(OCALA, FL.) Feb. 19, 2026 – This morning, Ocala Fire Rescue (OFR) held the official groundbreaking ceremony for Station #8, a new facility designed to enhance emergency response in Ocala’s growing northwest corridor. City leaders, council members, CEP representatives, and senatorial aides joined the celebration.
The station’s location was strategically chosen for its accessibility to I-75 via US 27 and SR 40 via NW 44th Avenue, ensuring faster response times for residents and businesses in the area. City Manager Pete Lee highlighted the significance of the project, noting that the groundbreaking “represents our continued commitment to public safety and responsible growth. As Ocala expands, emergency services must expand with it. Seconds matter.”
Council President Ire Bethea emphasized the community impact, stating that “growth is a sign of a thriving community, but it comes with responsibility. Station 8 ensures residents have the protection and rapid response they deserve. Public safety is foundational.”
Station #8 will strengthen OFR’s emergency network with three apparatus bays, an engine and rescue unit, and 15 additional personnel. The project is expected to be completed by late 2026.
This groundbreaking is more than turning dirt—it is a promise to protect Ocala today and prepare for tomorrow. As Chief Welborn noted, “We’re not just building a fire station; we’re building a stronger, safer Ocala for generations to come.”
If anyone is a Hall of Famer it is Bill Belichick. He is the winningest coach of all times, with 8 Super Bowl. Tom Brady and fans are very upset. They are demanding consideration or overturning their decision to SNUB him. It is strictly politics. It is done by secret vote. A new stadium has tens of millions invested could be at stake. Some say Belichick might turn down the offer if it’s made next year. A SNUB FOR A SNUB! Maybe they need to over hall the Hall of Fame if the best does not win? They need to have transparency on who voted for who. There is 50 members voting takes 80% of the vote, now everyone acts shocked. I think the decision should take a revote and over turned. There is to much to lose over stupid politics! All this is over a first pick that was adjudicated years ago! Our world is filling with hate and it seems to be coming from the same place.
Tom Brady said it was completely ridiculous! Donald Trump voiced outrage. I don’t think anything will come good from this and it will hurt the game! But while I am at it TV is hurting it. We use to be able to see football on regular channels without paying extra. Most people are not watching because they don’t want to pay extra! They could double the audience by putting it on regular TV. Football is our national sport and making us pay extra for it is like asking us to pay to fill out a political poll. It is unAmerican! Everything is about money. Continue reading
The Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) is an agency within the Executive Office of the President that provides objective economic analysis and advice on both domestic and international policy. The CEA is considered one of the most prestigious appointments an economist can receive and is often viewed as the “pinnacle “ career. Unlike other government agencies that are often led by political operatives, the CEA is almost exclusively staffed by toptier academic economists including several Nobel Prize winners. This is why reports issued by the CEA are taken seriously by both politicians and economists.
The January 2026 report by the CEA is labeled “The Economic Impact of State Income Tax Elimination” and their Executive Summary states:
* Income taxes are more economically damaging than sales or property taxes;
* The harmful economic effects of state income taxes include outmigration, brain drain, stifled innovation and entrepreneurship, and reduced GDP;
* The harmful fiscal effects of state income taxes include revenue volatility with “feast and famine “ cycles, with states often gaining little or no new revenue from income tax hikes because of the negative economic effects they unleash. Key findings from CEA’s analysis of state income tax phase-out include: Continue reading
It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, John E. Sununu, who is running to represent the beautiful State of New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate.
John is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected Leaders in New Hampshire, and many Republicans in the U.S. Senate and, as your next Senator, he will work tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda. John will fight hard to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Provide Access to Affordable and High Quality Health Care, Champion School Choice, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.
John E. Sununu has my Complete and Total
Endorsement – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN — ELECT JOHN E. SUNUNU!Trump Endorses Sununu
Seminole County, FL (February 3, 2026) — Seminole County’s Office of Emergency Management invited community members to practice their tornado action plan during ‘The Great Tornado Drill’ on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Some community members participated as a business, school, faith-based organization, or family unit. Participants should discuss how they would receive a tornado warning alert and practice taking shelter in the most secure interior room at work or home.
The Seminole County Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service in Melbourne partnered to develop The Great Tornado Drill in 2015. Since then, the State of Florida adopted the event, with all 67 counties participating annually during Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week.
By Stirrups ‘n Strides Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
At Stirrups ‘n Strides, we see something truly special happen every day — moments of courage, joy, and transformation that begin the moment a rider meets a horse. But what exactly is therapeutic riding, and how do horses help people heal?
What Is Therapeutic Riding?
Therapeutic riding is a program that uses horseback riding to improve physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. Under the guidance of certified instructors and trained volunteers, riders with a wide range of abilities and challenges learn to ride, build strength, and gain confidence — all while forming a unique bond with their horse.
The natural movement of a horse closely mirrors the human walking gait. As a horse walks, the rider’s body moves in a rhythmic, three-dimensional pattern that improves balance, posture, coordination, and muscle tone. For many riders, this is more than just exercise — it’s the first time their body moves with such symmetry and freedom. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced preliminary estimates from VISIT FLORIDA indicating that Florida welcomed 143.3 million visitors in calendar year 2025: another record-setting performance for the Sunshine State. In the fourth quarter of 2025, an estimated 33.5 million visitors traveled to the state, making it the highest fourth quarter visitation on record.
Preliminary estimates show that domestic travelers accounted for 91.5 percent of all visitors in 2025, with 131.1 million Americans traveling to Florida. Overseas visitation reached 9.3 million, while Canadian visitation totaled 2.9 million, consistent with historical trends where Canadian travel represents approximately two percent of total visitation. Florida also experienced continued growth from key international markets, with strong increases from Latin American countries such as Brazil and Argentina, as well as European markets including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. Brazil is now the second-largest international source of visitors to the state. VISIT FLORIDA remains focused on expanding international visitation through strategic marketing efforts.
Florida continues to be the #1 domestic travel destination in the United States and a top choice for international visitors. Continue reading
The Honorable Brooke Rollins, Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Secretary Rollins:
We write in support of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson’s request for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Disaster Declaration for counties in the State of Florida impacted by the freezing temperatures that occurred at the end of January and the beginning of February. This declaration will make it clear that the federal government’s resources will be available to Florida’s farmers and ranchers.
Agriculture is the second-largest economic sector in Florida’s economy, and this weather disaster struck during the production seasons for many of our state’s 300 commodities. These plummeting temperatures broke city and county records not seen in decades across the state.1 Already, the USDA has reported in its National Free On Board Review that central Florida will see a shortage of strawberry supply due to the extreme cold weather on February 2-3, 2026.2 More commodities, including avocados, bell peppers, sugar cane, broccoli, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, radishes, cabbage, citrus, eggplant, green beans, potatoes, squash, tomatoes, apiaries, nurseries, and aquaculture, face threats of production loss that will last for months and in some cases even into future years.
We appreciate your dedication to American agriculture and hope that you will call on Congress and those in the Administration who oversee and operate disaster programs to quickly provide the necessary funds to help our state recover from this tragic event.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued leadership in supporting American agriculture.
Sincerely,
Kat Cammack
Member of Congress
Scott Franklin
Member of Congress
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack and all 29 members of Florida’s bipartisan congressional delegation are urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to immediately approve a USDA Disaster Declaration for Florida counties devastated by historic freezing temperatures in late January and early February.
The freeze struck during peak production for many of Florida’s major commodities, causing widespread and catastrophic losses across the state’s agricultural sector. A disaster declaration would unlock critical federal assistance for farmers and ranchers facing severe and ongoing recovery challenges.
“Florida supplies fresh produce to nearly 150 million Americans during the winter months, and when Florida agriculture is hit, the entire country feels it,” Cammack said. “This is a national security issue. A nation that cannot feed itself, cannot secure itself. This freeze caused widespread, historic, and devastating damage. Farmers are facing wiped-out crops, lost income, and months or even years of recovery through no fault of their own. A USDA Disaster Declaration is essential to get relief on the ground now and protect Florida agriculture and America’s food supply from collapsing under this blow,” said Congresswoman Cammack. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a letter of notice to the nearly 80 corporations that are associated with the U.S. Plastics Pact, the Consumer Goods Forum, or the Sustainable Packaging Coalition for their involvement in practices that potentially violate antitrust and consumer protection laws.
“Multiple advocacy organizations have pressured companies into artificially changing the output and quality of their goods and services in way that normal market forces would not otherwise bring about,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “These groups were warned that their activity presents serious conflicts with antitrust and consumer protection laws, and advocacy for a particular agenda is not a basis to mislead consumers.”
These notices follow letters sent on October 29, 2025, led by Attorney General Uthmeier and joined by a multistate coalition of attorneys general to the U.S. Plastics Pact, the Consumer Goods Forum, and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, raising grave concerns that the policies, targets, and compliance frameworks promoted by these organizations may violate the Sherman Act, state antitrust laws, and applicable consumer protection laws.
The new letters were sent directly to the companies identified as current members of one of these major environmental groups, notifying them that continued participation in or coordination with the initiatives may expose them to antitrust liability. Continue reading
