Jim Ross

Hurricane Milton brought wind, rain and power outages to Marion County, but no reports of serious injuries or major damage.

The board of the Little Rock School District held a work session Thursday night to discuss issues including potential budget reductions, the district’s personnel manual, the name for a new high school and how to fill an empty seat left by a board member’s recent resignation.

Marion County voters are being asked to consider a 20-year extension of the 1% sales tax that supports capital purchases for public safety (law enforcement, EMS, fire) road projects and animal services. The question is on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

When it comes to measuring how your self-storage is faring, there’s no better metric than the business’ profit and loss (P&L) statements. But the metrics won’t be helpful if they’re incomplete, inconsistent or incorrect. Transparency is key to helping you gain a clear picture of where your company’s financials stand and where improvements should be made. In this “3 Minutes With 3 Mile” video segment, Jim Ross explains how detailed financial reporting can enhance your decision-making and improve your facility’s overall financial health. He also shares some best practices for setting up and managing your accounts. Listen in to find out what you should add to your P&Ls for improved reporting.

Thursday’s short and well-organized Little Rock School District board meeting included a report on test results from the new statewide assessment and a vote to establish a much-needed committee to reconcile gaps and discrepancies in district policies.

Today is Election Day. Marion County voters will help decide national and state contests, as well as a few key local ones, such as a new proposed sales tax to support school construction and improvements and a proposed 20-year extension of the existing 1% sales tax to fund public safety capital needs and road projects. Stay tuned here for updates throughout the day, and check ocala.com after the polls close at 7 p.m. for election results and more.

Stan McClain defeated Dr. Sylvain Doré on Tuesday in the race to represent District 9 in the Florida Senate.

Drivers crossing the East End bridge are getting some relief from traffic signal timing, but there’s a possibility something worse could result from the inspections that are ongoing.

Against the backdrop of falling enrollment and declines in state funding, the Little Rock School District will start rolling out a new strategic plan at the beginning of 2025, LRSD Superintendent Jermall Wright said during a Little Rock School Board meeting on Thursday. Wright said he plans to lay out the plan during a “State of the District Address” early next year.

Financial realities force campus closures, and embattled board member Vicki Hatter faces possible investigation by the state for alleged ethics violations.