“This week, a first-of-its-kind immigration enforcement operation started in Florida’s Panhandle, led by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with federal partners,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. ”The Panhandle Immigration Enforcement Operation has apprehended hundreds of illegal aliens—including fugitives with criminal records and repeat unlawful border crossers. Florida continues to deliver on the mandate to secure our interior and protect our citizens from the threat of illegal immigration.”
Panhandle Immigration Enforcement Operation early highlights include:
- 45 FHP troopers and 20 federal personnel carrying out enforcement across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Okaloosa, Holmes, Bay, Washington, and Jackson counties.
- Nearly 200 illegal aliens apprehended.
- 37 illegal aliens arrested who previously received final orders of removal and failed to appear in court.
- Eight illegal aliens apprehended who had been deported and illegally reentered the United States—one of which had been deported four times. These individuals will be federally charged.
By TomL
What category you think you are?
In my opinion evil is those who create unrest by using the un-informed. There are some people out there who you can be told anything that is not true and they will believe it is! They will get fired up and do things they would not normally do. We need to inform the ill-informed people the truth. Not sure how to do that when they are living on the streets, or receiving a check for groceries but they must contribute. They actually take pictures of themselves rioting so they can prove they were there and can receive a check.
Evil is also the rich that take advantage of a tragedy. The Texas flood was a un-natural disaster and there are people trying to blame Trump for cutting down on weather employees.. Or blaming the weather bureau for not advising the public about the possibility of flood. They did tell the people but the ones that heard it did not understand the possibilities. Continue reading
By TomL
I’m not against change, but why change something that’s not broken? I like Cracker Barrel the way it is and I am going to experience the change and will report back if the changes are good for me! They have a good shrimp dinner / lunch not to expensive good to my taste buds and they are usually full at lunch time. I have shopped in the country store and bought Christmas gifts I could not find any where else. For instance one year I bought small hurricane oil lamps. When we have outages I have a number of oil lamp light. So we can walk about the house without falling. Always be ready. There were some great toys for the children. Clothes available also, mostly tourist stuff.
Ocala, FL, August 19, 2025, Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center, is excited to be hosting its second Taste of the Town Fundraising Event. The event will take place on Friday, September 12,2025 from 5 PM-8 PM at the Ocala Downtown Market.
The event includes 19 area restaurants, food and beverage, and food truck vendors offering samples of a different array of food, bakery items, wine, and beer.
“I am excited for the event again this year, as we kick-off our GIVE4MARION Campaign, said Levonda Goodson, CEO. Every dollar raised will go to advancing our mission and supporting the growth of a healthier Greater West Ocala community.” Continue reading
TAVARES — Nearly 43,000 students were expected to report to Lake County Schools classrooms on Monday, Aug. 11, to kick off the 2025-26 school year.
Here’s what’s new:
A-rating: Lake is starting the school year as an A-rated district for the first time since 2008! Lake students showed improvements in all tested areas, and the district more than doubled the number of schools that earned an “A” for the 2024-25 school year compared to the year before. In 2023-24, three district-operated Lake Schools earned an A. In 2024-25, seven did. The A-rated district operated schools for 2024-25 are Cypress Ridge, Treadway, and Villages of Lady Lake elementary schools; East Ridge Middle; East Ridge and Mount Dora high schools, and Lake Virtual School. Continue reading
| School Month | Student Days | ||
| AUGUST | August 11 | First Day of Classes / First Grading Period Begins (Monday) | 15 |
| SEPTEMBER | September 1
September 12 |
Labor Day / Student Holiday (Monday)
Non-Student Day / Teacher Professional Learning Day (Friday) |
20 |
| OCTOBER | October 10
October 13 October 14 |
End of First Grading Period (Friday)
Non-Student Day / Teacher Work Day (Monday) Classes Resume / Second Grading Period Begins (Tuesday) |
8 Total Days 43
14 |
| NOVEMBER | November 11
November 24-28 |
Veterans Day / Student Holiday (Tuesday)
Thanksgiving Holiday / Student Holiday (Monday-Friday) |
14 |
| DECEMBER | December 19
December 22-31 |
End of Second Grading Period (Friday)
Winter Break / Student Holiday (Monday-Wednesday) |
15 Total Days 43 |
| JANUARY | January 1
January 2 January 5 January 6 January 19 |
New Year’s Day / Student Holiday (Thursday)
Non-Student Day / Teacher Work Day (Friday) Non-Student Day / Teacher Professional Learning Day (Monday) Classes Resume / Third Grading Period Begins (Tuesday) Martin Luther King, Jr. Day / Student Holiday (Monday) |
18 |
| FEBRUARY | February 16 | Presidents’ Day / Student Holiday (Monday)
|
19 |
| MARCH | March 5
March 6 March 9 March 16-20 |
End of Third Grading Period (Thursday)
Non-Student Day / Teacher Work Day (Friday) Classes Resume / Fourth Grading Period Begins (Monday) Spring Break / Student Holiday (Monday-Friday)
|
4 Total Days 41
12 |
| APRIL | April 3 | Non-Student Day (Friday) | 21 |
| MAY | May 25
May 29
|
Memorial Day / Student Holiday (Monday)
Last Day of Classes / End of Fourth Grading Period (Friday) |
20 Total Days 53 |
| Storm make-up days will be determined as needed | 180 |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has achieved another historic milestone in tourism, welcoming a record-breaking 34.4 million travelers in the second quarter of 2025. This all-time high for second-quarter visitation further cements Florida’s reputation as the nation’s premier travel destination. These results are proof of Florida’s enduring draw and the state’s commitment to delivering outstanding experiences for visitors from across the country and around the world.
“Florida continues to lead the way as the nation’s top travel destination,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “People from all over the world come to the Free State of Florida to take advantage of our top-tier attractions, great weather, and our commitment to public safety. Today’s record numbers are a testament to the work we’ve done to make Florida the most appealing state to visit in the nation.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis presented five iconic Floridians with a posthumous award of the Governor’s Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors in the state of Florida. These Floridians—Daniel Robert “Bob” Graham, Kenneth Hood “Buddy” MacKay Jr., James “Jimmy” Buffett, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and John Thrasher—exemplified what it means to be a great Floridian and left a lasting impact on their communities and the state of Florida.
“I’m proud to recognize the legacies of these great Floridians,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Our state is better for their contributions, and we’re proud they called Florida home. They have each earned the honor of being awarded the Governor’s Medal of Freedom.”
The Governor’s Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the state of Florida and its citizens, and today’s recipients have done that. Continue reading
LAKE WORTH, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis announced his support for an update to the 2020 Decennial Census, which could potentially yield additional congressional seats for Florida. Governor DeSantis was joined by Attorney General Uthmeier, who has been a leading voice in the fight for a corrected census and proper reapportionment to ensure that Floridians have the representation they deserve in Congress.
“Even the Biden administration acknowledged that Florida got shortchanged in the reapportionment stemming from the last census,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “My office is working with Attorney General Uthmeier in our mission to secure Floridians’ due representation in Congress and to fix mistakes that have been identified in the aftermath of the 2020 Census. Continue reading
ARCADIA, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $38 million in awards to 19 small and rural Florida communities through the Florida
Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. These strategic investments will fund public infrastructure improvements, neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and commercial revitalization projects that strengthen communities across the state.
“Our state’s small and rural cities drive key industries, support Florida families, and keep our economy moving,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today in Arcadia, I was proud to announce a new round of strategic investments through this program. These funds will support neighborhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and infrastructure development in 19 communities throughout Florida.” Continue reading
