Marion Theatre's 85th Birthday Celebration

Vanguard swept both team titles at the Whispering Pines Invitational on Aug. 29. Belleview's young core, Trinity Catholic's Sydney Farris and South Marion's first-ever meet highlighted the day for Marion County.

Christopher Taylor, 15, won the 5th Annual Retro Run 5K in 18:48.9 the night after racing at Cecil Field. Lauren Godwin led the women among 180 finishers.

Owen Plotner and Twyla Martin, both Belleview Middle School runners, won the 2nd Annual Ocala Kids Run as 133 children ages 3-14 finished at the Baseline Road Trailhead.

Rock The Country brings Brooks & Dunn and Blake Shelton to the Florida Horse Park, plus a free John Travolta screening, two Reilly shows and a kids run.

Marion County is the fastest-growing metro in the U.S. for a second straight year, and it's under Phase III Extreme water restrictions in both water management districts at once. Here's what's driving the aquifer strain, what's actually causing Silver Springs' flow decline, and what the Live Local Act does and doesn't change.

Four alligator encounters have hit Central Florida waterways since Memorial Day, including a fatal attack in Seminole County. Here's what's confirmed — and where Marion County's long-running push to reopen swimming at Silver Springs actually stands.