Daily
Ocala
Friday, May 22nd, 2026
Good morning, Ocala. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 22nd of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Marion County Animal Shelter opens on a 20-acre donated site on West Highway 40 with nearly 300 dogs and 200 cats ready for adoption, and the $28 million facility offers air-conditioned kennels, an expanded surgery suite, and county pet services while free adoptions are available on its grand opening day. WCJB
- ➤ Forty veterans at the Ritz Veterans Village risk losing shelter if new funding is not secured before the current grant ends on Sept. 30, 2026. Volunteers of America (VOAF) and VA representatives are preparing plans to help each veteran move to stable housing. Ocala Gazette
- ➤ Marion County’s new animal shelter opens today with nearly 300 dogs and 200 cats ready for adoption + the facility invites locals to find a new pet companion. WCJB
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Local drivers see Buc-ee's new pay-at-the-pump rule for credit and debit cards; the travel center planned at I — 75 and NW 49th Street is now postponed to 2029, coming as fuel prices rise ahead of Memorial Day weekend trips. Ocala StarBanner
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Ocala’s most famous resident John Travolta appeared on The Tonight Show on Tuesday, May 19, to share his Cannes lifetime achievement award & preview his film Propeller One-Way Night Coach, premiering May 29. He recalled singing with Ringo Starr at a Florida show & his jet flight for Cannes. Ocala-News
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Florida gas prices jumped on May 21 with the statewide average for regular fuel at $4.511 a gallon ahead of Memorial Day travel. Experts warn that global supply issues may drive further increases, affecting drivers during summer trips & prompting careful planning. Ocala StarBanner
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ NOAA predicts a below-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2026 with 8-14 named storms and 3-6 hurricanes and urges residents to review their hurricane preparedness plans; the season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Ocala StarBanner
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Developers submitted a major site plan for the new Home Depot in southwest Ocala ahead of the county review meeting on Monday, May 18. The project spans 134,807 sqft (on 13.25 acres) and will be the area's second Home Depot pending final approval. Ocala-News
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Hear Us Roar III Fundraiser
7 p.m. — Ocala Civic Theatre — VIP tickets $50 — A vibrant fundraiser supporting Arts in Health and The Arc Marion in Ocala.
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Ocala Toddler Time Multi-Sport Program
9:00-11:00 a.m. — McCall Ballfield — $90 — Engage toddlers in a fun, multi-sport program designed for early development.
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Ocala Toddler Soccer Summer Camp
9 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. — McCall Ballfield — $135 — Fun-filled toddler soccer camp featuring bubbles, ice cream, and exciting activities.
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Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy: Chapter Three
6-7:30 p.m. — Marion Theatre — $55 per person — Experience an immersive theatrical journey through Poe's macabre tales with original music by Danny Elfman and themed cocktails.
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Father's Day Celebration with Live Orchestra
8:00 p.m. — Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio Ocala — Ticketed event — Celebrate Father's Day with live Latin music from The Koko Band and DJ Jota.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Ocala
Welcome to the Daily Ocala, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Ocala, Florida community. If you like the Daily Ocala, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Ocala.
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