LAKE CITY, Fla. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) joined Florida Gateway College (FGC) leaders on the college’s Lake City campus today to announce a $3 million federal grant, the largest in the college’s history, to build a new Building Construction Technology Center and launch trades programs for students across rural North Florida.
Rep. Cammack backed FGC’s application with a letter of support. The five-year award comes through the Strengthening Institutions Program, a U.S. Department of Education program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. This year’s competition prioritized rural institutions and programs that build career pathways and workforce readiness.
Florida Gateway College Press Conference
“North Central Florida is full of folks who build things with their hands, and they shouldn’t have to leave home to learn a trade. This center means they won’t have to,” said Rep. Kat Cammack. “Florida Gateway put together a winning plan, and I was proud to back it. This is a federal investment done right, and I can’t wait to see the first class walk into that lab.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested more than 20 individuals in a multi-county drug trafficking and racketeering enterprise operating in Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Broward Counties. The organization distributed large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances, and utilized over-the-road freight carriers—without the carriers’ knowledge—to smuggle cocaine from California into Florida.
“This joint operation dismantled a sophisticated criminal enterprise that was pumping dangerous drugs into Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Broward County communities,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Through the tireless work of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and our statewide prosecutors, we seized large amounts of cocaine, along with fentanyl and oxycodone pills. Florida families deserve safe streets free of these deadly substances, and we will hold every member of this organization accountable.”
“Let me be clear: if you bring dangerous drugs into Palm Beach County, we will find you, shut down your operation, and bring you to justice,” said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. “This operation sends a strong message that we will not tolerate drug trafficking in our communities”
“Our work in drug trafficking cases demonstrates one central truth: no single agency can address this challenge alone,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Michael Stein. “These cases depend on strong partnerships—across local, state, and federal agencies, the Attorney General’s statewide prosecutors, and the continued support of our state leaders and legislature to eradicate our communities of illegal and harmful drugs.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured prison sentences totaling 79.5 years against three child predators in Lee, Glades, and Okeechobee counties. Statewide Prosecutors also won convictions against two more child predators in Lee and Collier counties, who now face decades in prison.
“I can’t think of anything more evil than the sexual abuse of a child, and trading, purchasing, and soliciting in this vile material perpetuates that abuse,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We’re throwing the book at these predators. Our statewide prosecutors have already secured over 800 years in prison sentences for crimes against children. Predators should know that if they come after children, they will lose your freedom.”
“Florida’s children are safer today because of Attorney General Uthmeier and the men and women of FDLE,” said FDLE Commissioner Larry Keefe. “We lead the charge against child exploitation. We identify predators and build the cases that put them away. This is how it works in Florida: FDLE finds them, the Attorney General convicts them, and the Department of Corrections keeps them.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against Discord, alleging the popular online chat platform marketed itself to Florida families as safe for children while failing to verify users’ ages, shield minors from strangers, or keep predators off the app.
“We’ve arrested more than 2,100 child predators in this state since I took office,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Again and again, their trail to our kids leads back to Discord. Discord told parents that safety is at the core of everything they do. That was false. It’s time for this app to get serious about protecting our children or face serious consequences.”
“Invisible predators are locating Florida’s children online,” said Patti Rendon, District Four, Hillsborough County School Board. “The Attorney General’s office is ensuring that online platforms know they have a responsibility to keep our children safe. Attorney General Uthmeier and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chronister are critical partners in this mission.”
“Online chat platforms are powerful tools that can connect, inform, and support people,” said Joe Pepe, EdD, Florida Department of Health. “Thanks to Attorney General Uthmeier’s leadership, we are ensuring these benefits are maximized while protecting users, especially young people, from preventable harms.” Continue reading
3 – 8 p.m. | Downtown Ocala
Lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m.
About Light Up Ocala
Light Up Ocala is a longstanding community tradition to kick off the holidays that attracts thousands to downtown Ocala. This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the holiday merry making event!
Light Up Ocala will have over 100 vendors including crafts, art and plenty of food options to choose from! Live entertainment will fill the air with festive sounds and an interactive kids’ zone will keep the whole family entertained. You won’t want to miss the Junior Sunshine holiday parade with a special appearance by Santa. All of which culminates in the most exciting part of the event: lighting up downtown Ocala!
Vendor Opportunities
Vendor applications for Light Up Ocala are now closed.
Junior Sunshine Parade
The Junior Sunshine Parade is a beloved part of Ocala’s annual Light Up Ocala celebration, giving local youth and community groups a chance to showcase their holiday spirit. Featuring performances by school bands, dance studios, Scouts, and more, the parade winds through downtown and leads up to the grand holiday lighting ceremony. Continue reading
Date:11/13/2026 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location:Citizens’ Circle
151 SE Osceola Ave., Ocala, Florida 34471
The Sunset Songs Series brings free monthly concerts to Citizens’ Circle in Downtown Ocala from 7 to 9 p.m., showcasing a vibrant mix of genres from professional touring and emerging artists. Now in its third season, the series fosters community connection, supports downtown businesses, and offers a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy live music. Come early for dinner, grab a bite from on‑site food trucks, and enjoy beer and wine available for purchase through our beverage partner, the Ocala Outreach Foundation. Bring a chair, invite friends, and settle in for an evening under the open sky—free and open to all.
Nov. 13 – Kendall Street Company
Sponsored by Angie Lewis State Farm
Kendall Street Company is a genre-blurring, high-energy Virginia band known for their unpredictable, fun-filled live shows featuring improvisation, comedy, crowd interaction, and eclectic songwriting. Over ten years, the five-piece has evolved into a prolific touring and recording group with a vast range of influences, producing everything from space operas to heartfelt ballads and quirky character-driven songs. In 2026, they released two singles with producer Dave Schools and will unveil their eighth studio album, Yodeling Astroman, on October 23rd. Their extensive live catalog, packed with diverse covers and unreleased jams, is available on major streaming platforms and subscription archives. Composed of Louis Smith, Brian Roy, Ryan Wood, Ben Laderberg, and Jake Vanaman, the band has played major festivals and shared stages with leading acts across the jam and improvisational music scene, all while accompanied by their beloved mascot, Lenny the Lemon.
(NAPSI)—Influenza (flu) is nothing to sneeze at. It’s a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, 
and sometimes the lungs. There are two main types of flu virus: A and B.
Millions of Americans get the flu every year and thousands are hospitalized because of it.
Some people, particularly those 65 years and older, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at higher risk of serious flu complications.
How to Protect Yourself
There are three things you can do to help keep yourself and your family from getting the flu:
- The most important thing is to get a flu shot.
Happy Old Senior Man Making Heart Shape Hand Gesture. Look at Camera, Showing Romantic. Retired Elderly Grandparent Close Up Portrait. Symbol of Love Yourself. Doing charity Work, take Care of Health.
(NAPSI)—It often starts with a restaurant menu. The type looks smaller than it used to, and the lighting seems dimmer. You hold your phone at arm’s length, then a little farther. Eventually you give in and buy a pair of drugstore readers.
For most people, that moment is a normal part of getting older. But it’s also a good time to learn which eye changes you can shrug off and which ones you can’t. The difference matters more than many people realize. Vision affects much more than whether you can read the fine print. It shapes how safely you move through your home, whether you keep driving, how easily you recognize a friend across the room, and even your mood.
The encouraging news is that losing your sight is not an inevitable part of aging. Many of the conditions that threaten vision can be treated, especially when they’re caught early.
What’s normal
Two changes are so common that most people eventually experience at least one of them. Continue reading
From the Internet
By TomL
I ask AI
Can AI remotely hack, reprogram, or Hijack a foreign or operational drone in mid-flight to send it back to its origin?
Why Mid-Flight Reprogramming Fails
- Encrypted Links: Modern military and commercial drones use secure, heavily encrypted communication protocols that prevent unauthorized remote access or signal injection.
- One-Way Control: Many long-range or combat drones operate on rigid, pre-programmed flight paths or closed-loop systems that do not accept external real-time commands from untrusted sources.
- Physical Isolation: An AI system requires physical or network access (such as a compromised control link or a connected companion computer) to alter flight firmware or waypoint data, which cannot be done purely externally from thin air against a secured target.
NOVEMBER EVENTS CELEBRATE SERVICE & SACRIFICE
The month of November not only ushers in the holiday season, but it also brings a boatload of Veterans activities to town. Annually, Veterans Day is observed on November 11; this year it falls on a Wednesday. Most Veteran groups in the gated communities have their own Veterans Day observances.
To offer a ceremony NOT on a weekday when most people are working or attending school, Veterans Helping Veterans USA is collaborating with Highland Memorial Park this year to host a Veterans Day service on Saturday, November 7 at 10 am. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend this Community family event at 1515 NE 3rd Street in Ocala! Please arrive by 9:45 am to secure parking and grab a seat.
Another outstanding Veterans Day celebration takes place on Friday, November 6 at St. John Lutheran School, 1915 SE Lake Weir Avenue, Ocala 34471. Activities include the American Honor Foundation landing two helicopters on the baseball diamond; a free hot dog luncheon takes place before a 1 pm ceremony. Spouses are welcome!
A listing of all upcoming reported events can be explored at www.mission1776.org/upcoming-events.
Have a peaceful and joy-filled Thanksgiving!
