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He didn't pull the trigger. The jury found him guilty of murder | Exclusive

He didn't pull the trigger. The jury found him guilty of murder | Exclusive

A man found guilty in connection with a 2023 shooting death has been sentenced. Here's what we know:
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Week 6 Ocala Florida high school football scores, led by Forest-Buchholz showdown

Week 6 Ocala Florida high school football scores, led by Forest-Buchholz showdown

All eyes on north central Florida high school football are on the Forest-Buchholz matchup Thursday night. Follow that, and the area's Friday night games, here.
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Nine years later, DUI manslaughter case still not resolved. Here's why:

Nine years later, DUI manslaughter case still not resolved. Here's why:

Here's why defendant Michael Haslup will not yet stand trial in his DUI manslaughter case, which dates back to a 2017 crash.
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Pedestrian hit and killed near Belleview

Pedestrian hit and killed near Belleview

A pedestrian was hit and killed by a pickup truck on Sept. 22. Here's what we know:
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Plea entered for man accused of killing his grandmother

Plea entered for man accused of killing his grandmother

A look at court cases heard the week of Sept. 14
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No bail for woman charged in NW Marion stabbing death

No bail for woman charged in NW Marion stabbing death

The woman arrested on charges of second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, will be held without bail for the time being.
Sarasota Herald-TribuneSarasota Herald-Tribune
How worried should Florida residents, visitors be about dengue?

How worried should Florida residents, visitors be about dengue?

Floridians should be concerned, but not panicking, over cases of dengue fever spiraling up. There are things you can do to stay safe.
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St. Paul School Closures Offer Insights for Minneapolis Public Schools Amidst Similar Decisions

St. Paul School Closures Offer Insights for Minneapolis Public Schools Amidst Similar Decisions

A review of St. Paul Public Schools' (SPPS) closures in 2022 is providing valuable insights as Minneapolis Public Schools considers closing up to 16 schools. SPPS closed six schools due to declining enrollment, and a subsequent report one year later examined the impact on students. The study revealed an 88% student retention rate in unaffected schools, which dropped to 83% for students who were required to move. Jim Vue, who served on the SPPS School Board from 2020 to 2026, noted that his son attended three different schools in four years due to the closures, leading to a disconnected experience for families. The report also indicated that approximately 38% of affected students moved 1.5 miles or less from their previous school. However, the study did not measure cost savings, as the primary goal was to consolidate students to offer more comprehensive services at fewer, larger schools.
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Olathe School District Considers Closing Six Schools Amid Declining Enrollment and Budget Challenges

Olathe School District Considers Closing Six Schools Amid Declining Enrollment and Budget Challenges

The Olathe School District is contemplating the closure of six schools—five elementary schools and one middle school—due to declining enrollment, significant budget challenges, and state underfunding of special education. The proposed closures include Black Bob, Heritage, Scarborough, Tomahawk, and Walnut Grove elementary schools, along with Indian Trail Middle School. District Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager stated that over the past six years, the district has cut nearly $25 million from its budget, eliminated 270 positions, and reduced K-5 teachers by 89 without increasing class sizes. Rising health insurance costs and the state's failure to meet special education funding obligations have forced the district to transfer over $40 million annually from its general fund to cover special education expenses. A 125-person task force and a 20-person steering committee analyzed 40 data points per building to select the schools for potential closure.
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Nikole Hannah-Jones' Educational Choices for Daughter in NYC Public Schools Spark Debate

Nikole Hannah-Jones' Educational Choices for Daughter in NYC Public Schools Spark Debate

Nikole Hannah-Jones, a prominent journalist known for the 1619 Project, made a deliberate decision to enroll her daughter in New York City public schools, driven by an ideological commitment to racial equity. Despite her and her husband's resources, she chose underperforming elementary and middle schools, believing her involvement could help improve the system for all students. This choice, detailed in an essay for The New York Times Magazine, led to her daughter falling significantly behind academically. The schools reportedly suffered from issues such as frequent fights during lunch, lack of homework, routine absence of principals and teachers, and ungraded schoolwork. Hannah-Jones persisted with this educational path even as her daughter struggled, only allowing her to apply to better high schools when the daughter herself recognized the academic deficiencies, including a lack of algebra knowledge despite receiving good math grades in the subpar schools.
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Dairy Queen opens new Ocala store on U.S. 27 west of I-75

Dairy Queen opens new Ocala store on U.S. 27 west of I-75

A new Dairy Queen opened Sept. 21 at 4001 NW Blitchton Road (U.S. 27) west of Interstate 75.
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Boulder Valley School District Approves Closure of Four Schools Amid Declining Enrollment

Boulder Valley School District Approves Closure of Four Schools Amid Declining Enrollment

The Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) board has voted 5-2 to close four schools and implement significant changes to several others, effective for the 2027-28 school year. This decision is a direct response to declining student enrollment, a trend observed in the district since the 2018-19 school year, with projections indicating a further decrease of 1,706 students by 2030. The closures include Mesa Elementary, Douglass Elementary, Flatirons Elementary, and Birch Elementary. Additionally, High Peaks Elementary will move into Douglass Elementary's current building, Community Montessori will take over High Peaks' building, and its current building will close. Eldorado PK-8 School will transition to an elementary school, and Monarch PK-8 School will become a middle school. The district estimates these changes will save $3.5 million to $4 million annually, though facility adjustments and moving costs are projected to be between $12.5 million and $15 million. The decision has been met with significant comm...