Good morning, Ocala.

Organizers of the Children’s Table fundraiser raised about $12,000 to help feed families in North Central Florida — a vital effort supporting local residents in need.

Dave Daniel, a Silver Springs exterminator, was bitten by a nurse shark while fishing at a Key West sandbar on Aug.

23 and airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center for emergency surgery; he now faces weeks of therapy & high bills as a friend launched a GoFundMe campaign.

Florida is proposing a change to school vaccine requirements that would remove shots for hepatitis B, chicken pox, Hib and pneumococcal disease while keeping measles, mumps, rubella, polio and DTaP mandatory; the proposal filed on Aug.

24 is open for public comment until Sept. 14.

The SJRWMD reports that Marion County and parts of Alachua and Lake counties remain under prolonged drought conditions after a year of below-average rainfall.

Residents must follow mandatory watering restrictions to help conserve water until hydrologic levels improve.

Florida's minimum wage for non-tipped workers will rise to $15 per hour on Sept.

30, 2026 following a constitutional amendment passed in 2020; tipped employees will increase to $11.98 (future raises will be tied to inflation).

On Sept. 3, the Florida Department of Health reported 500 cyclosporiasis cases since May, and residents were urged to wash produce thoroughly to reduce infection risks+ officials continue to monitor trends closely.

Florida health officials reported three new Vibrio vulnificus cases on Sept.

3, raising the total to 20 cases and three deaths this year and advising residents to avoid raw oysters and exposing open wounds to brackish water.

Twistee Treat, which was closed after failing two health inspections for roaches and warm ice cream temperatures, passed a third inspection on Wednesday, Sept.

2 — the shop at 2394 SW College Road is now open.