 1 receiver suffered an injury in fall camp on Tuesday.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Harold Leon McMahon, Jr., 22, of Williston, was arrested early this morning and charged with grand theft auto, fleeing, and resisting arrest without violence. A Gainesville Police Department officer reported that he attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that had been reported stolen,...

The top-rated running back prospect and a priority Gators target in 2023 commits to Texas.

Next year, the voters of Ocala will once again choose their mayor. While no one has stepped forward to challenge longtime incumbent Kent Guinn, the time has come for the community to make a change. Historically, the mayor’s duties have been largely ceremonial. The mayor has no vote on the...

LOWELL — "Now hiring" signs are up at Lowell Correctional Institution and the Florida Women's Reception Center – two state prisons in northwest Marion County. Recent increases have stepped up the pay rate for an entry-level correctional officer. The most recent boost brought the annual pay from $33,500 to $41,600.

ALDI will be holding a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new location in Starke on Thursday morning. The ribbon cutting will take place at 8:30 a.m. at 1371 S. Walnut St. and the doors will open at 9 a.m. The store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There have been plenty of debates the past several weeks – and over the years – on whether Georgia’s annual rivalry game against Florida should remain in Jacksonville or move to a home and home format. While that debate likely carries on, there has been one change starting in 2022.

Former Bronson High School basketball coach Billy McCall Jr. now faces sexual misconduct charges not only in Alachua County but Levy County as well. According to a Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) press release sent Wednesday, additional victims have reportedly come forward. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested McCall...

Perhaps University of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart will finally warm to the annual game against Florida in Jacksonville — now that he can invite a few more guests, if reports are accurate. On3, a recruiting website, first reported Wednesday that the Bulldogs and Gators will be allowed to host recruits at TIAA...

The Ocala Symphony Orchestra is bringing back its open rehearsal events for students and their families at the Reilly Arts Center. The free program provides the unique opportunity to see the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s live rehearsals before a concert weekend. Open rehearsals also give families and students an opportunity to enjoy the symphony in a relaxed environment while getting an educational, behind-the-curtain view on how a symphony prepares for its opening night.

PALATKA, Fla. — A 15-year-old shot a 19-year-old during an argument over a video game in Palatka Wednesday, police said. According to the Palatka Police Department, the two teenagers were arguing when the 15-year-old suspect pulled out a firearm and shot the 19-year-old in the chest. The victim was...

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) - Marion County Sheriff’s Office released video of deputies arresting a 15-year-old driving a vehicle stolen from Gainesville after leading deputies on a chase. Deputies say On July 28, they spotted a red Ford truck driving on Southwest Highway 200 that was reported stolen out of...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Saturday, August 6, 2022, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of NW 53rd Ave in reference to a suspicious incident. A resident reported that after leaving her home for a brief amount of time, she located a suspicious item in her yard. The item is described as a clear plastic bag filled with kernels of corn and a white sheet of paper promoting anti-Semitism and white supremacy. The bag was collected and entered into GPD Evidence.

The Ocala Police Department is turning to the public to help identify three women who are suspected of stealing multiple pairs of sunglasses from the Sunglass Hut located at the Paddock Mall. According to a social media post from OPD, the female suspects (pictured below) traveled to the Paddock Mall...