  I discuss some recent observational results in the research of nearby active
galactic nuclei (AGN). These results cover three main topics: (i) evidences for
the current paradigm for AGN's, which include a nuclear supermassive blackhole
(SMBH) fed via an accretion disk; (ii) evidence that this paradigm may also
apply to LINER's, the lowest luminous AGN's and to normal galaxies; (iii)
evidences of how the fueling of the SMBH occurs and its relation to recent and
intermediate age (10^6 to 10^8 yrs old) episodes of star formation.
