THE VILLAGES

ORLANDO, Fla. — Publix locations in seven Central Florida counties will close early on Wednesday due to Hurricane Ian. Publix officials said locations in Sumter, Orange, Lake (717 N. 14th St., Leesburg and 1120 Bichara Blvd., The Villages), Seminole, Marion, Osceola, and Volusia counties will close at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Those locations are expected to stay closed through Thursday and reopen on Friday. Read: Hurricane Ian: County-by-county guide to shelter locations in Central FloridaClick here for the latest updates. Video: Last-minute shoppers find some shelves empty as Central Florida prepares for Hurricane Ian As many in Central Florida make last-minute preparations ahead of Hurricane Ian, stores are starting to fill up with last-minute shoppers.

THE VILLAGES, Fla. – As hundreds of thousands of Floridians evacuate parts of the western Florida coasts with the approach of Hurricane Ian, inland residents aren't sitting idly by. Rainfall totals could reach up to a foot along with hurricane-force winds, according to the National Weather Service.

The Sumter County Board of Commissioners approved a local declaration of emergency as Hurricane Ian is moving closer to the Florida gulf coast.

Paul Farineau remembers how he met his wife, Jeanne, like it was yesterday. “We met in the fifth grade and we were 10 years old,” Paul said.

A silver alert was issued Monday evening for a 91-year-old Sumter County man, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Using electronic data extracted from those voter rolls, “Totes Legit Votes” provided Florida elections officials with the names of 282 people who appeared to have voted in both Florida and at least one other state, emails reviewed by News 6 reveal.

Group visits same McDonald's daily and honors employee for her great service.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — For the last two decades Steve and Alice Smith have enjoyed their quiet retiree life in “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown”, better known as The Villages. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<“It’s nice here, everyone gets to know each other, we’ve made a lot of good friends,” says Alice. “We received our renewal policy maybe a month or more ago, and since then, we were shocked when we got the bill,” says Alice holding up her homeowner’s insurance renewal notice to show a price increase of 69%. Additionally, starting September first, many homeowners using Citizens will see their rates climb too. “We are seeing more volatility in the homeowner’s insurance market today than we have seen in the last two years,” says Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute, noting that Florida resident already pay the highest average property insurance premium in the nation, at almost three-times the national average.

Rep. Daniel Webster faces two challengers: conservative firebrand Laura Loomer and Gavriel Soriano.

ORLANDO, Fla. — AAA announced Monday that Florida is seeing a 10th straight week of falling gas prices. “Gas prices are still falling, but not quite as fast as they did in recent weeks,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman of AAA-The Auto Club Group. During that time, the state average was in the $3.40s, which could be where pump prices eventually plateau,” Jenkins said. More Transportation HeadlinesOrlando has some of the lowest gas prices in the state, along with The Villages and Crestview-Fort Walton Beach, which are around $3.43 on average per gallon. Tallahassee, Naples, and West Palm are seeing some of the highest prices at $3.75 on average per gallon.

A crash in Bunnell on Saturday forced lane closures on State Road 100 West, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The National Hurricane Center designated a disturbance in the the western Gulf of Mexico as Potential Tropical Cyclone Four.

A third resident of The Villages has admitted to voting twice during the 2020 election, court records show.

Friends up north and across Tampa Bay snickered when Brian Lafferty revealed where he’d bought a new home. His 30-year-old daughter in Boston called to express concern. Even his ex-wife asked him about it. “Without exception, every person I’ve told I bought a house in The Villages has asked the same thing,” Lafferty said. “‘Isn’t that the STD capital of the United States?’” The Villages, a ...

Rep. Daniel Webster faces two challengers: conservative firebrand Laura Loomer and Gavriel Soriano.

Volunteers pack shoeboxes of toys and school supplies to send off for Operation Christmas Child

Quinton Downing said others were reluctant to open a business in The Villages 25 years ago, when the community was just getting going. But he took a chance when he

A 75-year-old The Villages woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Marion County, troopers say.

To paraphrase a line Paul McCartney once wrote, his fans will still need him, when he’s 74 (plus six).

The Villages has always been good to anglers.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to sign off on Florida’s $112.1 billion state budget in The Villages Thursday afternoon.

A 76-year-old man delivering newspapers in The Villages suffered fatal injuries Sunday morning when he was struck by the door of a van he exited without placing in park first, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Major revitalization projects are underway in the north, jaw-dropping new amenities are breaking ground in the south and more businesses are joining the scene from one end of The Villages

The Villages’ popularity has again propelled it to the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical area in the nation for the past 10 years. The population here has grown 33.4% from 2012-21, U.S.

A statue of Dan Marino stands sentry outside the south entrance of Hard Rock Stadium, holding a football aloft as though saluting the Miami Dolphins faithful. And if you stand

The upcoming Middleton neighborhood will use the same form of local government that has been successful throughout The Villages.

Like the builders of The Villages, the community’s wildlife gardeners create homes.

A gray labradoodle named Vinnie recently got his 15 minutes of fame.

One of the largest resident lifestyle clubs in The Villages recently lent a helping hand to a popular community service group.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in The Villages.

Brian Breed was baptized last month as part of a formal water baptism ceremony at First Baptist Church of Leesburg’s South Leesburg Campus. Breed said the baptism was decades in

The Villages Public Safety Department has a brand new, bright and shiny crimson ambulance — the first of 12 to come. VPSD’s gold and black name and logo glittered in

Two Florida men confessed to committing voter fraud by voting twice in the 2020 presidential elections. Charles Barnes, 64, and Jay Ketcik, 63, are both...

Two residents of The Villages now admit they voted twice during the 2020 election, court records show.

Decked out in red, white and blue decorations, The Dachshund Club of The Villages prepared for its biggest event of the year.

Community United Methodist Church in Fruitland Park is opening up its Harvest of Hope Community Garden to city residents and needs a few green thumbs to make it a reality.

Leesburg High School students celebrated Women’s History Month by attending an important reenactment. First-year teacher Jacob Finegan learned about a women’s suffrage procession reenactment happening in The Villages, and immediately knew he wanted his students to experience it firsthand.

Sumter County detectives on Friday asked the public for help as they worked to identify a man they said was a suspect in an alleged battery in The Villages, according to the sheriff’s office’s social media.

A treatment long used to treat decompression sickness, serious infections and brain injuries is now being used to help veterans with PTSD at a clinic in The Villages.

Miranda Delee Farleigh, 25, was arrested in November after being indicted in federal court last month.

Not quite four months after Southern Oaks Golf Club opened, Tyler Krager acknowledges he’s still getting accustomed to the rhythms of The Villages’ southernmost golf offering. “That’s something we’ve been

Marshall Lindrooth went to a quarterly meeting at Freedom Pointe at The Villages for staff and residents on Thursday surprised to find out he was there to receive an award.

Julie Schmied gets excited when she heads to LovExtension every month.

COVID-19 symptoms are not going away for millions of patients worldwide.

If you were at Lake Sumter Landing on Valentine’s Day, you may have spotted a group of adorable dogs dressed up and parading along the boardwalk.

A local Olympic competition that took place Thursday featured plenty of gold—and not just in the form of medals.

Police identified the body of a construction worker trapped in a hole at a bridge construction site in Lady Lake on Wednesday.

The Villages Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America is the largest chapter in Florida. But the members aren’t stopping there.

Organizations like Your Humane Society, The Villages Parrot Heads and local crafting groups are planning to facilitate more adoptions for furry friends, donate more blood and craft more items for

Egrets and ibises are not puppies.

Florida gives its youth football players passageways to the professional ranks better than any other state. The Sunshine State once again led the nation in NFL Draft selections in 2021,

Cat O'Neill's original path wasn't supposed to lead her to yoga, but these days she teaches classes throughout The Villages.

Baby, it's waaayyy cold outside.

The crime is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

The community’s newest fishable bodies of water are on their way to becoming fishing destinations. Villagers looking to cast their rods and reels close to home have more places to

In the Dr. Seuss book, “The Lorax,” the titular character speaks for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.

The Evening Rotary Club of The Villages is helping those who served the country by supporting a local program.

Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks to supporters at ‘America First’ rally in The Villages Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz took the stage in The Villages on Friday to address hundreds of supporters packed into a ballroom. ORLANDO, Fla. — An ex-girlfriend of Rep. Matt Gaetz entered an Orlando federal courthouse where a grand jury is meeting, alongside her lawyer on Wednesday, according to reports from CNN. CNN reported that a source familiar with the case previously said Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend, a former Capitol Hill staffer, was expected to testify before the grand jury investigating Gaetz. READ: Texts, voicemail link Rep. Matt Gaetz, former Seminole County tax collector Joel GreenbergMultiple people familiar with the case told CNN that a grand jury has been meeting at the George C. Young Federal Annex Courthouse regarding the Gaetz investigation. CNN reported that the lawyer for the ex-girlfriend, Timothy Jansen, declined to comment, as did a Justice Department spokesman.

Six people were injured in a Pine Hills crash on Wednesday night, according to Orange County Fire Rescue.

A man was shot and killed in Orlando on Wednesday night, according to the Orlando Police Department.

A man was shot and injured Wednesday afternoon in Orlando, according to the police department.

Charles Barnes Charles Barnes, 64, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of fraud for casting more than one ballot. (Sumter County Jail)SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — Another resident of The Villages is accused of casting more than one ballot in an election. Charles Barnes, 64, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of fraud for casting more than one ballot. Barnes is the fourth resident of The Villages in the past month to be charged with voter fraud related to casting multiple ballots. READ: Florida election supervisors question need for new $6 million election police forceA conviction could mean up to five years in prison.

A fourth resident of The Villages has been arrested for allegedly casting multiple ballots in the 2020 election.

Tom Bovee started out as a student in the martial art of taekwondo. Now he passes on what he has learned.

Driving down Spring Lake Road in Fruitland Park, a large green sign becomes noticeable as one drives toward Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

Christmas Eve is a day filled with traditions, families and friends, and residents of The Villages have traditions of their own.

The hawk-like, beige bird with an appetite for snails struck the curiosity of several Village Birders. They expected an eventful day of birding that September along the Hogeye Preserve Pathway,

A man was shot and killed in southwest Orlando.

The cold front that brought in the rain will continue to move out of Central Florida Tuesday evening.

A short-lived tornado touched down in southwest Florida Tuesday morning, leaving more than $500,000 worth of damage in its wake, according to the National Weather Service.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 15-year-old girl who was last seen Saturday morning.

An anonymous email sent to Florida’s secretary of state led to the arrests of at least three voters accused of casting multiple ballots in the 2020 general election.

Darrell Day and his wife, Lisa, are bringing their tie-dyed ice cream shop to a new Lake County community in 2022.

WILDWOOD, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis will speak in Central Florida Wednesday morning. READ: Osceola County sheriff launches anti-bullying campaign after school fight video goes viralThe event will be held at the Ezell Regional Recreation Center in Wildwood. Channel 9 will livestream the news conference when it begins. READ: Central Florida becoming the Wild West of real estate scamsClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

Multiple Orlando homes were struck by gunfire Tuesday night after a person allegedly fired shots from a vehicle, according to the Orlando Police Department.

A 72-year-old man from Deland was killed in a motorcycle crash this evening.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A canoer who went missing over the weekend has been found dead in the Banana River, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alain Charles, 34, of Pompano Beach, was located by FWC’s dive team Wednesday around 1:30 p.m.READ: 3 residents of The Villages accused of voting twice in 2020 presidential electionThe investigation is ongoing and additional details will be released when available, FWC said. READ: Family finds venomous snake in their Christmas treeThe search for Charles began Sunday. READ: Mount Dora man arrested after being found at Dairy Queen with missing child, 2 othersClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Several property development companies are bidding for a chance to construct the third phase of a riverwalk in Port Orange.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Three residents of The Villages were recently arrested and face charges of casting more than one vote during the 2020 election, according to affidavits. Joan Halstead, Jay Ketcik and John Rider all face felony charges of casting more than one ballot in an election, arrest reports provided by the office of Ocala-based State Attorney Bill Gladson show. The complainant against the ...

Voter fraud arrests Three residents of The Villages are free on a $2,000 bond after officials said they voted twice in the 2020 presidential election. (WFTV.com News Staff)SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — Three residents of The Villages are free on a $2,000 bond after officials said they voted twice in the 2020 presidential election. Investigators said all three Florida residents cast ballots in October 2020 in Sumter County but each voted again by sending in absentee ballots to other states. READ: Florida election supervisors question need for new $6 million election police forceInvestigators said there’s no indication that the three residents know each other. Voter records show Rider is not affiliated with any party, while Halstead and Ketcik are registered Republicans.

A nightmare come true: Christmas and Halloween join forces in a “creepy” maze running for its final weekend.

Three residents of The Villages were arrested for allegedly voting multiple times in the 2020 election. Jay Ketcik, Joan Halstead and John Rider range in...

Three residents of The Villages have recently been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into voter fraud, court records show.

Presenting a wreath at a memorial service, fundraising for families who live in poverty and leading the largest American Legion post in the world are just a few examples of

St. George Episcopal Church will begin 2022 with a full-time rector and spiritual leader in place. The church announced this week that its vestry, or church council, unanimously agreed to

It already had been a thrilling weekend on the water for Liz Perkins, placing 12th in the national championship regatta for radio controlled sailboats that took place in The Villages.

April Fools’ Day in the middle of a recession was the perfect time for Keith Myers to start a business. “I could blame April Fools’ Day or the recession, instead

A fire at an Orlando apartment complex has displaced several families.

A man driving a golf cart in The Villages was seriously injured Saturday when it hit a curb and he was ejected from it, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Cases continue to climb in classrooms across Central Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the opening of another monoclonal antibody treatment center.

Osceola County sees the second largest population growth in Florida over the last 10 years, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

A sinkhole opened up over the weekend near a golf course in The Villages.

An 81-year-old man was seriously injured when he crashed a golf cart into a concrete wall in The Villages Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. – The vaccination site that was located on Wedgewood Lane in The Villages has moved to Lake-Sumter State College. AdLake-Sumter State College, located on 1423 CR 526A, is 16 miles away from Wedgewood Lane which may not be convenient for some seniors. “Global Medical Response is now vaccinating at Lake Sumter College, Sumterville Campus. This is a mobile vaccination site we are prepared to move when necessary. Appointment times will not be interrupted; however, the location may change over the coming months from time-to-time,” Global Medical Response said in a statement to News 6.

THE VILLAGES, Fla. – A 74-year-old man died in a crash involving a golf cart earlier this week in The Villages, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crash was reported at 4:48 p.m. Monday on Morse Boulevard near Carrera Drive. The FHP said the man was driving a golf cart east on a private road and stopped at the intersection with Morse Boulevard. As he began to enter the intersection, his golf cart was struck by a car driven by a 62-year-old woman who lives in The Villages, troopers said. The man, of Holmes, New York, was ejected from his cart and taken to a hospital, where he died a day later, according to an FHP report.

THE VILLAGES, Fla. – A man attempting to rip off homeowners in The Villages faces charges after damaging protected wetlands, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrested Jose Luis Carvajal Ibarra, 37, on Wednesday. The man told the victims that he received permission from The Villages to clear the land, according to the release. As the man cut down trees and cleared brush, a representative from The Villages told Carvajal Ibarra that the land was protected, records show. Deputies said Carvajal Ibarra ended up causing between $40,000 and $60,000 in damage to the protected land.

THE VILLAGES, Fla. – A drive-thru vaccine distribution site in The Villages reopened Thursday -- and for good this time. Ron DeSantis, that officials reopened it permanently, with the help of more vaccine doses from the federal government. But this time it’s going to be a permanent vaccination site,” DeSantis said. The governor said last week that, on average, Florida administered about 375,000 doses a week since the rollout began. So I’m excited about the progress we can make in The Villages with this site,” the governor said.

DeSantis to feds: Florida wants more COVID-19 vaccine dosesGov. Ron DeSantis said Florida will see an increase in the number of coronavirus vaccines delivered to the state. DeSantis said during this timeframe the state has administered 375,000 doses a week. [TRENDING: Great white shark bites boat in Florida | Orange County deputy’s TikTok videos under investigation | Governor touts vaccine rollout]The governor said Florida will receive 307,000 first doses from the federal government. We just learned Florida’s vaccine allocation for next week.

Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Friday night activating the Florida National Guard in response to possible protests this weekend. The order states the National Guard will work with local law enforcement. Sheriff Marco Lopez said he has 56 deputies ready to go. Locally in Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer told News 6 he continues to monitor any reports of possible protests. [RELATED: States declare emergencies, close capitols ahead of rallies]The AP reports some investigators in the FBI are also on alert for armed protests.