Good morning, Ocala.

New restaurants have opened across Ocala in the past few months including the multi-restaurant complex The Forge near downtown and a revamped dining hub at the Paddock Mall.

Locals can sample menus from spots like The Blind Eye Restaurant and Tacos Y Mas as the city’s culinary scene grows.

A Florida law set to delay middle and high school start times in 2026 is under review by Ocala school officials, who are checking its potential impact on local schedules.

Florida rolled back the law on later school start times so districts set their own schedules — most counties will begin classes on Monday, Aug.

10 while three counties start as late as Aug. 13.

South Marion High School will relocate some home football games this season after contractors detected seven voids under the field—repairs costing $617,917 are underway and will finish in October.

The new school will open Monday, Aug. 10 at 1350 SW 165th St.

Health officials said that a second person died from Vibrio vulnificus in Florida’s Marion and Palm Beach counties (from exposure to saltwater and raw seafood), urging caution for those with open wounds or underlying conditions.

Ms. Betty’s Ocala home (supported by over 30 local businesses and organizations) was fully renovated earlier this month to include a new kitchen, bathrooms, fresh paint, flooring, drywall repairs, and a new air conditioning system, providing a comfortable space for her and her son.

Plans for the 151-home Heatherwood development in southeast Ocala are under review by the county committee this week; the 39.36-acre project near Legacy Elementary School features community amenities such as a park + dog park and internal roadways.