Marion County

An 11-year-old boy lost his right hand in an alligator attack while fishing with his father in Marion County, Florida. The father intervened to free his son, and the family is now focusing on recovery, considering prosthetic options. The responsible alligator was captured and killed.

An 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy, Brodie, is recovering after being attacked by an alligator during a fishing trip in Marion County, Florida. The incident occurred at Nelson’s Fish Camp near Umatilla, resulting in the amputation of his right hand. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $25,000 to support his recovery, and the responsible alligator was captured and killed.

A string of three alligator attacks in seven days in Central Florida resulted in the death of 31-year-old Brittany Clark in Seminole County. Two large alligators were captured near the scene, and similar incidents occurred in Marion County and another location. Authorities noted Florida's high gator population but emphasized that attacks are uncommon.

In central Indiana's school board races, Republicans filed more candidates than Democrats, with 34% Republican, 13% Democratic, and 45% unaffiliated candidates. Partisan races are new in the state, and ballot order is determined by prior secretary of state election results, potentially giving an advantage to top parties. Marion County has more Democratic candidates, while surrounding counties favor Republicans.

A 31-year-old woman died after being attacked by an alligator while swimming in Seminole County's Little Econ River on June 28. This was the third gator attack in Central Florida within a week, including incidents in Marion County and Rainbow River. Since 1948, there have been over 500 alligator attacks with 33 deaths in Florida.

Decatur Township schools in Indiana are changing school start and end times to reduce transportation costs and improve student well-being, such as more sleep for middle schoolers. The district faces financial pressures from reduced property tax revenue due to state reforms and plans to address budget shortfalls through a potential tax referendum. The changes aim to consolidate six bus schedules into three, saving $3 million and aligning with fiscal responsibility goals.

A 44-year-old woman from Marion County, Florida, won $1 million in the Gold Rush Legacy Scratch-Off game by purchasing a $20 ticket at a Publix store. She received a lump-sum payment of $640,000 after claiming her prize at the Florida Lottery Headquarters.

Jason Shane Ejmali, a 51-year-old from Silver Springs, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor into sexual activity. He pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025, and will also serve 20 years of supervised release.

A 25-year-old Florida man was arrested Monday after suspected human remains were discovered buried at a Marion County property where his father, 43-year-old Andres Bahamon-Prada, went missing on May 7. Investigators found evidence of foul play including bullet holes, bloodstains, and a photograph allegedly sent by the suspect showing a deceased man, leading to charges of tampering with evidence.

An illegal immigrant, Leonel Catalan-Torreblanca, is facing 30 charges in connection to a decade-long serial rape case in Marion County, Indiana, after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement DNA collection cracked the case. The series of sexual assaults spanned more than a decade, with the first reported incident in March 2013 and the most recent in January 2024. Catalan-Torreblanca was arrested at a relative's house within four hours after his DNA profile was entered into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System.