Ocala, Florida

The Department of Justice has charged six Florida residents—lawful permanent residents from Cuba, Canada, Ecuador, and Brazil—with illegally voting in the 2022 and 2024 elections despite lacking U.S. citizenship. All face charges of illegal voting by an alien; three also face additional charges for falsely claiming citizenship, which carries a stiffer potential sentence. Those three could face up to five years on the citizenship charge plus one year for illegal voting, while the remaining three face a maximum of one year. Voting patterns varied, with most defendants casting ballots in both election cycles. The cases stem from an investigation by Homeland Security, the Florida Department of State, and Hernando County election officials.

A 119-year-old building in Ocala, Florida's historic district — the first brick-and-mortar school ever built in Marion County — faces an uncertain future as the Marion County School District considers selling the property. The structure, which once served as the district's headquarters and later housed Central Elementary School, has sat vacant for four years after closing over facility and environmental concerns, including reported black mold. It has not been renovated since 1967.

Community members, including former Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, are urging officials to slow down before making a decision, citing the city's history of losing historic landmarks to demolition in the 1960s. The Historic Ocala Preservation Society says the building is significant to the county's heritage and warns the window to save it may be limited. The property is not currently listed for sale and no buyers have come forward, but a public meeting is planned to let residents weigh in on its future.

More than 650 people have signed a petition calling for the removal of the president and vice president of the Marion County Youth Football League in Ocala, Florida. Parents say the leadership has fostered "hate and division" and want new role models put in place for children in the program.

Several parents told local media they have withdrawn their children from the league following disputes with its leaders. One parent, Kenneth Carr, a former coach, said he was barred from coaching after league officials accused him of using a Facebook post — meant to honor his son, who was killed in a 2022 shooting — to recruit players, an intent he denies. Another parent said his son was removed from a team after a fight he claims his child was not involved in, and is weighing legal action. The league has not responded to requests for comment on the petition or the parents' concerns.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida officials announced felony charges against 20 more people accused of illegal voting, bringing total arrests and prosecutions by the state Office of Election Crimes and Security to more than 100 since its creation four years ago. Attorney General James Uthmeier said 12 of the 20 had been arrested as of the announcement, with "dozens more investigations" ongoing. Most of those charged are not U.S. citizens; four others were convicted felons allegedly voting while still on probation. Florida's Amendment 4 restored voting rights to many felons in 2018, but requires completion of sentence terms and payment of fines before eligibility.

DeSantis also unveiled a new group, the Association of State and Local Election Officials, to be led by Secretary of State Cord Byrd, aimed at promoting "election integrity" nationally. Nearly 3,500 complaints were filed with the state office in 2025 alone. Earlier prosecutions from the office's initial 2022 roundup have faced legal setbacks, with several cases dismissed over jurisdiction disputes now pending before the Florida Supreme Court.

Lindsey Isaacs, a 23-year-old Palm Beach, Florida resident, testified before Congress this week about her wrongful arrest on three counts of vehicular homicide after a Flock automated license plate reader camera misidentified her Dodge Durango near a fatal crash scene in Ocala. Despite witnesses describing a different-colored vehicle and her Durango showing no collision damage, Florida Highway Patrol and Marion County Sheriff's Office personnel arrested her in April 2026. She spent about three and a half days in solitary confinement, was moved to a mental health unit, then held roughly 10 days in a maximum-security block, totaling 13 days in jail. She was denied bond initially, until photos proving her vehicle was undamaged secured her release. Charges were later filed against another individual.

Flock executives were invited to testify but did not attend. Isaacs has filed a civil lawsuit against the Florida Highway Patrol. The case adds to mounting scrutiny of ALPR technology, following jurisdictions like the Los Angeles Police Department dropping Flock contracts over accuracy concerns.